to be livid with my 11 year old?

[TinfoilHattie]

She has been seeing an orthodontist for a few months and was fitted with braces in March. Not the train track ones, the plates which clip over the teeth and can be removed for eating and tooth brushing. She quickly developed a habit of clicking the braces in and out with her tongue and surprise surprise, the upper brace broke after 3 weeks. So we go through the whole palaver of more appointments, more impressions, more time for me taking her back and forward for appointments. Second set fitted two weeks ago.

And she's broken the second fucking brace in exactly the same fucking way. We got away without paying for the first replacement, don't think we'll be as lucky a second time. I am LIVID. She is sulking in her room and feeling sorry for herself.

People who are saying change to something different? It doesn't work like that. The orthodontist decides the treatment plan, not the parent.

Of course, but usually there are options. Two broken braces within a month - it might be that the orthodontist can suggest some other treatment which takes longer but means no removable braces. I don't know. I'm not a tooth expert - she is. Doesn't stop me asking and discussing it though.

I had a plate brace after two years of train tracks and I couldn't stop clicking and breaking it. I'm a fidgety person. I still bite my nails and grind my teeth. You will only make it worse by making your DD feel upset and anxious. I understand it's frustrating for you, but don't take it out on your poor DD. She didn't do it on purpose.

My son has been through this- block braces to correct his bite, then wires to move teeth. But then it is a retainer FOR LIFE!!!! 12 hours a night, every night until he is 21, then 3 nights a week FOR LIFE ... or the teeth just migrate back to where they came from.
I can absolutely see why you're livid if they have been broken twice in quick succession but I think you have to bite your tongue (pun??) and try and be supportive. It's not pleasant for her but she and you are in it for the long haul so don't make it a cause of contention. Try and help her learn to look after the blocks properly.

I regularly hear the orthodontist berating assorted children for clicking.

Misread that as "the orthodontist beating" and thought that might be a little harsh ;-)

He has never beaten any of my children which, given the variety of ways they have broken and lost braces over the years is pretty good going :) DS1 lost two in a month, The dog has had a go at a couple and numerous ones have "just broken!"

They all have fabulous teeth/jaws/cheekbones though!

I would discuss with the orthodontist.

Could treatment be postponed for a year or two?
My DD has just finished orthodontic treatment, and she swithered for a couple of years before making the decision to go ahead.
Orthodontist was happy to let her wait until she was ready.

You'd think they'd have improved the braces by now.

I'm in my 60s and used to do the exact same thing with mine.

Hang on a min, these things cost money and if they can be broken so easily then I think you should get onto the manufacturers, as seems to me your child isn't to blaim, but the Dentist.

Explain to her about the cost and what they do, but don't punish her, as right now she isn't doing it on purpose, and make her tell the dentist why they break, don't make the brace into the boggie man.

There's a finite time period for functional appliances, once it's passed they won't work and only surgery can correct the jaw relationship so that's also not simple.

You'll get there OP. There's a long and I've thread on these if you have a search. It pops up every now and then, can't remember what it's called....

I'm not sure postponing would make any difference - DD is very much of the "get it over and done with" school of thought.

I have no idea what they're going to charge me for a new upper appliance - all the ortho said was that they were "very expensive". £50? £200? £500? Haven't a clue.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1391667-Twin-Block-Braces-Any-Advice

For general info

Ours often manages to fix wires then and there. I'm usually only charged for complete rebuilds. Luckily!!

It's private though and different to standard orthodontics.

I had braces as a teenager. I never wore the require elasatic bands and the dentist told me off badly. YABU - she's 11!

It's a habit and a mistake.

How would you feel if you made a mistake/had an accident because of an unconscious habit?

Poor child.

We were told fixing on site wasn't possible and that they had to be sent away to a lab somewhere. Last time they remade the upper block completely. (and lost the bottom one, so we had to go back and have more impressions done for that one too).

Just read one of your updates OP.

One of those little metal bits broke ages ago on my DSs. I noticed it and was cross.

About a week alter we had a check up with the orthodontist and he didn't say anything!

mrsmorton may not concur but, if your DD cans till wear the brace I wouldn't necessarily say it urgently needs fixing.

My son is on nights only though so it may not matter as much.

I think our local orthodontic department used to charge about £65 several years ago. It is hugely frustrating when things like this happen . Clicking was one thing DD didn't do but she lost them after night 1 (they turned up), nearly lost them on holiday , DS saved the day and this is still talked about years later.

Then we had to cancel the appointment when they were due to come off for several weeks. She decided as they should have been off she wasn't going to wear them and every time I asked where they were she said she had eaten and about to put them in. Eventually I clicked, made her get them and then she couldn't get them in. I was so livid about the lying I had to leave it 24 hours before I could talk about it as I was just too angry to think clearly.

After that she was lucky and they continued treatment with train tracks bit the brackets fell off at the start as she produces a lot of saliva apparently. Then when she finally got those off and is on retainers she left a cat in the room with them and he ate them.

So I do feel your pain! But it has been so worth it and she has lovely teeth and is now good about using her retainer at 18 as she doesn't want her teeth to move. Hang in there, gives you 'do you remember when' stories which eventually feel kind of funny.