My Situation

Message

#1 Post by **Ddub618** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:43 pm

Hello, I have been waiting to have enough money for braces for many many years. I am now 18 and have enough money to get whatever kind I please or can use! I am very excited about fixing my smile and being more confident instead of hiding my smile like i always do. It affects me alot and really makes me less self confident. Alot of people tell me its not worth it and its not noticable and blah blah but its something i need to do for myself...even though i am worried about how it will affect my dating life especially at my age getting ready for college. Anyways I was wondering if my case would be able to use Invisalign to fix the problem? Or maybe get some pulled and have fake teeth? Any input helps, Or just your opinion on what i should do about it. I would also love to hear if anyone had the same problem as i do on my teeth and how long it took and hear about their story. It would really help out for me. Here is a picture of what my smile currently looks like....

http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n316 ... MG0149.jpg

Thanks in advance

#2 Post by **lionfish** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:25 pm

Congrats on saving money!

From your pic, it seems you have an edge to edge bite at the front and a bit of an open bite going at the side, plus overcrowding and a wayward upper canine?.

Anyway, there is some similarity with what I started with, minus the wayward canine, and my open bite was larger.

I was treated with braces (went for upper lingual - expensive - and lower ceramic & metal combo). The only extraction I had was a lower wisdom; there was otherwise enough room for things to move around.

I wore lots of elastics to close my bite, all up spent 21 months in braces which isn't bad considering what I started out with.

I inquired about Invisalign and didn't get a response, from which I deduced that it wasn't viable for my situation (I think the open bite was the limiting factor). But things have moved on with improved technology it may be a goer for you. Best is to get a referral and see what the professionals have to say.

All the best.

#3 Post by **Ddub618** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:35 pm

thanks for your input and story i really appreciate it! You almost nailed it, the main problem is that my right side of my mouth is crowded and that forced the canine tooth and tooth directly below that to sort of purge out and not be able to come down (or up) fully. My bite is actually ok i just forced myself to bite like that for a better picture haha! I really hope Invisalign is an option for me, but if not i will most likely go for the next most "un-noticable" option. Im hoping all is done and overwith before i turn 21! thats my goal!

#4 Post by **purpleteeth** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:55 am

Congrats on saving up the money for braces!! YAY!!!

In terms of what type of braces would work best, only a doctor can tell you that. Looks can be decieving, so there is no telling what type you might work best in your case --- or if you will need extractions or something like that. Your teeth can be perfect, but your bite could be totally off and you might end up with surgery

Braces can help almost anyone, so congrats on deciding this is what you want to do. Start out by getting different opinions and then go from there --- you never know what might be out there or what you might discover!

#5 Post by **jaswi** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:07 am

I Know its hard to believe, but don't worry about the dating scene. Braces really have no impact on it at all. I've been wearing braces since my 21st birthday, I'm 23 now. Take it from me me, it just isn't an issue.

#6 Post by **dojo** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:26 am

Your smile is "cute", that was something similar to my situation. Many people told me it's not worth it since I don't have a bad smile, but as you mentioned, I didn't feel too good about myself. And I do like to smile a lot.

I am impressed with the fact you saved money. It's just amazing to be able at 18 to undergo such an expensive treatment on your own financing. Amazing

Your next step now is to contact a VERY GOOD orthodontist and see what treatment is right for you. If you can get Damon braces (instead of the regular type - with ligatures), I'd say go for it. The brackets are smaller and the self-ligating system does make them pretty good. They are more expensive than the regular ones, but they are just amazing. I had a canine move 7 mm in just 3 months with Damon, it's a very solid system.

Anyway .. your orthodontist is the one to decide, together with you (after you get all details) how to treat you. Be ready for some serious changes in your lifestyle, maybe some pain too. BUT IT'S WORTH IT!

I am 1 year into the treatment and I already have nicer teeth. Don't need to tell you how well this makes me feel.

GO FOR IT full speed and energy. It's an amazing journey.

#7 Post by **Ddub618** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:02 pm

wow thanks everyone for your advice it really makes me feel comfortable talking about it on here. I am making an appointment to talk about my options next week so i hope i get good news!

#8 Post by **holyjoe** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:38 pm

I'm a sophomore in college at the age of 19, and have had braces since June of last year. I have had significant improvement, and am already almost done. I will have my braces off before the end of this year. I have the Damon metal braces on top and bottom...they are great!

#9 Post by **Megan11** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 8:32 pm

I can definitely relate with you. I am about to turn 20 and have been saving for my braces for about 4 years now! Because I am paying for them by myself I want to get something "invisible" less noticable, I dont know I guess it would make me feel better about having to pay for them if they were not as...how do i say this delicately..."unflattering" as traditional braces.

I could get invisalign but all 3 orthos said I would not have a "perfect" result. And hey if your going to pay thousands of dollars you better have some "perfect" teeth to show for it.

So make sure to ask about the results you will achieve with each method.

For myself I think I am going to have to get over myself and get traditional braces, for it should be VERY worth it in the end.

#10 Post by **dojo** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 4:41 am

Megan, maybe you can get linguals or Damon. Traditional braces do a great job, but Damon seems to be easier (smaller brackets, no ligatures ... on the other hand those coloured ligs are pretty fun). Linguals are super OK too, they don't show at all since they're in the back of the teeth.

Anyway .. I think the best idea is to find a TOP orthodontist and chose together the best solution.

#11 Post by **Megan11** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:27 am

Dojo,
I live in North Carolina and all the ortho's I have seen that are qualified have never actually done linguals on anyone. Plus my canines were impacted so they came in through the pallet and the last, and best, ortho I saw said I would be miserable and that it would pretty much be a torture device.

Aren't the "clear" damon not really even clear at all. Which ones do you have? Clear or metal?