Orthodontic treatment

[3monkeys]

DS1 who's 12 went to orthodontisttoday.They have suggested he has a twin block brace to correct his overbite. It looks and sounds horrendous. Does anyone have any experience?

I'm so glad to see this thread ! ds(13) has been recommended to have a twin block to realign his jaw (about 1cm out apparently) and train track on top (for crooked/overcrowding)then a double train track a year to 18 months down the line. Apparently if we miss this growth spurt now he would need jaw surgey to make the same correction later . He too is dyspraxic so even the measuring was problematic. Can anyone advise how often they have had to go back - either for routine appointments(we were told 4 -6 weekly) or for ad hoc adjustments/repairs as the hospital is some distance away.

A good number of DSs Y8 peers are now getting braces, it is very common indeed here.

I've been going there every 4 weeks since he was in Y2 (I tell a lie - at first it was every fortnight. We are thankfully local!). He should be down to every 6 weeks if only he would stop breaking the damn thing. [sigh]

The difference is amazing though. Well worth it.

I would say go for it.

I had braces of various types for over 7 years and dont regret a second of it

As for him being teased for it, if hes going to be teased by some horrid kids, he will regardless of the brace, that's just life

DP's parents "didn't bother" as it was only cosmetic for him, I really wish they had!!!

Lizs, appointments for us have gone like this: appt 1 Impressions. 8 week gap then fitting of twin blocks. 8 week gap the twin block review. 10 week gap theN onto night time wearing only for 3 months. After this possible extractions and the fitting of train tracks top and bottom. 8 weekly reviews for approx 9 months. Then night time retainer wear for several years.

Went to a concert tonight at school and he does look different - but he looks like him!! He's only year 7 bless him. So undecided. When he was diagnosed epileptic that was an easydecision because he had to have that medication. This is harder cos we have to make the decision

The NHS don't generally offer to pay if it is minor. I would definitely go for it as it is a once only opportunity.

My DD is on day 3 of functional appliances - to bring her lower jaw forward before addressing the position of her front top teeth.

Bad things - impressions, lower jaw no problem, upper jaw she started gagging and panicking. Had the braces fitted on Tuesday and she just laughed a lot at how they made her speech so odd - we talked for the 20 minutes home and she realised quickly how her speech would adapt. Eating was a problem at first - she needs soft food at the moment and it takes her ages but she has kept them in.

Dentist gave her the plaster model of her teeth and she was fascinated and spent ages looking at them and has realised how far out of "straight" her teeth are.

A mobile phone upgrade has bribed her as well!

How old is your DDsnowsquonk? i can't believe how many people have them!

Lizs, DD had initial appointment, followed by workshop a couple of weeks later. A week or so after that was impressions. Then there would have been a three week gap whilst they make them but she had to go back for impressions take 2.

Now they are on we've moved to about every 6-8 weeks. Until recently I tightened them every week. Just realised she has an appointment next week then 8 weeks after that is end of Jan and they will be her year up. It's flown by.

I'm actually not looking forward to the train track bit as they will be much more obvious , you don't really notice her current one . She has never mastered eating so takes them out for that.

At the workshop they impressed on the children how lucky they are to be offered them and that if their parents had to pay it would cost us anywhere between 3 and 20k. With the current cuts if they are offered now it definitely isn't cosmetic. And there is the issue of missing the boat now does mean the jaw breaking op in the future to rectify it. Although the first few days were horrible (DH was due to go away and I remember looking at him in horror and saying he couldn't leave me !), things improved very quickly and it didn't take long to start seeing an improvement.

if they ar eoffering on nhs they must feel there is a real need for it .

Ds1 is having surgery later next year to fix his overbite and jaw problems

DS1 has been fine with his impressions - even when there was clearly a large amount well past where most people would gag! DS2 was really bad, panicking and wailing which only meant he had to have them done several times. I managed to get him to understand that if he put up with it for just that short space of time it would be over and done with on one go until the next time.

I wonder if it depends how strong a gag reflex you have.

Thanks , tbh I'm in favour but it is ds who will have to wear them ! Yes it would be on nhs so know how lucky we are to even be considered and hte consultant relaly laid it on thick with ds. He has inherited an unfortunate combination from dh and me of overcrowding, small mouth, misalignment and we both had teeh extracted but are still crooked. Really hoping to avoid it with dd , she threw up when the dentist tried to fissure seal her back tooth !