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Original poster

Teeth braces drama

67 replies

Hayleyoldnewwm · 27/10/2023 16:41

Please tell me about braces as I never personally had them so have experience.

My son (13) is due to have his braces fitted in 2 weeks on both lower/ top jaw, however he so not keen and refuses this!
When he had the images taken last month, he got really upset to the actual tears, which is really unusual with him but he usually hates anything to be put in his mouth- like a gag reflex.
However he has some overbite on his top teeth, both front teeth slightly poking- leaning a bit flat out if his lips and must have some on the lower side too as the dentist said he needs both sets.

Talk to me please about the fitting and afterwards as DS is absolutely upset with worries and also especially DH having had his braces himself when he was a teen, who says how bad it was, how much uncomfortable it was etc.

Obviously I want my DS to had them fitted as very grateful he was offered on the Nhs and I would be absolutely mad to refuse this ( the dentist said we can refuse if DS not too keen)
So please tell me your kids had them and were happy!

OP posts:

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HughCanoe · 27/10/2023 17:35

I mean there was initial 'omg braces why me?' but he now says sheepishly virtually all his mates have them. Ditto needing a gum shield for soccer.

Original poster

Hayleyoldnewwm · 27/10/2023 17:38

@HughCanoe yep, it's about the overall bite, the jaw, teeth overlapping if not straight, the future.
I just talked to my mum and she said she noticed his front teeth stick a bit out of his lips, but she didn't want to tell me.

OP posts:

Ionacat · 27/10/2023 17:38

DD currently has the train tracks. She has a power band on the top which only comes in silver and then chooses the colour on the bottom. (NHS) The worst bit for her was the scale and polish before they put the braces on. She then needed painkillers for 2 to 3 days and then was fine. Now I get demands for Heinz tomato soup, ice cream and various other soft foods when they get tightened. She’s wise to that now and takes painkillers half an hour before and will alternate ibuprofen and paracetamol if it’s really painful. She has several cases of the dental wax that get left everywhere…. but it means she’s always got one with her.

The difference is amazing and now she can see it, she’s very happy although we’re looking forward to the day she’s done. (Taking time off for orthodontist appointments for me is a pain!)

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jojonono · 27/10/2023 17:38

yes it can be a bit painful just after but it quickly wears off and is easily remedied by wax! don't panic and the result will be so worth it.

cocksstrideintheevening · 27/10/2023 17:40

My sister now mid 40s is paying a FORTUNE to get her teeth sorted, she refused as a teen as 'didn't like the look of them' and bitterly regrets it. Plus she now needs fixed braces for 4 years as they have continued to move.

cocksstrideintheevening · 27/10/2023 17:41

Oh and I had to wear full head gear, 23 hours a day for six months it wasn't pleasant but I've got great teeth now.

HughCanoe · 27/10/2023 17:46

Hayleyoldnewwm · 27/10/2023 17:38

Yes Ds was much the same. He couldn't close his mouth, was only able to bite properly on his back molars, teeth peeping out of his lips. He was also lisping and couldn't quite pronounce certain letters.

When the dentist said the speech would get worse at first but that he had to think of long term gains, I thought he'd burst into tears in the dentist's chair. His face just fell.

He's had 12 months of the twin blocks, wearing them all the time and it's changed the shape of his face. His chin no longer recedes. The dentist said we could only delay a short time because it would be more complicated when he got older.

He's as happy as Larry with the fixed braces and he can see the gaps closing.

All the best luck to your son. Just take it a step at a time.

Original poster

Hayleyoldnewwm · 27/10/2023 17:49

Thank you.
So could you ladies please tell me what is the wax used for as I never heard of it until today.

Can the braces come off like unintentionally?

OP posts:

FannyFifer · 27/10/2023 17:49

My DD had a really really bad overbite, bottom teeth were marking the roof of her mouth & top teeth left marks on her lower lip.
We are now 10 months along with her braces & her teeth are looking amazing.
She gets to pick a different colour (or a variety of colours) each time.
The worst bit was all the measuring and moulds etc on the first visit.
Braces being fitted was no problem, sore & difficult to eat for a few days afterwards but some ibuprofen helped.
Each time they are tightened it's been fine.
She also got two top teeth out a couple of months ago and was an absolute star, the difference since they were removed is quite something, fascinating process.
Tell him not to worry, it's honestly fine & will be worth it.

HughCanoe · 27/10/2023 17:49

cocksstrideintheevening · 27/10/2023 17:41

Oh and I had to wear full head gear, 23 hours a day for six months it wasn't pleasant but I've got great teeth now.

Oh God that must have been hard. Do they still use head gear today?

FannyFifer · 27/10/2023 17:51

Hayleyoldnewwm · 27/10/2023 17:49

Thank you.
So could you ladies please tell me what is the wax used for as I never heard of it until today.

Can the braces come off like unintentionally?

The wax u just put over the bracket if they are rubbing your lip, DD has never needed to use it.

HughCanoe · 27/10/2023 17:52

I think the wax is used to put on areas of the brace that rub the cheeks but to be honest Ds hasn't ever had problems at all. He's never needed to use it.

HughCanoe · 27/10/2023 17:53

Twin blocks can be taken out. The fixed brace can have loose brackets or the wire can come out but it's easily fixed

HughCanoe · 27/10/2023 17:54

You'll probably need a gum shield for gym class but the orthodontist will advise.

No chewing gum, sticky sweets, crusty bread needs to be broken up not bitten off.

Foxblue · 27/10/2023 17:55

As someone who had braces as a teen, then didn't wear the followup retainer and has dropped thousands on invisalign...
Mine were overcrowded, and over the years that meant it was impossible to floss some teeth, which affected my overall mouth health. It is much better to get them done while you are young!
Also - if they are already misaligned, the chances are that this will get worse without treatment, so while he might be able to live with it now, it might cause more problems later.
While they feel strange at first, your mouth hardens and gets used to it. And eventually when you get them off, your teeth feel strange without them! Any discomfort is temporary and can be fixed with paracetamol.
If they break etc - important thing to remember is that they are just wire, so you will be able to bend the wire into a comfier position (possibly with some help) until the dentist can fix it. However, I don't think breaks are very common at all.
Best of luck to you and your son OP

Foxblue · 27/10/2023 17:56

Also definitely have a word with your DH to shut up about how terrible his were!

HughCanoe · 27/10/2023 17:59

Here's ds's fitting photo with the correct placement of the elastic bands. These get replaced daily so we had to have a record of where they go. This is after the twin blocks were finished with so the overjet was much reduced.

NecklessMumster · 27/10/2023 18:04

I used to use the time after appointments to spoil DS a bit, got a routine of going to the comic shop on way home. It was quite nice. When he had them eventually taken off he requested food he hadnt been able to eat with braces which was basically just corn on the cob and a toffee apple 😊

PinkLemons99 · 27/10/2023 18:04

We've just paid €5k for Invisalign for our 14yr old DS. There's no free orthodontic treatment for kids in Ireland and train track style braces still cost around €3k.

I've had different style braces 3 times from being a teen, in my twenties and in my late 30's, as they didn't work very well and my teeth still aren't straight, so I was a bit worried that this could be a very expensive mistake.

However, after discussing it with DS, he was keen to go ahead and has been amazing at looking after them properly and brushing regularly etc. The Invisalign system is amazing and I wish it had been around when I was having treatment. There's no need to eat soft foods or worry about discomfort with this system.

In your case, if your DS isn't sure, I'd leave it for now and let him try again in another year or two.

ittakes2 · 27/10/2023 18:06

A child doesn't get offered free braces on the NHS unless they need them. That by nature may mean though their treatment is more complicated than a child who is getting them privately to have 'straight teeth'.
Unfortunately, no one can reassure you this will be a doddle - its unlikely to be. You are already saying he has mouth sensitivities - the odds are if anyone is going to have sensitivities to braces that his chances are higher.
I've had them myself - my daughter had them and was so traumatised by the pain / poking metal, things which come off, staining of elastics etc - we had them off and she finished with invisalign.
My son however has had those block things as well as braces and for the first six adjustments used to eat soft food for the first week...but he was never over dramatic with the pain.
One thing which has not been said...is even after your son's braces are off the ortho will put metal train tracks behind his upper and lower arch AND he will be expected to wear upper and lower retainers everynight FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. So he will have metal in his mouth for the rest of his days. When I had braces we were just told the metal tracks behind the teeth were enough but the thinking has changed.
that said - my son had his braces late (16) due to covid and since he needs them for two years he is one of the few kids now in his school who has them. so while there is an arguement for waiting for your son to be older and to be sure - your son may be self conscious if he chooses to do it later.

Hipnotised · 27/10/2023 18:07

DS is absolutely upset with worries and also especially DH having had his braces himself when he was a teen, who says how bad it was, how much uncomfortable it was etc.

This is your issue. Had DH been positive, your DS would have been so much more confident.

All three of mine have had braces - the dental work has been fantastic.

HughCanoe · 27/10/2023 18:09

I grew up in Ireland and there was no way my parents could afford orthodontic treatment. My dentist used removable braces to try to help but he could only do so much.

Timing can be a key thing as well.

HughCanoe · 27/10/2023 18:13

If your ds ends up with elastics, I'd recommend these cheap tools from Amazon. They'll help unhook the bands until he gets used to it.

Original poster

Hayleyoldnewwm · 27/10/2023 18:16

@ittakes2 oh I didn't know about the retainer use forever?
I naively though it's only the braces for few years and that's all.
He definitely won't like that.
He now got a bit to used to the idea as I told him it's only temporary for a year or so.

OP posts:

HughCanoe · 27/10/2023 18:18

Thing is every journey starts with a first step. By the time he uses retainers he'll be older and more used to it.

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