Adults with braces? Update

[JVL1018]

I need some help-I just went for my initial consultation with an orthodontist.
He said I won't be a simple fix, mostly because of non cosmetic things, a crossbite and things one doesn't even notice.
*I* could care less about that, I just want a couple of crooked teeth straight!

Anyway he said that he'd rather have me wear metal braces. I could cry!
Whenever I pictured myself with braces, I assumed I would have the white ceramic.
I don't want to walk aorund with a metal mouth at 35 yeras old!

Anyone have any experiences to share?? Should I inisist on ceramic even if it's not as good? Will it take longer?
I so want this done and know it will be worth it when it's done, but I'm just so bummed about the metal..

 

[bbangel]

Wear them with pride! Think of it as jewellery for your mouth!
There are several people where I work who have gotten braces. All of them got metal ones (they are the ones that are covered by our insurance). All of them are glad they did it!

 

[SillyMe]

I have a similar problem. My orthodontist said mine aren't fixable with just braces. He wants me to have a surgically assisted palate expansion which I certainly cannot afford. I don't exactly have $20,000 laying around the house. He won't remove any of my teeth to make room instead of having the surgery. I've been frustrated about this for several years. Not much I can do either.

 

[JVL1018]

Wear them with pride! Think of it as jewellery for your mouth!
There are several people where I work who have gotten braces. All of them got metal ones (they are the ones that are covered by our insurance). All of them are glad they did it!

It makes me feel better when I hear of other adults with braces! Thanks for the pep talk.

 

[JVL1018]

I have a similar problem. My orthodontist said mine aren't fixable with just braces. He wants me to have a surgically assisted palate expansion which I certainly cannot afford. I don't exactly have $20,000 laying around the house. He won't remove any of my teeth to make room instead of having the surgery. I've been frustrated about this for several years. Not much I can do either.

Wow, $20,000!
I don't know what all this will entail, he said it would be a little more complicated than usual, I hope he doesn't mean $20K more than usual. I have dental insurance but 60% only goes so far. LOL
That really stinks that you'd have to pay so much!

 

[belle&beast]

I have had my braces for over a year (I'm 33) and I do have ceramic on top. I now wish I had just gone with metal which I have on the bottom. They are much easier to take care of and the wires are much easier to change. Also with ceramic, foods will stain them and the rubberbands that hold the wire in, so coffee, colas, teas, berries and mustard are off limits. I also went in for some crooked bottom teeth and have a mouthful now! I am really happy and I do see a huge difference, but it can be overwhelming at the beginning. Good luck!

 

[liveforthemagic]

One of my daughter's dancing school mom's has braces. I think hers are the metal kind--to be honest, I noticed it the first 1 ro 2 times I talked to her, and then never even thought about it again. People understand that grown ups get braces either cause of crooked teeth that have always made them self conscious, or other issues that cause them discomfort.

If you can afford them and you really want them, go ahead and do it and don't worry about the appearance. I had them when I was in high school--and trust me--nobody notices it as much as you do. I had the gigantic metal bands that went all the way around your tooth which now I think they have replaced with those metal sprocket kind that just glue to the outside of your tooth. Plus I had rubber bands that zigged and zagged and on occasion would break while I was talking and shoot across the room. I thought everybody noticed them every day. But you know, when I got them off, no one said a word! I really don't think people pay that much attention.

PS--And you'll be gorgeous when they come off!

 

[SillyMe]

Wow, $20,000!
I don't know what all this will entail, he said it would be a little more complicated than usual, I hope he doesn't mean $20K more than usual. I have dental insurance but 60% only goes so far. LOL
That really stinks that you'd have to pay so much!

Did he tell you what needs to be done? The only reason mine would be so expensive is because the surgery has to be done in the hospital under anesthesia, and I don't have insurance to cover it.

If you can do it, go for it! 2 years or so, of wearing metal is worth it.

 

[hlbtimes2]

I got mine off in April- after 2 1/2 years. I was 35 when I got them on, 37 when they came off. I had the regular metal ones. The ortho said that she recomended them because they are more comfortable and cost less. She had just had the ceramic ones put on, and said they are bulkier and she was questioning her own choice.

I didnt mind the look of them. I actually smiled more when I had the braces on then I ever had before. I was proud to finally be doing something about my bad teeth. Now I smile all the time! Best $6K I ever spent!

As for your 60% coverage, make sure that is really the coverage. Most I've seen have a cap, which is way lower then what 60% would be. My 50% coverage had a cap of $1000- which was NO WHERE near 50%.

Just do it- you wont regret it! (well, ok, when your teeth hurt so bad it makes you cry, you might, but other then that you wont!)

 

[Cindyluwho]

I got my invisiligns in June! Love them! And my overbite is almost gone already. I'm so happy I spent the $4300!

 

[SadieDog]

I would not be bummed about the metal at all. We are the same age and I have wanted braces all my life but can not afford them. If I had the $, I would get them, metal and all. I think you are very lucky to be able to do so. My daughter has had her braces off for a year now and her teeth are beautiful. Now my son is just starting the process. I am still hoping that someday it will be my turn. I have also wondered about Invisalign. I have no idea what problems they are best for or the cost. Since you don't see or hear about Invisalign often, I assume it is more costly. Don't waste any more time fretting. Go get them! The sooner they go on, the sooner they come off! Good luck.

 

[Straitlover]

Don't be afraid to get another consultation w/ another ortho. Maybe they will say you can get the other kind.

I am going in tomorrow for my appt to do the molds/xrays/etc. I am 41 YO. Unless things change after looking at the xrays, I am doing metal w/ the clear brackets on top and metal brackets on bottom. A friend has the same, and hers on top are not very noticeable. When I smile you don't see much of my bottom teeth. That's why I'm doing the metal brackets on the bottom (saves $300, and every little bit counts!)

EDIT: I was going to do the Invisalign, but after all my research, i decided against them. You're supposed to brush and floss every time you eat. NOt goona happen my friend! I'm trying to lose weight,a nd part of taht entails eating several smaller meals a day. Also, you can only drink water w/ the liners in place.

 

[LisaS]

How about getting a second opinion? That's what I did. I consulted an orthodontist recommended by my dental hygienist and wasn't entirely happy with the treatment plan. His office staff asked me if I wanted all the x-rays they had taken so that I could get a second opinion (apparently this is pretty common) so I took them up on it. I consulted another orthodontist who had treated a friend's daughter and liked him (and his treatment plan) much better, and the cost was about 10% lower, too!

 

[liamsaunt]

My DH has braces put on when he was 32. He had all sorts of issues and wore them for about 4 years to get everything fixed (including some mistakes the ortho made but that is for another thread). He did have the ceramic ones, and it is true, they definitely stain. If you drink coffee, tea, red wine, even soda, in fairly short order the brackets start to look pretty dingy. Frankly, I think he would have been better off with the metal backets. They have the "mini" metal brackets that can be used instead of the big honkers we wore as kids, so they are not as noticable.

I think invisilign only works for very basic ortho issues--you can correct a simple overbite, but I think for more complicated scenarios, such as crowding, you'd need the full braces. I actually had invisilign (or a variant thereof, I don't remember if it was called that) for my retainer once I got my braces off.

 

[disney4me4ever]

I agree--get a second opinion. I got my braces on when I turned 40 due to TMJ. There could be reasons why metal is recommended over ceramic, but there aren't many. I would absolutely get a second opinion. Bottom line is, it's a big investment and committment. Go with what you want.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

my DF was 21 when he had his braces. and he had the wire ones. he only had to wear them for a year and a half. i know i'm going to need braces, myself. i'll probably try and get the invisalign clear ones if i can. if not, i'll have to deal. i'd rather have straight teeth.

 

[JVL1018]

Did he tell you what needs to be done? The only reason mine would be so expensive is because the surgery has to be done in the hospital under anesthesia, and I don't have insurance to cover it.

If you can do it, go for it! 2 years or so, of wearing metal is worth it.

He said he would write everything up and send me the report and we'd go from there. He took impressions, had his assistant write down everything he told her as he looked through my mouth and told me it would be more complex than usual because of my crossbite(back teeth are not crooked but the top and bottom don't meet up perfectly when I bite)
and the fact that I'm an adult and my jaw/teeth are more "set" than they are as a tween/teenager.
Oh and I have a tongue thrust-when I swallow I push my tongue against my top teeth. I googled that--OMG glad my teeth don't look like those! Guess mine isn't that bad.
He said I might have to get a tooth extracted, but maybe not because I've already had all my wisdom teeth out.Then he took a head X ray and a panoramic Xray and he'll check those out, I guess.

He didn't give me any definitive answers, just told me to wait for his report and then figure out what was going on.

I expected them to be like okay, here's the problem, take some impressions and come back for me to put your braces on. What do I know?

 

[JVL1018]

Thank you all so much for the replies! You've really helped me feel better about this!!!

I did a little reading and apparently the metal ones are better than the ceramic, for bite problems(which I have).

Plus now that I realize that ceramic may take longer and they stain(I drink A LOT of tea) maybe they aren't right for me anyway.
I'll find another ortho for a second opinion, after I see his report.

My insurance is semi good. Pays 60% $2000 max and no age limit which is good. I'll pay whatever it takes to have straighter teeth--within reason!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I had a palate expander and it wasn't surgically applied. Get a second opinion on that one.

 

[dhcoffey]

I got my braces on last December at age 37. I'll have them for about another eight months. I have the metal ones also. I had braces when I was 18 and had the ceramic ones then. I remember how I had to be careful about eating and the staining and all. It wasn't fun. This time I decided on the metal and they are much easier to care for. I was a little self-conscious for the first couple of months but now I don't even think about them at all.