Another Round of Consultations

Alright, my first 2 consultation experiences scared me just a bit. I was talking to my brother and remembered he had Invisalign 5 years back. Unfortunately his experience was not the greatest either. He was initially on Invisalign and the orthodontist ended up putting him on metal braces for another year, totaling 2 years of braces. BUT....

He did not have to have any teeth removed. After some research, removing teeth for braces is OLD SCHOOL, 80's way of fixing teeth. The current practice is the use of spacers or otherwise known as appliances to widen the arch of your upper maxilla.

Note image of appliance on left. One can be used for the upper and another for the lower.

Alright, since I could not pass up a good deal online when a new orthodontist said they would give a $1500 discount on the first 20 new patient, I jumped and made an appointment for a consultation. While I was at it, i made another appointment to an orthodontist right by that doctor. So here goes.



Consultation #3 - Laguna Niguel
It was all high tech when I walked into that newly decorated dental office. Flat screen tv, tablet pc to fill out my health information, and the front desk help even have my first name.

Then that daunting question is asked. . . what would you like done? Hummm. . . . I learn to hate that question. If you are an artist / doctor in making pretty smiles, I would figure you would know what I would like done, especially since I am coming to you on an orthodontic consult.

After multiple questions and measuring while the assistant check off boxes on that fancy tablet pc, my lips are dry and sour. I was told again my overbite is 7mm and that she would need to remove several teeth, use metal braces, and the process could take her 2 years. What really shocked me was, her saying I'm still young and my teeth will still need to grow in more. BEFORE she realized I was 30 years old. Thus she backtracked her comment. I asked for an estimate on price and she couldn't even give me a ballpark, just that I'll have to pay $200 for x-rays and then she can decide what she needs to do. NO Thank You!!  Next.

Consultation #4 - Laguna Niguel
Alright, I am already tired and frustrated with my search for the doctor who knows what I want. I am almost tempted to just go to a plastic surgeon and have him give me a chin implant to balance out my face and make my overbite look non-existent, then get crowns on my teeth rather than have the buck teeth.

So onto my next appointment. I walk in and I was met with politeness. Once again, the dentist measured and  examined my mouth. Then strangely he said, you're fine, do you really want braces. OK wtf . . . don't you want to make some money off of me? And there are always room for improvement on a smile. I suggested the appliance to widen my smile and braces to straighten my teeth and improve my bite.

I was then told that the appliance will make me have a beak look (which I already have) and give me an jetted profile. Indeed I have an overbite and a slight cross bite, but there is nothing he can do.

What a waste of my time.  Work with me here buddy. I want to have that Hollywood smile. Not for you to tell me I am fine as I am. I know I'm cute, but really buddy. You're a dentist, at least try to sell me for teeth cleaning while I am there like all the others.

Back to square one. I will done one more consult and if it doesn't pan out then I am done. I will give up on trying to get that Hollywood smile that my brother has. :(