I don't know what to do anymore!!!

[ThatGirlWithBraces]

I got my braces when I was 16 years old. My mom took me to this really nice orthodontics thats rated like really high in AZ. My mom thought she could pay them off because thats when she made lots of money. Well, I'm 20 now and I STILL have them on. I was supposed to have them off when i was 18 but stupid me didn't wear the painful rubber bands as much as i was supposed to. So I had to have them on longer. So my mom lost her job and what not so she was struggling to pay for them. So she wasn't making payments for a while untill she just stopped completely. So they threatened her that if she doesn't pay they'll refuse to treat me. So there was nothing i could do about it. I haven't been there since March, so...I was wondering if I can make my orthodontist at least take them off??

[Stephanie]

ya you can have your orthodontist remove them... however, since you didn't pay the bills, they may refuse to give you retainers.... which is a problem....

THis is a tough situation and I am sorry to hear...

[fosterp]

You said you are 20...so I would assume you have a job by now. Why not just take the responsibility of payments yourself? I know it probably seems really expensive at that age...but it really is worth it if you consider your teeth may just shift back to their original position when the braces are removed...

[ThatGirlWithBraces]

I'm having a very hard time finding a job right now. Plus, they want way too much money a month. I can't afford to continue the treatment. My teeth are a lot straighter than they use to be and I'm very happy with them right now, it's just I wanted them to look absolutely perfect. I still have an overbite and my jaw pops.

What will happen if i never get my braces off? will they shift?

[Sunny]

So sorry to read what's happened!

Please contact to your ortho and ask for an appointment to talk to him. He may be happy to take them off, but you need to ask how much your retainers will cost and then work out how they can be paid for, before your braces are removed.

If your braces are removed without retainers, your teeth will move ... and where they'll move to, you have no control over. It's important if you want the result you have now, that you retain your teeth there for life.

First ... go talk to your ortho and find out what your options are. Good luck!

[ThatGirlWithBraces]

Is it free to just have the braces taken off?

[mikeg]

I would hope so, but doubt it. At this point you can call any ortho if you really wanted them off....

[Anny]

I suggest you talk to your ortho too, a lot of people are losing their jobs now and having trouble making payments. Perhaps they can work out a longer payment plan that would require less money every month.

Definitely get a retainer before losing the braces though - otherwise all the money your mother spent will have been for nothing!