Does anyone currently have or had in your past your teeth straightened?

If you did, how bad were your teeth before? And how much did it affect them? i.e. what was the improvement? Also, what method of straightners did you use?

Also, did you have them done as an adult or when you were very young?

Any info you have would be good

I had the kind of brace with one metal wire that you tighten to bring my goofy front teeth in to line, after having two teeth removed to fit 'em in. They then tried to make me sleep with a stupid thing in my mouth while asleep to correct my overbite, but seeing as I have no problem eating or anything, and it was the most uncomfortable thing ever, I decided to call it a day.

Think I was about 11.

I had mine straightened when I was a kid (from about 11 onwards) - I had a brace, which seemed to be tightened every so often, and when it was my teeth hurt. I also had my premolars extracted as part of the straightening process because, apparently, my mouth wasn’t big enough for all my teeth. I question the wisdom of that now, but at the time it wasn’t my choice. I can’t say that I have a totally straight line of teeth now. Ho hum.

OK, the reason behind my question.

I had a couple of fillings in my two upper number 2 teeth (i.e. either side of the front teeth) on the inside edge of them. They were done years ago as tooth coloured but have stained over the years and are now slightly brown round the edges (not really visible unless you're looking closely but I am also very aware of them). I was at the dentist yesterday for a routine check up and she said that if I wanted she could replace the fillings for new tooth coloured ones that won't have the staining.

Anyway, I've been thinking about it ever since and it put a whole new concept in my head of actually spending money to improve my teeth rather than just spending money when they need it spending (which will be a lot less now than when I was young and careless with my teeth) .

So, I have also had crooked front teeth since I was young and never had anything done about it. The two upper number 2 teeth are angled forward and are actually the furthest forward teeth rather than being flat and in line with my front teeth. (if that makes sense). And I've got a big overbite. I've always hated my teeth and hate any photos taken of my as all I can see is my teeth.

Anyway, my dental surgery is also an Invisalign supplier... http://www.invisalign.co.uk/en/Pages/Home.aspx and I've been reading the website and I'm tempted to go for a consultation.

So, that's why I'm asking. I'm very tempted to go for it. It costs a lot but the money includes a LOT of extras (all xrays, tooth care, any removals if necessary, all pre care, a year of after care, the cost of any permanent retainers if necessary etc...). I guess I need to find out if I would be suitable first but it's something that's been on my mind.

Any time someone goes privately, I ask them what is included in aftercare and do they have the money for it?

Although not dental related, I've seen people in A&E having problems with their stomach bypass/stapling/etc and have had it done privately. They still have issues but have no money left so can't afford to go down the private route and pitch up in A&E hoping the NHS will sort them out.

One of my friends has been down the invisalign route, she's had a really positive experience with it and I've never seen her beam so much or so widely!

I had quite an overbite as a kid so needed braces on the uppers to bring them back inline. I didn't want braces but as I had already chipped and broken my prominent eye teeth a few times, I did see some wisdom in it.

Started off by having two premolars removed and still have the gaps from them today.

Got a removable brace to start with, and although it is less visible it has many other drawbacks:
Hygeine - even when you wash it several times a day it quickly develops a certain unique oral smell.
Comfort - getting crumbs stuck between the plate and the roof of my mouth was rather annoying.
Comfort 2 - the roof of my mouth would become more sensitive.
Durability - the plates I had chipped easily and I must have broken several of them.
Effectiveness - When it was in I'm sure it did the job properly, however as I could remove it easily I found I didn't wear it all of the time.

Then moved on to the permanent brace:
Hygeine - good
Comfort - 4-5 days of mild to significant discomfort when it was tightened, every 4 weeks or so.
Comfort 2 - Dentist forgot to trim one of the wire ends during one visit. I didn't really twig that something was wrong until a few hours later back at school. Fortunately I was in a CDT lesson so had access to side-cutters.
Durability - had to have two of the guides re-glued to my teeth.
Effectiveness - had this one for half the time of the other and my teeth moved about twice as far.

Fortunately it was on the NHS so I didn't have to worry about cost. If I had to pay for it now for myself or for kids I would certainly choose the permanent option.

Haven't heard anything about invisialign until today, but I still think a permanent option is the surest way to go.

I used to have a removable plate thingy but not for my teeth so I know how bad they are but these invisalign things don't have a plate it literally just covers your teeth.

You are right about a couple of downsides though.

You really need to keep them very clean and you need to actually wear them. They say that they need to be worn at least 20-22 hours a day to be effective.

Oh, I've booked a consultation for Thurs 29th

I figured there's no point in speculating if I'm not certain whether or not I'd actually be suitable for them.

At least that way I'll know for certain.

It'll be a few months before I can get them anyway as I need to get a crown in Jan. (Again, careless youth )

(You know when parents kept getting at you to look after your teeth etc... Why didn't I listen to them?!)

ive had a brace since 16 (currently 18) ive had to have 2 teeth taken out (each taking 15mins, which when you can feel blood gushing out and the entist literally pulling for life, is not very nice) i have 1 braceon top with a thing to make my teeth wider, and 1 on the bottom just to make them all fit (over crowding) basically i have teeth that are too big for my small jaw...


its a bitch and a half but you get used to it...

Girlfriend's youngest daughter currently has braces. She had a removable plate, which she had to wear at nights, that cost a couple of hundred. Now she has had to move over to a permanent one, with the wires running from side to side. Very uncomfortable and she couldn't chew for the first couple of days. I had to fork out over 1100€ for that!