The Consultation

The orthodontist started by examining my teeth and then taking a couple of x-rays. He advised that a traditional fixed brace would be most effective for the type of crowding I have (which was what I expected to hear anyway) and that I could expect treatment to take 18 months. He explained that it would be up to me to make the decision as to whether I want ceramic or metal brackets and whether to go for just top or bottom. Coincidentally he didn’t say anything about needing me any fillings but he did recommend a wee trip to the hygienist! ;-)

I‘ve known from the very start that I would definitely be opting for ceramic brackets. I’m already self-conscious about my teeth so didn’t want to draw more attention to them than absolutely necessary. Heading into my consultation I was also fairly sure that I’d only be opting for braces on the top as it’s my upper teeth that bother me the most, but as Becky the patient care coordinator ran me through the prices I did a total 180 and decided to have both. 

I realised that I’d save in the region of £1000 by having both upper and lower done at same time. I’ve also had a sneaking suspicion that once my top teeth are straight the bottom ones will look worse and bother me more. So with my decision made all that was left was for Becky to email me the treatment plan and 24 hours later I’d signed up.

The next step was an appointment to have my moulds and photos taken. It was really quick (10 minutes max) and pretty stress-free. Having the moulds taken is not the nicest of experiences and your mouth feels uncomfortably full but the mould is only in there for 10 seconds or so. The worst part is probably when they remove the mould as it feels like your teeth are going to go with it. But obviously they don’t and it’s discomfort rather than pain. I was booked in to have my braces fitted a week later. Next up…its fitting day!