Braces

Bubby

I would like to see an orthodontist about having braces fitted to my bottom teeth (and maybe dependant on top fitted to the top aswell), I have previously seen a fantastic orthodontist but due to moving house was unable to start the work I needed. I have been having a little search online and noticed something called "invisalign" and wondered whether these would be an alternative to train tracks? (this is what I was told I would need previously)

I don't want to waste an orthodontists time if it is all going to be out of my price range and wondered if anyone knew how much train tracks were (roughly) and what the rough cost difference is between them and invisalign?

brook2jack

It depends on the area you live in but roughly £150 initial consultation £1500 for fixed (train tracks) and £2000 invisilign. But be aware invisilign has limitations and is not possible for all problems.

An orthodontist will normally want to treat topand bottom teeth at the same time and there will be little saving just having one arch done.

Bubby

I have to pay to see them??:eek:
We lived abroad previously and getting a quote was free?
Are you saying that having them both done (top and bottom) would not be much more than just getting the bottom done?

brook2jack

The majority of the costs of ortho treatment is the orthodontists time. That being said the laboratory costs for invisilign are very expensive but even so it is cheaper to do both arches at once and depending on your problems it may not be possible to do one arch at a time.

To treatment plan for a brace requires xrays, study models, and in the case of invisilign a cd showing you the movements the brace should create is produced. This takes place over two visits and is often deducted from the price of the brace if you go ahead.

All of this has to be paid for somehow as surgeries are incredibly expensive to run.

Bubby

brook2jack wrote: »

The majority of the costs of ortho treatment is the orthodontists time. That being said the laboratory costs for invisilign are very expensive but even so it is cheaper to do both arches at once and depending on your problems it may not be possible to do one arch at a time.

To treatment plan for a brace requires xrays, study models, and in the case of invisilign a cd showing you the movements the brace should create is produced. This takes place over two visits and is often deducted from the price of the brace if you go ahead.

All of this has to be paid for somehow as surgeries are incredibly expensive to run.

I completely understand the charges for xrays etc but the previous orthodontist was able to examine my teeth and give me a "rough" estimate before starting any x rays etc that way I could then decide whether I could afford the treatment or not. It is my bottom front teeth that are the problem, there is overcrowding but not enough to warrent a tooth out so his idea was to push them out with traintracks and laser a small slither off of each front tooth and he advised that this would take 12-18 months max. He did ask me at the time whether I wanted the top doing as I have 1 molar out of line but the rest are very straight so it is more cosmetic than essential.
How do I go about finding an orthodontist and is it similar to dentists that some are nhs and some are private?

sorry to bombard you with questions:o

Toothsmith

Why not ask your general dentist to refer you to somebody?

That would be the most reliable way of finding someone.

If you don't have a general dentist, that would be a better first step, as the orthodontist wont do all the cleaning, polishing and general maintenance necessary as you go through the bracework. Also you'd need one if the treatment involved any extractions.

If your teeth aren't in tip-top condition and squeaky clean, the orthodontist may well refuse to treat you until it is.

Bubby

Toothsmith wrote: »

Why not ask your general dentist to refer you to somebody?

That would be the most reliable way of finding someone.

If you don't have a general dentist, that would be a better first step, as the orthodontist wont do all the cleaning, polishing and general maintenance necessary as you go through the bracework. Also you'd need one if the treatment involved any extractions.

If your teeth aren't in tip-top condition and squeaky clean, the orthodontist may well refuse to treat you until it is.

At present my dentist is an nhs dentist as we have moved house and had alot of other things to deal with. Previously I have always been a private patient and would like to continue that way as the root canal I had done on the nhs was horrendous:mad:
My last check up was a month ago and I was told that I had no build up at all, I make it a priority to look after my teeth as unfortunately this was not a priority when I was younger (sweets, fizzy drinks, a 30 second brush:o). As a result of my younger years and also my parents (not great teeth) I have every back tooth filled:o:o, I also have 2 root canals. The previous orthodontist never mentioned any of this being a problem, just advising that I would need to take extra care when cleaning and flossing with a brace on. I also have a deep clean with the hygenist once a year (not recommended by the dentist by personal choice).

The previous orthodontist worked out if the same practice as my dentist if that made a difference?

Toothsmith

That sounds fine. I didn't mean your teeth should be perfect and untouched by a drill - that would really cut down the number of people having orthodontics! Just that they should be well maintained.

Try asking your present dentist if he can recommend an orthodontist.

Bubby

Toothsmith wrote: »

That sounds fine. I didn't mean your teeth should be perfect and untouched by a drill - that would really cut down the number of people having orthodontics! Just that they should be well maintained.

Try asking your present dentist if he can recommend an orthodontist.

Thanks:D, are orthodontists all private?

Toothsmith

No - the vast majority are NHS - but NHS orthodontic treatment is, in all but a few exceptional cases, only available for kids.

To have orthodontic treatment as an adult, 95% of adults would have to pay privately. (You see the same person though, you don't have to look for a 'private' orthodontist.)

Bubby

Thanks I will speak to my current [STRIKE]crap[/STRIKE] nhs dentist and ask them to recommend someone;)