braces for adults

Hedgehogy

I'm getting free NHS treatment too, and I'm in my thirties.

I had braces as a teenager and did everything according to the book but when my wisdom teeth came through they moved out of line again. I think they do have to be so bad before they'll do it though.

They wanted to do jaw surgery on me after my braces. I was willing to go ahead with this if it meant I'd get treated for free (I was quoted £5000 for braces by my dentist), but as I am happy with my jaw as it is and don't want to change the shape if my face (I just want straight teeth) they agreed to go with another method of getting my teeth straight. I'm going to have something placed on my teeth so that they can't move again once treatment has finished.

20vt-rs

Orthodontics for over 18's is only free if you have a functional issue with your teeth / bite. I'm mid thirties and in braces and have been for just over 18months, it's being done on the NHS as I need surgery to fix my jaw alignment problem. Had to be referred via my regular dentist originally and had a couple of consultations and x-rays before they decided what was required.

I also had braces in my teen's, but my teeth got !!!!!!ed by possibly bad orthodontics then and my wisdom teeth coming through early twenties and moving everything around (they are gone now as had to come out as part of this treatment!)

So in answer to the OP's question, you'll have to stump up for orthodontics I'm afraid unless 1. you have a functional issue with your bite or 2. you are very lucky like baby frogmella...

You can get referred by your dentist to an NHS centre and I believe this will be cheaper than going private.

If you do take the plunge, I am sure you'll have lots of questions regarding getting them fitted and living with them, so feel free to fire any questions this way!

Hedgehogy

I also had to be referred by my dentist and I was on a waiting list for a year or so.

Can I ask a question please 20vt-rs? I've just got my fixed braces and I'm scared to eat properly for fear that I'll break them, as I've heard people say that they break all the time (I had non fixed braces as a teenager so haven't had experience with fixed ones). Can you bite foods without them breaking (i.e. pizza, sandwiches), or should I carry on as I am currently doing and cut everything up so I don't need to bite food? It's taking me ages to eat anything! What has your experience been with breakages? I hope you don't mind me asking; maybe I should have started a new thread...

brook2jack

The first few months are when the braces are under most strain and bits are more likely to ping off or break.

There are some foods you should not eat eg sticky stuff like toffees etc, some stuff you have to be careful of eg cut apples up and chew on back teeth , some stuff you can eat normally. But be aware brackets are only cemented and can come off if you are not careful.

brook2jack

If you want braces but have to have them privately you cannot be referred to a NHS centre (hospital, community clinic) as they are not allowed to do private treatment. You can be referred to an orthodontist who does both NHS and private work , and indeed most orthodontists will do both childrens (nhs) and adult (private) orthodontic treatment.

It is much better to see an orthodontist who is experienced in many different systems and the pros and cons of each than to go looking for someone who will provide just one "fashionable" treatment like 6 month smiles or invialign which have their drawbacks.

20vt-rs

Hedgehogy wrote: »

Can I ask a question please 20vt-rs? I've just got my fixed braces and I'm scared to eat properly for fear that I'll break them, as I've heard people say that they break all the time (I had non fixed braces as a teenager so haven't had experience with fixed ones). Can you bite foods without them breaking (i.e. pizza, sandwiches), or should I carry on as I am currently doing and cut everything up so I don't need to bite food? It's taking me ages to eat anything! What has your experience been with breakages? I hope you don't mind me asking; maybe I should have started a new thread...

Yes no worries, you do need to be careful with what and how you eat things:

I mostly chew on the back of my mouth and try to keep the strain off of the front brackets. A no-no is eating or biting into an apple direct for example, you'll have to cut them up and chew at the back. Sandwiches, toast etc go for it, the brackets are pretty solid against things like that. I've lost one bracket so far and that was one at the back, I didn't even realise until after my meal, so must have swallowed it! :eek:

In general I cut most of my food up anyway and continue to do so with the braces, it's no big deal.

Other breakages are wires popping out at the back of the brace and that has happened a couple of times and that's about it, just be sensible with things and avoid gum, toffees and hard fruit. They tell you to avoid sweets and fizzy drinks, and although I don't have much of that, I still have them once in a while! Good news is beer and alcohol is fine

Other thing to bear in mind is rubbing and mouth sores, so get some orthodontic wax as it will be your saviour, once your mouth gets used to it you won't need it. When I first had mine fitted I went through several packets of it but now don't need it at all..

Oh last thought on food, depending on what colour elastics you have on the brackets, avoid curry unless its just before you get an adjustment. The turmeric in the curry stains white / light coloured ligs fluorescent yellow!

Good luck!

Hedgehogy

Thanks very much for your replies brook2jack and 20vt-rs, they are very helpful and much appreciated. I haven't wanted to test anything like toast and have been ripping it and chewing at the back so that is useful to know. I was given a basic leaflet but it only mentioned not eating sticky or hard things, or drinking fizzy drinks - it wasn't detailed at all. Thanks also for the tips on wax and avoiding curry - it's good to know about that last one in advance!

baby_frogmella

Hedgehogy wrote: »

Thanks very much for your replies brook2jack and 20vt-rs, they are very helpful and much appreciated. I haven't wanted to test anything like toast and have been ripping it and chewing at the back so that is useful to know. I was given a basic leaflet but it only mentioned not eating sticky or hard things, or drinking fizzy drinks - it wasn't detailed at all. Thanks also for the tips on wax and avoiding curry - it's good to know about that last one in advance!

According to my orthodontist there's very few foods which you should stay away from whilst wearing braces...sticky toffee and chewing gum are the obvious ones. Nothing wrong with curry - i have curry for breakfast (aloo paratha:p), lunch (naan & daal) and dinner (chicken biriyani) whilst wearing braces and my yellow elastics don't change colour. I also drink 4-5 cans of coke a week and again my braces & condition of teeth are fine. I do meticulously clean my braces after meal times though

naillady

I've always wanted braces but never got them. Now I'm in my 20s so this thread is perfect...

travellinglight_2

In the last eight months I've had a tooth at the front change position. It was always out of line but higher up and straight. Now it's forward of the other the and is at a 40 degree angle. Very upsetting as I'm so conscious of it now. Can't smile for a pic and people really stare! Wish I could afford brace!