Not another newbie!

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#1 Post by **Memran** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 5:09 am

Hello, my first post on here!

At the age of 29, I've finally decided to sort out my aweful teeth.

I've recently overheard my girlfriend talking about me (evesdroppers never hear things they like..) and more specifically my teeth. I won't go into details but its the icing on the cake for me, since I've wanted to get my smile sorted out for a long time but lacked courage to do it.

Now, after 16 years since my last visit to the dentist I've had a check up this morning, mainly to get some piece of mind that everything is healthy and safe to begin orthodontic work. It turns out there are no issues preventing me from taking this further.

There seems to be only one orthodontist on my area (within 40 miles) so I payed them a visit. I was surprised that the initial consultation was not free, but was Â£95, although if I decide to go ahead wth treatment its taken off the bill.

Is it normal to do this? Don't get me wrong, I'm not worried about the money, its just not quite what I expected. I guess they have to make their money for the time they spend, but it may turn out that they can't do what I want.

Anyway I'm hoping that I'll be told I'm a condidate for lingual braces on the top, partly for aesthetics and partly because 'normal' braces would very likely prevent me from playing my trumpet. Maybe lingual will too, but I think its less likely. I don't really care too much about what goes on the bottom as thats hardly visible when talking or smiling (smiling... I wish...), and most pressure on the mouthpiece of the trumpet is on the top when I play.

Does anyone on here know what factors dictate whether or not lingual braces are an option?

Thanks for reading my ramblings!

Rob

#2 Post by **elpi** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 5:25 am

Hi, I'm a newbie here too

I don't know anything about lingual braces I'm afraid but I do know that my initial consult with the orthodontist (which consisted of a look at my teeth, 2 X-rays and a longish conversation) cost me Â£90, so assuming you're in the UK too the price seems pretty consistent

#3 Post by **gwynneth23** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 6:41 am

Hi there, and welcome! Well done for taking the plunge. I got my braces last Oct, so I'm pretty new too.

Yep the consultation fee seems pretty standard here in the UK. I paid Â£80 for an appointment with x-rays and moulds. I wasn't too keen on the treatment he was proposing, so after a bit of agonising (and checking with my dentist) I decided I would get a 'second opinion' just to be sure.

Annoyingly, the first ortho couldn't (or wouldn't) release my x-rays etc (he said he was obliged legally to keep them for 10 years... I can see that might be true, but surely as the patient I'm entitled to see/have them? Anyone else know about this?). So I had to pay Â£70 to have the whole lot done again with a different ortho.

Fortunately I liked her a lot better; she took the time to explain stuff; and she was happy to just do the top teeth and not the bottom, which is what I wanted - it's only for cosmetic reasons, my bite etc are all OK. So it was worth investing the extra Â£70 to find someone I liked/trusted, plus it will end up costing me Â£1400 less!

#4 Post by **martinboyce** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 6:58 am

I got my xrays ok.

As i was paying i saw that my xrays and photos were on his computer i asked if i could have them emailed to me, for my own record, which he did without quible.

Hence why i flash um round on here like they are a trophy.

I guess from and orthos point of vew trusting someone elses xrays might be a risk so is considered not worth it.

Saying that, the dentist used my orthos xrays when extracting my teeth.

So basically comes down to the first ortho being a A-hole!

#5 Post by **Memran** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:21 am

Today I've made an appointment for my first consultation, week on Monday... Hopefully it should be a good opportunity to see if I'm going to like and trust the ortho.

Wish it could have been sooner!

#6 Post by **lionfish** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:19 pm

Memran, most issues that regular braces are used to treat can also be treated with linguals. I had upper linguals and lower ceramics, which worked fine for me. Not all orthos offer linguals, however, as the cost is higher and they're more finicky to work with.

All the best.

#7 Post by **Memran** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:29 am

After making the appointment, I left with a large pile of leaflets and brochures. It appears from these leaflets that this ortho offers "incognito" linguals and invisalign, as well as ceramics and 'normal' metal braces.

Fingers crossed