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Ouch!

January 8th, 2007

I recently (2005 to 2006) had some orthodontic work done to straighten my upper Social Six teeth. The social six are the visible incisors and canines in the upper jaw. I got the straightening done via lingual orthodontics where the braces are placed on the back of the teeth and can’t be seen. This worked perfectly and the teeth are now okay. I did have to get my normal dentist to remove some discoloured enamel and do some reconstruction. That was all done.

In the last year I’ve noticed some gum line recession on my upper teeth. This can happen after orthodontics. My dentist remarked about it at my last check-up and referred me to a periodontist. He recommended a gingival gum graft. In this small sections of tissue are removed from the roof of the mouth and palette and are sewn into the gingival tissue to reconstruct the gum tissue. I had it done this morning. It took about 2 hours. Ouch! It’s as gruesome as it sounds. They cut your gums and then harvest tissue from your palette and sew it into the gums. A tad sore :-) Much swelling and some blood! On antibiotics and pain killers.

it’ll be worth it as it’ll mean the teeth are protected from root infection. No pain no gain as they say. I was meant to be going to London on Wednesday for a work related session at BETT in relation to the new job I’m starting in a few weeks. I’ll have to see how I feel tomorrow but I can’t see that I’ll be okay to go. Not a pretty sight when somebody smiles at you and the teeth are all bloody.

BTW: If you are in Ireland and want contact details for an excellent orthodontist who treats adults with lingual (invisible) braces drop me an email or post a comment.

Ian Robinson in General |

33 Responses to “Ouch!”

  • DaveShan January 20th, 2007 at 1:52 pm #

    Hi,
    I’m looking into getting braces and have a quote for work from my orthodontist for regular braces. I’d much rather Lingual braces if possible but he said he didnt do them. If you could send on the name and number of someone (Preferably in Dublin) can would do lingual braces, it would be much appreciated. Could you email details to [email address removed]
    Cheers

  • Ian Robinson January 20th, 2007 at 2:36 pm #

    I’ve emailed you David.

  • Sillymoo November 6th, 2007 at 5:53 pm #

    Hi I am looking into getting lingual braces can you please give me a name and number for somewhere i can get them and a rough price.

    Cheers,
    Sinead

  • Ian Robinson November 6th, 2007 at 7:42 pm #

    I’ve emailed you the details Sinead.

  • Maria L April 9th, 2008 at 3:38 pm #

    Hi Also looking for some where in ireland for lingual Braces Could you email details and rough price? Very much appreciated.

    Maria

  • Ian Robinson April 9th, 2008 at 4:17 pm #

    I’ve emailed you details Maria. I can’t address costs as everyone is different and requires different treatment.

    Ian

  • Cathy April 9th, 2008 at 8:07 pm #

    Hi Ian, would you mind mailing me any good orthodontists you know that do Lingual braces – preferably in Dublin, but if you know any in NI that would be great!!!
    Cathy

  • Ian Robinson April 9th, 2008 at 8:31 pm #

    Cathy, just sent you an email with details of the orthodontist I used. I called all the Orthodontists in the yellow pages in Northern Ireland when I was looking. None did lingual braces. I used Dr. David Hegarty in Portlaoise.

  • Shane June 13th, 2008 at 4:43 pm #

    Hi Ian,
    I am looking into getting lingual braces. Could you e-mail me the details of any dentists that do it in Dublin and a rough price.

    Cheers

    Shane

  • Ian Robinson June 13th, 2008 at 5:56 pm #

    I’ve emailed you Shane. I can’t say anything about costs as everyone is different.

  • Marie July 18th, 2008 at 4:00 am #

    Hi I am living in Australia and have one protruding Canine that looks hideous when I smile. I am getting married in one year from now and need it sorted..Its been ruining my life… I would love to get those braces that go behind your teeth, how much are these and can you get them in Oz, if not I’m willing to fly home to Northern Ireland or Ireland and get them fitted.. I’ve been quoted around $6000 for normal braces here in Oz, thats around $2900 – I cant afford this!! getting married next year – Please help!!!

  • Ian Robinson July 18th, 2008 at 9:10 am #

    Hi Marie, I can’t comment on cost as everyone is different. Have you had a look for an orthodontist in Australia that does lingual braces? See the Australian Society of Orthodontists lingual site at http://www.aso.org.au/Docs/Orthodontics/Orthodontic_Appliances/lingual_braces.htm

    Also you should have a look at the Archwired site for adult braces http://www.archwired.com/ and the Metal Mouth forum. Check the forum for others in Australia. See http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/index.php

    I can’t see it being cheaper flying to Europe to get the work done. Bear in mind that you will need to get the braces adjusted regularly, maybe once a month for at least 6 months. So you’d need to fly multiple times or stay near the orthodontist.

    Good luck with the treatment and your wedding!

    Ian

  • Katie July 18th, 2008 at 10:59 pm #

    hi, i have been told that i still have a baby tooth, and the adult tooth is still in my gum and as the baby tooth is starting to get quite loose, ill need an operation to allow the adult tooth down and then braces to ensure it comes down properly…….. really dont like the idea of braces…. do you think lingual braces could suit my case? can you let me know of any dentists that perform this in ireland? i live in wexford but am willing to travel if needs be…..

    thank you :)

  • Ian Robinson July 18th, 2008 at 11:07 pm #

    Hi Katie, I’m not a dentist or orthodontist so can’t give you advice. I’ll email you the details of the Orthodontist I used in Portlaoise.

  • Donal Hanley January 31st, 2009 at 11:08 pm #

    Hi Ian,would you be able to send me information on the orthodontists in ireland that do lingual braces pls.

  • Ian Robinson February 1st, 2009 at 5:55 pm #

    Hi Donal, I’ve emailed you the details. Ian

  • Lainey March 31st, 2009 at 1:12 pm #

    Hi Ian, could you please forward Orthodontists details onto me? Hugely appreciated!

  • Ian Robinson March 31st, 2009 at 10:10 pm #

    Hi Lainey, I’ve emailed you.

  • LollyG April 19th, 2009 at 11:56 pm #

    my daughter aged 12 needs braces. just wondering if you could forward me the name of the orthodontist you used in Rep of Eire. Thanks.

  • Ian Robinson April 20th, 2009 at 9:06 pm #

    Lollyg – I’ve emailed you the details. Ian

  • claire May 2nd, 2009 at 4:22 pm #

    hi im looking for dentist in northern ireland that does lingual braces??? and is good!!! anyone any names???

  • Ian Robinson May 2nd, 2009 at 4:41 pm #

    Hi Claire, There are no orthodontists currently practising in Northern Ireland who do lingual braces. That was true very recently and I assume it still is. There are a few in the Republic of Ireland. I used one who was in Portlaoise but has moved to near Cork. I’ll email you the details.

  • CaraghB May 25th, 2009 at 7:56 pm #

    Hi Ian could you e-mail me details please. Thanks ;)

  • Ian Robinson May 25th, 2009 at 8:14 pm #

    CaraghB, Just emailed them to you.

  • Darryll August 5th, 2009 at 2:20 pm #

    Hi Ian i live in belfast and was wondering if you know any orthodontists do lingual braces? many thanks.

  • Ian Robinson August 5th, 2009 at 4:17 pm #

    I’ve emailed you Darryll.

  • ally October 17th, 2009 at 4:52 pm #

    hey sorry to be a pain in the bum but I am also thinking of getting lingual braces and I live in northern ireland!!! If you know of anywhere that does them I would be greatful if you could email me the details…I would go to dublin but belfast/ anywhere in NI would be best:)
    thanks alot and I am looking forward to hearing from you soon

  • Ian Robinson October 17th, 2009 at 5:06 pm #

    Hi Ally, I went to a clinic in Portlaoise as none of the Northern Ireland orthodontists did lingual or one of the other invisible options in 2005. I called them all! However, my normal dentist told me a few months ago that the orthodontist he referes patients to now do Invisalign and ligual braces. Its the Belmont Orthodontics clinic in Belfast. See:
    http://www.belmontorthodontics.co.uk/availabletreatments.php

  • Ian Robinson’s Soapbox » Adult orthodontics in Belfast October 17th, 2009 at 5:25 pm #

    [...] wrote about getting lingual braces a few years ago in this post. No Northern Ireland orthodontists did linguals at that stage and I traveled to Portlaoise to get [...]

  • sinead gallagher November 25th, 2009 at 11:01 pm #

    hi could you please email me contacts in dublin and northern ireland who put on lingual braces? .thanks!

  • Brighton Dental July 1st, 2010 at 5:12 pm #

    I have been trying to acces this website for a while. I was using IE7 then when I tried Firefox, it worked just great? Just wanted to bring this to your attention. London,UK

  • aoife doherty September 1st, 2010 at 8:16 pm #

    Hi

    Could I ask two questions?

    1. Is it possible to only get a top brace?

    2. Is there an estimate of how much a ‘lingual’ top brace would cost?

    Many thanks
    Aoife

  • Ian Robinson September 1st, 2010 at 8:29 pm #

    Hi Aoife, Answers –

    1) Yes. My lingual brace was just on the back of the top from 6 teeth. The ‘Social six” as they are known.

    2) I can’t answer this. I’m not a dentist and everyone is different. Speak to your dentist and get a referral. Or have a look at the British Lingual Orthodontists site at:

    http://www.blos.co.uk/find_an_orthodontist.php

    Ian

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