Any dentists there to allay my fears?

[Olivo]

DD is going to the orthodontist for the first time next week. She is 8 and has an open bite and overcrowding, despite only 8 baby teeth lost and 8 adult ones in. I have been googling the type of braces/ expander sets that she might need ( according to Dr Google) and feel sick at the thought. She has sensory issues and is really going to struggle with the whole thing anyway, but some of the, look horrendous.

Please reassure me that she'll be ok ( and I will! ) if she has the thing with a key, will I have to do it?

[seaoflove]

It's no picnic but SO worth it.

I had over five years' of orthodontic work - removeable braces, fixed braces, headgear, retainers. It wasn't my most attractive period, but way preferable to having overcrowded, crooked teeth (I had a misplaced canine on one side, like a fang!)

[Olivo]

I'm absolutely dreading it, she seems so young. None of her friends have anything. I am clinging to the hope that it might not take so long if she is still growing and such. She is a tricky young thing anyway, very sensitive, it so going to be hell.

[seaoflove]

When do they plan to start? Eight is very young, so I wouldn't be surprised if they leave it and this is just an assessment. Pretty sure I got my first removable brace the summer before I started secondary school. But that was a long time ago so things may have changed.

[Olivo]

ASAP I think, she has an open bite and eight very crowded adult teeth so far. They said they might be looking at an expander or something? That was the normal dentist who is passing us on to the orthodontist in the practice.

That is, if we can afford, anyway

[Olivo]

Have been today, it wasn't as bad as I thought. 2 stages at this point, lasting 6 to 12 months each, she was shown them and didn't seem to bad. Seems we are also looking at realigning jaws as well as expanding them, and doing something for a tongue thrust!