Affordable options for straightening teeth

[Acehood]

When I was younger I crashed my mountain bike and damaged 2 of my front teeth. They were repaired by my dentist but apparently not to a great standard. There's a gap between my front teeth and one of the ones right next to my 'main' front 2 teeth is half the size of the opposite one. Plus the 'main' teeth are about 2mm different in length. It affects my confidence a bit and I'd like to have them put back to how they should be. This is coupled with the fact that one of the teeth is dead and another one of them is loose and moves about quite a bit.

From my basic research possible options include veneers or crowns. Both are extremely expensive (£1500+ according to my dentist). Despite it being my dentist's fault many years ago they're in such a bad state it still comes under "cosmetic" repair and I have to pay for it. I wish I'd got it sorted when I was under 18...

Is there any other option? I wouldn't even mind going abroad for dental treatment if it's cheaper. Any input would be appreciated.

[carmonk]

Implants. No, not those sort. You wouldn't reasonably put a veneer or crown onto a dead root.

[Driller]

Acehood said:

When I was younger I crashed my mountain bike and damaged 2 of my front teeth. They were repaired by my dentist but apparently not to a great standard. There's a gap between my front teeth and one of the ones right next to my 'main' front 2 teeth is half the size of the opposite one. Plus the 'main' teeth are about 2mm different in length. It affects my confidence a bit and I'd like to have them put back to how they should be. This is coupled with the fact that one of the teeth is dead and another one of them is loose and moves about quite a bit.

From my basic research possible options include veneers or crowns. Both are extremely expensive (£1500+ according to my dentist). Despite it being my dentist's fault many years ago they're in such a bad state it still comes under "cosmetic" repair and I have to pay for it. I wish I'd got it sorted when I was under 18...

Is there any other option? I wouldn't even mind going abroad for dental treatment if it's cheaper. Any input would be appreciated.

By the sound of the extent of the damage veneers are right out. No way they are going to cover up the misery.

If the roots of the teeth are ok you could have the crowns redone. However you say one of them is loose and although not easy to say without have a look it sounds as though the root is knackered on that one. If that is the case then implants as mentioned above would be a good option although more expensive as you say. They do last a long time though.

In the UK £1500 for one implant without the crown on top sounds reasonable.

[Captain Cadillac]

Not sure if they sell this in the UK but it does work very well..

http://www.invisalign.com/Pages/default.aspx

[Driller]

Captain Cadillac said:

Not sure if they sell this in the UK but it does work very well..

http://www.invisalign.com/Pages/default.aspx

Good shout but that's not going to any good at all. It's the shape of the teeth that is the problem, that and the fact that one of them is loose.

[carmonk]

If one of them is loose it's possible (probable?) the root is cracked above the jawline. I had that after a slight disagreement in a public house. It was a bit more complex in my case because the root was long and slightly crooked, so they had to drill out the jaw bone to get the top part out before they fitted the implant. Totally painless but comically violent in parts Had mine done almost 20 years ago when they were virtually unheard of.

[carmonk]

dibbers006 said:

How long do implants last?

Also, can you ever truly have a veneer that isn't obvious?

All your life. And yes, if a veneer's obvious then it's been done very very badly.

[Acehood]

Thanks everyone

I've taken a couple of pics to show you what i'm facing





Hopefully you can see what I mean with regards to spacing/size/alignment issues.

I know that one of the roots is dead, the smallest of the teeth either side of the 'main' ones (I really should learn the proper names) is definitely dead and I think the big main tooth next to it is dead too. That's the one that moves. It was years ago but I think a root canal was done at the time

£1500 per tooth? So i'm looking at £6k for the 4 of them!? Ouch, that's wayyyy too expensive for me.

[XG332]

+

[Brighton Derly]

Get them removed and have a set of false teeth made.

[MacGee]

blame your old dentist!!!!!!!!. classic!. That may have been the best outcome due to the severity of your trauma. Could've ended in dentures instead. The mobility certainly isnt his fault. Man-up and accept the blame for falling over FFS. You've avoided falsies for this long. start saving if you want implants. Less than price of a new fiesta.

[shirt]

if there is a dental school near you, it may be worth popping along to see if they can help. I have used manchester university before for 2 root canals and a ceramic crown. they even replaced an old grey filling with a white one whilst they were at it.

-ve side is that it takes more visits than with an experienced dentist. +ve is that it doesn't cost a penny.