Braces for a 7-year-old?

[SLK1]

I took my DD7 to the orthodontist today, based on a recommendation by her dentist. Her baby teeth never fell out on their own; instead, the permanent tooth would grow in before the baby tooth fell out, which caused the baby tooth to be wedged and therefore need to be pulled (this happened FOUR times). The result is very crooked teeth. Also, she has an underbite. Sooo, the orthodontist, who has put my older two in braces and I adore him, recommended we put braces across the top teeth so that they will "come to the other side of the fence" (referring to her bottom teeth), which would correct the underbite and also straighten them. He said it was "preventative", even though she will most like still need braces down the road.

Anyone ever seen/heard of a 7yo wearing braces? It seems like every other middle school kid wears braces, but 7 seems awfully young. However, I do like this doctor and trust him. IF we opt to not do it, it would just mean more work down the road, and they warned me of a growing underbite that could possibly be "like Jay Leno" if it goes unchecked.

Any thoughts?

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Yep!! I know 6 year olds in braces already, and I know kindergarteners with pallate expanders. I would get braces for your 7 year old, simply based on your description of crooked teeth. Self-esteem is SO important (even at 7!), and sadly teasing could start happening because of unattractive teeth (believe me, I know ). And it's very normal for kids today to have two phases of braces, with other appliances inbetween.

I would go as far to say appearances matter more than the actual health of the teeth - aka I would get my kid braces in a microsecond if it made them look better, even if it wasn't necessitated by health reasons. We live in an appearance-dominated society, and the attractive have so many advantages. Such is life.

OP - good luck with all of this!

 

[Mom2ChinaGirls]

My daughter, who just turned 8, had her braces put on at age 7. She had a crossbite that made it hard to chew correctly. I know of 3 other girls in her grade that have them. There are probably more.

 

[Elmo888]

If it would help you make your decision, I would get a second opinion. Even though you love the orthodontist and are sure that he isn't steering you wrong, it might help your piece of mind.

 

[lindsmom]

We're going through a very similar experience. DD7 had four babies pulled (bottom front) before Christmas, and just went back last week for the two canines on either side of those, totalling six babies pulled because the permanents were coming in. We had had a consult with an orthodontist first, and he had recommended those six. He's having us back in about 12 - 18 months to recheck how the rest of the perms. are coming in. He had told us her teeth would be very crooked, but he wasn't worried about that. He said he just wants to make sure she has room for all of the teeth, and he checked her xrays to make sure she has all the perms. and that they would EVENTUALLY arrive.

So she had those pulled and she's getting a lingual arch (appliance) installed next month to prevent the perm. teeth from sliding backwards (sounds similar to what you have). When discussing this with out regular ped. dentist (who did the pulling), she said she's seeing more and more children with baby teeth getting braces but she doesn't understand the need for it that often. Unless there is a problem with chewing (as another poster mentioned), there isn't a sense in getting braces on baby teeth for aesthetic reasons, since they'll all fall out eventually and you're going to have to start over (which you already realize).

I agree that you should get a second opinion just for your peace of mind. Certainly if there is a structural concern or a problem with language development or eating then do whatever is necessary. But I can definitely understand your concern in putting the braces on a seven year old. I have seen children teased just as much for having braces (MY experience ) as for having crooked teeth.

 

[dwfanatic]

My son has a very narrow face, and a narrow jaw- he inherited my husband's huge teeth, however. He had a big overbite. He had braces at 7 yrs to widen his jaw- had several teeth pulled, etc. He is 13 now and I am glad we did it!! He may need braces down the road, (but everything so far is straight, etc), but there is NO WAY his mouth would have held all the teeth without all of them growing in sideways, etc.

 

[dijid]

I think you should find out more about why he's recommending them. I know they take underbites seriously. A friend's DD has a pretty severe one and they're recommending surgery to break her jaw and expand it because her upper is significantly smaller than her lower. Perhaps the ortho is trying to prevent something more serious down the road.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'll be the voice of dissent. I think it's ridiculous.

Faces continue to grow and change. And that's going to include the jaws and palate.

I had my first ortho appt at 9, then braces at 11 after the device of torture, I mean palate expander. Nothing like having your palate ripped apart for months! What fun! Especially when you have NO IDEA what your mouth is going to be like when you're an adult.

Nonsense. We found out later that my dentist and the ortho were old cronies, and we became quite sure that there was some monetary exchange going on there in the DDS recommending ortho, and especially THAT ortho.

I went from having straight teeth to...having straight teeth. Gosh what a change!

Years later I had some bodywork done that included working on the skull and facial bones, and for the month after I had a different tooth alignment (right in between under and overbite), and my face was SO relaxed. It was like my face went to where it was *supposed to be*, and I felt better. Looked better, too, it was like I had a face lift or had gone to a spa for a month. It was amazing. Slowly the tension built again, my upper teeth went back to sitting slightly in front of my lower teeth, and the stress-face started again.

We've already decided that if DS has way too jumbly teeth (I love people with slightly jumbled teeth, it's so personal, it has personality, like Patricia Arquette's teeth, I love them!) and braces might be wanted, he can have them as an ADULT (and we'd pay). We don't want to do stuff when he's just a small child, then have to redo things when he grows and changes and his teeth go back or go different.

So I'd say to not do it.

 

[crisi]

My daughter's come off in two months - she'll have had them for a total of about nine months. She is nine, but had a fairly significant overbite and a lot of spread, so pushing the teeth together to make room for the new teeth was the objective. We may need a second set of braces when she is in middle school (doing it now does not guarentee you won't do it later). But doing it now may prevent a much more significant effort later.

 

[rbork]

first, let me say good luck in whatever you decision might be.

know that they can always fix this stuff later down the road.
been there done that. I took ds to orthodontist for a consult when he was 8. I lobbied for a palate expander to at least give his teeth a chance to come in straight. No go... orthodontist would only do it if I agreed to the whole preventive braces etc along with the expander. Knowing full well he'd need work in his teen years. (both hubby and I had extensive work in our 20's, so our kid's are doomed) I declined knowing they could fix it later. Also at 8, DS didn't care for his teeth well and couldn't imagine fighting with him over special orthodontic care. Well... he is 12 now and we just had another ortho consult 3 days ago as matter of fact. He will need teeth pulled, the expander, head gear at night and upper and lower braces for 5700$. The bill for this is outragous I think...but I might also be in abit of a time warp to
DS is finally ready for braces. He must be getting pressure at school as well as being self conscience. He is ready for the responsibility that goes w/ braces too. So for us... it's time.
I didn't have my teeth/jaw fixed until I was 20 yrs old! I had early preventative work done that ultimately made no difference. I still needed the expander, jaw surgery, upper and lower braces. Now I have buuuuttteefffuuull teeth
Good Luck and do what's right for you.

 

[bookgirl]

I took my DD7 to the orthodontist today, based on a recommendation by her dentist. Her baby teeth never fell out on their own; instead, the permanent tooth would grow in before the baby tooth fell out, which caused the baby tooth to be wedged and therefore need to be pulled (this happened FOUR times). The result is very crooked teeth. Also, she has an underbite. Sooo, the orthodontist, who has put my older two in braces and I adore him, recommended we put braces across the top teeth so that they will "come to the other side of the fence" (referring to her bottom teeth), which would correct the underbite and also straighten them. He said it was "preventative", even though she will most like still need braces down the road.

Anyone ever seen/heard of a 7yo wearing braces? It seems like every other middle school kid wears braces, but 7 seems awfully young. However, I do like this doctor and trust him. IF we opt to not do it, it would just mean more work down the road, and they warned me of a growing underbite that could possibly be "like Jay Leno" if it goes unchecked.

Any thoughts?

My godson wore preventative braces when he was 8. They let him have neon colors. He wore them about a year and now at 17 he has never had to have them on again. It was a great decision and the dentist said it was much easier to do it young then old. (same problem baby teeth were slow to fall and the perms came in crooked and he needed to expand his palate juat a little to make room and staighten) The rest of his teeth came in fine after the braces came off.


ETA: His mother and aunt both had extensive extractions, braces, bands, head gear, and retainers for almost thier entire teen years. This is the reason that he wore them. His mom did not want him to go through this if she could help it. The same dentist saw his older sister and told mom while they could do braces on her, there was no reason to as she had almost straight teeth and no bite problems at all, so mom trusted the dentist when he said that her son could either wear prentatives at 8 then MAYBE follow ups in his teens if it did not solve the problem. Or they could wait until he was 13, pay twice as much and he could wear them for years. If you trust your dentist, go with the preventives, or get a second opinion.

 

[yellowtink]

I personally had braces at 7. I was in 3rd grade.Teh first week was hard. I had a 2 cm gap when I got them. by the end of the 2nd day I had no gap. That was not fun at all. Pain killers are your friend.

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

If it would help you make your decision, I would get a second opinion. Even though you love the orthodontist and are sure that he isn't steering you wrong, it might help your piece of mind.

 

[Dani C]

I agree on getting another opinion.

I have several friends that have now had to have braces twice, as the first time they were younger and growth caused their teeth to continue to shift after removal of the braces.

If they are really bad now, by all means try to help the self-confidence of the child. Just realize that it is possible that the expense and discomfort will be repeated later in life and depending on your insurance it may not help you at all the second time around.

 

[jakoky]

Hi, we live in a smaller town and have only 2 orthodonists here...they are opposite in opinion...one starts young and one-ours-waits for all the adult teeth to be in...he says that otherwise you usually end up doing doing the job twice...funny thing is, my niece and nephew both wore them young and then did end up in them twice(the other ortho)......my oldest dd is almost 18 and had her braces on at 13 for 20 months and has the nicest teeth i have ever seen...definately differing opinions and i have no idea what is correct...i will say my son had an overbite...put his braces, pulled a couple of teeth to pull the top teeth back, then at 15 had a HUGE growing spurt, bottom jaw finally grew, now trying to adjust the top to that...my poor kid has been in them over 2 1/2 years...good luck in your decision...
sharon

 

[daisyduck123]

Anyone ever seen/heard of a 7yo wearing braces?

One of the 1st grade boys in my classroom has braces. All I've been told is that he has "orthodontic issues".

 

[mjkacmom]

I'll be the voice of dissent. I think it's ridiculous.

Faces continue to grow and change. And that's going to include the jaws and palate.

I had my first ortho appt at 9, then braces at 11 after the device of torture, I mean palate expander. Nothing like having your palate ripped apart for months! What fun! Especially when you have NO IDEA what your mouth is going to be like when you're an adult.

Nonsense. We found out later that my dentist and the ortho were old cronies, and we became quite sure that there was some monetary exchange going on there in the DDS recommending ortho, and especially THAT ortho.

I went from having straight teeth to...having straight teeth. Gosh what a change!

Years later I had some bodywork done that included working on the skull and facial bones, and for the month after I had a different tooth alignment (right in between under and overbite), and my face was SO relaxed. It was like my face went to where it was *supposed to be*, and I felt better. Looked better, too, it was like I had a face lift or had gone to a spa for a month. It was amazing. Slowly the tension built again, my upper teeth went back to sitting slightly in front of my lower teeth, and the stress-face started again.

We've already decided that if DS has way too jumbly teeth (I love people with slightly jumbled teeth, it's so personal, it has personality, like Patricia Arquette's teeth, I love them!) and braces might be wanted, he can have them as an ADULT (and we'd pay). We don't want to do stuff when he's just a small child, then have to redo things when he grows and changes and his teeth go back or go different.

So I'd say to not do it.

Sorry you had such a bad experience. My dd12 got her palate expander a few years ago, and it didn't bother her at all. Lots of kids get them these days, because they can expand the palate while it's still growing. Back in my day, they would just pull adult teeth, which they rarely do now. Braces are harder when you are an adult.

 

[mjkacmom]

first, let me say good luck in whatever you decision might be.

know that they can always fix this stuff later down the road.
been there done that. I took ds to orthodontist for a consult when he was 8. I lobbied for a palate expander to at least give his teeth a chance to come in straight. No go... orthodontist would only do it if I agreed to the whole preventive braces etc along with the expander. Knowing full well he'd need work in his teen years. (both hubby and I had extensive work in our 20's, so our kid's are doomed) I declined knowing they could fix it later. Also at 8, DS didn't care for his teeth well and couldn't imagine fighting with him over special orthodontic care. Well... he is 12 now and we just had another ortho consult 3 days ago as matter of fact. He will need teeth pulled, the expander, head gear at night and upper and lower braces for 5700$. The bill for this is outragous I think...but I might also be in abit of a time warp to
DS is finally ready for braces. He must be getting pressure at school as well as being self conscience. He is ready for the responsibility that goes w/ braces too. So for us... it's time.
I didn't have my teeth/jaw fixed until I was 20 yrs old! I had early preventative work done that ultimately made no difference. I still needed the expander, jaw surgery, upper and lower braces. Now I have buuuuttteefffuuull teeth
Good Luck and do what's right for you.

Dd12's are over $6000.

 

[MoniqueU]

I have a DD with major ortho work to be done. She knocked out permanent teeth and has to have teeth moved around more so then normal cases due to the missing tooth. Her ortho went to harvard and waits til all adult teeth are in or the baby teeth have fallen out. I trust him with his education far more then a fly by night ortho with a degree from a state university. I would get several opinions. I am paying more and going somewhere where my insurance doesn't pay a portion but it is worth it to me to get the correct care. My other tip is to wear the retainers twice as long as they tell you to, I had braces and wore my retainers the exact time they told me to and my teeth have shifted back and I now need braces again. Again an ortho without much experience and a state degree.

 

[Leajess99]

I took my DD7 to the orthodontist today, based on a recommendation by her dentist. Her baby teeth never fell out on their own; instead, the permanent tooth would grow in before the baby tooth fell out, which caused the baby tooth to be wedged and therefore need to be pulled (this happened FOUR times). The result is very crooked teeth. Also, she has an underbite. Sooo, the orthodontist, who has put my older two in braces and I adore him, recommended we put braces across the top teeth so that they will "come to the other side of the fence" (referring to her bottom teeth), which would correct the underbite and also straighten them. He said it was "preventative", even though she will most like still need braces down the road.

Anyone ever seen/heard of a 7yo wearing braces? It seems like every other middle school kid wears braces, but 7 seems awfully young. However, I do like this doctor and trust him. IF we opt to not do it, it would just mean more work down the road, and they warned me of a growing underbite that could possibly be "like Jay Leno" if it goes unchecked.

Any thoughts?

My DD had braces at 8 one her top front teeth due to them being very crooked (baby teeth knocked out too early so perm teeth came in in a v shape). She will be getting a full set of braces in the future but her front top teeth are great now.