Teeth braces drama

[Hayleyoldnewwm]

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!

I told ds that after the twin blocks there'd be no faffing taking braces out before eating.

I'd never heard of using elastics which he now needs to use with the fixed braces and which need to be removed before eating. He was not pleased but he's used to it now.

My highly anxious teen had hers fitted a few months ago. Even worse, she’s had to stop a lifetime of thumb sucking (don’t get me started) as a result.

Shes taken to it Like. A. Boss.

A couple of days of discomfort (paracetamol before he goes in and regular top ups for a few days, plus plenty of the wax they give you) and barely notices it now

Plus no more thumb sucking so double win!!

Don’t delay! My son was 16 and was the only one with braces in the sixth form and his advice was to get them done at 13-14 so they’re off by 16. My daughter had hers fitted at 14…hated them for 48 hours… they were painful BUT now doesn’t even notice she has them on. Everyone in years 8,9 and 10 seem to have them.

Two of mine have them. One had blocks then braces (top and bottom). The other had braces on top initially, and now has top and bottom.

They are not NEARLY as painful as the braces in the 80s - they move the teeth much more gently now. There is some aching at first, but now they are used to them. I gave mine soft food for a week after getting them fitted, but they soon got used to the feeling of eating with them in. They did need wax for the first week.

Both of them were sufficiently bad to need to see the consultant for them, so we get them done on the NHS, which is saving us thousands. Seriously, show your child how much they will cost if they have to pay for themselves in the future!

I'm totally getting overwhelmed by all this info!
Thanks everyone!
I didn't know anything about double tracks, elastics, retainers.
I simply though that it will fixed into his mouth and that's it plus have it checked every few months.
What are the elastics, so he won't be able to eat unless removed?
He always snacks on food, I can't seriously imagine how this will work.😞

He might not need elastics but for ds they align the bite I think. I thought we'd never manage but he's bossed it.

Your ds might not need them at all. Don't cross bridges.

Ds does snack but he's in a routine of washing his teeth after and popping the elastics back in.

Hayley he might have the removable twin block braces first - no elastics with those. Twin blocks are used particularly if he has an overjet where the upper teeth are much farther forward than the lower teeth.

He'll get used to it. Then in time he'll probably have the fixed brace

@HughCanoe
I believe he has overjet on the top, the first two teeth sort of protruding ( pointing) gently out of the lips.
Not sure about the bottom ones as to me looked fairly straight and inline, I'm actually surprised that the bottom ones are needed too.

One of my DD's has had hers for 3.5 years so far. They can take a while to work. They were painful at first but fine after a week.

The wires can break and brackets come off too easily. One DD has to go to the hospital for hers which is 40 miles away. It's a pain having to go back every time there is an issue.

They both had to wait three years for treatment. Both now at university it's not ideal having to have time off frequently.

My daughter had fixed braces for 3 years at 12. The first few days were uncomfortable but Calpol and salt water swishing helped a lot. She coped really well. It was SO worth it. She has the most beautiful teeth, a beautiful smile and it also encouraged her to take real care of them. She's 25, she's never had a filling and they still look great. She does have to wear retainers at night but isn't rigid with it. It's hard at that age, I do feel for him, but the results are so worth it. Good luck

Here's DD pre braces then about 8 months in.

We've had ours on for 5 weeks. Ds(12) has up and bottom blocks for his overbite and tracks on the front 6 teeth for now and will move to full double track in about 6 months.

First two weeks we were using a lot of wax but now not so much as rubbing has stopped. He wore them to school on the first day and the first lesson he was asked to read and hadn't worked on his speech so was utterly embarrassed and refused to wear them again. We had to visit the dentist where he got a telling off for not wearing the retainers but he also told him how to practice speaking. Make sure teeth are together and count from 60 to 69 and practice reading out loud. It can take about 3 days to sort itself out and the dentist suggested starting on a Friday to be OK for speaking by the Monday.

We have all sorts of issues, insissors petruding and front teeth behind bottom ones (thanks to teeth coming through iratically when younger so no space for fronts and a particular violent game of tig in year 5 that moved them even further backl)

It's getting better but I do spend a lot of time asking if his retainers are in as he forgets to our them back after eating and sport.

This!

I refused when I was 14. I was the fat kid and already struggling with my identity, self esteem and 'fitting in'.

I ended up getting them done privately at 20 years old and it cost me over 3k.

It's only painful at first, and about a day or so every time they are tightened. I had it done when I was much younger, about 10 or younger. Make sure he always brushes well and stays away from soda- the cement they use to glue them on reacts with the acidity and if you don't brush it leaves a stain or even causes total tooth rot. My orthodontist showed me photos of what happens if you don't which were so bad I had nightmares for years lol.

It's honestly not that bad and easier to do when young.

For most people the outcome is worth it as this thread shows but not for everyone. Your child is old enough to make their own medical decisions. You can outline the pros and cons but you shouldn’t force them.

I was forced into orthodontic treatment as a tean and the process was traumatising.

As a result I didn’t visit a dentist for 12 years as soon as I turned 18. Even now, I can cry thinking about it. My dental health is very poor as a result. I know it is not rational, but the psychological damage was pretty deep.

I hate being photographed and can’t bear to look at myself in the mirror. The negative impacts have rippled out into my life with a lack of confidence. My parents had a lack of understanding so I don’t blame them but on a subtle level it definitely has impacted on my relationship with them. They are happy with the result, so was the orthodontist and that was all that mattered through the process.

i would happily of paid a lot of money at a later date to have been able to make my own decisions.

Thanks for this thread OP.

My dd1 (15) has just had Damon braces fitted this week. She didn't qualify for NHS treatment, so we have to go private! The first day after the fittings were awful. She was in tears with the pain and not wanting to eat much as teeth too sensitive to chew anything. A few days later and touch wood, things are settling down now.

I'm not going to lie though, it has put both me and dd2 (11) off getting braces for her (she needs them too, also not NHS). Despite me having a retainer on the top teeth as well as head gear back in the 80s and gagging repeatedly over the moulds they had to do - thankfully they don't do those anymore, it's all laser/x-rays and sophisticated tech these days!

We will wait and see what dd1's teeth are like at the end of the treatment (estimated 12 months) and then decide what to do about dd2. Both were given the option of Invisalign which both me and dd2 were leaning towards, but dd1 preferred the Damon.

Twin blocks are also an option for dd2, but weren't for dd1 as I think they would be the least painful (and least costly also). But apparently also the least effective.

We have been forewarned that she may need elastics near the end, but also a fixed wire on the 4 middle teeth top and bottom and night time retainers for a long time afterwards.

I'm finding elastics all over the house at the moment. He takes them out and forgets to bin them.