Eternity - Overjet, Overbite, crowding- no jaw surgery !!

Message

#1 Post by **eternitybc** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:03 pm

I've made the appt. I had an initial consultation with 4 orthodontists- Number 4 seems to be the winner. I'm comfortable with him- and his treatment plans seems to mesh with what I'm looking for. This was just the initial consultation, I'm scheduled to get x-rays in Mid feb. After he's studied those, he'll give me an exact treatment plan and price. I was quoted from 6,500 - 7,500. Vague I know, but d so far quotes are 6,900- 8,000. So I can live with that range. Plus, I have to pay $450 for the xrays, even if I dont go ahead with it, so I have to make sure I'm doing this!

I have a deep bite, where my upper teeth cover my bottom teeth. I also have an overjet, not sure how many mm. One side of my teeth is molar on top of molar, the other side is ok. My teeth have kind of sunk into my mouth- I had some teeth pulled, and no braces put in to correct the spaces. When I smile, my teeth look fine. You can only see the top ones, and they're fairly straight. So I don't know what I'm doing, except I've always wanted perfect teeth, and every orthodontist I've been to agrees my mought and bite are a mess

So this is it- I thoguth I'd post now, since the actual brace day isn't scheduled until March 9th! I'm disappointed- I thought I'd get them like, next week. Oh well- I'll post pics of my teeth as soon as I can figure out how. Wish me luck!

#2 Post by **antsika** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:35 pm

Welcome eternitybc and good luck for you! I am awaiting your pics!

I know waiting is the worst part, as soon as we have made the decision, we want the braces right now! But we have to learn to be patient, teeth are moving slowly, and maybe this is the first step

Good luck for your journey!

#3 Post by **platinum** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 3:04 pm

Welcome!

It seems that our teeth are from the same mold

have a deep bite, where my upper teeth cover my bottom teeth. I also have an overjet, not sure how many mm. One side of my teeth is molar on top of molar, the other side is ok.

I have exactly same problems! my overjet is 6 mm

My teeth will be fixed with barces. First lower teeth, because my incissor are 3 mm higher that the premolars. 6-9 months with lower braces and with an upper retainer, later upper braces. I got my spacers today

I guess I waited same time as you before getting braces. This was because I did not really time to do it.

#4 Post by **eternitybc** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 2:58 pm

Pics below- I photographed the actual sheet I got from the ortho, but you can basically see my teeth fine. Looking at the pic, they dont look that bad to me. Worth $8,000? Well, if I have to do it eventually anyways, might as well get it over with now, right?

So what do you think ?

You can see that whem I bite down, you can't see my bottom teeth. And on my right hand side, teeth are one on top of the other... had 2 orthos recommend surgery to fix, this one seems to think elastics will work. I hope so!! I'm also missing quite a few teeth, and you can see both top and bottom have kind of sunk into my mouth- so they'll need to be pulled out. And the midline on my lower jaw needs to be fixed- with the elastics. And looking now- I guess it does seem like I have buck teeth! Ok, Ok, I need braces! Geesh...march though. Thats close to my brithday!

#5 Post by **SUGARANGEL** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 4:31 pm

Hello eternitybc,

Welcome to this site

.....$8,000.00?????????????????????????????????????? In your pictures your teeth dont look that bad to me at all. My gosh! To me it looks like yours is minor. Should be less than $8,000.00. Mine is $3,200.00 to get my 4mm overjet, 70 percents deepbite, minor narrow on top and bottom teeth and midline are off to the left fixed. My orthodontist said it would be 2 years. Before I got braces, my front top deep are too deep to my bottom teeth closer to gum line. I have overjet on the left side. Right now not sure how much mm overjet and percents deepbite left. I will take another xray next year before braces taken off. Maybe you need to check into some more different orthodontist before you will be able to find lower price than $8,000.00. I guess all orthodontist have the different opinions. All orthodontist are not the same. I was told that some orthodontists and doctors just wanted the money. My step daughter got braces since December 2005. Only cost her mother little more than mine price. Good luck!

#6 Post by **platinum** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 6:34 pm

nice pictures!

$8000 sounds a lot! Your teeth are quite straight to start with and your problems are similar to mine. I pay $6000, which is quite normal price in my area.

hmmm. what kind braces you are getting with this price? I guess ,lingual and invisalign are more expensive that regular metallic ones.

I think you should go an have more consultations.

#7 Post by **SUGARANGEL** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:13 am

Hey, Where do you live?

#8 Post by **eternitybc** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:05 pm

Weird, I had replied to this last night but it isn't showing up! Must have been my wonky computer.

I should have quantified- I live in Vancouver BC, Canada... in answer to your question SUGARANGEL. So yes, braces do seem to cost more here. I went to four orthodontists, and called one who told me they START at 9,000 at her office (so I didnt do the consult with her). The other offices varied from 6,900 - 8,000. So I expect I will be on the higher end of 7,500 when I get my final price.

I was offered invisalign by a specialist here, but I would need jaw surgery to correct my overjet. He said I would get the same results using either invisalign or metal. Well, the other 3 ortho's told me different- I am NOT a candidate for invisalign, cause I need elastics or an herbst appliance to correct the overjet (which can be done without surgery!). I liked the idea of invisalign, but I was weary of jaw surgery if it isn't necessary. I was also weary of the ortho- who said an appliance etc would not help (why did the other three think it would?). So I like the one I chose. price is ok, and his method is good. He had tons of teeth molds on the wall fo rme to look at, of before and afters- which I liked! One ortho's book didn't really look great to me, to be honest. He says I'll have a perfect bite when treatment is done, minus the missing mollars (or premolars, sorry, I have no idea).

KK- sorry, thats what I meant, my teeth kind of cave in. When I said buck teeth, I mean my two front look a little bigger than the rest, kind of stand out. Wrong terminology I guess!

SUGARANGEL- gez, where are you located??? LOL 3,200!!! Though in all fairness, my workplace will cover 40%, up to 3,000. So 7,000 - 3,000 is only 4,000 Canadian out of my pocket- thats why I want to do this now. Not really happy with my job, thinking of leaving in a few months- so figured get baces while i'm covered

I know my teeth don't look BAD, in fact you only see the tops when you smile, but if I have to do it later anyways, why not.

I'm really psyched. I can't wait to get them now. I'm going to get ceramics on the tops I think. I did notice some posters who wished they had gone to all metal though- any thoughts? Perhaps I could save some money, too.

And so nervous!! Do I really want to go through 8,000 and 2 years, to fix teeth that aren't really that bad? I'm 50/50 right now. So tempted to cancel the appointment and say forget it. Of course,I'll regret it right away if I did. Sigh. I wish I could have just gotten them, like today!!

#9 Post by **roadster1200xl** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:12 pm

At least the currency values for Australian, Canadian, and U.S. dollars are in the same ballpark. I get $4000 Canadian to be $4300 Australian and $3400 U.S.

Oh, and good luck with whatever treatment plan you choose, eternitybc. Your teeth don't look too bad at all, but then I'm an engineer not an orthodontist.

#10 Post by **SUGARANGEL** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:12 pm

Hello Eternitybc,

I live in Georgia. I agree with roadster122xl. I have 4mm overjet, my orthodontist said I do not need surgery and braces will fix it. Right now I am wearing elastics to fix the overjet. Like I said yesterday orthodontist do not have the same opinions. Traditional metal braces are more cheaper. Clear brackets such as ceramics and ice brackets are more expensive than metal. That is what I was told by my orthodontist. At first, I wanted clear brackets braces and she said with the way my teeth condition she suggested me to use metal braces so I accepted what she said. I think u should go and have more consulatations.

#11 Post by **eternitybc** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:02 pm

Huh. I've consulted with 5 ortho's price wise- that seems to be the range for my area. I might be able to save $800 - $1000 (according to price range other have had) by going to Surrey- but thats an hour drive each way, and the frequency I'd be going, it isn't worth it to me. I already commute to and from work at 40 minutes each way- the place I chose is close to work. Also, I've pretty much exhausted all the free consultation orthodontists. I don't want to pay $90 per consult, only to hear the same thing (which is why i aske the 5th ortho what the braces range would be- she said they staretd at 8,000 for regular metal and went up to 14,000 for lungual or invisalign- this is without seeing me, so just a START). With gas prices at 1.04 per LITER, I'd probaby spend more money in gas driving to and from Surrey than I'd save with the ortho.

I'll look around- I have til mid February before I'm scheduled for the x-rays. After I pay $450, I'm not going to switch. But if I see another ortho in my area I'll check it out! But 6,500 isnt too bad- if I end up on the low end. And 7,500 isn't awful either- when I consider work pays 3,000. I can handle 4,500. I'd like LESS, for sure, but...we'll see! Thanks!

#12 Post by **SUGARANGEL** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:19 pm

Hey there again,

Yes, I understand completed. I know Canada are very big! I have never been there. Curious, Is it high life there? Anyway, Just wanted to say Good luck with your treatment. It will be worth it in the end and you will be very happy with your new smile!!!!! My braces made my top and bottom teeth widen already. Weird. It is fun to watch it move day by day. I just caaaaaant wait for my braces off next year. Let us know how it went. Take care

#13 Post by **eternitybc** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:28 pm

I dont know if anyone here reads the "Invisalign" thread, so I'll post here.

A certified, premier invisalign orthodotist, who specializes in invisalign, has said I am a candidate. Maybe he has more experience than the other ortho's, I don't know. But he's 6,900 for total treatment. He DID say I could not fully correct the overjet without jaw surgery.

Current ortho that I plan to see has told me 1-2 mm of overjet are considered ideal, and he can bring me there with regular braces no surgery. He will sue elastics on one side of the mouth. Of course, xrays are $450 and I cant get a final price/treatment plan til after that. So I'm paying minimum $6930 for metal braces... possibly over 8,000... when i can get invisalign cheaper. I'm leaning towards the invisalign. Thoughts/Opinions? ANyone think I can get a better result with metal than invisalign, one worth up to $1,000 and 2 years in metal?

#14 Post by **MsViola** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:29 am

eternitybc - Welcome! It is true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Your teeth look quite nice to me. I have a deep overbite (100%) and a minimal overjet so to hear you refer to yourself as having "buck" teeth is funny. Luckily, my teeth are straight and white. Hopefully all can be corrected with/without extractions (still pondering that one). I absolutely refuse to do surgery. I will be happy to have my jaw realigned and if my teeth look like yours in regards to overbite and overjet at the end I will be more than happy.

Good luck you should come out looking great.

P.S. - Braces are very expensive in your area. I am only paying $5,200.00 for 24-30 mths of treatment, follow-up and retainers.

#15 Post by **eternitybc** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 4:42 pm

Thanks Viola!

yes, i know they're expensive- one of the most expensive cities in Canada, too- but I dont want to drive a couple of hurs for every adjustment, you know? And the invisalign doctor is actually cheaper than most!

I'm thinking your right. i started doing this to correct my BITE.... which the dentist keeps telling me is wearing my teeth away, and i'll have stubs when i'm old. Well great. But I dont want to spend 2 years in metal and almost 5 grand of my own money if I'm not going to see much if any improvement in my smile... Im just selfish, but thats a lot of money and effort. If I can get invisalign however... with no impact....I'm really leaning towards it right now. I dont see 8,000 worth of adjustments needed to my teeth!! And not worth 2 years of metal mouth for me... I'm planning a month vacation, at least once in the 2 years. the pre-made trays would be easier to work around than an ortho consult every 2-3 weeks..