Hi everyone,
My 7yo DD is beginning orthodontic treatment for severe overcrowding, and complications caused by having an extra tooth in her gum which is blocking the adult tooth from coming down.She'll be having a (top front incisor) milk tooth and the extra tooth removed under general anaesthetic in October, and a "gold chain" fitted to the adult tooth in the gum so it can be pulled down if it needs to be. She will probably also have the top canine milk teeth removed, as there is not enough room for the adult front incisor to come down. They'd really like to fit fixed braces early next year but of course it seems very early to do this. She has only just turned 7 last month.
The whole concept is not especially outlandish to me as she has obviously inherited the same severe overcrowding issues I had as a child (sorry DD!). We also both had milk teeth that came through unusually early and started coming out unusually early (we both lost our first milk tooth at 4 yo). Her orthodontist says her teeth are currently at the stage you would expect to see in a 9 year old. I had fixed braces fitted at 10 yo, and had already had 7 extractions by then - and that was in 1979!
I'm just finding it all a bit overwhelming as it is so extremely young. They're not saying they'll defintely fit the braces next year, as they acknowedge it might just be too much for her emotionally. They're going to consider how she copes with the preliminary appointments and procedures first. But if they can't do the braces in the next 6 months, it's going to just mean even more orthodontic treament later on.
My teeth were an awful mess and now I have perfect teeth, so I really think it's worth it. And I was really grateful during my teens that my own braces were over and done with by the time I was 12, while I saw some of my peers miserable to have to have them at 14-16 yo.
I'm trying to be matter of fact about it with her, and not shying away from the fact that it will be "uncomfortable" at times, while keeping it pretty low key. I was looking for books aimed at young children about orthodontic treament but only found one possibility "Braces for Cori" which I've ordered.
I'm just wondering if anyone else out there has experience of similar orthodontic treatment at a young age (even if it was more like 9 or 10 years old), and any helpful tips on how to support her through it? DD is a very different child to what I was - I just did anything an adult told me to do without question, but DD already rebelled against having some of the xray inserts in her mouth. Oh dear, she has no concept of what's in store!
Thanks in advance