Does it still take years and thousands of dollars to straighten teeth?

[human_male]

Or has there been some technical advancements in the field in the last decade or so?

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Yes it does and no there hasn't.

 

[3113]

Or has there been some technical advancements in the field in the last decade or so?

There have been a lot of technical advancements in the things you can wear to adjust the teeth if not the length of time it takes. Clear braces, and such.

 

[TE999]

Or has there been some technical advancements in the field in the last decade or so?

Well, somebody has to buy the orthodontist a Porsche.

 

[shereads]

Braces don't look as bulky as they did when I wore them. My neighbor (adult, professional, father of three) has nearly invisible braces on his teeth. That's progress. They were primitive things when I had them...I hated that mouthful of jagged metal. Their only saving grace was that it seemed half the kids I knew were wearing them, too.

Which makes me wonder: if it takes this long, expensive process to make people's teeth look straight and even, is straight-and-evenness a false ideal? Why are we so obsessed with straight teeth that we endure something so awkward for so long?

Of course, I'm glad I had them done. Grateful to my parents and all that. I know it was a huge investment for them at the time - my sister's braces first, and mine two years later. They were struggling financially, but they would no sooner have let their children grow up without straight perfect teeth than they'd have let us go to school without shoes.

Why is that? Why the uniform standard of what is and is not attractive?

 

[curiositykitten]

How do people afford them? I have 3 kids who inherited crooked teeth and I just couldn't afford it! They don't have any real problems caused by it yet, but I always feel so guilty! Our insurance doesn't cover braces. Now I've learned a friend who is from a very low-income family is able to get braces and they have like 5 or 6 kids and at least as many pets, no full time job that the daughter helps pay the bills & they're living in a trailer. How are they doing this? I'm not bitter, mind you, and not being judgmental, but if there really is a TOOTH FAIRY out there paying for braces, where do I sign up my kids? Two of them are in college now and they still haven't had them - can't even get their wisdom teeth removed and gotta find a way! I feel like a horrible parent - especially because I had braces, even though my teeth moved back some and are still kinda crooked.

 

[shereads]

How do people afford them? I have 3 kids who inherited crooked teeth and I just couldn't afford it! They don't have any real problems caused by it yet, but I always feel so guilty! Our insurance doesn't cover braces. Now I've learned a friend who is from a very low-income family is able to get braces and they have like 5 or 6 kids and at least as many pets, no full time job that the daughter helps pay the bills & they're living in a trailer. How are they doing this? I'm not bitter, mind you, and not being judgmental, but if there really is a TOOTH FAIRY out there paying for braces, where do I sign up my kids? Two of them are in college now and they still haven't had them - can't even get their wisdom teeth removed and gotta find a way! I feel like a horrible parent - especailly because I had braces, even though my teeth moved back some and are still kinda crooked.

I don't know how my parents managed it.

There is another option - let your kids get this done for themselves when they grow up, if they want it badly enough. Like my neighbor. He's in his thirties and wearing braces for the first time, now that he can afford to do it himself.

I'm sure it's tough wanting to give your kids everything you believe they need, but you shouldn't feel guilty for not being a bottomless pit of expendable wealth. Braces are a cosmetic issue, after all, and not a health concern. Neither are they something that has to be done now or never.

 

[glynndah]

My two front teeth overlap slightly. I'm probably the last generation where slight imperfections such as crooked teeth still occur. It doesn't happen that much with today's children unless the family is poor, of course.

 

[shereads]

My two front teeth overlap slightly. I'm probably the last generation where slight imperfections such as crooked teeth still occur. It doesn't happen that much with today's children unless the family is poor, of course.

Remember the model Lauren Hutton? Her imperfect teeth were her trademark.

 

[human_male]

I had them done in my twenties and paid for them myself. I'm glad I did because the were pretty bad. They're still not straight (don't know why he took them off before they were). The top is fine but I have some crowding on the bottom at the front which causes an annoying ache from the pressure of them pushing together.

I was hoping there could be a simple procedure to just tidy up the bottom front ones a bit without having to go the whole hog... moulers out, four years, NZ$3000 sort of thing. Stuff that.

Thanks.

 

[sassypeach]

I had them done in my twenties and paid for them myself. I'm glad I did because the were pretty bad. They're still not straight (don't know why he took them off before they were). The top is fine but I have some crowding on the bottom at the front which causes an annoying ache from the pressure of them pushing together.

I was hoping there could be a simple procedure to just tidy up the bottom front ones a bit without having to go the whole hog... moulers out, four years, NZ$3000 sort of thing. Stuff that.

Thanks.

In Britain children (up to the age of 16) get ortho treatment on the NHS.
You can be referred before you sixteen and have to wait. This means you might not get your treatment until your 17 even if you were referred at say12 years old by your dentist to get ortho treatment.
Private quote (without private medical insurance) £4,500.00 still two to three years of treatment. This for the mouth of metal, a button on the upper palate and the removal of two teeth.
There is a shortage of dentists and orthodontists in this country.
My orthodontist drives a BMW

 

[Liar]

There has been some pretty big advancements in dental surgery, cavity filling and such over the last ten to twenty years, new filling materials, better tools, local anastethics and so on.

But straightening misplaced teeth is still a matter of gently pulling the teeth in the right direction, and allowing time for gums and such to grow around it. That can't be rushed, since there haven't been any major changes in how the human body works lately. So straightening teeth is still a matter of applying pressure, having patience and enjoying the discomfort.

By the way, how much is a NZ$?

 

[Liar]

My two front teeth overlap slightly. I'm probably the last generation where slight imperfections such as crooked teeth still occur. It doesn't happen that much with today's children unless the family is poor, of course.

My lower front teeth have...um...personality. And it's the same for many kids and teens around here. Teeth are fixed to the point where they are healthy, proper placement for chewing and speaking, not causing jaw tension, et al. (And as long as that is taken care of, they tend to look pretty ok too)

And then people think nothing more of it.

It's a culture difference, I guess. Going for the "perfect" row teeth is seen as vain plastic surgery. Equivalent to a nose job.

I've seen this laregly in the US, but here and there in other places too. Many parents who wouldn't dream of letting their precious little snowflakes get a designer face, have no problem with giving them a designer smile.

I don't get it.

 

[oggbashan]

I played Rugby (and very occasionally Aussie Rules).

My teeth were adjusted in seconds. Most of them are now full or part replacements.

A few more years and I'll have perfect teeth that I take out at night.

Og

 

[jomar]

Don't forget to budget for whitening after you get them straightened. But it's not all that expensive if you use whitening strips. Really. Everybody's doing it.

 

[NoJo]

You fucking Americans with your straight white teeth

(puts on best Austin Powers )

 

[jomar]

You fucking Americans with your straight white teeth

(puts on best Austin Powers )

Yeah, Baby!

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I had them done in my twenties and paid for them myself. I'm glad I did because the were pretty bad. They're still not straight (don't know why he took them off before they were). The top is fine but I have some crowding on the bottom at the front which causes an annoying ache from the pressure of them pushing together.

I was hoping there could be a simple procedure to just tidy up the bottom front ones a bit without having to go the whole hog... moulers out, four years, NZ$3000 sort of thing. Stuff that.

Thanks.

I have a crowding thing going on with my bottom front teeth too. Not sure what your situation is, but the dentist told me I only needed a small device to straighten them out and that it wouldn't cost that much. So, it might be worth getting an estimate. Though he did tell me I might have to get one of the teeth pulled so that the others would align properly.

 

[Katyusha]

Or has there been some technical advancements in the field in the last decade or so?

The current push, rather than use heavy duty wire specifically bent to pull each individual tooth straight on the brackets, is to pull the molars backward because apparently most of the problems people have with crooked teeth, TMJ, and other problems, are related to their molars being too far forward in their jaws. Our bodies are still trying to make space for the wisdom teeth even though it just doesn't really exist in most jaws anymore.

With this type of a method, supposedly even the most crooked teeth can be straightened, permanently, within about eighteen months (permanently as in, without requiring the use of retainers for months or years afterward). They do put brackets on all the teeth, but they also attach rubber bands and/or springs to the molars, which pulls them backward in the jaw. The rest of the teeth have more room to shift and things are accomplished a lot faster.

 

[human_male]

I have a crowding thing going on with my bottom front teeth too. Not sure what your situation is, but the dentist told me I only needed a small device to straighten them out and that it wouldn't cost that much. So, it might be worth getting an estimate. Though he did tell me I might have to get one of the teeth pulled so that the others would align properly.

That's the sort of thing I was hoping for. Are you going to do yours?

 

[human_male]

By the way, how much is a NZ$?

78 US cents. It's high at the moment, it's usually around 48.

 

[Katyusha]

You fucking Americans with your straight white teeth

(puts on best Austin Powers )

Mine aren't straight...despite all the money my parents spent on braces...

 

[Guest]

Or has there been some technical advancements in the field in the last decade or so?

Yep, it does.

$4800 for hubby's teeth. None covered by insurance. He should have had them as a kid, his parents didn't have the funds.

$4800 for daughter, half covered by insurance. She's nearly done with two rounds of braces.

$5000 for mine, 2/3 of the way done. I did not need braces as a kid, but managed to force my teeth out of alignment due to stress and nighttime grinding. Oops. I'll make certain to get a nightguard when completed.

Young son? He has inherited dad's teeth, like daughter. He'll need to start in a couple of years.

 

[carsonshepherd]

My orthodonist had a little plaque in his office, right by where you stood to pay:

Every parent owes their child three things: Love, love and straight teeth.

I had to pay for my own orthodontics in my late 20's, and by then it was too late to fix with braces (I said NO to surgery.) So my teeth are still not pretty despite all the money I've spent. I'm a little angry at my parents for not fixing those problems while they were still in the developmental phase.

 

[curiositykitten]

Don't forget to budget for whitening after you get them straightened. But it's not all that expensive if you use whitening strips. Really. Everybody's doing it.

BUT the dentist will tell you that those over-the-counter whiteners actually tear down the enamel on your teeth and can result in tooth sensitivity or even permanent damage & root death. Who to believe? Product advertisments or Dentists driving expensive cars?