Being Refused Braces Due To Irreparable Damaged Teeth
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 1:20 pm
**LONG POST**
Hello! This is my first time posting here, and at the moment trying to recover from a complete meltdown I have had today.
For the last 16 years, it has been my dream to get braces, I am now 26. I have severe buck teeth that have impacted my life significantly over the last decade, even to the point of being homeschooled from year 8 onwards (I never went back to school) from being badly bullied about my teeth. I have extreme image issues, I cannot look at anyone when I speak to people because of being embarrassed about my teeth.
I suffer from GAD (Generalised Anxiety Disorder) and I never once went to the dentist until I was 18, and even then that was only for one visit, I only started going regularly when I was about 23. Now, a big reason why my parents never took me to the dentist as a child was because I spent a large amount of time in hospital as a child, and at the time, and for many years, my teeth health wise were perfect- I never had any problems, and so my parents never took me, as they didn’t want to have me around any more medical environment than what I was already enduring. Plus, with my severe anxiety, I never would have been able to cope with trips to the dentist.
Fast forward to now. At the end of last year, I finally plucked up the courage to make an appointment to see an orthodontist, and I have been going back and forth since December with an assessment, x-ray, plan of action, etc. I got massively excited by this, my dream of straight teeth was finally about to become true!
Because I’m an adult, I have to pay privately, and so I spent 2 months selling a large collection of my relatively valuable plush toys, to fund the procedure, stuff I didn’t want to part with, but had to to be able to afford braces.
I was told I would have to have 4 teeth removed to make room for braces, which is a big commitment but something I was willing to do. Apparently I have moderate overcrowding on top, and mild overcrowding on bottom. I even asked my dentist for a second opinion, and agreed that I have a fair amount of overcrowding and having braces without extractions just wouldn’t work. My orthodontist said I needed a lot of fillings before the extractions, and so for the last fortnight, I have had 7 fillings in total (all without local anethesia due to a fear of being numb- hurt so much!).
So on my last orthodontist appointment on Monday, I was given some bad news. After looking at the x-rays further, I have irreparable enamel damage in nearly every tooth on my right side, which are early signs that my teeth are rotting and going to eventually need to be removed, therefor he has refused to go through with the procedure as apparently the damage is irriversable and that I will basically just have to live with having buck teeth forever, there’s nothing that can be done. Because he is worried that once I have 4 teeth removed, a few years down the line I will lose lots more from the enamel damage. I THINK it’s enamel damage he said I have, but can’t be 100% sure because I was in such a state at the time crying my eyes out.
I was fully aware of these consequences, and I AM WILLING TO LOSE TEETH to not have to live my whole life with severe humiliation and self conscious issues with the teeth I have now. If further down the line after braces I lose more teeth, I would be willing to have teeth implants, so I will never be without. I begged and begged him crying my eyes out, saying I will take the risk, I explained how I would have teeth implants. AND HE SAID OK I WILL GO THROUGH WITH IT. I was TOLD this, he handed me a form to sign explaining the procedure and risks, to which I signed. And I then made an appointment for this Tuesday at my dentist, to start the teeth removal procedure starting with an assessment.
So today I get a letter at my door from my orthodontist saying upon further consideration, he will no longer go through with the treatment, due to the large risks involved with my damaged teeth, and that I will have to seek another specialist.
And my whole life has shattered in front of me there and then. I suffer with depression, severe mental health problems and nearly my whole family have passed away in my lifetime already. And the ONE THING I want to go right for me in life, ONE THING, and I am being refused. I was LIED to, complete and utterly conned. I sold hundreds upon hundreds of pounds worth of my treasured collection, to make my dream of straight teeth come true. Heck, I was even told it was ok on my last appointment to go through with it at my own risk and signed forms! To basically be told- oh sorry, I’ve changed my mind!
I am beyond furious right now. I have never known anyone ever be refused braces. I know I’m 26 and a lot older than the average age people get braces, but surely there has to be some other option?
Has anyone else ever been refused braces due to irreparable damage to their teeth?
I have also read over the internet that a decent orthodontist never extract healthy teeth, but the one I saw said from my first appointment that it won’t work otherwise and that I can go for an second opinion elsewhere but you’re wasting your time (well he didn’t say the last bit like that, but in the nicest possible way)
Surely there’s something that can be done for enamel decay? There’s so many cosmetic options available out there that I just don’t see how my teeth are “irreparable”
I should also point out that I brush my teeth every single day, and never have sugary drinks (I’m allergic to them), so I don’t know what has caused such damage. I never eat on one side, and haven’t in about 15 years, and this is the side with the enamel decay. This could be why.
My next plan of action now is to see another orthodontist. I will literally travel anywhere in the country until someone will help my dream of straight teeth come true. No matter what the consequences are!
I would enclose photos of my teeth, but I can’t see how to add photos here.
I am literally in floods of tears writing this :(
Hello! This is my first time posting here, and at the moment trying to recover from a complete meltdown I have had today.
For the last 16 years, it has been my dream to get braces, I am now 26. I have severe buck teeth that have impacted my life significantly over the last decade, even to the point of being homeschooled from year 8 onwards (I never went back to school) from being badly bullied about my teeth. I have extreme image issues, I cannot look at anyone when I speak to people because of being embarrassed about my teeth.
I suffer from GAD (Generalised Anxiety Disorder) and I never once went to the dentist until I was 18, and even then that was only for one visit, I only started going regularly when I was about 23. Now, a big reason why my parents never took me to the dentist as a child was because I spent a large amount of time in hospital as a child, and at the time, and for many years, my teeth health wise were perfect- I never had any problems, and so my parents never took me, as they didn’t want to have me around any more medical environment than what I was already enduring. Plus, with my severe anxiety, I never would have been able to cope with trips to the dentist.
Fast forward to now. At the end of last year, I finally plucked up the courage to make an appointment to see an orthodontist, and I have been going back and forth since December with an assessment, x-ray, plan of action, etc. I got massively excited by this, my dream of straight teeth was finally about to become true!
Because I’m an adult, I have to pay privately, and so I spent 2 months selling a large collection of my relatively valuable plush toys, to fund the procedure, stuff I didn’t want to part with, but had to to be able to afford braces.
I was told I would have to have 4 teeth removed to make room for braces, which is a big commitment but something I was willing to do. Apparently I have moderate overcrowding on top, and mild overcrowding on bottom. I even asked my dentist for a second opinion, and agreed that I have a fair amount of overcrowding and having braces without extractions just wouldn’t work. My orthodontist said I needed a lot of fillings before the extractions, and so for the last fortnight, I have had 7 fillings in total (all without local anethesia due to a fear of being numb- hurt so much!).
So on my last orthodontist appointment on Monday, I was given some bad news. After looking at the x-rays further, I have irreparable enamel damage in nearly every tooth on my right side, which are early signs that my teeth are rotting and going to eventually need to be removed, therefor he has refused to go through with the procedure as apparently the damage is irriversable and that I will basically just have to live with having buck teeth forever, there’s nothing that can be done. Because he is worried that once I have 4 teeth removed, a few years down the line I will lose lots more from the enamel damage. I THINK it’s enamel damage he said I have, but can’t be 100% sure because I was in such a state at the time crying my eyes out.
I was fully aware of these consequences, and I AM WILLING TO LOSE TEETH to not have to live my whole life with severe humiliation and self conscious issues with the teeth I have now. If further down the line after braces I lose more teeth, I would be willing to have teeth implants, so I will never be without. I begged and begged him crying my eyes out, saying I will take the risk, I explained how I would have teeth implants. AND HE SAID OK I WILL GO THROUGH WITH IT. I was TOLD this, he handed me a form to sign explaining the procedure and risks, to which I signed. And I then made an appointment for this Tuesday at my dentist, to start the teeth removal procedure starting with an assessment.
So today I get a letter at my door from my orthodontist saying upon further consideration, he will no longer go through with the treatment, due to the large risks involved with my damaged teeth, and that I will have to seek another specialist.
And my whole life has shattered in front of me there and then. I suffer with depression, severe mental health problems and nearly my whole family have passed away in my lifetime already. And the ONE THING I want to go right for me in life, ONE THING, and I am being refused. I was LIED to, complete and utterly conned. I sold hundreds upon hundreds of pounds worth of my treasured collection, to make my dream of straight teeth come true. Heck, I was even told it was ok on my last appointment to go through with it at my own risk and signed forms! To basically be told- oh sorry, I’ve changed my mind!
I am beyond furious right now. I have never known anyone ever be refused braces. I know I’m 26 and a lot older than the average age people get braces, but surely there has to be some other option?
Has anyone else ever been refused braces due to irreparable damage to their teeth?
I have also read over the internet that a decent orthodontist never extract healthy teeth, but the one I saw said from my first appointment that it won’t work otherwise and that I can go for an second opinion elsewhere but you’re wasting your time (well he didn’t say the last bit like that, but in the nicest possible way)
Surely there’s something that can be done for enamel decay? There’s so many cosmetic options available out there that I just don’t see how my teeth are “irreparable”
I should also point out that I brush my teeth every single day, and never have sugary drinks (I’m allergic to them), so I don’t know what has caused such damage. I never eat on one side, and haven’t in about 15 years, and this is the side with the enamel decay. This could be why.
My next plan of action now is to see another orthodontist. I will literally travel anywhere in the country until someone will help my dream of straight teeth come true. No matter what the consequences are!
I would enclose photos of my teeth, but I can’t see how to add photos here.
I am literally in floods of tears writing this :(