My $20,000 Smile ~ Australia.

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#1 Post by **aleeshah10** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 1:50 am

Hi Everyone.

This is going to be my journey from start to finish. I live in Perth, Australia.

I have currently got my top teeth braced with ceramic braces. I will have top and bottom braces on for approx one year, and then will have Lower Jaw Advancement Surgery with the removal of all four wisdom teeth at the same time, followed by another 6 months of braces, then a retainer for 6 months and finally a permanent bonded wire retainer. So it will be a long process!

My Diagnosis:
~Upper and lower arch dental crowding and irregularity
~Increased overbite and overjet with protruding upper incisors
~Lower teeth and lower jaw too far behind upper teeth and upper jaw
~Small and underdeveloped lower jaw with associated lack of chin projection
~Convex facial profile
~Unsatisfactory and poorly coordinated bite relationship between upper and lower teeth
~Compromised dental, facial and smile esthetics
~Compromised masticatory function
~Unerupted and potentially impacted wisdom teeth

I had spacers on for one week. Which was incredibly painful. My jaw and teeth are really small so there had to be alot of movement to create space for the rings. So I could only eat soft foods and liquids for the week.

I then had top ceramic braces put on and in another month I will get my bottom braces on.

If anyone is interested, the cost of braces was $6900 plus an extra $700 for ceramic upper braces (AU dollars). We payed in full so we saved $345.

We have been quoted $1405 for the removal of wisdom teeth, $5000 for the surgery (including a Genioplasty), $1280 for the anaesthetist and there will also be extra costs for hospital stay (majority is covered by our health insurance) and for the hardware.

So overall it will cost nearly $20,000.

My Spacers.

Facial Profile

#2 Post by **aleeshah10** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 2:28 am

My Gross Teeth

#3 Post by **aleeshah10** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 3:16 am

Treatment Checklist:
1. Consultation with Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon regarding future Orthognathic (jaw) Surgery procedures and extraction of wisdom teeth.
2. Examination, scale and clean and any necessary dental restorative treatment to be completed by your referring dentist.
3. Upper Ceramic braces for 18-24 months (placement).
4. Lower Metal braces for 18-24 months (placement).
5. Six monthly scale/cleaning with general dentist throughout duration of braces treatment.
6. Lower jaw advancement surgery to be carried out by Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon after approximately 12 months of braces treatment.
7. Removal of braces and fitting of upper and lower removable retainer plates 6-12 months after surgery completed.
8. Full Time (24 hrs per day) retainer wear for 6 months.
9. Placement of permanent bonded wire retainers or night-time only removable retainer wear indefinitely.

#4 Post by **Kipepeo** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 12:31 pm

Aleesha, your teeth are not gross. They're very pretty. Your smile, and your face will be so beautiful in such a short time. Welcome!

#5 Post by **NICURN85** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 1:56 pm

Welcome to the board!!
Your teeth do not look bad!!!! It's amazing how your insurance will cover most of the cost for surgery. I know you must feel great about that!!! Make sure to keep us posted and I look forward to following your story.

#6 Post by **aleeshah10** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 11:05 pm

Kipepeo wrote:Aleesha, your teeth are not gross. They're very pretty. Your smile, and your face will be so beautiful in such a short time. Welcome!

Thanks! Hopefully its a short time! Feels like its dragging already

#7 Post by **aleeshah10** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 11:07 pm

NICURN85 wrote:Welcome to the board!!
Your teeth do not look bad!!!! It's amazing how your insurance will cover most of the cost for surgery. I know you must feel great about that!!! Make sure to keep us posted and I look forward to following your story.

Thankyou

Insurance in Australia is pretty good, a bit expensive but works out good in the future

#8 Post by **jem** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 1:32 am

Agree 100% with Kipepeo!

All the best

Jem

#9 Post by **Tobilei** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 2:14 am

Welcome from a fellow Aussie

I don't think your teeth are awful either! They're going to be gorgeous when they're done!

#10 Post by **aleeshah10** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:05 am

Thanks guys! Great to see some Aussies on this forum!

I forgot to introduce myself

I am an 18 year old student from Australia. Ive had problems with my teeth since I lost all my baby teeth. When I was 12 years old I had 4 braces. On the upper front four teeth, I had those for 9 months. Could not see any changes, so I then at 13 had 2 'plates' one for top and bottom. I had those on for a year. For both those braces and plates it cost almost $10,000!.

And once all that was done, there had been little change in the movement of my teeth :/
My family and I became extremely frustrated with all the time and money spent for nothing. My orthodontist now says that having both those things done at such a young age wasn't a good idea, because as I got older my teeth where still moving! However he has never offered us a refund !! Typical.

I was then told at 14 that I should have full top and bottom braces with the extraction of 4 teeth. I had had enough, so decided against it. But now being 18 and realising how self-conscious I am about my teeth, I have decided that I may as well get it done now. Except my teeth are now worse then before, and I now have to have lower jaw advancement surgery as well as braces!! Which I am so worried about!!

So here is my journey. Hopefully this will be the last of my orthodontic experience!!

#11 Post by **curvyivy** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 1:08 pm

Wow, that's a lot of money but, good think your insurance covers a lot of it. That's awesome! Good luck!!

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