Braces

[glinda]

Hi I have just posted this in health but I think that it should really be here. One of my 13 yr old dd's front upper teeth is a bit crooked. I asked our dentist about whether a brace would help and he was really dismissive. Obviously we would have to pay to have it done privately but he seemed to think that:

a.) I was being very shallow and the cosmetic problem was very minor.

b.) That dd would have to wear a retainer every night after the brace came off to prevent the tooth returning to its original angle.

I probably am being shallow, but I see many of her friends wearing braces for less obvious reasons and she is becoming more self conscious about her tooth.Does anyone have experience of braces for this reason? Are improvements permanent or are retainers neccessary? Should I book in with an orthodentist (correct term?)for their opinion despite my dentist's views? Any idea how much it might cost?

Thanks for any advice in advance

bump

do you realise how much it will cost?

absolutely get it done, I had a brace from age 9 which was too early & my teeth were never properly straightened. I've always been conscious of my teeth & at age 35 I had train tracks top & bottom.

Get it done young - it's worth everypenny & she'll have (hopefully) fabulous teeth.
I still wear a retainer - it's not a big thing.
Cost for me was about £2k. I paid a deposit then £100 a month.

absolutely get it done, I had a brace from age 9 which was too early & my teeth were never properly straightened. I've always been conscious of my teeth & at age 35 I had train tracks top & bottom.

Get it done young - it's worth everypenny & she'll have (hopefully) fabulous teeth.
I still wear a retainer - it's not a big thing.
Cost for me was about £2k. I paid a deposit then £100 a month.

oops !

Ask to be refered to an orthodontist. Dentists apparenlty aren't keen on orthodontists because they make more money - they don't want to pass on the business

Thanks for the info. It is expensive, but I would like to do this for her if I can. I also think that this age is the easiest to cope with a brace as so many of her friends have them too. I admire you for doing it as an adult. How long did you wear them for?

ICBIF, that really isn't true. They aren't passing on business, they are refering for work they don't do. That is like saying a GP won't refer you to a surgeon, specialist!

Glinda a retainer is necessary for a period fter treatment as the teeth drift back to their original position whilst the newly formed bone is still soft. Also in adult life they can still drift back so occassionally a permenant splint is applied to the back of the teeth to hold it in position.

I would say if you and your dd want to go ahead then it is your choice. Ask to be refered and if he won't find a dentist that will.

CO - I said it Jest - although my friend is a dental surgeon & did tell me that. Dentist do (in my experience) seem reluctant to refer, not sure why.

Anyway, it took about 2 1/2 years. The first 6 mths was a removable contraption to make some space. I didn't eat with it on, because it made me feel ill (all the food gets caught in it), I may have lenghtened the time because of this. I wore fixed tracks for about 2 years, white on the top & metal on the bottom. Had orthodontist visit once a month to tighten it. I used nurofen, which is a no no as it reduces the inflamation & that's what helps the teeth settle (or something like that!) Paracetamol is fine though + soup & softish food for a couple of days. Kids are pretty resilent & I don't have any memories of wearing the one I had when I was 9/10.

My friend has a behind the teeth retainer & I think I'll probably be wearing my one for life.

I'd get it done.

However, DSs treatment is costing me £4k a child. Slightly different to what you're proposing though (orthotropics, not orthodontics). They were 7 & 8 when it started. DS1 does have fantastic teeth, cheekbones and jawline 2 years on though... They apparently won't need retainers all the time later.

From my experience dentist don't have any problem refering, it makes no diference to their workload/pay at all. Absolutely no reason not to.

Absolutely do it young. My mum didn't want me having a brace so when I decided to have one aged 14 it involved 4 back teeth out, a brace that went around my head that I wore at home (although my orthadontist said if I wore it to school it would take a few months ...it took a year!!) I then had train tracks and the one you can take out! It took years and my teeth still aren't as straight as I like!

I've paid because I've gone private. The sort DSs are having isn't available on the NHS.

It's worth getting it done when all their friends are having it done, and you can get a better correction while the mouth is still growing.

You do need a retainer to prevent the teeth going back to their original position. I have a bonded retainer, so I never have to worry about wearing it.

I think it now depends on how wonky the child's teeth are - very wonky and you get it free on the NHS

Not wonky enough and you have to pay

I've got a 13yo and most of her mates have braces (train tracks) - all referred via their own dentists. We're lucky as dd's ortho work is done on nhs - but yes I've heard it's around £2k+ privately. She has got quite wonky teeth though.