Well I thought I would start a story even though I really don't know at this stage if I'm going to have braces or not.
I went to my first consultation today and this is the outcome so far...
He was very nice and explained to me all about my various problems which are extensive and complicated. He got all of his colleagues to come into his surgery to look at my mouth. At one point I had 3 men looking and commenting, I felt like a guinea pig lol but it made me feel important anyhow.
To cut a very long story short even though he is certain he knows what to do, because I refused jaw surgery (I need it) he is first off going to send me to a highly specialised orthodontic hospital in London where he works one day a week. There I will be seen for a second orthodontic consultation plus seen by a specialist periodontist who deals with gum grafts (i need one) plus a orthognathic expert who deals in jaw surgery and tooth implants. Then they will come up with a treatment plan together that doesn't involve jaw surgery but will most probably involve a gum graft, two teeth implants and then top and bottom braces. My 100% deep overbite is the main problem and I knew it would be. I didn't understand everything he and his colleagues where saying but at this stage it doesn't matter because I will have plenty of time at a later date to get things clearer.
It will probably be about 2 months before I get my appointment in London so it's going to be a long wait. If I go ahead with the treatment everything will be done at his surgery, I won't need to go back to the London hospital. All these extra consultations are free of charge.
I felt a bit dissapointed that he couldn't make up his own mind but my partner (who came with me) said that at least he was honest when he said that he felt he needed more opinions from others first before he starts messing with me lol.
I might not update this for a while because I won't have anything to add unless my appointment comes through quicker than expected.
Spanner
Spanner's Journey
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Spanner's Journey
Last edited by Spanner on Thu Oct 02, 2008 11:55 am, edited 7 times in total.
Update:
Been feeling down last couple of days and mulling over in my mind about how I feel. Decided that I want a second opinion from another practice so searched on the BOS (British Orthodontic Society) website for my next closest practice. It's a bit further to go but I've just phoned them and made an appointment for next Tuesday. The consultation charge isn't as much as the other one was because they don't take any photos or moulds. That makes more sense to me because there doesn't seem any point in doing that if you then don't go ahead with the treatment there.
It's pouring with rain, I'm sad, fed up and lonely and have spent far to long looking at my teeth when I never used to bother before.
Been feeling down last couple of days and mulling over in my mind about how I feel. Decided that I want a second opinion from another practice so searched on the BOS (British Orthodontic Society) website for my next closest practice. It's a bit further to go but I've just phoned them and made an appointment for next Tuesday. The consultation charge isn't as much as the other one was because they don't take any photos or moulds. That makes more sense to me because there doesn't seem any point in doing that if you then don't go ahead with the treatment there.
It's pouring with rain, I'm sad, fed up and lonely and have spent far to long looking at my teeth when I never used to bother before.
Hi Spanner
Sorry you're feeling a bit down. I know what you mean about looking at your teeth too much. Before I went into the whole brace thingy I hardly looked at my teeth and I didn't even realise I had such extensive problems but once it was pointed out to me I suddenly went through a phase of overexamining them. It will pass and once your are braced and things are moving you'll be delighted.
Good luck with your second consultation but I think it would be a good idea to follow through with the expert opinions too. I know that once I had made up my mind to get a brace I was in quite a hurry as I am quite and impatient person. However this is your chance to get it right so think long and hard about what way you want to go.
The weather doesn't help, does it.
Regards
Joney
Sorry you're feeling a bit down. I know what you mean about looking at your teeth too much. Before I went into the whole brace thingy I hardly looked at my teeth and I didn't even realise I had such extensive problems but once it was pointed out to me I suddenly went through a phase of overexamining them. It will pass and once your are braced and things are moving you'll be delighted.
Good luck with your second consultation but I think it would be a good idea to follow through with the expert opinions too. I know that once I had made up my mind to get a brace I was in quite a hurry as I am quite and impatient person. However this is your chance to get it right so think long and hard about what way you want to go.
The weather doesn't help, does it.
Regards
Joney
2 Extractions 2nd November 2006
Brace On 10th November 2006
Top brace off 26 June 2008 (19 1/2 months)
Brace On 10th November 2006
Top brace off 26 June 2008 (19 1/2 months)
Thanks Joney,
I'm impatient too, once I decide I want to do/buy something I want it immediately lol. I certainly didn't realise that my problems were as bad as they are. I may have never even considered braces had my dentist not said that she felt most of my problems were a direct result of my mis-aligned teeth and jaw.
The weather is atrocious here, no fun when you have two dogs that need to go out.
I'm impatient too, once I decide I want to do/buy something I want it immediately lol. I certainly didn't realise that my problems were as bad as they are. I may have never even considered braces had my dentist not said that she felt most of my problems were a direct result of my mis-aligned teeth and jaw.
The weather is atrocious here, no fun when you have two dogs that need to go out.
I've just got back from my 2nd opinion consultation and I'm sooo happy that I went.
It was very different from the first one and I signed up for the treatment there and then.
He was so nice and caring and made me feel much more confident in his abilities. There was none of the ummmm in and arrrhhh in and getting all his colleagues to look like the first one did and all the insecurities that went with that.
In his opinion I don't have to have jaw surgery if I don't want it as my molars all line up in the correct position. I'm not biting on them in the correct place but that's because they are crooked not because my jaw is mis-aligned. My problem is that my bottom jaw is slightly shorter than my top jaw BUT my chin is in the correct position so my deep bite can be corrected with braces alone. My top teeth have been pushed too far back by the braces I had as a child so they need to be brought forward ever so slightly and lifted and my bottom arch is very narrow and needs to be widened and rounded. All this can be done with braces. Surgery would produce a perfect result but I can settle for a compromise.
I may need a gum graft down the bottom but that won't happen until he sees how my bottom teeth move in relation to my receding gums.
I also don't have to have any implants. The top tooth he's sure will go back up into it's correct position and stay there as long as the gap down the bottom is filled with a bridge.
I feel much better now. He was very confident, exactly how I wanted him to be.
My next appointment is the end of January for x-rays, moulds, etc. and that will give me time to visit the dentist to check that all my fillings are ok and to concentrate on clearing up a couple of sore spots that I still have from my gum disease. I must not use a mouthwash with a lot of alcohol in it as it's too strong. My gums are thin (this is hereditary i'm told) and I need to treat them gently.
I'm sooo happy...I'm on my way to a beautiful smile
It was very different from the first one and I signed up for the treatment there and then.
He was so nice and caring and made me feel much more confident in his abilities. There was none of the ummmm in and arrrhhh in and getting all his colleagues to look like the first one did and all the insecurities that went with that.
In his opinion I don't have to have jaw surgery if I don't want it as my molars all line up in the correct position. I'm not biting on them in the correct place but that's because they are crooked not because my jaw is mis-aligned. My problem is that my bottom jaw is slightly shorter than my top jaw BUT my chin is in the correct position so my deep bite can be corrected with braces alone. My top teeth have been pushed too far back by the braces I had as a child so they need to be brought forward ever so slightly and lifted and my bottom arch is very narrow and needs to be widened and rounded. All this can be done with braces. Surgery would produce a perfect result but I can settle for a compromise.
I may need a gum graft down the bottom but that won't happen until he sees how my bottom teeth move in relation to my receding gums.
I also don't have to have any implants. The top tooth he's sure will go back up into it's correct position and stay there as long as the gap down the bottom is filled with a bridge.
I feel much better now. He was very confident, exactly how I wanted him to be.
My next appointment is the end of January for x-rays, moulds, etc. and that will give me time to visit the dentist to check that all my fillings are ok and to concentrate on clearing up a couple of sore spots that I still have from my gum disease. I must not use a mouthwash with a lot of alcohol in it as it's too strong. My gums are thin (this is hereditary i'm told) and I need to treat them gently.
I'm sooo happy...I'm on my way to a beautiful smile
Last edited by Spanner on Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
Oh now that sounds a lot more positive! I'm not surprised you went with ortho number 2. If you find somebody you feel comfortable with it makes all the difference.
Good luck on getting them gums sorted and your teeth in tip top condition before the end of January. Did you ask him if it would be OK to bleach first?
Good luck on getting them gums sorted and your teeth in tip top condition before the end of January. Did you ask him if it would be OK to bleach first?
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Lisa, he said I could get them bleached first if I wanted to but he advised against it for the reason you mentioned in another post. When my teeth move the whiteness will be uneven because my teeth are crooked and overlap each other so the bleach won't get to all areas.
Karen it does sound a lot less invasive. All the talk of jaw surgery, implants and gum grafts that the first ortho spoke of frightened me. I think he may have been more of a perfectionist and I'm not necessarily looking for perfection. The second ortho said that he could achieve a perfect result with jaw surgery but without it I'd still get a result that would be excellent.
It does pay in more ways than one because I was quoted heaps less money at the second consultation than I was at the first.
Karen it does sound a lot less invasive. All the talk of jaw surgery, implants and gum grafts that the first ortho spoke of frightened me. I think he may have been more of a perfectionist and I'm not necessarily looking for perfection. The second ortho said that he could achieve a perfect result with jaw surgery but without it I'd still get a result that would be excellent.
It does pay in more ways than one because I was quoted heaps less money at the second consultation than I was at the first.
So great that your second consult went so well! Having confidence in your ortho is key, I think. 
Sounds like you have similar issues and treatment to me. I need my lower arch widened and rounded and have low/thin gums but my ortho thinks braces is all I will need (with the slight possibility of gum grafts - I've already had one as a kid).
We'll be starting about the same time, too. I look forward to comparing progress with you!
Sounds like you have similar issues and treatment to me. I need my lower arch widened and rounded and have low/thin gums but my ortho thinks braces is all I will need (with the slight possibility of gum grafts - I've already had one as a kid).
We'll be starting about the same time, too. I look forward to comparing progress with you!
Braced for the first time on January 17th, 2008!
Planned with OrthoCAD iQ
Damon 3 ("social six") and 3MX brackets
Estimated treatment time: 18-20 months
This is what I'm going for!
Click on WWW to read my braces story.
Planned with OrthoCAD iQ
Damon 3 ("social six") and 3MX brackets
Estimated treatment time: 18-20 months
This is what I'm going for!
Click on WWW to read my braces story.
Thanks for the words of encouragement everyone.
LadyJ, I've just read your story and it does seem quite similar to mine. I'm also having the Damon system and no extractions, spacers, or surgery. He said it's likely to take around 20 months as well.
I'm having all the x-rays, moulds etc. done on the 22nd January and then if all is well I'm sure B-day won't be far off that.
I'm so impatient though, I want it now
LadyJ, I've just read your story and it does seem quite similar to mine. I'm also having the Damon system and no extractions, spacers, or surgery. He said it's likely to take around 20 months as well.
I'm having all the x-rays, moulds etc. done on the 22nd January and then if all is well I'm sure B-day won't be far off that.
I'm so impatient though, I want it now
I am like that too! I was always looking at my teeth and getting all sad about them so when I finally went to see the orthodontist it just always felt like i was waiting... waiting for the molds to be done, waiting for the xrays, waiting for the final consult... waiting for the extractions... etc. Now I am waiting for my separators... but the good news is that I get them TOMORROW! yay! And then the week after that I finally get my braces on, months after my first consult! It's like a waiting game isn't it? How patient can one be when all you want is nice straight teeth, like, now!
Enig & Karen, I hate waiting for anything. I hardly ever buy anything on-line or from mail order catalogues because I can't stand the wait. I have to go to the shops and get it or something similar right away. And wow betide if there is a queue at the shop haha
To be honest I didn't even know that so much could be done for adults with braces. I assumed that all the celebrities with perfect teeth all had crowns or veneers or whatever put on them...a fast but very expensive fix. I only realised when an adult friend got braces that it could be done but even then I did nothing about it. It wasn't until my dentist said that I will lose at least 4 of my bottom front teeth unless I get my overbite fixed that I took any action.
So I wait wait and wait and perhaps somewhere along the line I'll learn some patience
hahaTo be honest I didn't even know that so much could be done for adults with braces. I assumed that all the celebrities with perfect teeth all had crowns or veneers or whatever put on them...a fast but very expensive fix. I only realised when an adult friend got braces that it could be done but even then I did nothing about it. It wasn't until my dentist said that I will lose at least 4 of my bottom front teeth unless I get my overbite fixed that I took any action.
So I wait wait and wait
and perhaps somewhere along the line I'll learn some patience lol Karen I think i'm already driving my partner insane by constantly grinning at him and saying "i'm getting braces, i'm getting braces - will ya still kiss me will ya still kiss me" lol 
luckily he has a brilliant sense of humour.
luckily he has a brilliant sense of humour.
Last edited by Spanner on Thu Dec 13, 2007 9:40 am, edited 1 time in total.