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Children's health

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Original poster

Block braces

19 replies

zippyswife · 22/03/2023 07:03

Ds (12) has finally got his block brace to correct his severe overbite and move his jaw forward. He’s been in pain but has been committed and coped well and not asked to take it out. Yesterday he came home from school in tears because he’s been bullied a lot from different kids due to the lisp.

He has had a terrible time starting secondary school (been physically punched and kicked) and we tried to move schools as a result (but didn’t win an appeal for a place). Things had calmed down and while he wasn’t happy things were stable. But now we’re back to where we were with him refusing school due to his brace.

I guess I’m asking… what would you do? And have you had a child that only wore it out of school and was it still successful?

OP posts:

Santasoorplooms · 22/03/2023 07:05

My child has block braces. They are bloody miserable. He had to wear them full time for six months and now only wears them out of school hours. Please speak to the school. The bullying is unacceptable and if I’m he didn’t have braces they’d find another reason. Your poor son.

oceanbleu · 22/03/2023 07:09

How long as he had it for? His speech will definitely improve with it the more consistently he wears it. If he keeps removing it or has long periods without it in, the lisp is unlikely to correct itself or it will prolong the duration he needs to wear it. I have patients that after a few weeks, have adapted and pretty much speak normally with it in. It's not easy though! So my sympathies. Poor boy. Please speak to the school as it's not acceptable he's being bullied.

4EyesandBigThighs · 22/03/2023 07:13

I had one of these, it also gave me a terrible lisp. People in school joked but I joked with them tbf (I understand that’s not for everyone)

the lisp will eventually go, and the more he wears it, the quicker his speech will return to normal.

if he doesn’t wear it for 6 hours a day at school, 5 days a week. It’s going to be pretty useless and a long and miserable braces journey.

Original poster

zippyswife · 22/03/2023 07:14

@Santasoorplooms yes I will do. But it seems to be a culture of bullying there (that’s a whole other thread) and so it’s not just one child or group. It won’t be easy to fix. Really frustrating as things had settled down for him. Im never someone to give in and don’t normally send that message to the kids but I think it needs to be balanced with making things easy for them.

Im wondering if compliance of wearing them outside school will mean he needs them for longer or will mean that it doesn’t work at all.

OP posts:

Heysham1 · 22/03/2023 07:14

My son just couldn't cope with block braces (severe overbite). I do remember the dentist breezily saying that he should wear them practically all the time (excluding eating) and it would still take 18months. We're looking at fixed braces as an alternative, as although the results may not be as good, at least he would wear them! His speech is affected, with or without block braces, which is another reason him and I would like it done as he can find it hard to communicate with his mates, but I'm also hoping that as he grows up (he's a small 14year old), the overbite may look less severe. Good luck with your son, it's a difficult time,but I felt that my son's happiness right now, took precedent over the future (if you see what I mean!)

shakeitoffsis · 22/03/2023 07:17

Hi I'm an orthodontic nurse.

I'm sorry your son is being bullied, twin blocks are such a nuisance but they ONLY work being worn for a minimum of 22 hours a day, only being removed for eating and brushing. The alternatives (which are all totally dependent on facial anatomy etc) can lead to a compromised treatment. The twin block is the most fantastic brace with the most amazing results IF worn correctly, otherwise it just does not work and it does require complete compliance.

If this is going to be an issue (understandably) then I think you need to speak to the school as they are at the heart of the problem with the bullying. This is more critical that the twin block. In the meantime speak to your orthodontic about options, twin blocks also only work during growth spurts so you don't want to miss the boat.

I really hope this bullying stops!

ItstheZwartbles · 22/03/2023 07:18

So sorry your son is being bullied, that's awful. My ds didn't wear his to school, it was fine, just prolonged the length of time he had to wear them. He has his permanent ones now and doesn't mind them at all. Half his mates have them too which helps.

Original poster

zippyswife · 22/03/2023 07:22

thanks for all the replies and thanks @shakeitoffsis for the medical perspective which is what I really needed to understand.

I wil speak to the school today but having dealt with them previously I don’t hold out great hope on that front. He’s actually a very outgoing breezy kid who isn’t your typical victim but the kids at this school seems to just trample on everyone- including him so lots of kids get a rough ride.

OP posts:

Original poster

zippyswife · 22/03/2023 08:24

@ItstheZwartbles how long did he have to wear the blocks for? What age was he?

OP posts:

FfeminyddCymraeg · 22/03/2023 08:30

My DD had to wear block braces for 9 months. She was in primary school and didn’t have any problems with bullying over them.

As painful and awful as they were, she was determined to get them done and dusted and wore them constantly during that time. She was only 10/11 and so I take my hat off to her - she demonstrated a level of maturity I didn’t expect.

FfeminyddCymraeg · 22/03/2023 08:31

I should say the lisp didn’t last too long. She spoke quite normally after the initial few weeks (from memory, she’s 15 now!)

okayah · 22/03/2023 09:27

My 12yo has these, his Orthodontist agreed he doesn't have to wear them at school (we had refusal to even go, drama) so he wears them 4pm thru to 8am (taken out for eating)

Original poster

zippyswife · 22/03/2023 15:18

Thanks all for the advise. The orthodontist is calling me tmr. I have contacted the school and haven’t heard back.
@okayah is your ds still making progress with them- is it a lot slower?

OP posts:

okayah · 22/03/2023 18:11

zippyswife · 22/03/2023 15:18

Thanks all for the advise. The orthodontist is calling me tmr. I have contacted the school and haven’t heard back.
@okayah is your ds still making progress with them- is it a lot slower?

Yes, he went from 10mm to 3mm over 10mths, could have been quicker I know

Original poster

zippyswife · 22/03/2023 18:14

That’s great. Is he still wearing them. I think ds is also 10mm

OP posts:

Hairyfairy01 · 22/03/2023 20:01

Similar happened with my dd. I didn't force it to be honest. She now has some weird elastic band things which whilst not as effective she can tolerate much better and are discrete. The risk to her mental health and school refusal over rode the wish of the orthodontist to be honest. Being 12 is hard enough.

Geranium1984 · 22/03/2023 21:00

This sounds so tough, your poor son.
I had an overbite and along with gaving regular train track stylee braces, I had an operation to correct the overbite whereby my bottom jaw was broken and two small titanium plates inserted. It was very painful recovery but was all over within about 2 weeks. Could this be an option?

ItstheZwartbles · 23/03/2023 08:40

how long did he have to wear the blocks for? What age was he?
Sorry just seen this. He was 13 when he got his blocks (delayed a year by the pandemic). Had them around 15 months. He knew it would take longer not wearing them at school but was happy with that. He did try wearing them but it affected his confidence talking and he stopped contributing in class which he's normally good at according to his teachers so I was equally happy for him to wear them part time!

CornedBeef451 · 23/03/2023 11:03

DS has just had block braces fitted and the speech issues disappeared after a week or so.

I think you need to commit to the braces as no one will even notice them in a few weeks.

The bullying really needs to be dealt with though as a separate issue.

In 3 months DS's overbite has gone from 14mm to 7mm so the brace really does work but only if you wear it. DS has his on 23.9 hours a day, only takes it out for particularly challenging food and for brushing.

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