Braces again after 23 years

Message

#1 Post by **Texas Teacher** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 2:44 pm

I went to the dentist Thursday thinking I had a cavity in one of my rear molar teeth. I had braces many years ago as a teenager and am now 2 weeks from my 38th birthday. The dentist took x rays and could not find anything that was causing my severe pain. He consulted with an Orthodontist in the office and came to the conclusion my teeth are shifting back into a crooked bite and crowding the front teeth on my upper jaw. My bottom teeth have also become a very little out of alighn since I had my fist braces. My upper jay is causing severe pain and headaches. He advised Invisilign or braces and I am goint to see another Ortho to get a second opinion and will probably get ceramic braces. Anyone ever dealt with this type of issue, I am very down about this whole thing.

#2 Post by **hhangel** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:08 pm

Growing up we couldn't afford braces. I finally got them at 24 back in the 80's when no adults had them really. I just wanted nice teeth finally. Had wisdom teeth pulled, a couple of other teeth to make room. The end result after 2 years were gorgeous teeth.

As the years have gone on, I had some periodontal issues and I noticed that my teeth started shifting. Then about a year and half ago I fell flat on my face (broke my nose and the bone below the nose), didn't break any teeth but I did enough minor trauma that they shifted a bit more.

I made an appt. with my kids ortho and asked them about cost and time for me. With insurance that will pay for part of it and the assurance that 9 months would do it, I went ahead. I am now 3 months away from getting them off. I went with ceramics on the top and metal on the bottom.

I didn't go with invisaligns as my friends that did get them said that they did a nice job, but not a great job.

My teeth look so nice again. Go for it whichever way works best for you.

#3 Post by **Texas Teacher** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:43 pm

is there a reaason they put ceramics on top and metal on bottom, Price, size of teeth what?

#4 Post by **Texas Teacher** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 7:49 pm

I am very concerned that the first Orthodontist "jumped" at the advice of braces or invisalign. He went over the fact I have a couple of cavities, none of which are caousing the pain I have that need to be taken care of first. I do have a shift in the canines in upper left side of my jaw that he sugggested has caused my front teeth to become crowded. they will do a periodontal (deep cleaning) on the 15th of July, I have an appt. for a second opinion and Monday July 7th. Has anyone ever thought they advised braces just to make a quick buck or are orthodontist very concious about their findings. the particular ortho only does the invisilign treatments, no braces but advised that I am a perfect candidate for invisalign. that is why I chose the 2nd opinon I have heard good and bad things about invisilign, and they do not do in house financing, they want me to go through capitol one at about 8-12% intrest.

I guess i looked at it like going in for an oil change and bam you need new tires, and a new transmision. Very confused.

#5 Post by **Texas Teacher** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 7:49 pm

I am very concerned that the first Orthodontist "jumped" at the advice of braces or invisalign. He went over the fact I have a couple of cavities, none of which are caousing the pain I have that need to be taken care of first. I do have a shift in the canines in upper left side of my jaw that he sugggested has caused my front teeth to become crowded. they will do a periodontal (deep cleaning) on the 15th of July, I have an appt. for a second opinion and Monday July 7th. Has anyone ever thought they advised braces just to make a quick buck or are orthodontist very concious about their findings. the particular ortho only does the invisilign treatments, no braces but advised that I am a perfect candidate for invisalign. that is why I chose the 2nd opinon I have heard good and bad things about invisilign, and they do not do in house financing, they want me to go through capitol one at about 8-12% intrest.

I guess i looked at it like going in for an oil change and bam you need new tires, and a new transmision. Very confused.

#6 Post by **browneyedgrl** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:54 pm

Hi Texas,

I'm a second timer and got braces for the second time 25 years after I got them off. I've been suffering from TMJ, I've also been clenching and grinding as well. I also had some relapse as well, but my major issue was the shifting of my bite. I'm about 6 months in on a 12 month sentence. Check out my www, below and you can read my story as well check out my pics of progress.

I would totally explore a second opinion. Did you meet with the ortho who mentioned either braces or invisalign or did the information come from your dentist? I wouldn't have been comfortable with that information. You are totally making the right decision on going for a second opinion. You also need to feel comfortable with the orthodontist, his findings, and his/her treatment plan.

Good luck with your second opinion next week and keep us posted.

B

#7 Post by **Texas Teacher** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:22 pm

I was just floored, I went to the dentist with what I thought was a cavity, maybe an infection, and bam they hit me with invisilign for 2 years at $4900 and deep cleaning, and 3 very small cavities none of which are causing the pain. I just about fainted. My bite on my right side is out of alignment, one of the back teeth has moved very considerable. The dentist placed a large q-tip in by bite and had me bite down, good lord it hurt. I have not bben able to chew food on that side for a while. they even talked about gum disease and braces helping this condition. I looked at a picture from about 10 years ago and my teeth have shifted a bit.

Will braces need to be placed on top and bottom?

I have read very bad things about invisilign and will not be going that route. Not sure about cost of braces but $4900 and 2 years for invisilign.

I sure need some good ol advice, I have a week before i get my second opinion.

Are the new treatments really that much better than back in the 80's as far as pain and such.

I have read the bad stories of the dentist back in the day pulling teeth to make room and now those missing teeth are causing many of the problems now, I gusee I am one of those people.

#8 Post by **browneyedgrl** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:54 pm

I wouldn't consider invisalign if you have bite issues. I couldn't believe that was recommended! Definitely get a second opinion and a third if needed! If you have bite issues, I'm sure that top and bottom braces would be recommended.

As far as having braces in the 80's, I only wore them on the top for about 18 months and they were all metal brackets and I have molars bands. It's definitely been a much easier ride this time around. I can't complain!

Good luck with your search and keep us posted!

B

#9 Post by **Texas Teacher** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:18 pm

I called my Ortho that I am going to use for treatment and his assistant advised they would use Ice brackets on top and metal on bottom. She also was confused why they would suggest invisilign. Anyways I have tentatively set Aug 7 or 8 as the day I will get my braces. Hopefully the second Opinion doc will not have any crazy issues with what the first said.

From what I was told by both offices I will be getting braces to fix my problem. Thank God they can help me, I have been dealing with headaches for a long time and pain in that side of my jaw for a long time.

#10 Post by **browneyedgrl** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:06 pm

Some of your issues sound similar to mine. They can definitely can help you!

I'm sure that you can't wait to be pain and headache free!

B

#11 Post by **Texas Teacher** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:12 am

Yeah, now it's time to sit back and wait on deep cleaning, vacations for myself and dentist. Go in after vacation for 3 minor fillings, then hopefully braces first week in August so I can have a full week to get ready to report to school for the fall on Aug. 18. I just cannot stand not knowing what the Orthodontist is going to recommend before I go in on Monday. I sure hope he will put me in braces, I want the pain gone.

#12 Post by **browneyedgrl** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:18 pm

Hi Tex,

Just enjoy your holiday weekend and maybe you'll be pleasantly suprised when you go in for your appointment on Monday!

B

#13 Post by **Texas Teacher** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:11 am

Things have really gotten crazy now, I did the deep cleaning yestrday and got the major filling on the gumline done, 3 1/2 hours in the chair yesterday, get the final 2 fillings monday afternoon and see the ortho monday. I wanted to get this all rushed through and get my treatment started as quickly as possible. the dentist reassured me the ortho will put me in braces, my jaw is out of alignment and i have the early stages of overcrowding due to my teeth shifting. I could really tell the crowing was evident after the deep cleaning, it was very obvious. Anyways I hopefully will get my braces on middle of next week.

#14 Post by **iBorg** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:18 am

DON'T hurry....get a second, third or tenth opinion until you're comfortable with the treatment plan. I fear, based upon what you've written that you're unsure of the treatment but just want to get started. Your teeth didn't shift overnight into a position that makes braces critical that you do it next week. Little will change if you take a couple of months to be sure this is what you want.

Mike

#15 Post by **Texas Teacher** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:40 am

I have had a problem with my bite for a long time, not being able to chew food and avoiding going to get it checked. I thought i only had a cavity, but the dentist said it is a problem with my bite being out of align and a problem with crowding. They referred me to the ortho and assured me based on what they saw he was going to put me in braces. The dentist was voted best in the city of over 220,000 by the people in a local newspaper readers poll the last 4 years, so I am pretty sure they know what they are doing. I am of the mindset that if I have to get braces I want the treatment to start as quickly as possible so maybe i can get them off by my 40th birthday (i turn 38 in two weeks). No point in sitting around a month thinking about what is going to happen, make it happen. Orhto said they could get me in and speed up the process.

I think the dentist was thinking I was not going to get the treatment, but when i told them i wanted to get this done quickly they put me on the fast track and the fact that I have really good insurance makes a big difference.

Metal Mouth Message Board

Braces again after 23 years

Braces again after 23 years

Dealing with the same thing at 48