Dd2 managed to make want to smile and cry all at the same time today

[NervousNutty]

She is 9.5 and had her first appointment with an orthadontist. She has protruding top front teeth and she absolutly hates them.

She gets bullied about it and cried when her friends found out about todays appointment as she didn't want everyone knowing.

She rarely smiles because of her teeth and never looked convinced when I told her she had a beautiful smile. Even a recent beautiful schol pic of her couldn't convince her and she didn't want me to buy it.

Today at her appointment, the dentist asked her to give him a big cheesy grin. She did and he told her she had the most beautiful smile

When we came out she said to me 'he said my smile was beautiful'. I said 'I know, i've been telling you that for ages' and she said 'yeah but it is different when he says it because he doesn't know me, so he doesn't have to say it'

I didn't know wether to laugh or cry.

aaawww thats so sweet
poor wee thing
so can they do something for her teeth?

Yes ! Not just yet though, but they are going to send for her again in a year and then she will probably have something fitted to push her lower jaw forward first and then possibly another brace afterwards to move her top teeth back.

She does want it done but is a little bit worried about being picked on once she has it. I managed to resist the urge to tell her that I will knock out anyone who says anything lol.

Aw, what a sweetheart

NervousNutty I really feel for your DD. I too had very goofy teeth (caused by thumb-sucking). I don't remember anyone ever teasing me about them, but I just hated it. I remember feeling ugly from around age 7 or so, and not smiling, or always putting my hand in front of my face.

I had a removable brace at 10, followed by a night time device to bring my lower jaw forward. I think I only had the brace for about a year, and once my teeth were better, it really made a big difference to my confidence, in time for me to move to a new school.

I don't think she'll be teased for the brace. It's much more common now, and adult celebrities even have them at times.

I wish her luck!

Thanks

I also had goofy teeth but can't remember being as bothered about it as dd is, but then I wasn't bullied about it.

I think most people will not even mention the braces, but there is one horrible lad in her class who seems to delight in making dd feel ugly. If he starts again I will be having words with the school.

Nervous Yes, the school should deal with this. Poor DD