considering getting braces

[joney]

Hi I'm 41 and considering getting braces, I live in London. My eldest daughter had a brace and her teeth are lovely now. My youngest daughter had an orthodontic appointment recently. Kids get them for free here in the UK, adults unfortunately don't. The orthodontist was wearing a brace so I asked about it and was told to come back for a consultation.

I was told that there would be no reason why my teeth couldn't be straightened out. What is worrying me however is that previously I have had a tooth removed on the top as a teenager and my two top wisdom teeth out. The orthodontist thought that I may need another tooth removed on the top but none removed on the bottom. This would mean I would have 12 teeth on the top and 16 on the bottom. I wonder if anybody else there has ended up with this type of configeration.

I also have extremely overcrowded teeth on the bottom and am mystified as to how the orthodontist can straighten these without extractions. To be honest I am terrified that I could end up losing these teeth if too much strain is put on them. The orthodontist proposes using the damon system.

Am I being silly? Has anybody "lost" teeth as a result of treatment? At the moment my teeth don't cause me any problems. Could interfering with them cause problems?

Hope there is somebody out there with similar experiences who might be able to reassure me.

[joney]

Hi Karen

Thanks for your reply. I was so happy to get your response. My husband and kids told me off for being impatient and promised me that somebody would respond.

The cat is Roisin and she also has a brother Black Beauty (my kids named them!). I am Irish but I live in London with my husband, two daughters, two cats and a hamster.

I think I will seek a second orthodontic opinion before I commit to anything. I have been inspired by this site but am still nervous myself but would love nice teeth. I don't want a Hollywood smile, a normal smile would do.

Your teeth look great to me. Very nice pearlies indeed.

I've got to bring my youngest daughter to the orthodontist on Thursday so it will give me a chance to talk to the receptionists again. They are both in the 40s and have had work done at the practice. My work colleague said it sounds like a set up but I don't want to be so cynical.

Will let you know how I get on. One way or another I think I have lived with horrible crowded teeth for enough of my life so I hope to do something with them soon.

Regards
Joney

[joney]

Thanks for the good wishes Rage 31. I think I may be becoming addicted to this site. Did anybody else find that? I need to break off now or I won't be able to get up in the morning for work.

[eaglesoaring]

joney-
Hello! And welcome! No concern is "silly"! We all have our fears. I got my braces 7 weeks ago, and have been incredibly impressed with the movement of my teeth! On the bottom, one tooth was slanted, and overlapped the one next to it...and now, they're BARELY overlapped. Granted, they're still crooked, but they're much more straight than they were!

I got 4 or 5 opinions before I committed to any one Ortho. Yes, the opinions were all different...but they did have a few similarities. It was confusing to decide on what was most important to me. And I pondered it for a while. And with the help of some of the kind people on this board, I went with the one that I felt was best for me...and offered a good solution.

I have the same amount of teeth on top and bottom, but at this point, they don't line up. So, just because you have the SAME amount, top/bottom, doesn't necessarily mean that they line up, and give you a good bite. And I've read about many people that have had extractions, which lead to different numbers of teeth, top and bottom...and yet, they now have a perfect bite!

As I got older, and after having all four of my wisdom teeth out, my teeth started to shift. Yes they were crooked before, but it seemed that they became MORE crooked, causing my tongue and jaw some discomfort. That was my main reason to seek treatment. But, getting straight teeth is going to be a wonderful bonus!

I am very happy that I decided to seek treatment. It was one of the best decisions I've made. I'm not sure if I would have gone through with it, had it not been for this board. I've had good days with my braces, and I've had bad days, but I know that eventually, I'll be proud of myself for doing this.

I would suggest that you write down a list of question before you go in on Thursday. If you're unsure of what to ask, just surf this board for a bit, and you'll probably find that the postings here will conjure up many questions.

I wish you the best of luck, and keep us updated. I think we all like to follow others' progress. Oh, and smile!
eagle

[joney]

Thanks for responding eaglesoaring and KK.

I'm still trying to work my way around this site and discover more.

It is so nice to know that there are people out there who are going through the same thing and supporting each other.

I will let everybody know how the trip with my daughter goes tomorrow. I'll speak with the receptionists again. I'm still seeking recommendations for another orthodontist.

I find that since I started thinking about getting my teeth sorted I am noticing other peoples' teeth a lot more, good and bad! I also feel a lot more self conscious about my own teeth, I never really did before but hated photos of myself smiling.

My kids have accused me of becoming obsessed with teeth. I don't think they like the fact that I am on the computer so much. They are used to pretty much having a monopoly on me and the computer! This is a big step for me and I want to make sure that I am happy with the treatment plan.

I will be getting my teeth cleaned soon and may post pictures then. I am a smoker so they don't look so hot when they're stained.

I will be on holiday from Saturday so may not be able to check in here so much. I plan to start the ball rolling after I return in mid August so you may be hearing a lot more from me then.

Thanks for the support
Joney