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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Braces on a teen girl, geeky or cool?

32 replies

Remotew · 20/01/2009 21:59

Been to the Orthadontist today. One of her front teeth protrudes further than it should and the dentist recommended the full train tracks top and bottom with elastic bands fixed on for two years. All on the NHS. She has 2 weeks to decide.

I think they look quite cool, she doesn't want to be teased. What's they general take on braces nowadays?

OP posts:
MaureenMLove · 20/01/2009 22:01

I think they are considered a bit trendy at our school, but tbh, if she needs them, then she'll have to have them.

She needs to look at the bigger picture. Tough one for a teenager, I know, but she'll be even more upset if her front tooth sticks out when she's out looking for potential fellas at 18 and she's got to pay for it herself!

southeastastra · 20/01/2009 22:03

i think as they're being offered to you on the nhs she definitely needs them, cool or not.

ComeOVeneer · 20/01/2009 22:08

Erm, this isn't a style/fashion statement. Count yourself bloody lucky you can get it on the nhs.

If you don't you are looking at between £1k to £2k to do it privately.

TBH from what you have described I am astounded you areeing offered nhs treatment.

It sounds a very minor problem which shouldn't be treatable under the nhs these days!

RTKangaMummy · 20/01/2009 22:11

I am a bit surprized too if it is minor problem

DS had mega mega problem and has had full train tracks for over 2 years and before that he had headgear with them as well on NHS

DS gets different coloured bands so they look cool

herbietea · 20/01/2009 22:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Remotew · 20/01/2009 22:17

We have waited for around 12 months for the appointment. I was half expecting the dentist to say that they won't fund it and we'd have to pay privately after reading some of the threads on here.

He did see a problem with the bottom teeth as well. I want her to have them fitted.

OP posts:
mamhaf · 20/01/2009 22:26

Things have definitely changed since I was young - both my dds have them with no teasing problems etc - they both have a condition which means they've needed a lot of dental work which will continue throughout adulthood.

In fact, so many teens have them, I really don't think it's an issue at all.

It sometimes makes eating difficult - dd1 currently can't eat apples for instance - but that's all.

Milliways · 20/01/2009 22:30

I had a Thread about this recently, as DS HAS to have braces to straighten his teeth before he can have his front teeth re-built properly, and we are having to pay £1800 for the priviledge!

DD had hers on NHS (she is 18 now), but she needed head gear, bands, tracks the works, and hers didn't look as wrong as DS's!

Ivykaty44 · 20/01/2009 22:34

Round here - the in thing and very sought after

Clary · 20/01/2009 22:35

Lots and lots of teens have them now.

When I was a teenager (many many yrs ago) they weren't that common, but there's more awareness of how teeth can be improved - hence more braces.

Having nice tidy straight teeth as an adult - for free - now that's cool.

CioccolataCalda · 20/01/2009 22:39

we had our first appt today too and DD OK about braces as loads of her friends have tracks.

We are lucky enough to be a case that the NHS will pay for too, so all go here!

Plus Orthodontist was quite Phooooaarrrrrrr.
So I am cool with it too!

Klaw · 20/01/2009 22:45

neither cool nor geeky, just feckin painful!!!!

I had the tops and bottoms as a teen and cried myself to sleep for ages every time they changed the strength of the elastic bands

myfriendflicka · 21/01/2009 10:51

My daughter had very crowded teeth and had treatment on the NHS because they came into the worst possible category.

She had to have four teeth out and then full braces for two years (starting aged 12). She found they hurt at first, and when she went to appointments and they tightened the wires. But she has just had the braces removed, her teeth are lovely now - it has all been worth it.

claw3 · 21/01/2009 11:36

Discovered my ds 12 needs braces just the other day. He cant wait, he seems to think they are cool and he is excited about choosing which colour elastic bands to have!

Apparently another fashion accessory, all the kids want them

cremolafoam · 21/01/2009 11:44

dd 13 has them.they are painful after they have been tightened( every 6 months or so) however pretty much all her contemporaries have them too and definitely not considered geeky or anything.she looks forward to choosing the band colours.she will have them on for 18months and this will give her straight teeth for ever.i think good dentistry early on ( NHS or not) is very valuable in the long run.it encourages good habits on brushing and that looking after your teeth is important. we have an nhs dentist and she is getting the work done for free.Who are the people who are paying for this? I thought all kids were entitled to free dental care.

Milkmade · 21/01/2009 11:54

I had them from 14 to 17 and hated them, and have never considered stright teeth worth the physical discomfort let alone any "looks" side - how necessary are they?

Kimi · 21/01/2009 12:10

If your DD does not have the braces she will regret it when she is older and has "sticky out teeth".
I know everything is sooooooo bad when your a teenager but you look back and think those years were not as important as you thought they were.

Hope she decides on the braces

stleger · 21/01/2009 12:13

Here (Cork) it is virtually impossible to get public system funding for them, so they can be a 'we are paying lots of money for me' statement, to a certain extent. DD1 had them, she thumbsucked and made a huge gap and had a lisp (got funding for speech therapy, now wants to be a therapist!). Her teeth are her pride and joy, I would say 'go for it'.

skyblu · 21/01/2009 12:23

When I was a teen is was defintely geeky....then it was a bit cool as more people seemed to have to join that 'club'.

Thinking of my DSD and Neice & friends daughter - all in early teens, all living in different counties, now:
I think it is neiter cool nor geeky but just 'accepted without question' BECAUSE it is cool to have perfect teeth after they've been removed.

It's for the nature of beauty and in today's world, teenage girls widely accept and respect that.

wotsitallabout · 21/01/2009 12:27

My DD nearly 13 has had them for 1 year now and finds it quite cool cos all her friends have them and they compare notes. She also gets to choose new colours every 4-5 weeks. They were a bit uncomfortable at first, but really I am amazed at how little problems she has had. She was on the waiting list for 1 year and the dentist said I would have to pay over k2 if they were not accepted on the NHS. Fortunately I was lucky enough to be accepted as her teeth were extreme. Now she is looking forward to getting them off next month and a retainer fitted. And the ortho said her teeth will look wonderful, he is very pleased with progress. If you have the opportunity, I would jump at it.

Original poster
Remotew · 21/01/2009 17:53

Thanks or all your messages. I'm ringing up tomorrow to give the go ahead.

OP posts:
evuscha · 27/01/2009 17:23

I can highly recommend braces - I am now almost 22 and had them done about 6 months ago. I´ve been advised to have them since the age of about 13, but never wanted them as I didn´t want to look geeky etc. - now I regret as I could have had nice straight teeth ages ago! (and much cheaper) On the other hand, back in those times braces were not so common and I would really feel uncomfortable and unhappy - now I´m ok with it, just a bit of physical discomfort, but I know it will be worth it (I didnt think that way when I was 13)
On the other hand, nowadays it´s different, all the teens have it and it´s cool - so I would definitely go for it if I was your DD ;) Good luck!

evuscha · 27/01/2009 17:26

And btw in 6 months there has been an enormous progress, it´s incredible how well it works!
That year or 2 will pass so quickly for your DD - and then all the boys will be after her with her beautiful smile ))

ChampagneDahling · 28/01/2009 10:59

Lots of them have braces now so very acceptable at DD school - they have "brace buddy group" for support!

DS had them for 2 years and less acceptable at boys school but hey his teeth look goooood now - he has a killer smile!!

Basically I think it depends on school and peer group.

Good luck but it is worth it in the end.

nickschick · 28/01/2009 11:05

my gorgeous ds has v bad orthodontic probs hes had lds of his gums cut away (theyd grown over his teeth) about 11 teeth extractes and now finally as a dental hospital patient(hes that extreme)hes got a top brace and has a bottom one fitted next month.

Hes eternally grateful geeky or cool fo him its neccesary of your dd can afford to be so choosy it shouldnt be at the nhs expense.

rant over.