please discuss

4/26/2007 1:30:53 PM

i'm sorry for not taking this serious - i'd like to take this time to apologize to all lounge readers

[Edited on April 26, 2007 at 1:45 PM. Reason : thx]

4/26/2007 1:36:34 PM

Depends why you need them. Invisalign can only fix certain things, mainly minor alignment.

4/26/2007 1:44:43 PM

oh okay. so they can't do everything that braces can. That's what I was looking for. I was wondering why more people didn't use Invisalign if they were so great. Anyone know how expensive they usually are?

4/26/2007 1:47:46 PM

^from what I hear....quite expensive.

4/26/2007 1:51:59 PM

I just know that when I had to get braces invisalign wasn't really an option because they had to make space in my mouth for implants. I think invisalign is just an inferior product, though, that is easy to sell because hey.. braces suck.

V^ that too

[Edited on April 26, 2007 at 1:53 PM. Reason : .]

4/26/2007 1:52:08 PM

does anyone know places that have braces a lot cheaper than normal?

I really need them because my overbite (which isn't that noticeable but bothers me) is causing problems with my jaw (I now have TMJ probs) and for some reason my bottom teeth have decided to overcrowd since I had my wisdom teeth pulled, ironic.

I went to Dr. Larry Moray in Durham, and he told me I definetly needed braces, but not for spacing issues as much as it was my jaws because they pop really badly and hurt when I eat, but just to get them for my overbite.

My insurance denied me because my teeth arent bad enough, so the office told me that they give a discount of $1000 for those who get denied - so I could get them for $5500 for 18 months, including the after retainer.

Is that reasonable or REALLY high? I've heard that braces usually cost 5k for 2 years, but 6.5k for less than 2 years? The discount seems to not matter.

[Edited on April 26, 2007 at 2:29 PM. Reason : ]

4/26/2007 2:28:28 PM

yeah I would like some suggestions on good affordable doctors since I will be paying out of pocket. any favorites or good experiences?

4/26/2007 5:01:31 PM

My godfather is an orthodontist. But he sold his practice for $$$. I had braces for five years, but had to stop wearing the retainer because of TMJ, so now my bottom teeth are moving inwards...oddly. I was hoping to get invisalign b/c it's not a major change. Don't know anyone that's had it though.

[Edited on April 26, 2007 at 6:20 PM. Reason : I refuse to be in braces for my wedding.]

4/26/2007 6:19:49 PM

Quote :

"yeah I would like some suggestions on good affordable doctors since I will be paying out of pocket. any favorites or good experiences?"

I don't think I could get insurance to pay for them, but it sure would be nice. I've NEVER liked my teeth.

4/26/2007 6:23:43 PM

If you really need them cheaper, go to the UNC Dental School, but it will take a lot of time for every appointment.

4/26/2007 6:58:16 PM

I would do Invisalign unless your teeth are real fucked up. Pops did it and it corrected his shit and you never knew he had them.

I did traditional braces because it wasn't an option back in the day, it wasn't so bad then, but it would suck to have them as a grown up with a job an all.

Also make sure you have dealt with wisdom teeth before you make any chose. For many people if you ignore them it will fuck up any correction braces did.

[Edited on April 26, 2007 at 8:34 PM. Reason : .]

4/26/2007 8:31:08 PM

I had invisalign for two years and change. I have AI, which means my enamel is pfffft. Regular braces bond to enamel and I didn't have any enamel.

I started with Dr. Leslee which has now became Dr. Larry Moray of Raleigh. My invisalign was quoted $500 less than regular braces at another dentist. That $5500 is probably in the ball park.

I like Dr. Dickens who works at the Morary office and at UNC on Fridays.

I liked invisalign; it was like being on a diet because they encouraged me to snack less.

4/26/2007 8:41:20 PM

Yeah, try to get on the Dentist School list. I think they start in the fall with new patients. Also, the students get to pick/recruit someone to treat as well, might we worth looking into.

My fiance had to get braces recently because of a medical condition. He got clear braces and I can barely tell.

4/27/2007 1:06:43 PM

sweeet. thanks for all the replies

4/27/2007 2:45:21 PM

^^^How would that encourage you to eat less...?

I thought they were basically like a clear retainer.

4/27/2007 2:52:43 PM

You aren't suppose to eat or drink when you are wearing invisalign. You are also suppose to brush your teeth before you put them on. It was a pain to take them out, eat a snack, and then stick them back in. I didn't have the brackets they put in sometimes either, which are even more of a pain when trying to pull the braces off.

I would drink with them in, but not coffee due to stains.

4/27/2007 6:06:23 PM

Quote :

"Is that reasonable or REALLY high? I've heard that braces usually cost 5k for 2 years, but 6.5k for less than 2 years? "

Holy shit - my brother, sister, and I all had braces. If they cost that much I wish I could go back in time and tell them "DON'T DO IT!!!"

4/27/2007 6:37:49 PM

I had an invisible retainer (basically an invisalign before they came out)

BUT this was after 3 years of braces

I had an overbite problem and it took quite a bit of metal to fix it.

The contraption in my mouth was hard to explain but it was basically similar to rubber bands in principle but was a metal hinge

no fun

4/27/2007 10:04:14 PM

bttt

9/9/2009 8:07:57 AM

Quote :

"My insurance denied me because my teeth arent bad enough, so the office told me that they give a discount of $1000 for those who get denied - so I could get them for $5500 for 18 months, including the after retainer."

That sounds like what my parents paid back in the 90s for my braces, but I also had braces for about 3 years.

9/9/2009 8:46:41 AM

Anyone have any particular orthodontist recommendations? I'll be going the metal mouth route, as invisalign is not an option for me.

I'm going to Zaytoun tomorrow for a consultation, and I have an appointment at UNC in October.

[Edited on September 9, 2009 at 9:02 AM. Reason : sf]

9/9/2009 9:00:24 AM

Zaytoun is where I had my braces Overall I had a good experience there and my teeth are no longer screwed up.

9/9/2009 9:15:21 AM

Is Zaytoun a doctor's name or a clinic name? It is Arabic for olive.

9/9/2009 9:20:14 AM

^^I've heard such good things about them for so long that I'm concerned that we'll effectively be paying a premium for their brand.

^Family practice, with three locations in the Raleigh area.

9/9/2009 9:29:07 AM

Lets see....

I know all about this shit.

I had a retainer prior to braces (from 4th - 6th grade).

Then I had braces from 6th grade to 9th/10th grade.

During this time, I had 7 teeth removed because apparently I have a super small "mouf" and I was even born w/out some perm. teeth.

Then my wisdom teeth began growing sideways so I had all four of those removed the summer b/tw freshman and soph year in college but the damage was already done (squished teeth together)...

I got Invisalign in Dec of 07 and kept them on till August of 08... I would highly recommend. I actually won them in an auction - BidonRaleigh.com through Clear Channel. They continue to have the auction every three months. I got the Invisalign and teeth whitening (said to be a $5500 value) for 2 grand... The best thing about Invisalign is that obviously no one can see them AND they can be used as whitening trays. Also the last set you have, you continue to use as a retainer forever.

The only thing about it was that it was quite a drive for me. I was living in Cary at the time and driving out to 40/42.

I def recommend the ortho - Dr. Riccobene. He has 5 offices in the area.

http://www.brushandfloss.com/

9/9/2009 9:38:22 AM

^^ You will be lol. But they are one of the best in the area so you get what you pay for I guess.

[Edited on September 9, 2009 at 9:39 AM. Reason : .]

9/9/2009 9:38:34 AM

^^Riccobene does not offer traditional braces, according to their website.

^Yeah, I'm wondering how complicated my situation actually is, and whether or not it'll be worth paying the zaytoun premium if UNC can't/won't take me. (I do not have wisdom teeth, and I'm missing one molar on each side on the top, and then two molars each side on the bottom. I don't know if I'll need implants to keep my teeth together after the braces come off.)

[Edited on September 9, 2009 at 9:46 AM. Reason : sdfg]

^^I did find some cool stuff on there...has anyone used dr kent? or http://www.carolinabraces.com/?

[Edited on September 9, 2009 at 9:49 AM. Reason : sf]

[Edited on September 9, 2009 at 9:50 AM. Reason : sdf]

9/9/2009 9:42:58 AM

No matter what, go ahead and get consults from at least three practices. I know that seems overkill, but you would be amazed at the stark differences in treatment plans each one will come up with. One of the assholes we went to for a consult wanted to pull out half my teeth before we even moved on to braces

9/9/2009 9:51:46 AM

egads! Zaytoun quoted me 6300!

9/10/2009 12:59:54 PM

got mine from gladwell orthodontics in wake forest. its a bit of a drive, but I got clear braces for just above 5k.

and paying them via 0% interest payments, not too shabby.

[Edited on September 10, 2009 at 5:43 PM. Reason : holler]

9/10/2009 5:42:37 PM

So...I just had a consultation with Chauncey Nelson in North Raleigh.

[NO]
He wanted just about as much as Zaytoun, if not a little more, for addressing fewer issues, an outside visit to a peridontal specialist (so they could do a frenectomy and remove tissue between my two front teeth), and no option for clear/tooth-colored self-ligating braces.

When he looked at my teeth, he never even addressed something that I was hearing from dentists as a kid: when I get my teeth fixed, I'm going to have problems with my back upper molars unless I have a pair extracted - They'll be hitting on and irritating my gums for just about forever. He also never even commented what might be some early TMJ problems, nor did he indicate that he planned to do anything about them.

/post for future reference and searches

9/17/2009 4:35:48 PM

Update: I'd had another consultation, with Vinson in Clayton? Chose Zaytoun over him for some smaller things - I wouldn't warn anyone of him the way I do with the one I mentioned ^. As a person, he's way cool.

My braces go on 12/8

11/16/2009 12:19:00 PM

secret shame, tww- i had invisalign. it went pretty well, but if i don't wear them for an extended period of time my buck tooth diastema comes back

11/16/2009 1:03:15 PM

I had invisalign. Worked pretty well but I've neglected my retainers here and there in the past year or so. Now the one lower tooth that was the most crooked & stubborn, is getting out of hand again. If $ isn't the main factor, invisalign is the way to go w/ minor/medium adjustments.

11/16/2009 8:19:25 PM

Braces cost my parents like $3000 for my brother and I growing up. That was in the mid-late nineties.

11/16/2009 9:56:45 PM

My dad is an Orthodontist in Rocky Mount. If you leave the triangle, and are willing to drive to Greenville/RM/the Triad/anywhere satellite, you'll save money.

Additionally, I'd say to stick to smaller practices if you want better service for your huge expense. When a place has 3, 5 offices, you're rarely going to see the head guy and have the same orthodontist in your mouth (lolz) every trip.

Apparently practices are hurting for the first time in, well, maybe ever (not a lot of orthodontics in the 1930s), because people are starting to put off what they view as a superfluous expense until the panic leaves the economy. This may have something to do with the $6300 quote!

As far as Invisalign vs. Regular braces ... regular braces ftw. Invisalign technology is improving, but the tried-and-true method is still the best and best value, typically.

Also, I definitely recommend my pops. He was the head of the NC Assn. of Orthodontists a few years ago. He got my nuggets mighty straight and it only took 3 sets of braces, 3 expanders, 2 retainers, and 8 years!

11/18/2009 11:03:10 AM

Yay for Invisalign! I got mine my freshman year at State and they were awesome. It took less than a year to fix my problem and they said with traditional braces it would've taken at least 2.5. The cost was right around $5k.

Quote :

"I liked invisalign; it was like being on a diet because they encouraged me to snack less."

So true! It also got me in the habit of brushing my teeth all the time after I was done with my braces. I feel like they made me take better care of my teeth in general.

The coolest thing about Invisaligns for me is that if your teeth ever start to move out of place afterwards, you can just pop your last set of trays in for like 2 weeks and you're back to perfect again!

The only suck thing about them is for me, I had a lisp like the first 2-3 days I started my new set of trays. Everyone could always tell when I had changed them out haha.

11/18/2009 5:35:24 PM

Quote :

"If you really need them cheaper, go to the UNC Dental School, but it will take a lot of time for every appointment."

i currently have been getting ortho treatment from the unc dental school. brackets on the the top and bottom to close space. they have been great thus far with my treatment. definatly waaaaaaaaaaay cheaper than the quotes people have been listing in this thread. the only appointment that was long was the initial appointment to get the braces put on, but that is to be expected. if you can get into the program i would highly recommend it.

11/18/2009 7:38:08 PM

Quote :

"only took 3 sets of braces, 3 expanders, 2 retainers, and 8 years!"

11/18/2009 7:51:11 PM

^ Combination of being a guinea pig for new shit my Dad wanted to try (clear brackets! glow-in-the-dark brackets! new expanders!), and actually having some serious work needing to be done. Should have taken the same amount of time as anyone. 1-2 years.

Seriously, though, no one starting 15-20 miles outside of the Triangle is going to charge 6300 bucks for treatment.

11/19/2009 11:33:31 AM

Quote :

"Update: I'd had another consultation, with Vinson in Clayton? Chose Zaytoun over him for some smaller things - I wouldn't warn anyone of him the way I do with the one I mentioned ^. As a person, he's way cool."

Congrats girl! I am currently seeing the Zaytouns as well. I have had my braces on for like 6 months. Its hell getting put on and when they do new things like tell me to put in rubberbands :-(

I have a really flexible payment plan too which is one reason I went with them.

So far I am indifferent to their service. There is this assistant (a 22 year dude that works with a bunch of chicks) and when he works on my teeth, I feel like he is sloppy, not as intuitive and not as perceptive as the girls that work on my mouth. The first time he worked on my mouth, he knocked off a bracket and proceeded to put in on and it ended up cutting into the major gum in the back of my mouth ( I basically had a dangling piece of tissue from my gum) and it hurt!

Then recently I told him my wire BROKE and he thought it shifted. When he placed it back in my mouth, the wire popped out on both sides instead. That idiot should have replaced it. Also if he knew anything about metal, once it bent it loses its hardness and therefore it comes out. Dumbass...

I went back and the girl that worked on my teeth retightened my two front teeth, made sure that everything was where it needed it to be and I felt more comfortable with her work than his.

Sorry /blog

but if you go to the Garner office, do not let that guy work on your teeth and I am not referring to the Orthodontist himself.

11/19/2009 3:06:51 PM

Duly noted, because the Garner office is where I'll have most of my appointments.

11/19/2009 5:52:10 PM

Check out Dr. Rebecca Schmorr at http://www.glenwoodsmiles.com/ Her office is on Glenwood South. She does 6 month braces. They are great for basic cosmetic straightening but won't fix major problems. Her rates are good and her staff is excellent. I use her for all general dental needs as well.

11/20/2009 10:51:24 AM

I got them on today. It's already an improvement over my grill

Not bad at all, and I <3 Zaytoun so much.

Quote :

""I liked invisalign; it was like being on a diet because they encouraged me to snack less.""

Quote :

"So true! It also got me in the habit of brushing my teeth all the time after I was done with my braces. I feel like they made me take better care of my teeth in general. "

Dude. I'm horribly excited about all the weight I know I'll be losing b/c of these: right now, I have only two places where my teeth meet (and it's rounded, not flat), so I pretty much can't chew. I am not allowed to bite anything off - not even sandwiches, or other normally innocuous stuff: My teeth are so small and overbite so bad that attempting to bite anything off pretty much guarantees I'll lose a bracket. Everything's got to be tiny, soft, and/or go in on a utensil.

I'm already not wanting to eat b/c of the braces (but, owing to one of those "hormonal problem"s fat people always blame, I'm supposed to have small, super frequent snack meals.)...it's such a hassle to get everything clean again. I was aghast at how much food came out of my braces even after I thought I'd picked them clean My snacking habits have no choice but to change.

12/8/2009 2:42:04 PM