IHIC

So earlier today I had my first consultation for a fixed brace. Firstly, I just want to say... I will definitely be having another consultation with another Orthodontist :braces: .

My consultation went ok. I made a short list of questions I'd like to ask, but he answered most of them before I even got to ask, so that was good. No molds or x-rays were taken at this consultation (they would be taken at next appointment if I went ahead with treatment), but he did look in my mouth/around my teeth... I was in there for about 25 minutes.

Anyway, I wont go into great detail, because if I did this post would be 10 pages long.
I was happy with him and how he explained about having braces... but a couple of things 'put me off'. The main one being him saying I would most likely not have a brace fitted on the lower arch... "Why?" I hear you ask, well, he said because of my overbite (not an overjet! I notice alot of people get overbites and overjet confused), and that my top front teeth would hit/touch the brackets on the lower teeth. The thing is, I thought that was what molar buildups and bite turbos were for? if so, this wasn't mentioned to me at all. He just said "you might just have to live with how your lower teeth are without having them corrected" (something similar to that anyway, I can't remember word for word). I'll be totally honest, as soon as he said this, I felt rather disappointed and didn't like his 'attitude' towards treating my problems :(.

At first he was talking about 'SPEED Braces'. After lots of talking/explaining he said "I will show you some models of the 3 types of fixed braces you can have". So he brought over the 3 models and first he showed me the SPEED Braces (they are just smaller and self ligating? Well, anyway, the archwire isn't held on my those tiny rubber bands/ligatures), then I got to look at the 'clear' (ceramic) option (called radiance) and then finally, the traditional metal ones with the rubber ligatures. He quoted me £3500 for the traditional metal with rubber ligatures (cheapest option) and said that the clear or SPEED Braces would be at least £300 more on top of that.
Do you want me to be honest? OK, I will... £3500 shocked me... why? because when I was talking to the receptionist (prior to booking a consultation appointment) she said that the minimum they charge is £2000 and the maximum is £2800, and I feel that the info she gave me was incorrect!
Anyway, he said my case was relatively simple (and also said no extractions needed)... so I hate to think what he would have quoted if my case was more severe! I just feel a little frustrated that I was told no more than £2800 (I remember her saying £2800 is for the more severe cases) and then in the consultation I was quoted £700 more on top of the max price.

I just want to make clear, it's not so much the price that 'put me off' at the consultation, it was mainly due to the fact he said I would most likely not have my bottom teeth corrected because of my overbite - he's an Orthdontist he should be wanting to correct my issues, not bypassing them! If I am paying over £2500, I expect both arches to be corrected and anyway, what's the point of having nice straight upper teeth to have crooked lower ones? (that's just how I feel about my own teeth, my personal opinion). I'd personally just prefer to leave them ALL how they are than pay out that sort of money for just one arch.

After having my first consultation I can now understand why people always recommend seeing at least 2 Orthos for a consultation, which I will definitely be doing. I am actually going to call in the practice (Ortho number two) tomorrow to speak to the receptionist to ask for a rough price guide and hope that this Ortho doesn't go £700 over it like the one did today. Does anyone seem to know their job nowadays? Most people I've spoken to in the UK are paying £3000-£3500 for CLEAR braces, not metal... I'm just a little shocked, I'll get over it.

I know I am not an expert, but I honestly didn't think that people with an overbite aren't able to have lower braces too... strange.

Update: My next Consultation with a different Orthodontist is on the 20th of September 2010.