Daughter is going to go mad - braces!

[Anonymousemouses]

My daughter's dentist referred her to an orthodontist a few years ago, due to a tooth growing in her soft palate.

She was seen last year, then they referred her to hospital for removal.

She had the tooth out a few months ago.

She went back to the orthodontist for a check-up and they said that as her top teeth are right now, she wouldn't qualify for braces on the NHS, however they fought as she had this molar growing in the palate and somehow got funding.

Her top teeth are lovely and straight (apparently the only issue is they stick very slightly forward, not enough to count on the NHS, nor can I see them, apparently it's more noticeable on X-rays.

Her bottom teeth, however, are overcrowded.

She was unsure at the appointment, but I kind of felt rail-roaded, but told her to consider it carefully and we'd discuss at the next appointment.

She also wanted to choose the colour at the next appointment - which is when I assumed they'd take moulds and address the need for teeth removal on her bottom set.

However I've just been reminded of our appointment tomorrow, when they will be fitting the braces. I literally had no idea. I've been sent a list of special hygiene stuff I will need to buy, plus hygienist appointments every three months (which I literally cannot afford).

She's 15 next month and I'm really worried as she's got her mocks in September.

She's also going to go back to school for lunch tomorrow and I have no idea what she can eat.

FWIW I have terrible teeth. I had 6 teeth removed, then my teeth filled in the gaps, but my top left tooth still overlaps the right - a lot! My canine also cover the teeth between the front and canines. I was told I'd have to have more removed, but they didn't want to as I'd have so little left (this was in the mid 80s). Her teeth are lovely and straight at the top, it's the bottom that need addressing, but I can't see how as they're so crowded.

Poor girl is probably panicking because it’s sooner than expected. But she’ll be fine. It does stop aching very soon. And cake is absolutely no trouble. The dental care stuff is ok really - you can buy most of it at decent prices and it lasts ages.

Thank you all. I'll include a photo of her teeth too, as I'm not sure how long she'll need them.

It didn't attach before.

Of course she’ll be able to eat cake.

This. Gosh teenagers are so bloody dramatic. It will be a bit sore for a couple of days, nothing paracetamol won’t cure. She is hardly having her leg off!

A complete over reaction by mum and daughter.

Of COURSE she’ll be able to eat cake. Both by DDs have fixed braces and they always choose a cake from the bakery next to the orthodontist on the way home from an appointment.

will they be sore and uncomfortable at first? For sure. Will she also get used to them and be fine after a few days? Also of course.

Crikey, so much drama for someone that is honestly pretty routine. Not discounting how she feels, it’s ok to be anxious and upset…but in the nicest possible way she needs to put it in perspective and pull herself together.

Our orthodontist advised against braces for our DS for this exact reason.....might be worth double checking this with them. This was with a private orthodontist also....

My daughter was not happy about getting braces and refused at the first fitting, I was very cross with her but we had a lengthy conversation and eventually she conceded and she's so happy she got them now. She mostly ate as normal to be honest and only broke them once.

You can use the wax from a babybel cheese in an emergency, works exactly the same way as the dentist stuff.

We didn't buy anything special apart from pain killers, hurt for the first week and every time they were tightened. Soup and scrambled eggs, yogurt and mashed potatoes to start with.

Every other kid has them at ds's school, he was pleased to get them.

My son has the same issue with his teeth and he has train track braces. I bought the special toothpaste and brushes and he uses them sometimes but nobody mentioned the hygienist and I wouldn't be doing that. Is her birthday in the next few days? If not she'll be fine to eat cake.

She can eat cake with braces. She might prefer to use a fork or spoon rather than bites chunks off. Biting straight into apples doesn’t work so well with braces but you can just cut them into slices first.
All the disclosing tablets and stuff is to help her learn to brush effectively. When I had braces twenty years ago my orthodontist told us all to get an electric toothbrush because it works better than manual but I don’t think we even bothered with mouthwash. So yes, hygiene is super important with braces but it’s not necessarily going to be massively complicated or expensive long term. Find out why you need all the different things that have been suggested - like is the toothpaste a high fluoride one because your daughter’s teeth and weak?

Braces usually take 18-24 months but your orthodontist will have have a more accurate estimation for your daughter based on her needs.

Tell her I’m jealous, my mum wouldn’t allow me to get braces as a teen, I’m now 40 and about to shell out £4k of my own money to get them done!

See you and raise you @Stepfordian - had the NHS train tracks, was a smidge negligent wearing my retainer, some teeth have shifted (still good), but every so often find myself on the Invisalign website

You’re really lucky to get them funded as from seeing your photo, my son’s teeth were way way worse and he didn’t get funding. We paid for them and they are off next week, he’s 13. He’s so excited. We didn’t need hygienist appointments but we have the toothpaste and the little interdental brush.

My DD has just had fixed braces off, no special toothpaste/brushes/mouthwash etc necessary, nor was 3 monthly hygiene visits, they do need to be checked for readjusting every 4 months ish but that should be covered by the NHS funding, I think they are just trying to sell you products.

The wax is useful though.

Just wanted to mention that ds's teeth moved very quickly and he needed adjustment within the first week as wire was poking into his cheek, so do keep an eye on them . I think ds had his adjusted ever 6-8 weeks and they were off in 9 months.