Braces for children

[Maximoo2]

My DS 11 needs braces on both his upper and lower teeth. He qualifies for NHS “train tracks” or the Orthodontist will fit Invisalign privately but that’s 💰💰💰
Neither DH or I have any experience of braces & would love to hear about your experience, either positive or negative, to help us with our decision.
Thank you in advance.

If it’s needed it’s needed. Better for long term nutrition and overall health.
What type you choose probably doesn’t matter.
All three of mine had them as well as a whole slew of orthodontic treatments.
There are times it’s uncomfortable for them, it’s somewhat a long term problem (permanent retainer following or nighttime soft ones). Some inconvenience with monthly appts and adjustments, so out of school and day time appointments.
But it’s a health thing and needs doing.

Please get them done! I’m an adult, finally sorting my teeth out. Wish my parents had had this done for me - less work and wouldn’t have needed teeth removed. Looking forward to using my teeth properly!

I wore braces and my 12 y/o son will get them soon.
My son started to have teeth issues at the age of 7, he went through a couple of surgeries to fix the "direction" of his teeth. Due to all the respiratory infections he had in his first years of life his mouth didn't grow and develop as it should. When he was 7 he got a rubber one called "trainer" to help the maxillary bone grow properly. He had to wear it at nights and it helped him so much. Now he has the right structure and the teeth have space but he still needs braces. Invisiline is expensive as hell and our dentist said it doesn't work well with kids for several reasons, but one of them is that it demands discipline so it adds a couple of years more to the treatment.
Braces fixed my teeth in only one year. I had a problematic mouth but the results were amazing. One of the best things my parents ever did for me.
Downsides: it hurts a bit the first days and every time they adjust it. But it really works.

I had braces on and off for 7 years as a kid (combination of track, night, removable braces) - even now I have a retainer I wear three times a week on a night 14 years later. I remember them being a bit uncomfortable but never painful as such. Please get them done. The train track ones are really not bad and he will probably only have them on for a year.

I just got my train tracks off yesterday, I wouldn't go with Invisalign and definitely wouldn't do it for a child. You have to take them out every single time you eat, he will have to do it in school. They could get lost or forgotten about. Shorter time over all with train tracks too. I got the ceramic clear ones but the elastics used to stain when I would eat certain foods. I think I'd go with metal if I were you

My 13 year old son is 18monghs I go treatment, upper and lower train tracks and had blocks in to start with.
Have to take 1/2 a day off school/work every 8 weeks as the orthodontist is in city centre.
Son suffers with headache/jaw ache for the couple of days after they are tightened each time.
Got to be careful what foods they eat ie sticky sweets etc and also he bit into an apple one time and one of the metal bits which was glued to his tooth flicked off, so had to go back and get it fixed.
Feel very fortunate he is having this treatment on the NHS and I know it will be worth it in the end.

All my DC had the NHS train tracks, in my experience if you qualify parents will go with them rather than pay for expensive alternatives. All DC now have great teeth - worked really well

I'm a dental nurse and have done both braces. For an 11 year old I'd probably stick with the NHS braces. They're not that pretty too look at but so many kids have them that hardly any one noticed anymore.

What I'd worry about Invisalign with an 11 year old is that they will take them out to eat then forget to pop them back in. And after they've eaten they then also have to go and brush their teeth before putting them back in. Also the risk of loosing the braces. You get a few sets but they're not all going to fit his teeth as they are. Their progress trays. So if he looses his set he can't just pop the next stage one in because it won't fit.

All round the train tracks that are fitted are much easier for children.

Thank you everyone for your comments. We are definitely having treatment for him, but we can see pros and cons for both and that’s making it a tricky decision.

If you qualify for NHS braces then there's a substantial issue that needs to be remedied. It's not like when I was a teenager and you could get braces for the slightest wonky tooth, now the treatment is only offered if there's a structural defect - cosmetically funded braces from the NHS are vanishingly rare. I'd definitely be on team braces as far as your son is concerned, turning this down wouldn't be wise.

My eldest has been through upper and lower train tracks, along with other interventions (removable brace age 8 for initial correction, tooth removal to make room) and her teeth are now perfect. There was some pain and a fair bit of hassle because keeping clean teeth is tricky but she is beyond pleased that her teeth are fixed. We're now in maintenance and using the retainer to make sure the little buggers don't move back!

Attending orthodontics for the better part of 6 years absolutely hasn't been fun, but definitely worth it.

Just go with the train tracks for a child. It’s a no brainer. The majority of his friends will have them too. Both mine had tracks, one nhs one private. Both have beautiful teeth now

My child has Invisalign and has found them really easy. At school she leaves them in til lunch time 1.30, and then puts them in a case til she gets home, then brushes her teeth at home to save doing it at school. The orthodontist is fine with this and her teeth have moved really fast. She did need a couple of amendments along the way and she needed the glue dots on her teeth which I think help put pressure on certain teeth, the dots are not very noticeable at all. Eating and cleaning teeth is no different to normal, so much easier than fixed braces. You do need to have a child that is responsible enough to wear them consistently.