Try £3000.
Braces
- Thread starter Leeum
- Start date
Try £3000.
Deleted member 651465
Deleted member 651465
I had a brace from the age of 16-19 and now they're perfect.
If you have a choice, do it now.. whilst it's free (on the NHS) or you'll be paying through the cheeks for it later on in life.
If you have a choice, do it now.. whilst it's free (on the NHS) or you'll be paying through the cheeks for it later on in life.
I've had braces for 11 years now, and still have another 6months - year left. I've had all types of retainers as well as braces so you could say I'm an old hand at living with them 
I had some serious overcrowding as well as severe underbite. I had braces/retainers for the first 9-10 years as a precursor to surgery (they actually changed the procedure they were going to perform which is one of the reasons I've had braces so long), and I'm just on the last round of orthodontics.
As you might guess I've had braces through Secondary, College and University and to be honest I don't think I was ever treated differently because of them.
Braces (or traintracks/brackets) as many people have already mentioned can be very painful for around a week after they are first put on/after they're tightened. Over the 10 years I've found that after going to get my braces tightened sometimes it would be barely noticeable, whereas other times I couldn't eat for days - it really depends on what your orthodontist is doing, what wires and elastics etc they end up using.
They're not that bad to live with, although you will find food getting caught up in them, and you may find that they rub a little or the end of the wire sometimes pokes into your cheek - just get some orthodontic wax to cushion it.
Retainers are slightly easier to live with as you can obviously take them out
. They do however hinder speech a little, but you get used to it after a few weeks/months.
I've got perfect teeth now and have to say that I'd make the same decision every time!
I had some serious overcrowding as well as severe underbite. I had braces/retainers for the first 9-10 years as a precursor to surgery (they actually changed the procedure they were going to perform which is one of the reasons I've had braces so long), and I'm just on the last round of orthodontics.
As you might guess I've had braces through Secondary, College and University and to be honest I don't think I was ever treated differently because of them.
Braces (or traintracks/brackets) as many people have already mentioned can be very painful for around a week after they are first put on/after they're tightened. Over the 10 years I've found that after going to get my braces tightened sometimes it would be barely noticeable, whereas other times I couldn't eat for days - it really depends on what your orthodontist is doing, what wires and elastics etc they end up using.
They're not that bad to live with, although you will find food getting caught up in them, and you may find that they rub a little or the end of the wire sometimes pokes into your cheek - just get some orthodontic wax to cushion it.
Retainers are slightly easier to live with as you can obviously take them out
. They do however hinder speech a little, but you get used to it after a few weeks/months.I've got perfect teeth now and have to say that I'd make the same decision every time!
I got braces when I was 20 (22 now) had them off just over a year. To begin with was self-concious and they were awkward but learned to live with them. Didn't stop me going out or anything, although I had a tendancy to do a closed mouth smile.
I still wear a retainer at night, as they do tend to move a little bit if I leave it off for too long but I leave them off on the nights they would interfere with social affairs.
I spent around £1400 on them, and I have to say they were completely worth it. Get it done as quickly as possible because obviously the quicker they will come off.
One tip, brace wax will be your best friend for the first few months as it will take your gums and mouth a while to stop getting sore but the wax does work wonders.
I still wear a retainer at night, as they do tend to move a little bit if I leave it off for too long but I leave them off on the nights they would interfere with social affairs.
I spent around £1400 on them, and I have to say they were completely worth it. Get it done as quickly as possible because obviously the quicker they will come off.
One tip, brace wax will be your best friend for the first few months as it will take your gums and mouth a while to stop getting sore but the wax does work wonders.
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My daughter (12 yrs old) has almost finished her treatment now - just got the retainer put in today. Worth every penny of the small fortune we've spent. I'm amazed the difference they can make. She had a twin-block functional appliance, followed by train tracks. These are the before pictures and after pictures that convinced us it would be a good idea to start the treatment about 2 years ago. Prior to that she'd had a much smaller brace to correct a scissor tooth.
She complains of sore teeth immediately after an adjustment and sometimes for a week or so. It was especially noticeable with the train tracks since they were adjusted every month. Nobody seems to take any notice of them at all, and she's certainly had no grief from anyone.
Good luck if you do decide to have them.
She complains of sore teeth immediately after an adjustment and sometimes for a week or so. It was especially noticeable with the train tracks since they were adjusted every month. Nobody seems to take any notice of them at all, and she's certainly had no grief from anyone.
Good luck if you do decide to have them.
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Braces are a con! I had them, sure my teeth were perfect for a while! Wisdom teeth come along and oh look my mouth is crowded once again 
Sorry if this thread isn't allowed - just looking for a little advice. Does anyone have braces on their teeth? What are they like to live with?
My bottom teeth are seriously overcrowded and have been that way since I was a wee nipper. Being young and stubborn, I refused any form of treatment for them. As they're getting increasingly hard to keep clean, I've decided to get them sorted. The orthodontist has told me I can either have a fixed brace top and bottom for 24 - 30 months or leave them be. As much as I want to get them done, it's a big commitment as it means persevering with a brace until I'm 20
Do it, your an idiot and will regret it if you don't
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I had my brace at 21 and not long ago had it off at 23
I am glad I had it done later in life. When most people have it done in the teenage years there jaw is still changing and growing. I still have to wear a retainer, but can take it out most of the day and just sleep in it.
I am glad I had it done later in life. When most people have it done in the teenage years there jaw is still changing and growing. I still have to wear a retainer, but can take it out most of the day and just sleep in it.
Deleted member 329
Deleted member 329
i am 23 mate... and i need braces... my top teeth are fooked (thats a genuine dental term btw) from some serious childhood thumb sucking 
something i regret so much now
i had them when i was a teen but they didnt seem to work to well.
i have an appointment with the dental hosp next week..
i really hope they wil suggest surgery for me, i mean i dont think i could handle 3 years of braces at 23
something i regret so much now i had them when i was a teen but they didnt seem to work to well.
i have an appointment with the dental hosp next week..
i really hope they wil suggest surgery for me, i mean i dont think i could handle 3 years of braces at 23
You've got to get the braces done!
I had a recessed tooth as a kid that pushed one of my front teeth forward a bit. It wasn't too bad but it always bothered me. I decided to get it fixed when I was at university and managed to get referred to a dental training college where they do all the work for free. Even though (16 years later) I still have a retainer that I wear at night (it's no hassle and I may not even need it but don't want to take the risk), it's one of the best things I've ever done. 2 or 3 years of hassle for 16 years of happiness with my teeth. Something of a bargain.
I do however remember the first time I got a bar stretched across my teeth with a plate on the roof of my mouth. I could hardly speak at all (it takes a week or two for your tongue to adjust and maybe a couple of months before people can't tell you have a brace just from the sound of your voice) and had to give some talk in my History lecture. I felt pretty embarrassed lisping my way through 10 minutes of a class presentation.
I had a recessed tooth as a kid that pushed one of my front teeth forward a bit. It wasn't too bad but it always bothered me. I decided to get it fixed when I was at university and managed to get referred to a dental training college where they do all the work for free. Even though (16 years later) I still have a retainer that I wear at night (it's no hassle and I may not even need it but don't want to take the risk), it's one of the best things I've ever done. 2 or 3 years of hassle for 16 years of happiness with my teeth. Something of a bargain.
I do however remember the first time I got a bar stretched across my teeth with a plate on the roof of my mouth. I could hardly speak at all (it takes a week or two for your tongue to adjust and maybe a couple of months before people can't tell you have a brace just from the sound of your voice) and had to give some talk in my History lecture. I felt pretty embarrassed lisping my way through 10 minutes of a class presentation.
as it means persevering with a brace until I'm 20
And...?
You want to try being 13 and wearing a brace in the mid 80's wasnt that bad but not exactly a hip thing to have at that age
when i had my braces, i was in near constant agony because my cheeks/lips would get pushed onto the little titanium thingies attached to the teeth = one hole in my lip for every tooth (the internal scars are still there, 4 years on) and i still have the scars on my gums from where the wire that connected them was too long by so much that it actually went right into my gums.
after the treatment, my teeth were fine, and i had to wear a retainer. after about 4 weeks of wearing the retainer, it stopped fitting (i'd only take it off to sleep, wore it all the time other than that) because my teeth had started developing again.
since i've already had in on the NHS, and they screwed up (did it too early) i've got a horrific lower jaw which might need to be fixed later on, at great cost to me.
seriously, most agony i've ever felt, and i've had my jaw completely destroyed and ruptured both eardrums, simultaneously.
after the treatment, my teeth were fine, and i had to wear a retainer. after about 4 weeks of wearing the retainer, it stopped fitting (i'd only take it off to sleep, wore it all the time other than that) because my teeth had started developing again.
since i've already had in on the NHS, and they screwed up (did it too early) i've got a horrific lower jaw which might need to be fixed later on, at great cost to me
.seriously, most agony i've ever felt, and i've had my jaw completely destroyed and ruptured both eardrums, simultaneously.
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I had braces when I was 11... was meant to have them for 2 years but only needed them 11 months. The retainers (the plastic things) you only have to wear at night and I don't mind them at all but you MUST wear them for at least a few years after - I still wear them about twice a week now as my wisdom teeth are coming through (I'm 16) and they keep my teeth completely straight. A friend of mine stopped wearing them after about a year and had to have another brace put on behind his teeth which will be there for life to keep his teeth straight.
As for pain, the worst bit is when they stick rubber bits between your molars before putting the brace on (so that they can put the end of the brace on). The brace itself isn't as bad but aches for a few days, and tightening it, you get used to.
It's not that hard to keep clean. I just brushed my teeth twice a day for about a minute each time and didn't worry too much about keeping my brace clean.
As for pain, the worst bit is when they stick rubber bits between your molars before putting the brace on (so that they can put the end of the brace on). The brace itself isn't as bad but aches for a few days, and tightening it, you get used to.
It's not that hard to keep clean. I just brushed my teeth twice a day for about a minute each time and didn't worry too much about keeping my brace clean.
I had my brace at 21 and not long ago had it off at 23
Same here almost. Had it on at 22 and off at 24, just under 2 years altogether. Do wish that I'd had it younger as it would have saved a lot of money but I got to choose to have ceramic fixtures which weren't as noticeable as the metal ones.
They're no big deal. Just carry a dental brush everywhere in case food gets stuck in them.