Braces?

[Lucky.N.Lucy]

I hate my teeth. They're crooked and it makes me self conscious about smiling. I'm thinking of getting braces, but they're so expensive and my insurance doesn't cover them. Has anyone had this done as an adult? Was it worth it?

[imported_azlab]

Mine were done as a child but I work with a woman who had the invisialign braces and she loved she could take them out to eat etc. Her teeth look reall good now. http://www.invisalign.com/Pages/Home.aspx

[imported_Slappy McCracken]

I had them as a teenager for 4.5 yrs. I know of a number of people who have had them as adults. It's never too late! You should pm Henry's Mom, I believe she is a dentist (not an orthodontist) and may have some good advice for you.

Will your insurance cover it if the orthdontist or your family dentist is able to "spin it" that you require the braces for health reasons? I do know a few people that I worked with that initially, the provider said no but when it was further explained that the braces were needed to correct a problem causing health issues, they were covered.

Good Luck!

Bev.

[Lucky.N.Lucy]

They offer Invisalign at my dentist's office, but I don't know if they would be appropriate for me. I just hate my smile so much, but it's hard to justify the expense for something cosmetic while I have a daughter in college. Just wondering if anyone else faced similar dilemmas.

Bev, there's no way to spin it. It's purely cosmetic. My teeth do not interfere with normal functioning, nor are they painful, and I can floss between them just fine. They're just ugly.

See?



My four front top teeth are crowded and my two front teeth are rotated inward. The one on my right is even more malaligned because of a bicycle accident I had when I was fourteen. The root broke and I had to have it stabilized. The bottom front left tooth is chipped and the tooth directly to its left is a crown. The chip repair didn't take, so I just deal with it, and I lived with the temporary crown for fifteen years, until I finally got it replaced with porcelain once I had dental insurance. My parents couldn't afford braces for me, and I've prioritized providing for my kids for the last twenty years, so I've just lived with it.

[Allie]

I know a lot of adults that have had braces, either traditional or invisalign. Most of these adults had braces as a teen, too, but their teeth shifted back. My teeth have moved around some, but not much, but they weren't bad to begin with. The more severe your case is, the more important to wear your retainers once braces are removed. The bad thing is, it's just as painful as an adult as a teen. But if a nice smile is important to you, why not make it a priority?

[pat]

I had braces as a child, and I would say go for it, for your bite could be off if your teeth are out of position.

I just recently got a porcelain crown on a molar I broke biting into an almond.......it is awesome........I don't have Dental either, but worked out with my dentist a payment plan.

[Lucky.N.Lucy]

Allie, it is important to me, but I would feel terribly guilty spending $5,000 on something cosmetic. It's not a necessity. I've always just told myself that it's what's inside that counts and I shouldn't be ashamed of my smile. But I am. I find myself covering my mouth with my hand when I'm laughing in public.

[Allie]

Have you ever consulted an orthodontist? It might be worth it, just to find out cost and the procedures involved.

[Lucky.N.Lucy]

That's my plan. My dentist that I've had since I was 12 just retired, and I'm seeing a new one in October. I'm planning on asking for a referral then. I'm just thinking about it now, it's been in the back of my mind for a while that some day I might get them. I'm struggling with my personal baggage about spending money, though.

[imported_Trooper]

I know several people who have gotten braces as an adult and done well with them. Definitely call around about pricing. Don't just go with the first one you talk to. We did that with my son and we saved about $1000, just on the first phase!

I say go for it. Look into a payment plan. They'll work with you. You shouldn't have to feel embarrassed when there is something you can do to fix it. You deserve something just for you.