New guy! 30/M Getting braces for the first time

[Robot Teeth]

Hi! My name is Chris, and I'm a 30 year old guy who is going to be getting braces within the next few weeks. I'm pretty excited, because this is something I've wanted to do since I was less than 10 years old! Back then, I'm sure I was just fascinated with them and thought they looked cool, and although both of those things are still very true, I've come to the point as an adult where I have realized that I really do have a problem with the way my teeth look and "are", and can see the tangible benefits of braces as something that would improve my quality of life in the long run. I know that I'm actually a very decent looking guy (vague and safe, I know!), but I challenge my friends to find more than a few random pictures of me. And in those pictures, mouth is always closed. My top teeth are pretty decent, aside from some slightly rotated "lateral incisors" (yeah, I had to look that up) and some slightly retracting central incisors. But my bottom teeth aren't all that great. the front four are moderately crowded, and the canines are displaced a bit. All four wisdom teeth are nicely erupted, but a bit tight. I've been commended on my care of them, and it looks like I'm going to be able to keep them. I have about half a dozen fillings, all of them tiny except for my top left second molar, the top and inner side of which are a big silver filling. I don't know what the heck happened there... I was 20 or so. I'm on the right track now, though, and have recently become obsessed with my teeth and caring for them. It sounds like I am a relatively uncomplicated case, and I'm hoping to get started asap!

Yesterday I had my two initial consultations for braces, at two different locations. The first was at the University of Detroit's School of Dentistry, where I came to understand that they offer reduced prices (in comparison to private practices) for work done by the faculty. And shouldn't it stand to reason that the professors (who also have their own private practices as well as the teaching and work they do at the college) should be at least as proficient as most private practices, if not even more so? I had a bit of an epiphany when I realized that I would be getting a decent tax return this year and could use it as a down payment for the braces I've wanted for over 20 years! Their monthly payments are very reasonable as well, so when I saw this as having become affordable, I decided to follow through before I had the chance to talk myself out of it. But because I am a very research-oriented person, I knew I owed it to myself to get at least one more opinion, so I had scheduled an appointment at the orthodontist that my dentist normally refers people to. Although that appointment went as well as it could have, and I would have loved to utilize their services, I felt that the college had the obvious edge in that it was 27% less expensive overall (along with much more affordable payments), estimated a treatment period of 12-18 months (compared to the 2 years the private ortho quoted), and I really liked the orthodontist lady I'd be working with there.

I'll be getting In-Ovation metal braces. I've read a few articles examining the claims that SL brackets make, and whether those claims can be shown to be true in clinical testing, and I had convinced myself that I'd choose traditional brackets if I had the choice, for a couple different reasons, but the doctor said that she doesn't even use them. I was actually looking forward to the colored ligatures! My records appointment is next thursday, and I'm looking forward to it very much. I am even going to see if I can get them to combine any of my appointments in order to expedite the process. This is an idea I got at the private orthodontist. Can you tell I'm excited? (talk to me in a month when I can't eat steak, right?!)

I'll definitely keep this thread updated and take pictures along the process. Thanks for reading!

[Nikkistixx06]

Welcome to the club Chris! I'm with you, I would also like to think of myself as an "ok" looking person. I would never say I'm attractive though. That just sounds conceded. But I too was also worried about my appearance with braces on, but figured it couldn't be worse than my smile before braces. In most of my pictures I'm also smiling with a closed mouth. Good luck with your journey!!

Oh and by the way I'm also going to a University for my braces. They gave me an estimated time of 18-24 months though!

[JulieFL]

I just got mine last week (age 33) and I was excited, too :) Good luck! My husband kept telling me that the first week would be the worst. He was right. I turned a corner after 4 days when suddenly things seemed to stop achy. Thnak goodness!

[Robot Teeth]

Thanks guys! My records/impressions appointment is thursday. I'm really looking forward to getting this process started. It sounds like it could still be a couple of months before "brace day". I am pretty impatient when it comes to my obsessions!

[JulieFL]

Why will the process take so long? Is it because it's through a university? I had mine on within a week of my consult, but I don't know much about how long it took others.

Keep us posted!

[Robot Teeth]

I've been trying to get different people's timeframes as far as how long from impressions till brace day, and some have said 3 months, while some were next-day somehow.

They need to prepare the impressions, put together a plan, present the plan to me along with the financial commitment, order the braces and wait for them, schedule an appointment with me, etc. I'm not sure whether it is because it's a university that it seems to take so long, but I'm glad you think so too. They said they schedule the next appointment after records/impressions for 3 weeks afterwards. Thats going to be more painful than the braces.

[lgee24]

I went in for my consult and They wanted me to come back within like 2 weeks for records and top braces. I had to go longer to save for the down payment, but I got my top braces on the same of records. I hope you process is goin somethley and your are paitently waiting for braces! it's an exciting process!

[Robot Teeth]

Well, Life just threw a wrench in my gears. I was planning on using my tax return for my down payment, and it has been selected for review. So that will probably take a couple of months to sort out, and it leaves me about $900 short in the mean time. I have to figure something out...

[Jensniffer]

Aww that sucks hopefully it will get sorted out sooner than later!

[Rach44]

Hey, Chris! Nice to see you on this site too. I'm still hoping for all the best with your treatment and that things work out quickly with your financial situation.

[Robot Teeth]

Hey Rach. I wish they'd let me change my name over on the other site! Robot Teeth is way better!

I'm going for my impressions tomorrow, and we'll see how far out they schedule the next appointment, and whether I'll actually have to come up with the SPAM right then and there. I don't have it all, but I've got some...

[Crazy4Snow]

Well, Life just threw a wrench in my gears. I was planning on using my tax return for my down payment, and it has been selected for review. So that will probably take a couple of months to sort out, and it leaves me about $900 short in the mean time. I have to figure something out...

Is financing an option? My ortho finances with zero interest.

[Robot Teeth]

The total cost is $4050, and they want 1/3 down ($1,350) and $100 per month. The $100 a month isn't too difficult, it's just the down payment that I'm having trouble with at the moment. I'm going for my records appointment in a couple hours, so maybe I'll know more after that...

[Crazy4Snow]

The total cost is $4050, and they want 1/3 down ($1,350) and $100 per month. The $100 a month isn't too difficult, it's just the down payment that I'm having trouble with at the moment. I'm going for my records appointment in a couple hours, so maybe I'll know more after that...

Well that sucks. Mine didn't require any down payment but we wanted the monthly payment at or below $100 per month so we put down $2,000.

I hope you can get it worked out.

[Robot Teeth]

Sigh...

Records appointment was fun. Cool robot x-ray machine!

But they scheduled my next appointment for SIX WEEKS out! (july 19) Yes, its at a dental college, but that still seems like a long time, first, because they told me that they typically schedule for 3 weeks later, and second, because there are still going to be more multiple-week periods of waiting before I can even really get started. Of course, this solves the problem of coming up with my down payment money, but I pretty much already had that one taken care of, and now it seems like this will take even longer than I had expected, which was seemingly already way too long.

I talked to a receptionist that wasn't allowed to change the schedule, and she suggested I call back on monday and talk to the lady that can. Even if they're so overbooked that they can't fit me in for six weeks, I want to prearrange my next appointment or two for immediately afterwards so that they don't tell me it's going to be another six freakin' weeks.