Took my daughter to the dentist yesterday, and have been advised that, due to slight overcrowding of the top teeth (visually, it’s barely noticeable at the moment) and a further degree of overcrowding at the bottom (slightly more of an issue, but still only noticeable if you’re really looking), we’re to go back in 3 months for an assessment and a possible referral to an orthodontist.
My daughter is 10 and still has 12 (I think) teeth to come through. I had 4 teeth removed when I was slightly older than her, and wore an overnight brace for a year or so – something I’m grateful for now, as my teeth are really straight.
However, I will never forget the horrendous experience of having the teeth out, and the ongoing fear of the dentist that plagues me now, and I’m really worried about putting my daughter through that. (For the record, my childhood dentist was a wonderful man – its just the brutality of the experience that has stayed with me!
So what would you do? Put her through it for the benefit of her adult self, or leave well alone if it looks like her smile is going to be slightly less than perfectly straight?
Aargh.