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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not make DD wear a brace? (More of a WWYD rather than an AIBU)

88 replies

MardyBra · 17/10/2012 21:20

What is it with all the braces at the moment? Every other teenager seems to have them even when they seem to have perfectly acceptable teeth. In my day the only kid in the class with braces was the one with Bugs Bunny teeth sticking out at a 45 degree angle. Are we becoming overinfluenced by the American ideal of perfect gnashers?

Anyway DD's NHS dentist seems to think her teeth are perfectly fine. But I would bet my bottom dollar that if I took her private, the dentist would tell me that her top teeth stick out (couple of millimetres at the most) and would need fixing otherwise she'd be at a serious disadvantage her for the rest of her life and never get a decent job/bag her man and live happily ever after. DD has no desire to wear a brace; all her mates who have got one complain and it has put her off.

So, given that she is a sensible teenager capable of making considered decisions, should I:

a) investigate getting her a brace
b) not bother
c) let her decide after explaining the pros and cons (she'll probably decide no)

Over to MN.

OP posts:

mardyelsie · 18/04/2013 00:08

Luckye - a 10mm overjet means there is a massively increased risk of trauma to the upper incisors. It's a category 5 IOTN (most need for orthodontic treatment) This isn't just about improving your DD's profile. Treatment with twin blocks usually takes around 9 m

mardyelsie · 18/04/2013 00:11

Sorry, posted too early. Twin blocks usually take around 9 months, after that your orthodontist may want to use fixed braces to tidy things up.

To the OP, your general dentist is not trained to properly score patients for orthodontic treatment. If they are offering you an orthodontic referral then take it, there may be a problem that they haven't noticed which will mean your DC qualifies for NGS treatment. Even if this is not the case it's always worth getting a specialist opinion.

yummumto3girls · 18/04/2013 00:26

My DD had train track braces fitted to her upper teeth 2 days ago. It is heartbreaking, she keeps crying because she thinks she is ugly, the wire has torn up the inside of both cheeks, they have put glue on her back teeth so she can't join her teeth together to chew, she is in agony and as her mum I am in agony watching her go through this. I keep telling her it's for the best, better sorted now than later etc but I can't believe anyone would want to put their DC through this if they don't need to.

Startail · 18/04/2013 00:55

Yummymummy you need wax. Use kitchen roll and get the area really dry before applying. Also rubbing bits covered they will stop hurting very soon.

DD says the first few days after fitting and one day after tightening are the worst.

Tell her she doesn't look ugly and it really is worth it, DD has had hers for a year and she has canines dropped into the right place and bottom teeth in a neat row. Her dentist puts different coloured inserts in each visit and I see these far more than I ever saw her bottom teeth. She hated them being wonky. Lots if her friends have braces so she doesn't care.

SkinnybitchWannabe · 18/04/2013 06:26

My son is getting braces fitted in may. Thankfully its on the nhs because we couldnt afford to go private!

exoticfruits · 18/04/2013 07:10

If your NHS dentist thinks her teeth are fine then I can't see why you need to go further. Two of my DSs were referred by NHS dentist and the work was done on NHS- I believe that it was very expensive to go private.
They had train track braces and it wasn't nice for 2 years but the results are fantastic and they both agree it was worth it.

LAlady · 18/04/2013 07:17

We are midway through paying for DS's braces privately as he didn't fall into the categories to qualify for NHS treatment. As the criteria is very tight now, many that used to be treated aren't. DD will need them too, I'm sure.

I needed to have braces when I was a child. I didn't. It was a big regret and I had Invisalign braces when I was 35. I wish I'd had braces when I was younger.

imour · 18/04/2013 07:23

if her nhs dentist said she doesnt need a brace i wouldnt bother , if you are not referred it will cost 2k upwards to go private ,it gives people character when they dont all have the same dead straight uniform teeth .

exoticfruits · 18/04/2013 07:24

I had a brace at 16yrs and hated it, but I am so pleased now that I did. I think it is much easier now because so many teenagers have them.

yummumto3girls · 18/04/2013 07:33

Thankyou Startail. She has wax but struggles getting it to stick. We are back at the orthodontist today to get the protruding wire snipped. She's slightly less miserable today and hopefully this will get better every day. We are working hard on her confidence. My heart really goes out to her.

StanleyLambchop · 18/04/2013 07:40

Luckeye- my DD had very protuding top teeth. Unfortunately she tripped and smacked her face- front tooth shattered, she now has a cap- and it will need maintaining for the rest of her life (and that will be expensive once she has to pay as an adult) She was halfway through the block treatment at the time! I would definitely advise continuing with it, the risks are high otherwise. It is also possible that the teeth need realigning because the bite would not be correct otherwise. As a child that may not be noticable, but as an adult an incorrect bite can cause problems- terrible headaches was one of the things my ortho mentioned. So be wary of thinking that braces are not needed- sometimes there is a problem that cannot be seen. If you are referered to an orthodontics, there is usually a reason (NHS don't pay for treatment for purely cosmetic cases anymore)

imour · 18/04/2013 07:43

feel for your daughter yummum , my girl had retainers to move her jaw first for 10 months ,she was in pain with that and cried for a few days , then the wire brace dug in her cheeks , they snipped the wire back , after a week she was used to the wire one and only had it on for 5 months ,hope it goes quick for your girl .

Katnisscupcake · 18/04/2013 07:45

I would definitely let her choose, but if the dentist suggests that it would be a good idea, I would encourage her.

I've already made the choice for my DD (only 3.5 so not something I need to worry about yet...) because I was told that I needed a brace, but decided not to (back in the day when it was rare and bullying about it was rife). I soooo wish I had had one now. My teeth aren't horrible, but one of my teeth is at a very funny angle. I've spent my life avoiding toothy smiles for photos. It's horrid.

I will insist on my DD having one if the suggestion is ever made.

mummytime · 18/04/2013 07:47

My DDhas a brace, however a few months in, you might think the teeth aren't that bad as they are already being moved. However, they were bad enough that we could have had them done on the NHS. We have gone private to get them done earlier, and it costs £3000. Do you really think your DD has friends who are spending that kind of money for something very minor? It could be they had all kinds of problems in their mouths that you can't see.
Yes most people get their braces in their early to mid teens, so it does look like a fashion, and if you are going to need them it makes it a good time to have them, as you at least look just like all the others your age.

yummumto3girls · 18/04/2013 07:54

Thankyou Imour.

worldgonecrazy · 18/04/2013 08:03

I had the train track braces, and at that time, it was really rare to have those, and I was the only child in my year and it wasn't so long after Moonraker had come out, so you can imagine some of the cruel names that were muttered in my hearing. The braces were because my canines didn't have room to come out properly and were in the upper gum so I looked like dracula.

But I still remember the day that my braces were taken off. The fangs had gone, my smile was perfect and I no longer had to put my hand in front of my mouth when I smiled. The memory of the two years of pain and discomfort fell away in an instant. So I would definitely say go for the braces if you can.

pinktabulous · 18/04/2013 08:59

Luckye :
My DD is about five months through block braces. During the first few weeks I nearly threw them out - but we kept going with them. After the first week, we went back and the orthodontist filed them down a little.
She started to get used to them and now they do not bother her, even when she turns the key to stretch them.
They have really quickly made such a difference, and hopefully at her next appointment she will go down to 14 hours, then overnight and then onto the fixed braces.
I hope your DD starts to feel more comfortable with them very soon.

FryOneFatManic · 18/04/2013 09:16

DD is having her braces fitted today.

On the scale of severity (1 to 5) she comes in at 3.6, which is the minimum that the NHS in our area will fund treatment for. If she hadn't met the criteria, we would not have been able to fund it.

One tooth in particular sticks out quite a bit.

Her regular dentist says her teeth are healthy, but that is not the same thing.

It will make a big difference, and as many of her friends have braces, it's not seen as something to be avoided.

mrsjay · 18/04/2013 09:20

dd2 was sent for a brace she has a slightly sticky out tooth we went got the first brace and tbh I knew she wouldnt tolerate the train track ones like her sister did so I stopped treatment it is still slightly sticky out but not really bad, if your dd doesnt need braces why would you consider it ?

GirlOutNumbered · 18/04/2013 09:23

I didn't want braces as a teenager and now I wish my mum had made me.
ReAlly dislike my wonky tooth.

Groovee · 18/04/2013 09:31

My dd's teeth are a mess. There's a problem with her strong jaw line and she's having to wait another year for assessment. The orthodontist said she definitely needs extensive work. Otherwise I wouldn't bother, but her teeth are that bad she hates opening her mouth.

sashh · 18/04/2013 09:43

yummumto3girls

Tell her braces are cute on children not on adults. It is for the best long term, she has a lovely smile now and will have an even lovelyer smile soon.

gordyslovesheep · 18/04/2013 09:53

DD1 is having braces - but she was/is a thumb sucker and has a massive overbite - so it's on the NHS

DD2 will need veneers as she has sever florosis - that will cost us the best part of 4k

I hope to god dd3 has perfect teeth

I had a brace top and bottom until I was 22 - my teeth moved back a fair bit and are still crossed at the front!

If she doesn't need them leave it to her to decide

mrsjay · 18/04/2013 09:55

I didn't want braces as a teenager and now I wish my mum had made me.
ReAlly dislike my wonky tooth

dd can get it sorted as an adult if she wants, there is a longwinded boring story behind me stopping treatment I couldn't make her look after her brace

mrsjay · 18/04/2013 09:56

dd1 was great with her brace she did need 1 she had terrible over crowding she has teeth i am of

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