Braces : a real need,or dental rip-off?

[pat fan]

Hey everyone...I took my son to the orthodontist today for the pre-braces visit.$5,000 for braces,and how do I know if he really needs them?Does anyone have any experience/opinion on this?

If it's necessary,I'll do it,but I was supposed to "need" braces when I was a child and grew up just fine without them.They make you feel so guilty if you don't agree to get them....what are you supposed to do?

 

[ripleysmom]

To me the only reason it truly would be necessary is if the teeth are crooked or there is an overbite. My son got braces but quite honestly I think he would have been fine without them.

My daughter will need them though.

 

[gina2000]

Can't answer whether your son needs them or not. Can tell you that I had them, I needed them, and they've helped avert periodontal and dental problems as I've gotten older.

My son will need braces and he'll get them. I don't care what they cost.

 

[Kitty 34]

I was lucky because all three of my sons were told they didn't need braces!!! I wore them, tho.

 

[Mskanga]

I don't know how old your son is , if you think that maybe he doesn't need them, why not get a second opinion? My DD was 8 when she got her palate extender due to an overbite, it cost us $1400 but it was worth all the money , her teeth now are beautiful.

 

[SplshMtn99]

As a child, my dentist tried for 6 years to let my teeth straighten themselves by removing extra teeth. (4th grade to 10th grade) They were VERY crooked.

Six years later, I BEGGED for braces!!! I got them.
I never wanted to smile when my teeth were crooked.

I smile alot now. I think it helps with self-esteem & with how someone presents themselves in the world.

My DH has very crooked teeth. He often wishes they were better. I've offered/suggested he get the new clear braces. He said he would of as a kid... but not as an adult.

Does your child want them? How old is your child? They may feel different when they get older?

 

[janette]

It really depends on the reason, my 11yo DD has a bad overbite and will eventually need braces. She already has some bad wear spots on her front teeth and after they explained some of the problems I realized that is why sometimes she tends to eat a little strange. Her front teeth don't meet at all so she can't bite into food like most people do. Her Dad has an uncorrected overbite and has had jaw problems which in an adult require surgery to fix. He just lives with the problems.

My 8yo DD will need some work but not sure how extensive. They've just said she doesn't have room in her mouth, right now her teeth look fine but as permanent teeth come in they will be crooked.

It is always easier to fix the problems while children are growing, I've known adults that get braces to fix things that are just cosmetic but it is more expensive and takes longer then.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

I needed braces & when I did get them, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

 

[RobDoc]

You've received some great comments and advice!

If you have any doubts about the need for treatment, by all means get a second opinion. I'm assuming you were referred in the first place by your general dentist and that he/she felt that orthodontics was indicated- but don't hesitate to get another opinion.

I tell patients when there are situations where ortho is indicated to prevent TMJ, functional or even potential peridontal problems later in life. There are also many other situations where ortho is just as viable for personal reasons.

There are certainly situations where orthodontics is not clearly indicated- even though the individual wishes to change their smile. (...But, that is also a valid reason to seek orthodontic treatment. )

In some cases, I feel it would be wrong on my part not to initiate a converstaion with someone to let them know about the potential for problems. In other cases, I will say nothing unless asked by the patient or parents. In most all cases, an orthodontic consultation is worth the trip, just to get more information about what can be done to correct real or perceived problems.

Get another opinion if you have any doubts about the need for treatment.

Good Luck!

 

[cinmell]

If you are not totally convined your child needs braces, I would consider getting a second opinion. I had to wear braces for 4 years. I hated wearting them at the time but now I am so thankful my parents got them for me! I had small overbite and crooked front teeth. I'm not embarassed to smile or show my teeth anymore!

 

[Tuffcookie]

My youngest DS really needs them. His mouth is is so over-crowded he has teeth coming in sideways! He is so happy about getting them. He thanked me the next morning after getting his braces! (I don't think he'll be so thankful the first time they're tightened!

TC

 

[nancy679]

Even if teeth look ok, sometimes the bite is off and it would cause problems later as an adult, like teeth not aligning correctly and then wearing down.

My teeth were straight but I had an over bite and thats what the orthodontist told my parents. He even showed us examples with fake teeth. I only had them on for 9 months. Plus it would be much harder to correct as an adult.

If that particular orthodontist didnt even bother to explain to you why you would be spending $5000, then I would go see another.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

By all means get a second opinion. $5000 sounds steep even for our expensive orthodontist. DD#1 has been going there every 6 months for 3 years, had a palate expander 18 months ago that we had to turn each night for a whole month for $700! I paid it out of pocket--my insurance has a $1000 lifetime cap on orthodontia, which you can guess doesn't go very far. When he gives me the final $$$ for her eventual braces I'm taking her records to the other guy in town for his estimate. Shop around, it may be better.
Plus don't let them get pushy. This ortho. tries to have parents sign something stating that the child will have to miss school, that not all appts. can be after school. I wouldn't sign it because I TEACH school and she can't very well go by herself. They were not happy and keep trying to schedule her checkups at 11:30 AM or some such, so I have to call and reschedule. They always question it with the "they will have to miss some school" line and don't see why I just can't leave work (which is 1/2 hour away!) and bring her in!
Robin M.

 

[AMClvsMKY]

I can only tell you of my experience with it. My parents were told that I would need braces because my teeth weren't totally straight, I didn't want them and ended up not getting them. My teeth are fine now and I have had no problems as an adult so far. I have changed dentists a few times as an adult and no problems have ever been mentioned to me by them.

Does he want them? Are his teeth crooked, and if so, is he bothered by it? IS the need for them more a vanity thing ( like in my case) or are they needed to prevent future problems?

 

[wdw4us]

Both my children needed braces. I did not have dental insurance and was not working. A payment plan and only doing one at a time helped me financially.

My daughter had straight teeth except for one. BUT she had constant headaches. Once we put the head gear on she stopped having the headaches. Now at 24 her biggest fear is going to WDW without her retainers. She'll get a headache immediateley if she does not wear her retainers every night.

good luck.

denise

 

[Pin Wizard]

I'm over 40 and my dentist is still trying to get me to get braces on. It's not going to happen! However, I will for DS since he seems to have gotten my cross bite. I'm just not sure when. The dentist thinks now is fine. I can't see doing it while he still has baby teeth. Kids in his class had them on at a younger age, off, and now back on again! Forget that route.

 

[Krisu]

Were you referred to the Orthodontist by your Dentist? Did he/she talk about a problem? My DS will be starting treatment soon but there was no doubt in my mind he would need braces. My estimate is $4,000.00 which I wasn't surprised about. Ins covers only $1,500.00

 

[caitycaity]

my teeth were completely straight, but i had a hug overbite. the braces really helped.

 

[cgcw]

DS8 will start having his put on in just a couple of weeks. Our cost will be $2200 just to correct his cross bite and begin braces on the front two top teeth. Then we'll enter into "phase 2" after thats complete. Our insurance covers $1000 maximum per lifetime. I was surprised overall that the orthodontist was so flexible as far as payment went. We will have to pay the downpayment of $550 but the remainder of the balance is to be paid monthly at $100 per month with 0% interest. We were prepared to pay more/all up front but after having that great finance rate of 0% for 14 months, we're better off not doing that.

We have known since he was 4 that the cross bite was a problem. We found this out initially from our regular dentist. We trust him and felt that he wouldn't stare us in the wrong direction. We also went with his recommendation for the orthodontist.

Rock'nRobin, there is no way I would agree to having to take my child out of school for an appointment either. I think that particular orthodonitist needs to extend their hours to meet the needs of the patient - not the other way around.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My next door neighbor has the overbite issue with her son. Not only did she get a second opinion but got about 4. The first dentist/ortho wanted to do mouth surgery.
She finally settled on a plan of the palate extender and braces.
Definitely do your homework.

That being said both of my gals will have to have braces. In fact youngest dd is missing 4 permanent teeth. Ugh, not looking forward to that plan of action. Fake teeth for sure in her future.
Older dd is only missing 2 permanent teeth and we are waiting for some teeth to fall out prior to braces.
Can't tell you how the heck they are going to fix my girls teeth.