New Here...Need Advice Please

[JoJo13]

Hi Everyone!

At 39 yrs of age, I am once again looking to straighten my teeth. After having braces as a teen, they have shifted somewhat over the last few years and I am very interested in iBraces. I have ruled out Invisalign. It is not convenient for me.

I have a consult next week for the iBraces and my concern is my speech. My cousin had them and I never knew she had them! She did not talk funny at all. Do you think that the braces just affect everyone differently? Also, would it be more beneficial for me (speech & cost wise) to just get the iBraces on top and traditional on bottom?

If anyone has any answers/advice for me, I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks so much!
JoJo

[coconut]

I had linguals on top (not Ibraces brand) and regular braces on the bottom (ceramics on the front 8, metal the rest). So I can only speak for the effects of lingual braces on the top arch.

To be honest, the "s" sound is the only one that bothered me, but I suspect that I was more conscious of it than anyone else. Being dehydrated tended to accentuate it, so the solution to that is drink lots of water!

People did notice the ceramics, but only at close range. Of course, when I went into vertical elastics, it wouldn't have mattered whether I had regular or lingual braces - the elastics were always going to be visible. After a while, the need to be invisible became less important.

See how you go at your consult, talk to a few more people, then decide what will be suitable for you.

[Rynne]

Howdy! I have lingual top and bottom- I forget which kind tho. I swear my speach is awful but when I apologize for it the people have no idea what I am talking about and so I feel dumb for bringing it up. Read my blog if you want. I have I think some of the worse scenario for it- my speech is crap when i have even the slightest bit to drink, my tongue bleeds daily from being cut up. It gets cut up the most in the beginning from the lower, but now its the uppers. It just gets raw on the sides from resting against them even. My teeth haven't moved in 3 months and may have gotten worse in one area. I read to my son every night for 20-30 minutes and they say talking is what helps you get used to them. Well I still start to slur when I'm tired, but it is way better than day 1. (by the way don't call your boss to say you are running late if you are ha ha ha) But I spit a lot still. There are great things that will numb your tongue for some relief- Kilaxin which you get from your ortho is the best. The liquid orajel hurts like hell on fire. The gel version was better and easier to get where it hurt. Salt water is the cure to life IMO.

That all said I'm still glad I got them. I am job hunting right now and I could not imagine what I would do if I had braces on the front. Also I'm getting married in 9 months and worse horrible case scenario my teeth aren't done it's aok. I like talking about them and showing them off too.

Good luck!

[lu lu]

I can't comment about having ibraces on the bottom. I have incognito (just a different brand) on top & ceramic on the bottom (just clear brackets rather than metal - look easier on the eye IMO).

My speech was affected with the top lingual brace but it doesn't last forever. The first week I really struggled but you could still understand me by 3 weeks I sounded back to normal really. Every now and then the odd word sounds a bit lispy and I feel I struggle a little bit with my speech after adjustments but then again a week later i'm back to normal.

It's on off really but nothing like when I first had them fitted. Once they feel normal in your mouth you'll find your speech is a lot better. At first you might produce a lot more saliva (which adds to the lispy sound, espcially on s's) but that soon passes too.

I don't know if the bottom lingual brace would cause you to lisp more. I think the problem would come from the top becuase of where you position your tongue on certain words however I would imagine that it's alot harder to adjust to the bottom brace and your tongue will hurt more.

It's alot more money or in my case it would of been to have bottom linguals so i'm glad I had normal braces on the bottom because they're not as noticeable on the bottom and also lingual braces on the bottom can be seen in certain circumstances i.e yawning etc. so not as invisible as the top.

I'm happy with my lingual brace and just hope the end result is as good as having traditional braces that's my only worry.
I've never had straight teeth so I can't imagine my end result I just hope it's what i'm expecting.

Good luck on your decision and if I can help in any other way just ask xx

[ports]

I've read a few posts on here that from 1-2 users that were very unhappy with the bottom linguals. Since it's always in there bothering your tongue.

To me, top lingual, and bottom regular+ceramic sounds good. You'll get used to the speech thing and sound fine in a few weeks.

If you don't mind, why did you eliminate invisalign/clearcorrect?

[JoJo13]

I felt the Invisalign would be too much and annoying with in & out all day to eat and if I go out to eat, etc. That would be time wasted then when they are out, right? So I figure the next best thing are the Incognito braces. What was/is your experiences?

[lu lu]

I think lingual braces will cost more than invisalign. They aren't cheap & if you have both upper & lower jaws done it's alot more money. Here in the uk I think for both jaws you'd be looking at £7,000-£8,000 or around that mark. I don't think invisalign is that much for both jaws. It depends on the case though but I know linguals are pricey. You can half the price near enough if you have lingual upper & ceramic or metal lower. That's what I did but my bottoms were too twisted & rotated inwards to get the brackets on them so it made my decision much easier.

Sorry I thought you meant invisalign would cost too much but don't think you meant that whoops lol

[JoJo13]

Hi lulu!

Yes, I meant too much work taking them in & out all the time. The Incognito ones are pricey though.....thanks for the info! I went for consult today and am very eager to start, but nervous. I am going for it though with tops & bottoms and am a nervous wreck! LOL Any advice would be so helpful...thanks!!

JoJo13

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

I think lingual braces will cost more than invisalign. They aren't cheap & if you have both upper & lower jaws done it's alot more money. Here in the uk I think for both jaws you'd be looking at £7,000-£8,000 or around that mark. I don't think invisalign is that much for both jaws. It depends on the case though but I know linguals are pricey. You can half the price near enough if you have lingual upper & ceramic or metal lower. That's what I did but my bottoms were too twisted & rotated inwards to get the brackets on them so it made my decision much easier.

Sorry I thought you meant invisalign would cost too much but don't think you meant that whoops lol

Incognito costs about double traditional braces / Invisalign. The braces are custom-made with gold, and there has been a recent increase in our lab fees because the price of gold has gone up so high. The treatment fee is related to the lab fee, but also because it takes about double the amount of chair time as regular braces.

[ports]

If Invisalign will work for you, and you have a good practitioner, don't eliminate it. With my damon style braces, I have to carry a toothbrush, tooth paste, floss, mouthwash, and sometimes a small mirror with me at all times. Imagine going to dinner, and at the end when you smile, you've got a big chunk of spinach stuck in there, etc. Very uncomfortable and very gross. With Invisalign, at least the food doesn't stick, so brushing is much simpler. But you've got to be responsible and put them back in.

I've brushed my teeth in the bathroom at some pretty nasty bars/restaurant bathrooms.. which is gross. But to me it's grosser to have the food stuck in there.

[Harlow]

This is what I have ~ lingual uppers and ceramic lowers. I didn't seem to have a problem with speech at all. I occasionally notice myself slur but no one else has. I love them!

[lmscotty]

I'm not sure which option you chose to go with JoJo13, but my sister had invisalign and could not tell she had them on unless I was close to her face. She never slurred her words and her teeth looked great in pictures. She went to an Indianapolis dentist to be fit for them and to discuss pricing. Getting invisalign did not break her bank, so i would say invisalign is the best bet.