Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: babyjane on July 15, 2016, 09:48:05 AM
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Has anyone else consulted an orthodontist at this stage of life? I have been advised by the dentist and the hygienist to see the orthodontist with a possible view to having my misaligned teeth and bad bite corrected for practical reasons, not cosmetic. The malocclusion has worsened over the last few years to the point where it affects my ability to eat certain foods.
I would certainly appreciate any input, positive or negative before I consider this step as it is not available on the NHS.
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I know someone who moved to the US and they wanted to do this.
I think it probably involves wearing some sort of retainer at night indefinitely.
However, our teeth move forwards throughout our life so something that was not a problem may become one as time goes on.
I would say it is worth seeing someone and finding out what it involves and what the options are.
I remember a few older relatives (most of them did not have their own teeth, so in fact it is probably only the one ::)) having wonky teeth that became very strangely arranged and must have been quite a problem to keep clean.
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A friend of mine had retainers fixed at age 45 something and worked so well for her, so I don't see why it wouldn't work for you.
Milamam
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Thank you ladies. Sparky my teeth are uncomfortable anyway as the biting surfaces are misaligned and there are certain things I cannot eat and other things I can only eat on one side. A couple of my premolars are so out of line that I think if they are not straightened they will have to eventually come out.
I have an appointment for an assessment in 2 weeks time.
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Assessment means you can then decide? I have had implants in recent years due to gaps. But although offered re-alignment about 15 years ago I declined. Couldn't be seen with a brace at my time of Life!
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a brace wouldn't bother me but the cost might ::)
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I don't look at my teeth except twice a day so it my crooked gob upsets others, that's not my problem ;) ::)
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it isn't the cosmetic side of it that bothers me CLKD but the malocclusion affects my eating, especially on the LH side and, as I have said, the worst misaligned teeth may eventually have to be taken out. If I can preserve my natural teeth I would like to.
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If it's not cosmetic then surely it's available on NHS, if you can't eat properly?!
Hurdity x
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My thoughts too ……… my implants are 'cosmetic'
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unfortunately not because I can eat on the opposite side although not chewy things or hard things. NHS not bothered if I end up with a denture which is cheaper for them than orthodontics. Orthodontics only on NHS for under 18s. It was the same when our daughter needed them and it's the same now for our granddaughter.
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babyjane, I had this done on my lower teeth when I was 36 (not exactly our time of life but still in adulthood), to correct a malocclusion. It was pretty uncomfortable and was a very long two years - one year with fixed appliances, the second with the removable sort. But it was definitely worth it and has solved the problem. :)
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Interesting post, as I didn't realise teeth became misaligned as we age. I've noticed for a while now that my top jaw has come more to the front and it's making me look slightly buck toothed! I also notice that if I try to bite a piece of cotton off something, I can't as easily get my top and bottom teeth together at the front as before. I have had crowns on my top front teeth for years and now a gap has appeared which is why I had them crowned in the first place!!! Grrrrr......
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thank you for your contribution Dulciana. Do you wear a retainer now?
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As we age the gums recede = gaps so that the tooth may loosen.
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thank you for your contribution Dulciana. Do you wear a retainer now?
No, babyjane.
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As we age the gums recede = gaps so that the tooth may loosen.
That's why brushing technique is so important, too - i.e. making sure the brush movements massage the gums as well as clean the teeth. I was shown this when I had the ortho. treatment. Touch wood, on my visits to the dentist now, she never mentions my gums. Not so Hubby, who was recommended to get an electric toothbrush..... ::)
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I dont' believe in electric toothbrushes, too messy and the one I tried bounced off my teeth/gums - most unpleasant >:(
A dentist in the 1980s told me that brushing the gums gently was more important than brushing the teeth. That was int he days B4 teepee brushes which I use regularly. I also opened a new packet of brushes yesterday and they feel great - bet I won't be able to find those again as I tend to buy several types at once ::)
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I already use a combination of electric and manual toothbrush which my hygienist told me is the very best way. I floss but I can't use teepee because my teeth are too tightly packed. I was recently told by the hygienist that I have excellent oral hygiene with good teeth and healthy gums, I just have higgledy piggledy teeth that are quite hard to keep clean.
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We can have a competition here - my teeth are more crowded than yours are ;D and I can teepee brushes through - I use a lot of the red and can get a green between the back ones much to my Dentist's amazement. It's the two at the very front that are crossed and I have to go in from behind with a scrapper thingy.
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- my teeth are more crowded than yours are ;D
How do you know, we have never met ::)
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:rofl: and all my photos are taken with Big Gob Closed ;)
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so will mine be if I end up with train track braces :-X
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Burka?
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say 'pardon' ;D
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;D
You two are funny!!!
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Yep. It's that time of Life tha knows :lol:
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we do our best to entertain the troops :ola:
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You do!! You and clkd should do a comedy thread?
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:rofl: you couldn't afford us ;D
I once saw someone laughing so much that his false teeth flew out :o
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:rofl:
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Thank you ladies. Sparky my teeth are uncomfortable anyway as the biting surfaces are misaligned and there are certain things I cannot eat and other things I can only eat on one side. A couple of my premolars are so out of line that I think if they are not straightened they will have to eventually come out.
I have an appointment for an assessment in 2 weeks time.
Sounds a bit like my teeth. My jaw is slightly prominent and my teeth dont meet properly. It has affected my confidence all my life and I was teased at school for being "witchy" and sniggered at in my teens by some boys. The slightest comment about my face shape or chin would upset me terribly. I cannot eat chewy things either as it gves me jaw ache and I want to give up eating whatever it is half way through. Strangely, crisps and muesli are two things I struggle to eat - I guess with the crisps its because I must close my teeth together further because of their thiness.
I was offered the chance to have "something done about my face" when I was 14 by a thoughtless dentist but because of his words I fled the room and didnt return for several years. How I wish I had said yes.
Ariadne xx
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Thank you ladies. Sparky my teeth are uncomfortable anyway as the biting surfaces are misaligned and there are certain things I cannot eat and other things I can only eat on one side. A couple of my premolars are so out of line that I think if they are not straightened they will have to eventually come out.
I have an appointment for an assessment in 2 weeks time.
.........I was offered the chance to have "something done about my face" when I was 14 by a thoughtless dentist but because of his words I fled the room and didnt return for several years. How I wish I had said yes.
Ariadne xx
:o I'm not a bit surprised, Ariadne!! Honestly, what an awful thing to say to a teenager - to anyone, in fact! It's quite possible he didn't mean it the way it sounds, but it does sound like the ultimate insult! I think I'd have fled the room too!
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Ariadne would you consider having an orthodontic assessment. If I can I am sure you could. I am struggling a bit with the guilt of the possible cost, however I know correction of my bite is not just cosmetic but practical too if I want to keep my teeth into my 60s and beyond and ease my TMJ issues. My chiropractor advised me about 6 years ago that the only way to really address my TMJ issues is to have my bite corrected.
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I have made two half hearted attempts to do something about it in the last few years.
I told my dentist about the jaw pain I suffer when eating certain foods and he referred me to the maxillo facial unit of our local hospital. The doctor there said he wasnt surprised I suffered pain after examining me but thought a bite riser worn at night would ease the pain as Im pretty sure he thought I ground my teeth at night (i dont) He did say that if I had been younger, an operation on my jaw would have been suggested but that as I was older and as I had "put up with it" for most of my life, it wasnt really an option.
I wore the bite riser, quite liked it really, but bit it in half one day 😁 It hadnt made a lot of difference as you couldnt eat with it in and thats when I would get pain.
The second attempt was to ask my dentist for an Invisalign assessment. I just wanted the front teeth straightening top and bottom but he explained that to make the extra room required, my whole mouth would need to be treated and that was just too expensive.
I mentioned to my dentist once that Id be glad when I had to have false teeth as at least they would be straight but she said it would be difficult to fit me with false teeth as my teeth all slope inwards and that I should try and avoid false teeth at all costs.
But on a positive note, although my teeth are not straight, and in spite of their awkward arrangement, I do a really good job of keeping them clean and touch wood, they have never given me any trouble and I cant even remember the last time I had anything other than just a check up and clean.
I know youre right BJ that to have the bite corrected is the only real solution to the pain problem but I just dont have the will to pursue it
Ariadne xx
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appointment with the orthodontist for assessment today - eek!!
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Crikey :o
Remember that in order to keep the jaw bone healthy the teeth need to be able to bite - bit like brisk walking stops osteoporosis. Without the bite when talking, chewing etc. the bone recedes which causes the teeth to loosen and eventually fall out or require removal. A plate of false teeth don't pre from the same action on the jaw bone so there is the possibility that gums will continue to recede.
I am surprised Adriadne that a dental surgeon would suggest that a procedure is 'too expensive' - for whom, patient or the NHS? I have invested in implants in order to keep my mouth as healthy as possible for as long as possible as I dread a plate. Most procedures can be paid for in measured instalments.
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I don't need braces, well I could have them if I wanted to cough up £3k to have top and bottom braces for 18 months but they are not essential if I am not worried about cosmetic appearance. My bite is not as bad as I had been led to believe by a previous practitioner. I do not have a cross bite but I do have an open bite which is the result of having a long lower jaw. Small improvements could be made if I want to go ahead but if not it will not have a detrimental effect on the overall health of my teeth. I am not about to lose any of my teeth which are strong and healthy, just a bit out of place in a couple of areas.
I am so glad I went, now I know the facts and can stop wondering. Knowledge is a useful thing to have, especially when you have an anxiety disorder :)
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:thankyou: for the update. Now you can spend the £3K on something else ;) ;D
How was the anxiety leading up to this?
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Sadly I don't have 3k to spare.
Anxiety ok, bit jittery and sweaty palms in the waiting room but she was lovely and I felt quite relaxed in the chair. thanks for asking.
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Well done! at least you haven't got to face any further intervention at this moment in time.
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no, as I said, knowledge is power, or something like that :)
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Crikey :o
I am surprised Adriadne that a dental surgeon would suggest that a procedure is 'too expensive' - for whom, patient or the NHS? I have invested in implants in order to keep my mouth as healthy as possible for as long as possible as I dread a plate. Most procedures can be paid for in measured instalments.
He didnt say it was too expensive, he said as I had put up with it for most of my life, he thought it not an option I would want to put myself through. At least thats what I took him to mean.
3k would have been the cost of the invisalign braces for me too BJ.
Im glad you have had your consultation and learned that things are better than you had been previously led to believe. :)
Ariadne xx
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3k would have been the cost of the invisalign braces for me too BJ.
Dental (implants) treatment at overseas clinics might be the option for those who look for reasonable prices. But undergoing dental treatment abroad has benefits (you can save money and pay a fraction of price that you would pay in yr country) and risks (eg poorly done dental work) But if you do "your homework" well and double check dental clinics and/or dentists (eg visiting discussion boards, reading reviews of current users, publications, visiting dedicated sites for dental implants treatment (http://www.dentalimplantsfriends.com/), etc) or use the service of reliable medical operators, that offer you tailored in-depth advice on yr treatment abroad then you can get highest quality treatment for very good value.