Just got clear braces!

[tezarin]

Hi everyone,

I am a 28 woman and just got braces yesterday, so far having a tough time eating

Question for you: well, please visualize what I am about to write or it doesn't make any sense

1) The problem teeth are in my upper jaw mainly the second tooth at the left (start counting from the front tooth), The middle line of my upper jaw is perfectly centered if you know what I mean. The lower jaw's middle line is not centered.
Having said that, they are going to extract the 4th tooth on the upper RIGHT jaw and I was thinking, ok that way all the teeth will move to the right and the upper center line will not going to be centered anymore!

What do you think??

[ctoler1920]

Congrats on your braces. I hope eating gets better. I can't invision what you wrote :? I am sitting here counting my teeth with my tongue and I am thinking of the eye teeth. That seems right what you said about it not being perfectly centered anymore. Just trust in what your dentist is suggesting you do.
I should have my braces on by January. The wait is killing me. I have to wait until my molding are looked at by a specialist.
Are clear more expensive than traditional metal?

[tezarin]

Hey! Thanks for your reply And congrad on your new smile and everything, I am so happy for you!

About counting: There are two teeth on the front, right? The one on the right is tooth no.1 (in upper right section) so start counting from that tooth, 1,2,3,4. The forth one is the one she is going to pull out.

Now, the left front tooth is no. 1 in the upper left side of the mouth, right? the second tooth is the one with the crowding problem.

Having said that, if she extract the tooth #4, all the teeth will be moving from the left upper side of the jaw to the upper right to fill that gap. so, the mid-line between two front teeth will not going to be centered any more.

That was what I was trying to explain! I hope I was able to do that

So, I talked to the doctor and she said yes, they will be off centered by 2 mm afterward

Clear braces are $1000 more expensive. $500 for upper and %400 per lower jaw

[ctoler1920]

This whole process is crazy. I am just angry with myself that I did not get this process started sooner. :cry: What made you want to do it now as opposed to years ago? I know for me it was money. It is goin to be a long 24 months :cry: The bad thing about my case is that I will still have a slight overbite that might have to be corrected with surgery

[tezarin]

When I was a child my parents were like you shoudl get braces and I was like NO WAY!
Then I got older and they said they can just use some kind of treatment for one tooth to make it look better. Then I totally forgot about it, then I went for veneer and they said it's not going to last more than 10-15 years! So I went to get quote, then I saw charlote in sex and the city has the clear braces and no one can even see it! SO I went for it, and mony wise, yes I was waiting for the best insurance and now I got it so as you said, I wish I had started the process sooner.... but you know? I will live with nice smile at least for the next 40 years!

[ctoler1920]

What dental insurance do you have that will pay for adult braces? I know my insurance does not cover it so I am coming out of pocket for expenses.

[tezarin]

I have Metlife. It only pays 1500 of the total cost ($6000), so I'll end up paying $4500 out of pocket.

[ctoler1920]

YIKES!!!!!!!! That is costly. I thought I was paying alot. Mine are going to be $3800. Well I guess you are paying more for clear.

[tezarin]

I KNOW!!! It's very expensive. The clear are $1000 more (2x$500). I guess it's worth it cause no one can see them unless I show it to them!

[hairfreak4]

cool! i just got metal braces today and i'm 18 years old! i kind wish i would have went with at least the ceramic braces, but my ortho said that metal won't break as much and will straighten my teeth faster.

[tezarin]

Oh I am so happy for you! Metalic ones are really good and you are very young

Our count down begins! We both will have the best smile in no time

[ctoler1920]

I guess this is the year for braces! I should have my full set on by Jan 18th. I am a little anoxious now because it is so close. I will probably cry for the first week :cry: But I know it will look good in the end.
How are you two adjusting to your braces?

[hairfreak4]

aww thanks! yeah we both will have celebrity smiles! i cant wait. i only had trouble the first day with my braces (the pain and the embarassment!). but now i'm smiling like never before with my braces. and it's like they're an assessory. good luck ctoler1920 with yours!

[tezarin]

hairfreak4, yeah! We will have the best smile in no time. I had the pain and problem the first day only, too! Nothing after that I smile now, too and really like to show it off LOL!

ctoler1920, good luck with your braces. I am sure you'll be happy you did it. Do not cry you'll be fine I was so upset and embarass the first day, too and apologized to everyone I spoke to because of my braces!!LOL!! And people probably thought I am crazy!! you'll be fine...sooner the better.

[ctoler1920]

Unfortunately I will not have my braces for a couple of months now. I have to have the open bite surgery so they can position my jaw in the right place so when I get my braces on my teeth will be straight without an overbite.
That sucks for me (pain and the delay of the braces) :cry:

[tezarin]

ctoler1920, I am soooo sorry to hear that But if your dr. wants you to do this it def. is necessary...think about the nice smile after all. I think I have over bite, too but dr. didn't say anything about surgery, I guess she just wants me to keep the braces...

Keep us posetd, ok? When is the surgery scheduled for? My prayers are with you

[Ckanna]

Hey everyone, I've started my treatment for braces. Just had my molds, x-rays and photo's taken. My ortho only does treatment for metal and clarity braces. He said clarity is only a little bit more expensive than metal ones. I hope by a little he doesn't mean $1000 like everyone else is saying. I mean I'm paying out of my pocket here because my insurance does not cover braces. Does anyone here have Damon braces because I've done some research and I'm interested. I just need some input. cost? experience? etc.

[ctoler1920]

Thanks! I need the prayers, definitely! I just got my denial letter back from the insurance company and I am not sure as of what to do next. I think that I have to appeal the decision and wait for there answer. Maybe your dentist doesn't think that you overbite is that bad so she wouldn't suggest having this surgery.
I know I want this process to end and it hasn't even really began!!!!!

ctoler1920, I am soooo sorry to hear that But if your dr. wants you to do this it def. is necessary...think about the nice smile after all. I think I have over bite, too but dr. didn't say anything about surgery, I guess she just wants me to keep the braces...

Keep us posetd, ok? When is the surgery scheduled for? My prayers are with you

[tezarin]

Hey everyone, I've started my treatment for braces. Just had my molds, x-rays and photo's taken. My ortho only does treatment for metal and clarity braces. He said clarity is only a little bit more expensive than metal ones. I hope by a little he doesn't mean $1000 like everyone else is saying. I mean I'm paying out of my pocket here because my insurance does not cover braces. Does anyone here have Damon braces because I've done some research and I'm interested. I just need some input. cost? experience? etc.

Congrad for starting your process! I hope the price difference is not like mine $1000! But it totally is worth it! No one noticed I got braces
My insurance paid $1500 out of $6000 so I guess it's still very expensive...what can we do???!

cost: $6000 for clear ones and $5000 for metal one.
experience: No problem what so ever, except the gum around the extracted tooth hurt soooooooo bad when I drank cold soda 3 times in 2 days. I was dying....other than that, no cleaning problem, no eating problem and I eat everything but chewing gum, I mean I eat nuts, pizza, everything but I am being very careful chewing them!!

Good luck And we all are here to help if we can

[tezarin]

[quote="ctoler1920"]Thanks! I need the prayers, definitely! I just got my denial letter back from the insurance company and I am not sure as of what to do next. I think that I have to appeal the decision and wait for there answer. Maybe your dentist doesn't think that you overbite is that bad so she wouldn't suggest having this surgery.
I know I want this process to end and it hasn't even really began!!!!!

My prayer is with you I am sorry for the denial letter That sucks...you shoud def. appeal. you never know may be they accept this time?

My dentist didn't way anything about surgery may be as you said she didn't think it's overbite or if it is it's not that bad...dunno...

You'll be fine I am sure you will get nice result very soon Don't wory sweetie

[tezarin]

I thought I should mention that dr. says no nuts, no pizza crust, no hard stuff...well, you can eat them but should be really careful

No gum for me yet but hey! Mint is ok, too!

How is everyone doing???

[ctoler1920]

Me, I could be doing better. Like I stated in my last post that I got my denial letter back from my insurance company and they won't cover the surgery I need. But I found out that the other choice of insurance that my job offers they cover the surgery but open enrollment for that company isn't until April and the insurance won't take effect until July 1. So now my oral surgeon and orthodonist are going back and forth to see what I should have done first to get the best results.
Of course my ortho want me to have the surgery first but I can't until July and I don't want to go five more months with nothing happening. At least I could be in my braces for those five month and they still can correct the rest with surgery. At least the time frame is still no longer than two years.
Again, I wonder why I even started this process but I know it is necessary :cry:
I hope everybody is doing well in their braces! I am sort of jealous......you guys have a two month head start :P

[tezarin]

Unfortunately I will not have my braces for a couple of months now. I have to have the open bite surgery so they can position my jaw in the right place so when I get my braces on my teeth will be straight without an overbite.
That sucks for me (pain and the delay of the braces) :cry:

Hey!
Don't worry, your teeth will look 100 times better than everyone else because you will have the complete procedure and you know time goes by sooooo quick

[ctoler1920]

Man it better turn out perfect for all the drama I am going through!
I am going to get my bands on thursday. I hear they are a little uncomfortable :cry:
I hope the time flies by. Like I said before since I will have the surgery and the braces as a combination, the time will not be any longer than just having the braces. It may be even shorter (I hope!)

[Nikki]

ctoler1920, I wish you the best of luck with your braces! I just joined this forum last week after getting my braces like the week before that, so I'm not completely in the loop with what everyone is up to, but.... I posted my first message in a part of this forum that people barely visit, I guess. So, thanks for replying!

[ctoler1920]

I think this is the only part where a few of us actively post. I wish you well with your braces! I hope the time goes by quickly. I am on my way to the dentist in a half hour to get my bands. I don't even know what those are and what they do? I am doing what is recommended by my orth (He is the best in the world so I trust him )
Keep checking back for updates on everyone. I will check on you also.
Have a good day :P

[Nikki]

Where are you at? I want to know where they have "the best in the world" orthodontists . How are the bands? Are those to make space for the braces?

[ctoler1920]

I am in Ohio. Trust me when I say that he is the best in the world. I was refered to him by someone else and I think it was the best referal I have ever received. Before I went to him, it was years before I had went to the dentist because I was terrified of them.
The bands have been in for a week and they are not that bad. They were uncomfortable the first couple of hours but I took a couple of Advil. I think that they are making room between my back teeth so they can start moving. I think that it is starting to work because my teeth feel funny and I can't crunch on hard things anymore without alot of caution.

[Nikki]

Yeah, my teeth have been feeling really funny with braces, too. It's been a month and I still can't really chew normally. But otherwise--I can already see how my teeth have moved--I am not joking. My bite, of course, all feels strange, but that's one of the indications that the braces are working, I guess.

[ctoler1920]

How is everyone doing in braces land? I still don't have mind. I am wearing this stupid palate expander and it is horrible. I can't talk without a lisp and tons of saliva...yuck :? This thing may be in for a month. I don't know if I can take it......

[Nikki]

Sorry to hear that thing is so uncomfortable Well, the braces are not that great either, but must be better anyway. I had my first "adjustment" two weeks ago--nothing really happened except I got the rest of my braces put on (I only had the top ones), so now I can set my clock to count down the time until I get these things off. I'm kind of getting used to braces, but I do feel like I talk different with them on, too. But I can already see how my teeth are getting aligned--it is amazing.
I guess I don't know anything about the palate expanders...can you take that thing out at all?

[tezarin]

hey all!

Glad to see that you kept this thread going lol I haven't been here for a while...sorry but I still have the braces on!! LOL!
I have the upper set and the lower set will be put on in 2-3 months.

I went for the 4th adjustment and MAN IT HURT AS HELL!

1) The extracted space is almost filled and I can now use my right side of my jaw to chew!!That's huge! I am happy for this one!

2) One of the tooth that is not even in the braces set, has made great progress and soon enough will be included in the wire set. BUT when she tried to put some kind of rubber band to make the tooth turn, it hurt soooooooooooo bad and still does! I felt like she is extracting that tooth! She said the more teeth move, the harder adjustment will be...

Sooooooo, ok, I think I made up for that time I wasn't updating here lol sorry I wrote a novel!


ctoler1920, I am so sorry to hear that you don't feel comfortable, think about the great result A priceless smile will occure in no time remember, no pain, no gain babe


Nikki, great to see that you got the rest of your braces, congrad You're now getting ready to a greater smile..IT'S A FINAL COUNT DOWN (love this song!)

Wish everyone great luck with the braces