Do I really need braces ? Seriously ? I can't have Invisalig

[amy hochberg]

I just came from the Orthodontist who tells me he would guess (it was a first appt) that 3 to 1 odds I am not a candidate for Invisalign. I went to the Orthodontist at the behest of my awesome dentist who for years has been warning me that I would have problems with my lower front teeth such as chipping and eventual breaking because of crowding and some other something he mentioned but which I blanked on as it didn't seem super important at the time... I have never had a cavity, I think the crookedness / crowding is OK looks-wise (doesn't bother me), but I went to see the Orthodontist to follow-up. He says braces, probably 2 years, and I am not a candidate - in his mind - for Invisalign. Maybe this info helps: when I bite down, my top front teeth cover my lower front teeth. He says normally you see about half of the lower front teeth. Anyway, I am freaking out. I am not super vain or anything (at least I never thought so before), but I am a 40 year old woman with a pretty visible social schedule, a huge foodie who enjoys her dining, and apparently a dental nightmare ! Advice ?! Does this make sense ? Help !

[sparkles]

Hmmm tough one I think. On the one hand you aren't concerned about how your teeth look and in the first instance I would say if you aint bothered how your teeth look and it doesn't worry you, then don't go down the braces route. Why go through the whole braces thing if you're happy with the way you are.

On the other hand, your dentist says that you could end up with problems of chipping and breaking further down the line if you don't have any work done. How bad would these problems be..how would they affect your eating, looks, would it hurt, would it mean more expensive treatment in the long run?

I guess only you can weigh them up and decide which route to go down.

Fay

[Nancy51]

Advice ?! Does this make sense ? Help !

Hi, Amy,

I, too, was referred to an excellent orthodontist by an excellent dentist. This circumstance alone is I think sufficient reason to follow their advice.

My slight overbite and minimal crowding were acceptable to me, but I had already managed to chip a tooth a tiny bit. My first indication that what I really didn't notice was nevertheless noticeable to others was the occasional comment from wee kids when I was a substitute teacher. Avoiding more chipping and increasing crowding, as my teeth continued to migrate, was another good reason to put my teeth to the metal.

Food I still enjoy, with a few temporary modifications.

The last and best reason for me was that fact that braces would increase space for my tongue. My teeth seemed to be closing inward from the sides, making it harder to speak.

Two years are half gone, already. Reading and chatting on this list has been the primary reason for making the time fly by. It's also a hoot seeing the reactions of others. Rarely are they negative--especially, I will say, from men.

The time will go by, anyway. Why not allow two years to go by and have a prettier smile to boot?

HTH,

[catfish]

Hmmmm... you sound a bit like me. My dentist suggested braces, and at first I thought No Way! My lower front teeth were crowded, and there was some overlapping going on. But it really didn't show, it definitely didn't bother me, and I viewed it as an entirely cosmetic issue - at first. But soon I had my dentist, periodontist, and orthodontist all in agreement that I needed the braces to save my teeth. I was experiencing significant bone loss on my lower front teeth. They all agreed that getting the crowding straightened out would increase the blood flow to those teeth, and increase the odds that they would stay in my mouth for a while longer.

I was told that I'm not a candidate for Invisalign either, because I required too much movement and rotation. I was still uncomfortable with the idea, and continued to put it off. I didn't get braces until a whole year after my initial ortho consult! The big driver was the day that my lower front teeth started to wiggle - how scary and gross!!!!

So my bottom line is that I wish I'd started before the teeth got loose, but I'm glad I eventually did it. I'm hoping to save my teeth (or at least keep them as long as possible), and I'm seeing improvement over time. I'm looking at a two-year stint to get to the finish line. I also wish I'd found this site a long time ago, because it has been soooooo helpful! I've learned a lot, and I've gotten so much support and reassurance here.

Oh yeah, I'm 48 years old and work in a very people-oriented, technical profession. I've had braces for 10 months, and I've found that people really don't notice the braces. Or if they do, it's not so amazing that they feel a need to comment. The occasional comments I do get are very supportive. Usually from people who had braces and want to share their experience, or people who want to get braces and have questions about the process.

Good luck with your decision! If you go for braces, I hope you will become a frequent visitor on this site. We'll want to hear about your experience, and I'm sure you'll learn a lot from others along the way.

[rolo]

I initially asked for invisalign too and was not a candidate. However the ortho referred me to another ortho who does linguals, braces on the inside of teeth. They are invisable, but give the ortho the same control as conventional fixed braces. Comfort, I have conventional on the bottom and linguals on the top, I prefer linguals. The disadvantages cost, twice that of conventional, and less orthos offer them. Anyway just an option for you to consider.

[purpleteeth]

Need is based on medical.
Want is based on everything else.

Bottom line, do you really want braces? If you aren't bothered and there aren't medical issues involved... why put yourself through it unless you want it!

I medically needed braces, so I didn't care if they looked funny. I just needed the pain to go away so I could function better in everyday life. The cost is killing me, but it is so worth it to have a better quality of life... which braces have given me.

[PARR]

sounds familiar If in doubt get second opinions from another ortho. And yes, check with a perio too. Tooth loss can come from gums that don't get proper stimulation etc from the way way the teeth mesh etc. As far as social etc and being a foodie, it is less traumatic than you imagine. Lots of men and women out there taking great care of their oral health and living fully.

[blzrul]

You sound like me, except I'm older. I finally made the jump and am now realizing I should have done it some time ago, as i can see the uneven wear on my teeth, etc. I am probably going to have to have them leveled off or even veneered when done with braces because of the overbite. And crossbite.

My teeth didn't look bad, cosmetically. I was never self-conscious. But you will find your teeth will continue to shift - mine seem to have shifted a LOT between 40 and 50. So it might be better to get it over with now.