Teenagers - braces - would you or wouldnt you?

[Scramblinghealingdreaming]

One of my teens has just had an appointment with an orthodontist.

My son is borderline needing braces but the orthodontist recommends he has them. But I really didnt feel that she took anything else into account such as his general health, anxiety levels, confidence, sports, the fact he plays a wind instrument etc.

Can anyone talk me through what it actually is like for their teen to have braces for a couple of years? We would have NHS ones so the silver ones.

When I asked what the repercussions would be of not having them till he is an adult (and could decide, chose invisible ones if desired), she didnt really have an answer. His teeth wont get any worse. They look fine and he is happy with his teeth.

He is currently between stage 2 and 3 of overbite.

PS I have made an appointment with my lovely dentist to follow this up (this is the dentist that referred us on pre-pandemic. At the time of referral it was very borderline as if he would need braces).

PPS last couple of times I have tried posting, I have got off topic pretty fighty replies which sadly does seem to be a bit standard. Just looking for good quality, kind replies. Not a squabble about unrelated items such as did we go in an electric vehicle.

Ah that’s useful to know thank you Carrots!

@Meredusoleil ah, well the block brace part took around 6 months, then it’s been 6 months more of train tracks for tweaking. I think he’s nearly done though - astonished at how fast it’s gone. He’s in a huge growth spurt and I wonder if that helped with all the adjusting, as they said it might all take longer than this. Plus he’s been v v good at wearing them etc.
I had basically the same jaw he has, and I don’t remember block braces being a thing in my day either. His teeth seem to be sorted better than mine, though mine aren’t bad - it’s a great result. Hope all goes well for your daughter when it all happens, and I hope, OP, that it works out for you. Orthodontists can be a bit brisk - ours tended to assume you know exactly what you want and that you’ll do as you’re told. Doesn’t mean it’s the wrong thing to do, though. Good luck!

I had them for two years and they made barely any difference to my life except for having appointments and not eating toffee. In fact I kind of missed them when they'd gone.... weirdly.

I've only ever known people who have regretted not having braces . Never any who regret having them. I also have a lot of friends with borderline teeth who went on to pay thousands for Invisalign as adults.

So I'd get them.

100% get them, it’s a no brainier for me.
DC both had them on NHS. Appointments were a pain as they were during the day, but somehow we got through it and the results are amazing even on my eldest who didn’t actually look like she needed them in the first place. When I see photos now of their ‘old’ teeth, it’s a shocker. Braces are magic!!

Also, neither of mine said they hurt after the first couple of hours the day after they had their braces tightened.

Both of ours had braces at 13/14. Became used to them very quickly. 3 then 6 monthly appointments. Didn’t prevent them doing anything. 2 years later, straight teeth and improved confidence. Just retainers at night now. I would recommend.

@ShitShop most people don't wear the retainer for life. I lost mine 3 months after my braces were off, never replaces, teeth haven't moved at all.

One of my DDs was offered braces and turned them down. She is a married woman now and has had no problems.

Another had a problem of a second tooth lodged sideways in roof of mouth which meant first tooth was never pushed out - heroic treatment with head brace and springs was proposed. We went to another dentist and she was simply referred to hospital for op to removed the embedded tooth. All went well and is still well - first tooth still there!

GS has just turned down orthodontic treatment as he cannot see the need.

They are all fine.

I would, they are very common so not going to attract negative attention, and he'll likely be grateful for it when he's older.

NHS wouldn't offer braces if it was only borderline, it must fulfil certain criteria they did with my ds, that's exactly what the orthodontist said, I think he was luck to get them and I was really surprised that we were referred. He only had them 8 months. Be prepared to be at appts constantly, we were there every 3 weeks or so as ds's teeth moved so fast. Also they don't tell you that you'll have to wear a plastic retainer every night FOREVER or your teeth will move back- that was a bit of a shocker, I had no idea. Ds wears them 3x a week now, any less and he feels they've moved (he's 20 now.)

I have just returned to update the thread.

I took my son to see our own doctor. We go to a private practice whom we have a really good and historical relationship with.

Time was made for a consultation (and they didn't even charge which I was amazed at - maybe there was no category in the billing system).

We had an open conversation about how they were certainly not orthodontists but would be able to give a dental opinion on what they would do if it were there child.

Their verdict was a firm no, my child does not need braces. There is no evidence to show his teeth would become any worse and there wouldn't be any health problems down the line by not having braces. Cosmetically and medically the teeth were fine.

The dentist also was sure to speak to my child without me initially which I thought was really cool, thus ensuring they received as true a position (without my direct influence) on their actual attitude towards wearing braces (they really were cool either way).

So pleased we had the opportunity doe a consultation rather than just a treadmill of in / out and yes / no.

Thanks so much for all your replies here. Lots enables me to be well prepared with our dentist - I had a lot of questions )mainly about the future).

DC1 teeth were not quite bad enough to qualify for NHS, but he was unhappy with his smile so I paid for private. His teeth look amazing now - we’re very happy, so glad we did it. It’s worth the discomfort and so many kids have them now, he won’t be alone.
DC2 also had braces, but NHS. Again, perfect results, well worth it. DC2 plays a wind instrument and although it felt weird at first, it wasn’t difficult to adapt.
Strongly recommend you go for it. Treatment is so much easier in teens than in adulthood.

It was suggested I had braces for my crooked bottom teeth when I was about 13. My mum decided not too because she didn't think my test were too bad at the time and she didn't want me in braces in her wedding photos. I hate her for it because I hate my crooked teeth. I was I had more say then. Can't afford it now as an adult.