Orthodontic advice please!

[gck303]

Hi,

Apologies if a similar thread has been posted before - I did look back through the board but couldn't find anything exactly like this. I have a few questions that I would be really grateful if anyone could offer advice on.

My teeth cross over as if they are being overcrowded in my mouth. I'm sure that this has got worse in recent years and is continuing to get worse. My teeth are also somewhat discoloured. It's making me really self-conscious and I'd love to have straight, white teeth. However I'm totally scared about the treatment and the cost. I saw a photo of myself smiling a few days ago which traumatised me and has finally spurred me into the first step of writing this post!

For history, when I was a teenager (I'm 27 now) I had train-track braces on my top and bottom teeth with rubber bands and then a retainer AND had 4 back-teeth out to sort out my overcrowding and overbite issues.

My questions are as follows:
a) Does it sound like I would have to have track braces to solve the problem, teeth taken out or something else? What would help with the tooth-discolouration aspect - would veneers be better option? And does anyone have similar experience?
b) Would orthodontics even be able to help this problem since I've read that crooked teeth and overcrowding is genetic and I've already had this corrected once before just to go wrong again.
c) What would be the first steps I need to take to get this sorted out? (how do I find an orthodontist? Do I have to pay for consultations? etc.)

I won't even ask about the cost yet. The thought of being an adult brace-wearer fills me with dread (my teenage orthodontic memories are not happy ones!) and to top it all I'm totally scared of going to the dentist. Sorry as I realise that I've asked a mishmash of questions here but I'm confused by the advice on the commercial websites as it all seems to be trying to sell you into treatment and could really do with some help! Thank you in advance for any advice you can offer.

[Toothsmith]

A normal GP dentist would be ypur first port of call, and he would refer you to an appropriate orthodontist if he and you thought it the right thing to do.

There have been similar threads on this board recently, and there are quite a few dults out there with braces.

Choccyface might pop up in a minute to give you her advice - she's going through it at the moment.

The oldest patient I have referred was in her mid 40s. It's now well over 7 years since she went through it all, and she still thinks it's the best decision she ever made.

[Justie]

first port of call is your regular dentist who will be able to advise whether treatment is likely to give you a good outcome - s/he would then refer you to a good local orthodontist who would then go through treatment plans with you. You would need train tracks if anything could be done and probably a fixed retainer - your ortho would advise as to whether teeth would need removing or not. There is some genetic aspect to it which may mean that the teeth will move again but if a fixed retainer is used then this will prevent it. My experience was that it was less traumatic to have braces as an adult than as a child as I know who I am more now... although the cost was :eek: it's still the best money I've ever spent. I can't remember paying for my initial consult with the ortho but once you agree to treatment you then pay the full amount (or do a direct debit to spread the cost) and it's not cheap.

As for colour - your dentist or ortho would be able to advise if bleaching would work of it you'd need veneers but that wouldn't be done until after you had braces if you're going down that route. Toothsmith will probably be able to give you more advice.

[gck303]

Thanks Toothsmith and Justie - advice much appreciated!

It looks like my first step is the dentist to try to get an orthodontic appointment. Justie - I was interested to hear that you found the experience less traumatic as an adult because of knowing yourself more - helpful as I hadn't considered this.

Just one further question if anyone knows - if I did get veneers, would I have to get my teeth straightened first or would I be able to get these fixed over my crooked set?

Thanks so much and any further comments or advice gratefully received!

[choccyface2006]

GCK303

As toothsmith as said, I am an adult (33) and I'm wearing train track braces, they have been on nearly 5 months now and they will probably be on a further 2 years. There are a few of us on here, poppyolivia got hers about the same time as me and lifeisbutadream has just had hers taken off.

I had 6 extractions even though my teeth didn't look particularly over crowded, now I look abit gappy but I have been told that all the gaps will close.

I don't know about most of the questions you have asked but I just wanted to reassure you that wearing braces as an adult isn't as bad as you might think. I was so worried about the propect but the reality has been so much better. I still can't wait to have them off but I can live with it till then!

Good luck, I think you should go for it, I'm sure you won't regret it.

Here (http://http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/index.php) is a great furum for adult brace wearers that may help to answer some of your questions.

Sarah xx

[Toothsmith]

Veneers can often be a way of avoiding braces, and getting a nice straight smile more quickly.

The thing with veneers though, is that it is taking something that is basically healthy, and could easily last you a lifetime with very little maintenance (That is - your untouched virgin teeth) and drilling a bit of them away, and covering it with some porcelain.

This porcelain will look brilliant to start with, but as the years pass, it will probably start to chip, stain at the edges, possible allow bits of decay to begin here and there, and generally need maintaining and replacing quite a few times over the rest of your life.

And each time it does need something else doing, a little more of your own tooth will be lost in the process.

In my opinion, it would be far better to take the long route to a nice smile, and be left with something that is your own still, and that can continue to give you years of low maintenance providing you look after them.

Having them whitened afterwards is also a brilliant way to a really fabulous smile which will still be all your own tooth, and easier to take care of.

[Justie]

I have to say it helped that the top train track was ceramic rather than metal so all you could see was the wire and you couldn't even see that in photos. And I did get very fed up with it at times - and it was very painful at times (but it will depend on how much movement you need as to how tender your teeth feel). No one commented on them unless it was friends asking how it was going and even then most of the forgot I had them and didn't notice when I had them taken off. I still have a fixed retainer on the bottom and wear a plate retainer on the top at night but that's really no bother. Another good side effect if you want to call it that is that I lost weight as I only ate at meal times and didn't snack in between and it'd take me so long to eat a meal that I'd eat less than I used to :D I don't regret having it done at all and wish I'd done it sooner - but then maybe I would have been more self-conscious if I'd done it in my early 20s. It's amazing though how you notice other people with braces when you have them and there's a surprising number of adults with them. I'd second choccy's link to archwired - I didn't use the forum but found lots of info and advice on there.

[gck303]

Thanks everyone for your advice and support. This has been really useful to me - I have been completely tying myself up in knots about this lately!

I'm going to speak to my dentist today and try and get an orthodontist appointment. I'll let you know how it goes!

[NastyMatt]

I am going to be 35 in a few days time and am going to have a brace fitted. The only thing stopping me? My GF has one at the moment and we will look a right odd pair both having them!!

It's definitely a personal thing.. I absolutely hate my teeth but when I tell anyone I am getting it done I get "Why? There is nothing wrong with your teeth" but it's not their teeth and I hate it when a camera comes out. :(