Getting Braces

The Process
It seemed to take forever between my first visit to the orthodontist and actually getting the braces on my teeth.  Here was the process (which, naturally, may vary for you).

1. Initial consultation and x-rays.  This was pretty straight forward.  The ortho. basically just discusses why you want to get braces and outlines options.  If you have already researched the different types of methods and know which you would like, you can discuss this with your ortho. so that he can see if it is an option for you.  They will take preliminary x-rays.

2.  More imaging and impressions.  Basically, they just take several more x-rays of your teeth.    They will check your bite, do some measuring, basically look at your overall mouth.  The impressions are taken using a product that feels like sticking your teeth into play-do.  Not terrible.

3.  Three weeks later (time needed to have molds completed) meet with the orthodontist to view a mold of your teeth and discuss your treatment.

4. Time for braces!

So, I was looking at about 8 weeks from the first visit until the braces went on.  Part of this had to do with appointment availability. 

Braces Day!
It took about half an hour for my orthodontist to place my braces, as compared to the two hours that others experience.

My dentist did not talk to me about damon braces or lingual braces, which I thought he should have done.  Nonetheless, the process was fine and I would have probably gone with traditional braces anyhow.  That's because I am getting them done at a school and want to do the "easiest" procedure for the student if that makes sense.

The second day was simply torture.  I feel as though other people downplay the pain, but it hurt like hell for a solid week.  In fact, I will dedicate another blog post just to the pain.

Feeling Awkward
I felt incredibly awkward the first day I had my braces.  My mouth felt absolutely chock full of metal, and aesthetically I was not pleased.  Furthermore, my bite felt off, which I told my orthodontist and he did his best to fix, but it still didn't feel as though I could close my teeth properly.  I'm 70% better now, so I guess it was just a matter of time.

I also have to harp a bit on how uncomfortable your mouth feels initially.  Not pain (that's not until day 2), but some pressure and just a general feeling of having a bunch of stuff in your mouth.  I tried to eat right away and was totally grossed out by the amount of food that was sticking between my teeth and my braces while I tried to chew.  This was awful, but two weeks later I barely notice this at all. 

Your lips will get very dry during the application as your mouth is propped open, so lip balm definitely would have helped.  My orthodontist suggested that I take a pain killer right away when I got home, but since I didn't feel any pain (just a good deal of pressure), I ignored him.  BAD IDEA.  Alright, go ahead and read about the pain... [Click Here] 

Up close and personal with my braces.

Paying for Braces

 

Braces Aren't Cheap
So, braces aren't cheap and it can be hard to get up front pricing from orthodontists.  The cheapest I have found in Philadelphia and the option I selected was to go with the Temple Orthodontic School at Temple University.

Naturally, going to a school means that my doctor is also still a student.  However, I was not overly concerned with this because there is a lot of oversight and these are students who already completed dental school.

I am paying a total of $3700 for my braces.  I believe I paid $150 during the first visit, $150 during the second visit, nothing during the third visit, and $400 the day my braces were applied.  My visits were each about two weeks apart, however my first visit had to be scheduled months out.

I will pay $150 per month until the total is paid.  This is a standard payment plan for anyone who goes to Temple for braces.  They just automatically put you on this plan.  Of course, you could pay the whole thing up front if you wanted to.

Other orthodontists will likely charge around $5000, and this payment option would probably cost or be credit/income contingent.

[Update:  I have since learned that most orthodontists offer the same type of payment plan and cost about the same.  So, look for a good orthodontist and skip the school is my recommendation.]

Flex Spending
I am paying my payments with Flex Spending through my job.  If you are like me, you probably are not fully aware of the various benefit options that your job offers.  Fortunately, I made friends with someone in HR who explained how Flex works.

So, my Flex Spending maximum is $1500.  If I choose to take the full amount, what this means is that my job divides the $1500 by twelve and takes the payments out of my paycheck.  So, each month my check has $125 less an it.  I do not pay taxes on the $1500.  Then, my job gives me a Visa card with a $1500 limit on it.  I can use this card only for medical purchases (i.e. paying for co-pays or medicine).  My dental insurance does not cover orthodontia, so I use the Visa card to pay for my braces.  In October I can sign up again, and get another $1500.  One of the nice things is, let's say I get a new job that starts in November.  I could use up my Visa in October, but I would not be responsible for those Flex payments.  That's just how it works.  Note that Flex Spending is use it or lose it.  If I do not use up the $1500, I will lose the money at the end of the year.  Of course, with braces this is a non-issue.

Flex is nice for three reasons.  (1) You don't pay taxes on it, so you save a little money.  (2) It's a bit like a 0% loan or an advance, and you can use it right away. (3) The employer "pre-funds" it, so if you quit or are terminated you do not have to re-pay it.

[Update:  My new job does not pre-fund the flex account, so this can vary.  However, it's still a convenient tax-free way to pay for braces.  Plus, if you struggle with budgeting your employer is already taking the money out of your check before you get it.]

Find out more about Flex Spending on the wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexible_spending_account

In the Beginning

My Back Story
So, my teeth have never been all that crooked. However, there are minor cosmetic changes I would like to see and as I have gotten older I have experienced some crowding in my bottom teeth.  I am finally responsible enough with my dental care to be at a point where I can actually get braces.

If you don't know, before you get braces the orthodontist will want to ensure that you do not have any cavities, gingivitis, etc. Embarrassingly, before last year I had not been getting regular dental care in years. (My mother would be ashamed). This was due in part to my difficulty in finding a decent dentist in Philadelphia, and in part to my being a lazy bum.

In any event, since September of last year (10 months ago) I have had:

- Two cleanings
- Four wisdom teeth removed
- Eight fillings
- One regular extraction (was originally going to be a root canal)
- Braces applied

It feels as though I have practically lived in the dentist chair.

Anywho, I hope that once my journey is over this little blog will help someone else thinking about getting braces with their decision making process.

Topics I will address right away include:
The Cost
First Days with Braces
Let's Talk About PAIN!
My Dentist

Here goes nothing!