ladylisa

Well I've got to the ripe old age of 34 with crooked teeth (not too badly I might add) and now I've decided enough and made an appointment to see an orthodontist. Unfortunately my dental insurance policy doesn't cover any of the costs, as you have to be under 18 (no wonder so many kids have braces here) anyway I'm going to find out my options. I'm a bit nervous of the concept of wearing a brace at my age and wonder if people will stare but then I'm thinking if I dont bite the bullet and go for it it will be another year down the line and I could have just got on with it. My only other issue is that before the end of the year I may be back in the UK so I will have to make sure that a UK dentist will be able to take over my care, hopefully that wont be an issue. I'm wondering how many here have had braces at an older age or know someone who has and if they got any unwanted attention because of it?

Jerseygirl

You might be fitted with one of those invisible braces. Let me know how you go one as my hubby is thinking of doing exactly the same thing.

ladylisa

My consultation is next week I'm wondering if anyone can suggest any questions that I should be asking the Dentist?

Jerseygirl

What type of brace will be used and for how long. How much is the total cost going to be.

Bob

In the UK, won't be properly covered by the NHS if your over 18, and it'll cost a fair bit...my teeth aren't bad, and I've had braces as a kid, but have a slight overbite since I had them, and was quoted £2.5K on the NHS and would take a few years, well a couple years for the waiting list for the braces, but a year to get the op to chop my jaw down a bit, which would time nicely apparently, or I could have done it privately and would have cost between £10-16K and I could have had my jaw removed, sliced and teeth moved back within a week, and then had the braces a couple months later, still would have been 2 years of work though...and braces hurt like buggery the first few weeks they go in.

Bob

and cost of repair to braces, especially if it's those rail tracks, those elastic bands and wires break all the time, want to make sure those are included in cost etc.

ladylisa

wow thats alot, I have a feeling braces here will be about $3000 or so. I am going to ask my brother to phone his dentist in the Uk and ask how much for comparison.

dunroving

Colleague of mine has had those for about a year now. He didn't tell me he was getting them and to be honest I really didn't notice he was wearing them; they really are invisible. Pretty disgusting when he takes them off before eating though.

Jerseygirl

My hubby was quoted several thousand pounds in the UK, I don't think the NHS would cover any of the cost, but that was about 15 yrs ago.

Jerseygirl

Don't tell me he used to take them out at the table and put them in glass.

bored-silly

Make sure you ask how long you will have to wear the retainers after you have the braces removed.

BigDavyG

Ask about "invisiline".
I believe that your dentist should be able to take a mould of your teeth and then he can fit the removeable brace himself.
Unless your teeth ar really bad I think it looks a bit odd for anyone out of their teens to have the full train track get up.

dunroving

Not too far off the truth. He puts them in the plastic case. I think sometimes he just forgets until he gets to the table.

Jerseygirl

OMG Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww :scared:

Bob

The missus, her orthodontist treatment, could have bought a small merc for the cost of it *lol*