Braces advice

[sa11y]

Hello!

I'm new here so please forgive any naivety.

My 15 year old son does not currently have braces but I am almost certain he needs them, he has an underbite and a few crooked teeth - and complains of pain when he eats. Our (private) dentist who we have been with for 20 years has not mentioned them and when I questioned him, he dismissed the idea saying his teeth are fine.

Any advice on what to do?

Thanks x

you could say your ds is unhappy and would a referral to an orthodontist?

If he's 15 and may need braces now is the best time as he is growing.
Get a new dentist. If you're a private patient this won't be too difficult.
Most orthodontists do private work so can you contact one or two direct for a consultation. If your ds friends have braces can you ask them who they go to.

Thank you both - just asked my DS (up early!!) whether any of his friends have braces and he replied "the majority of them do", so I suppose I best ring a few parents and ask where to go to.

If he has pain then he may qualify for free nhs treatment which may limit where you can go. Private can be 3k or more. Certainly his regular dentist should be monitoring this and referring him for assessment. It isn't too late as he will still be growing but waiting lists for nhs treatment can be long so the sooner the better. Ds is about 2/3 of the way through his treatment and he refused for so long he'll be going to uni with them, but he won't be the only one.

DS has already expressed that he'd prefer Invisalign to me (which I would pay for) & this perhaps means I should find an orthodontist quickly so he can start treatment.

Get advice off another dentist. My son has been told don't need braces for years...changed dentist and now nearly 18 having a brace. Not happy when this could have been done and dusted years ago. Insist on being referred to an orthodontist who will decide.

One thing I would say about Invisalign is that it's hard going. I finished my treatment a few months ago, and it took a lot to make sure I finished on time. You have to wear them 22hours a day, all day every day basically. Lose a set, £100 to replace them. Don't wear them? the next few probably won't fit and you're having to have moulds/new ones made. Depending on your dentist it may cost you a lot more if they have to re do bits and they suspect it's happened because retainers haven't been worn.

If I could go back, I'd have thrown vanity out the window and gone with the clear train tracks!

Yes, go along to the orthodontist with an open mind & listen to the pros & cons of fixed braces and Invisalign in his particular case before you decide.

Yes, definitely get a second opinion. Pain when eating is enough of a reason if nothing else!

FWIW I'm sooooo glad DS (now 16) had braces over the last year - it has completely transformed him. His teeth weren't too bad (didn't qualify for NHS) but he had a sort of reverse smile which made him look slightly grumpy all the time. He had fixed braces (which are often the best option to be honest) and since most of his friends also had them it didn't seem to bother him much at all.
We also (finally) got the GP to take his spottiness seriously and prescribe tablets/cream which has knocked his acne on the head.

I could have cried when he had photos taken at his end of term prom - he looked so much happier and more confident! He has always avoided having photos taken in the past.
Go for it!

Definitely change dentist as you need a referral for ortho work.My DD was similar, privatedentist for years who said no need.Her teeth were not straight and an Ortho confirmed she was an excellent candidate.I don't know why our dentist was reluctant to refer.We wasted time and you ideally want it resolved before going to Uni as appointments can be intensive.

Fixed braces are usually best for underbites and most have braces so it no stigma.

Invisalign won't sort any problems with his bite it will literally straighten his teeth and as a PP said is hard work even if you're fully dedicated