Want to save...but want my teeth fixed!

donteatthat

ZTD wrote:

I believe that the aftercare is done in this country, but since most of the "heavy lifting" is done abroad, it works out cheaper.

Beware beware beware...

You will almost definitely not find a dentist in this country who will look after someone elses work that was started abroad, or even maintain it after it is finished.

This is why it is a bad idea to go abroad for cosmetic work, dental work or anything else - if something goes wrong it is a long trip back to get it sorted out.

I speak from experience of seeing some disasters come out back into the country from abroad!!

Brassic

angeldeelite wrote:

its funny i thought my biggest issue would be the horrible thought of having braces on and looking stupid, but it seems i have money saving on the brain!

Just as a note on that, I was in my dentists the other day and I saw they now have see through braces, a little like the old style retainers by the looks of things, that you can't see once they're in - so might be that you've no need to worry about looking silly (not that you would do anyway!)

kessik

Hi
Just wanted to add my comments. I have always been very vain about my teeth (nothing radically wrong with them but I had sort of lighter patches on my two front ones). It might be possible to have things done a bit at a time - I had all of my amalgam fillings replaced by white over a period of a year. I was also lucky in that I wanted them lightened and was the first person to ask my dentist about it (sort of his guinea pig) so got it done more cheaply.
This has taken place over the last 15 years and I have not had any trouble as a result of any work my dentist has done (touch wood!). I too would like to get a brace but as my front tooth is only about 2mm out of position I think it's going on the back boiler....for a while.
If you really want and need to do it then my advice would be to go ahead. But there speaks a teeth obsessive.

kessik

ZTD

donteatthat wrote:

Beware beware beware...

You will almost definitely not find a dentist in this country who will look after someone elses work that was started abroad, or even maintain it after it is finished.

It was my understanding from reading it that the dentists abroad, and the dentists in this country are employed/contracted by the company organising the flights/accomodation/treatment/aftercare.

There's also (if I read it properly) an initial consultation in this country, so when you go abroad, the work that needs to be done is already planned.

Toothsmith

Hi Angeldeelite

You seem to be taking a very sensible approach to this so far.

To have your teeth moved orthodontically with braces is by far and away the best way to have it done, as it will not damage the structure of the teeth.

You would get a much quicker result by having them crowned into a different position, but this would committ you to years of expensive maintenance, and replacement costs every few years. Plus it takes away perfectly healthy tooth, and replaces it with ceramic.

I assume that you are still very young? Late teens/early 20s? You're at the age where others may be having 'gap years'? They can cost a few thousand pounds too!!

Your boyfriend is about to go to Uni. This is an experience that can change people. New ideas and friends. I hate to be a doommonger, but it isn't unknown for couples to drift apart in this time. Your teeth are with you forever!!

As for going abroad. As you rightly say, it's not at all suitable for orthodontics.

It's not really suitable for anybody, but there are those that really let their teeth go, are shocked by the huge repair bill they get from their local dentist, and think they are 'saving money' by going off to a place abroad which gives them a lower quote.

In fact, they are generally 'wasting' the lower amount of money as well, because without getting to grips with the habits that have got their teeth into a mess in the first place, nomatter how excellent the dental work is, it will fail within a few years.

It is far more likely that a patient will get to grips with the problems if they have a long term 'partnership' with a local dentist rather than a 'QwikFit' style job somewhere in a different country.

There are several dentists who offer low cost/0% finance on dental treatment. It would be worth asking your chosen specialist if they have such a scheme, but the important choice is the dentist, not the scheme.

Best of luck.

angeldeelite

thanks all so much

i'm definitley not getting any crowns or anything. the thought of having teeth removed or cut shakes my bones! plenty cosmetic braces out there, i have a choice between metal ceramic (which are tooth coloured) or invisible, plastic braces (which obviously cost more!)

i'm bitten the bullet (excuse the pun!) and made an appointment for a consultation - then i'll know exactly what it will cost. Luckily its just my top set so it might not be as much as i'm expecting.

Will keep you all posted :j

donteatthat

Well I hope the consultation goes well for you - all the best with getting everything sorted out.

ZTD - I haven't come across the companies or system you mention, but would be interested to find out a bit more on that..I'll have a look around. Some people I know are making a documentary with one of the TV companies on dental disasters right now.

Also - the BBC Take Part site is looking for people for a "get your teeth sorted" type program - they want really manky teeth by the sounds if it, and teenagers. Can find link if anyone is interested?

ZTD

Just type Poland Dentists into google. I've never bookmarked any because there are so many of them.

Gemmzie

Personally, I wouldn't bother with the clear braces - several of my friends had them and they are more obvious because they stain very easily.

So unless you're prepared to give up all heavily coloured food/drinks - don't bother. The oddest things can stain them; coffee, red wine, cola are pretty obvious but strawberries, oranges - just odd

I have braces at the moment after hating my teeth ever since I was about 12, and I just concentrate on the fact that in two years I can finally smile in a photo and not be embaressed. It's doing so much for my self esteem.
I had two wisdom teeth out too, very little problem.

freda

Are your teeth squint enough to be causing you pain or difficulty in eating? Mine were, and my dentist referred me to an orthodontist (which I did privately to speed up the process) who then referred me to the maxilli facial unit at the hospital. I'm now 6 months into an 18 month orthodontic (braces) treatment, followed by an operation where they break both jaws and re-align them, followed by retainers for - well, for ever really I think. This is all on the NHS as my teeth were squint enough to be causing damage to the bone structure on the roof of my mouth which had long term implications.

The brace bit is fine. I've paid for clear fixings on the top teeth (which are the only ones that show) and don't regret that at all - it cost £160 (£20 per fitting, 8 in total). Yes, you can see the silver wire, but compared with my lower teeth which have silver fittings, it is much neater looking. The only bits that stain are the elastic bands which hold the wire to the fittings, and the orthodontist changes these each time I visit (once per 6 weeks) which means they never get very bad. It only hurts for a day or so when they are tightened up.

You may have to have some teeth extracted before you start, in order to give enough room to straighten your remaining teeth up. This hurts for a week or so afterwards.

If you really only have squint front teeth, it may actually not take that long to straighten them. As I said, I'm 6 months in, and the work on my top teeth has finished, they are straight and lined up, and just waiting for the lower ones, which have further to move, to catch up.

I don't know how much it costs to do not on the NHS, but it is worth asking your dentist if there is any medical reason for doing yours, as you may get it on the NHS if there is.