Choosing a Lingual Orthodontist - Australia

[maybelinguals]

I'm hoping to get some feedback (especially from anyone in the Gold Coast/Brisbane area of Australia) regarding choosing an orthodontist for lingual braces.

I have had two consultations with two different approaches suggested. I have moderate crowding uppers and lowers. The first ortho suggested top and bottom linguals - the ones he uses are configured in his own lab and have ligatures. His price was similar to regular braces. He pretty much only does linguals these days. ($8000)

The second ortho recommended a combination of upper linguals (self ligating) and lower clear regular braces. The price for this was almost double! ($13500) I really liked this ortho and felt the consult was more professional and the explanations were more in depth. I have a lot of confidence in this ortho.

My problem is this....is the first ortho using old technology with ligatures on linguals or is this standard practice? I don't want to base my decision solely on price and end up with a less than successful outcome. Likewise I don't want to pay more for the same outcome.....

Any advice would be most appreciated.

[Huggypillow]

Hi

I have regular braces and the thought of having those things on the back of my teeth is enough to send me running.
i'm sure you have your reasons for wanting them but from all the people i have heard who have these they all say the same thing "they wish they had not"

i go to a great Otho who is so very highly qualified and he is also the area man for Qld health (i see him as a private patient where i live in Brisbane)

i had 3 estimates before i saw him and they quoted me between $5000 -$6000 for normal braces and extra $500 for 6 clear brackets.

after i saw him i instantly knew in my head that this is the Doc, after i had my consult he said he doesnt charge extra if i want clear brackets i paid upfront for my bottom braces they cost $2945 which i though was GREAT and my top braces will cost $1400. i have seen amazing results already ( i know everyone is different)

another reason i chose him was because he treats you like a real person and not just another cash cow.

he does the work not the assistant and he is so approachable.

he is very very up to date with all the latest techniques,

i was actually talking to him at my last appt about Linguals and he shook his head and said that its hard to get good alignment with them and that there are fewer Ortho's wanting to do them. i only asked him because i had read some of the comments on the board here about them.

can i ask if i may why you chose to have Linguals? sorry for being nosey just curious.

anyway till next time ( im in brisbane)

[bracesat29]

I have not seen these. Are they limited to certain areas of the US or world? To me, it seems like they would be extremely uncomfortable! Wouldn't your tongue hurt and it be harder to keep your mouth clean?

[jemima]

Huggypillow,

I've just moved to Brisbane from Perth and am seeking out a good ortho for consultation/treatment.
Would you be able to pm me with this persons name/contact?
Thankyou.

[maybelinguals]

Thanks for the feedback. I was considering linguals for a few reasons. I am a mother in my early 40's and run 3 businesses. I am in a situation that I am constantly dealing with staff and clients in close one on one situations. Regular braces do not appeal for this reason. I am also considering invisalign - still doing my research though. I have decided the ortho in Brisbane is the one for me so at least I've gotten that far! I'll probably have another consult to review the options - still up in the air and deciding if its worth it!

[katieGC]

Hey guys, don't know how you went with this but my ortho who put my linguals on three days ago is called Dr Wong @ Robina on the Gold Coast.
He's a nice dude, seems very established in his field.
I'll let you know how I go with him.

Have either of you started any treatment?

[jemima]

^
Yes. He was the guy whose youtube vids I watched a while back.

Have been considering him.

How did it go? Did you get linguals upper and lower?
Cost?

[katieGC]

Only one week in so hard to judge! Really like him though, very relaxed and approachable. I have linguals on upper and lower, treatment time is 22 months, cost is $7900 total which is $2500 deposit then $270 / month. Bit sore and crabby today. Hoping things improve over the next few weeks. PM me if you want.

[maybelinguals]

Sorry it has been a while since my last post. I went for to get some records taken at the ortho in Brisbane but haven't been back for a treatment planning appt yet. Dr Wong was the one I saw at the GC too. Seems very nice, I agree, still may go back there yet for another chat. My biggest question is, how are you going with your speech? That is my biggest concern with linguals top and bottom. And do they feel big in your mouth? Any feedback would be most appreciated.

Thanks heaps!

[shannon]

Does anyone know of a cost effective ortho who does lingual in Sydney?

Would really help!!!

Thanks