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Children's health

DD may lose a tooth...Orthodontics

10 replies

ClamClam · 25/07/2017 13:57

My DD has overcrowded teeth top and bottom and was referred 'urgently' to orthodontics as one of her front bottom teeth has been pushed so far forward it is causing her pain and is now quite wobbly (adult tooth). We saw the orthodontist for first appointment yesterday and she felt there is very little chance of saving the tooth as it's been pushed too far forward and has no bone left around it. She is fitting a removable brace in October, which she said is the only thing she can do right now - take the pressure off it and hope for the best (although she had little hope...). Has anyone any experience of this and, cosmetically, how will DD look with only three bottom front teeth? My DD is devestated...she prides herself on how well she takes care of her teeth, was so excited to be getting braces, but now she's terrified.

OP posts:
Perfectly1mperfect · 25/07/2017 14:10

Your poor daughter...but she won't have only 3 bottom teeth forever. There's loads of options for missing teeth once her orthodontic treatment has been completed. They can do a bridge. This is where they crown the 2 teeth either side of the gap which is attached to a fake tooth which fits in the gap, no one would ever know it's not real. Have a look at some on Google... They look really good. My friend has a bridge as she lost one of her top front teeth in an accident, I never knew until she told me. I also have a crown and it looks completely the same as my other teeth.

How old is she ? It's hard, but lots of kids have orthodontic treatment and knock teeth out in accidents, during sport etc, dentists can pretty much fix anything now so tell her not to worry. Maybe go and see another dentist who will explain all of her options for the future but it can completely be sorted. Flowers xx

ClamClam · 26/07/2017 10:35

Thank you for such a reassuring reply Perfectly! DD is 11.5. The orthodontist implied that they would close the gap, leaving her with three incisors. I just can't visualise what that will look like!

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FreezerBird · 26/07/2017 10:42

I only have three incisors, top and bottom.

On the top, I only ever had three milk teeth. On the bottom, I had four milk teeth but only three adult teeth came through. There are no gaps, it's just the way my teeth are. (I think it's a family thing as at least one of my siblings is the same.)

My teeth aren't the best - for other reasons - but (as far as I'm aware) you don't look at me and think 'blimey she's got teeth missing'. I was self-conscious about them as a teen but if my teeth were perfect I'd have found something else to be self-conscious about because I was that sort of teenager! These days I don't give it a thought.

FreezerBird · 26/07/2017 10:43

(I feel I should clarify I have all my other teeth - as the first line of that post makes it sounds as though I only have six altogether!)

user1497480444 · 26/07/2017 10:49

no one is ever going to count her teeth! no reason to get upset. I doubt anyone ever notices who has got how many teeth missing, certainly my children never knew I had no incisors until I pointed it out to them

user1497480444 · 26/07/2017 10:49

sorry, I meant canines, I am missing two incisors and four canines, no body knows unless I tell them

user1499114292 · 26/07/2017 11:02

No one will notice the missing tooth, as long as they are even. My brother and sister both had this, due to the family trait of small jaw /big teeth. How often do you look and count teeth? Crooked ones are more noticeable. Talking about noticing things, it took me a couple of years to realise a friend only had 3 fingers... had eaten and drunk with her, only noticed when lending her a pair of,gloves. I'm not very observant, but still...

ClamClam · 26/07/2017 11:28

Thank you all - I feel so much better and I'll show DD your comments. I know there are far more serious problems we could have, but it was quite a shock and disappointment to hear she will probably lose the tooth. User - your friend's missing finger is a perfect example of how unobservant we all are - I'm sure it's not just you! - and if we do notice little differences they're of no concern. Thanks again!

OP posts:
ClamClam · 26/07/2017 11:36

Freezerbird you are so right - teenagers will always be worried about something. My DD is only 11, just leaving primary school. She's not too bad, but some of the girls seem to be obsessed with their looks, weight etc. I imagine it will only get worse...

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Perfectly1mperfect · 26/07/2017 12:05

Closing the gap sounds like a better option than the bridge I mentioned, I didn't realise they would deliberately close the gap. I just googled and there's some pictures if you are still struggling to visualise. It looks completely fine, you wouldn't notice as you just see teeth.

Completely understand you and your daughter being bothered by this though as like you said loads of young girls are very caught up in their looks and kids can be cruel about pretty much anything. I truly don't think this will be an issue though. xx

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