Where is everyone from?

Message

#1 Post by **poppy123** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 5:47 am

Cant help but notice the majority of people on this forum are from USA. Is it quite 'the norm' for adults to have braces in America? its not here in England. I get suprised looks all the time and have yet to meet another adult in braces. Most peope are very supportive (a few commented on the price and said i must be rich which annoyed me....coz im not!). I think its getting more popular over here now though.

#2 Post by **Emmauk** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 5:54 am

I am in the UK, Essex to be precise.

x

#3 Post by **seriousthinker** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 5:57 am

I'm from the UK too. I get quite excited when I see people in braces (adults). My friend has a brace and I saw a shop assistant wearing braces a few weeks ago but most other people I see braced aren't adults.

ST

#4 Post by **haywire** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 6:03 am

Romania

#5 Post by **revontuli** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 6:38 am

Interesting thread! I'm from USA (Minnesota) but wish I lived in New Zealand.

#6 Post by **BraceFace2o1o** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 6:43 am

I am from the South East of the UK (near Essex).

I notice most users tend to be from the US too, so have it in my head that it's more popular to have braces as an adult over there than it is over here. Maybe because of insurance? in the US alot are covered by that and get quite a chunk paid for... over here it's a bit different? Well I don't have any insurance (and never have done) and I will have to pay all the treatment cost.
I actually only know of dental insurance and have no idea whether it covers orthodontic treatment

I notice alot of people have free consultations in the US where as I don't personally know of any in the UK. I have had two so far and the first charged £100, the second £130.

#7 Post by **bookfairy** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:25 am

Central Europe.

It's not common for adults to have braces here, so I am only getting positive feedback!

#8 Post by **poppy123** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:30 am

I had a free consultation. I had paid a deposit for one in the city centre, but it was 12 weeks wait and i got impatient so i kept looking then i found a local one offering free consulation and free whitening and they fitted me in the very next day....then 7 days later i had brace fitted!!

the people in Uk, just wondering....how long have they estimated you keeping your brace on for??

#9 Post by **Flaka** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:45 am

I am from Ecuador but have been in the US for over 10 years. I had braces back home but I was a rebel teenager and took them off myself with pliers

so now, I am paying the consequences again.

In my experience, Orthodontic treatment, here in the US is not usually covered by insurance. Most insurance covers little to nothing, unless you have great dental insurance and even then you will have to pay a good chunk out of pocket for the insurance.
When you have insurance through your work, you still have to pay a percentage of the insurance that is deducted from each paycheck. There are employers who will pay 100% of your medical insurance but I am not sure about dental. Orthodontic treatment in the US is considered as a "cosmetic" procedure, therefore not covered by insurance.

My treatment cost is $6300. My insurance paid $1000 (including the consultation fee) and I paid $5300 out of pocket.

Most consultations are "free" when you decide to go with the Ortho you are seeing as they include the consultation fee in the total treatment price. I am sure other people have different experiences.

I think that a lot of people here in the US get braces for cosmetic reasons due to the "hollywood culture" and the pressure from society to look "perfect". I am not against these people. If you can fix something, do it and good for you, but that is just my opinion

#10 Post by **BraceFace2o1o** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:46 am

poppy123 wrote:I had a free consultation. I had paid a deposit for one in the city centre, but it was 12 weeks wait and i got impatient so i kept looking then i found a local one offering free consulation and free whitening and they fitted me in the very next day....then 7 days later i had brace fitted!!

That sounds good!

I totally forgot to mention in my previous post. The consultation fee charged by Ortho number 2 will be knocked off the overall price if I go ahead with treatment. The consultation fee charged by Ortho number 1 wouldn't get knocked off the treatment cost if I went ahead.
So if I go ahead with Ortho number 2 then my consultation will have been free.

#11 Post by **poppy123** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 8:09 am

Chrystal, how long have they said you need it for? im really interested why everyone in the US has been told 1-3 years etc and mine is only 6 months. Mine is cosmetic only, but i presumed most adults having braces were for cosmetic braces.

#12 Post by **BraceFace2o1o** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 8:15 am

poppy123 wrote:Chrystal, how long have they said you need it for? im really interested why everyone in the US has been told 1-3 years etc and mine is only 6 months. Mine is cosmetic only, but i presumed most adults having braces were for cosmetic braces.

He didn't give me an estimate, but he did say at the least 18 months.

Originally I wanted a brace for cosmetic reasons only (just to straighten the teeth), but after the consultations I discovered I don't only have some crooked teeth, I also have a bite issue, so that will need to be corrected too.

#13 Post by **poppy123** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 8:22 am

im really suprised. i really think i must be quite lucky. I honestly thought (after reading up on braces etc) that most adults would just have a 6 month brace for cosmetic reasons (coz thats what all the websites promote). I had decided that if it was over 2 years id have done without, but anything under that and id go for it.

#14 Post by **poppy123** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 8:35 am

bet you're all going 'Ggggrrrrrrrr 6 months...hate her'

#15 Post by **kaylaa** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 8:40 am

I'm from western Canada and I'm my last two jobs, they have both had orthodontic coverage.