Alex needs braces

[AlexO890]

So I thought I'd share the beginnings of my braces journey.

My whole life I've had bad dental phobia, going back to a bad experience I had getting my teeth cleaned when I was six years old. Since then I've hated the dentist. Luckily growing up I've never had any cavities or needed any work done. As soon as I graduated high school and went off to college and graduate school I never went to the dentist because I was too scared.

Now I'm 27 and I worked up the courage to go to the dentist for the first time since I was 18. I wasn't having any pain, but I figured I better go. The hygienist who cleaned my teeth had metal braces with pink ligatures, and the first thing I said when I got in the chair was, "I like your braces." She was nice to me, even though the cleaning hurt a lot cause I had a lot of gunk built up on my teeth from not going to the dentist/not flossing.

I was worried the dentist would find lots of cavities, but surprisingly I didn't have a single one! The dentist did say to me I needed braces. It shocked me because when I was a kid my dentist never said I needed braces. She encouraged me to make an appointment with an orthodontist for a consultation.

I just got back from my ortho appointment. The ortho said I could get traditional metal braces and it would cost about $4,800 and take 14 to 17 months. Or I could get ceramic, but that'll be an additional $1,000 and I can only get them on my top teeth and it'll add about six months to my treatment. Or I could get invisalign, but my ortho said she doesn't encourage her patients to get invisalign because the results aren't as good and it'll take longer/cost more.

Any ideas what kind of braces I should get? Or should I look at getting another opinion from a second orthodontist? I'm nervous about this...

[chichi]

I am a former dentist-phobe and I got braces at the age of 27, so you're in good company

Don't focus so much on the type of braces because it won't matter if you don't have a good ortho. I personally didn't shop around because I knew which ortho I would be using, but that isn't the norm. Most people on this board will recommend you go for consultations with a few orthos before making a decision.

I know it's scary right now and it seems like a lot to take in, but I eventually got to a point where I realized there will never be a perfect time to do it so I might as well get it over with. I'm VERY happy to have gone through with it.

Good luck and keep us updated!

[AlexO890]

Thanks ChiChi! Glad to meet another person who got braces at 27!

I liked the ortho I saw today. She was nice and understood my phobia. I'll give it a couple days before I decide whether to get a second opinion or to call and have my records appointment. They wanted to do the records today but I opted not to.

[AlexO890]

In other news, I plan on devouring a big bowl of popcorn tonight. I'll miss having popcorn.

[SoIWasLike72]

Hey Alex. I'd go to a few more consultations. I went on 4. Traditional braces were the best option for me because when things started to hurt, I didn't want to have the ability to remove them myself. I think I would have gotten lazy with Invisalign and not wore the trays like I should. I know someone who wore metal braces for a couple months after finishing up with Invisalign because things weren't perfect. Since you have the option to choose, it's about personal preference.

Before I got my braces, I went on a mini candy binge - Peanut Chews was my candy of choice.

[AlexO890]

Thanks SoIWasLike72! I think I'll make a couple more appointments with other orthos today. And I'd like invisalign, but it's the cost and extra time that's worrying me. I do also like the look of the clear ceramic braces in the pics I've seen on the message board.

[chichi]

Invisalign isn't always an option.. I knew that before I went for a consultation, but when the ortho walked in, the first thing he said was, "now, I don't have to tell you why Invisalign is wrong for you, right?"

Go in to every consultation with an open mind and expect them to recommend a full set of braces (ceramic or metal is generally your choice) and possibly extractions, depending on your case.

[AlexO890]

The first ortho said that invisalign is an option for me. I'll see what other orthos say. I'm going to call and schedule more appointments.

[Featheryy1221]

It doesn't sound like that ortho is a big pusher for Invisalign, so I'd look more into the other options.
There are a lot of posts online and on these boards that explain the pros and cons of ceramic braces vs metal braces. Really it's just a personal preference and if you don't mind spending more money to try to look less noticeable. I will say though, that you can still notice ceramic braces when you're up close talking to people, it's just not as easy to notice it from far away.
Regardless of what type of braces you get, no one will make comments about them.

Good luck on your journey. Hope your next consultations go well!

[AlexO890]

Thanks Featheryy1221! I'm thinking that since they are noticeable and I'll need metal on the bottom I might bite the bullet and get full metal. But, we'll see... I have two more consults scheduled, both on Thursday.

[SpottedPickle]

Whatever method you chose, or orthodontist, just make sure you are as comfortable as possible, and you can trust in the treatment and what the Orthodontist plans. I randomly have panic attacks and start crying in the middle of treatments, so I am very glad that I have a supportive team at my Ortho's and Dentist's office! There are so many things going on, even more when you get the braces. Adding the stress of a phobia, and then constantly questioning because you and the ortho you chose are not on the same page, is just mind melting and asking for a full on break down.

I have metal uppers, and will have metal lowers. My Ortho charges the same for metal traditional, metal empowers (self ligating), ceramics, and clear. I went with Empower brackets because the clear/ceramic tops and metal lowers would drive me batty, and my niece is getting braces, so not fair I tell her it is okay and no biggie if I am going to try and hide mine lol. I wish I had color though.

[AlexO890]

Thanks Spotted Pickle! Luckily I don't have panic attacks. I just freeze up. I liked my first ortho, but I'll see how the others turn out.

...and my niece is getting braces, so not fair I tell her it is okay and no biggie if I am going to try and hide mine lol. I wish I had color though.

That's kind of my thought too. I work with middle-school kids, and they're getting braces all the time. Maybe I need to show them it's no big deal.

[SpottedPickle]

Good luck with your other consults. It is really good you do not get panic attacks. The last one I had was during a crown prep, I started shaking and crying and made the doctor stop. I kept apologizing. He was kind about it all.

[AlexO890]

Good luck with your other consults. It is really good you do not get panic attacks. The last one I had was during a crown prep, I started shaking and crying and made the doctor stop. I kept apologizing. He was kind about it all.

Sounds awful. I'm lucky and I've never had any work done to my teeth in 27 years. I hope I don't start with panic attacks.

[nicolie825]

Not sure where in the US youre located, but a $1000 upcharge for clear on top only seems like a lot. I live in Los Angeles and saw several orthos and they all charged an extra $500 for clear uppers, which is what I went with along with metal lowers. I mostly got the clear so that theyre not noticeable in pictures when I smile. Clear also didnt add any extra time to my treatment, but then its my bottom teeth that need the most fixing.