Braces for a ten year old? Question

[Jennifer S]

We had a consultation yesterday at the ortho for DS10. He said we could either:
1> do an expander and braces on his four top teeth only - now

or

2. wait until he loses all his baby teeth (about two years) and do it all then.

DS is such a gagger and he has no desire to do this now. I'm thinking we should just wait until he is older and can handle it better.

My question is what would be the advantage to start treatment now? The ortho said if we do it all later he'll just where the braces longer and if we do it now his mouth will look a little better than if we waited.

He didn't pressure us either way. ANyone done through something similar? What was your decision?

 

[SillyMe]

If he needs the expander, I would do it now. My dd15 had the expander put in while she still had baby teeth. In fact, her molars were still baby teeth and they cemented the expander to them without braces. Anyway, her permanent teeth were coming in behind her baby teeth and her mouth was very crowded. The expander made room for her permanent teeth to come into place. I would do it.

 

[bananiem]

Our son had to do the first round of braces to fix "Popeye mouth". Truly, the kid had a serious cross bite. It was either fix it early or deal with tmj.
In your son's case it sounds like you can pay a little now and get them fixed a little now. Then pay the rest and fix the rest later.
ETA- It's supposed to be easier to do the expansion while they're mouth is still growing. For my niece the expansion made it possible for their to be room for her adult teeth. Without the expansion she would have probably had some pulled that she was able to keep.

 

[Jennifer S]

How painful is the expander? I really thought I wouldn't do this now but maybe we should. He's just so scared.

I never had to go to an ortho. This is all new to me. I know nothing.

 

[SillyMe]

How painful is the expander? I really thought I wouldn't do this now but maybe we should. He's just so scared.

I never had to go to an ortho. This is all new to me. I know nothing.

The first night it was in, she had trouble talking and was uncomfortable. She never complained that it hurt (except when they took it out because it was cemented to her teeth). She got used to it really quick, but it did take awhile for her to get used to eating.

 

[Jennifer S]

The first night it was in, she had trouble talking and was uncomfortable. She never complained that it hurt (except when they took it out because it was cemented to her teeth). She got used to it really quick, but it did take awhile for her to get used to eating.

OK - so an expander is not like a retainer where you take it in and out? It's permanant?

 

[Cindy's Mom]

OK - so an expander is not like a retainer where you take it in and out? It's permanant?

Correct. Why is he scared? There's nothing to be scared of.

 

[Jennifer S]

Correct. Why is he scared? There's nothing to be scared of.

He is a gagger. If you put fingers or xrays in his mouth he gags so bad he can sometimes throw up. He gets very upset even getting his teeth cleaned.The dentist is just one thing he can't stand. Give him a doctor and a full set of shots any day and he's fine.

 

[SillyMe]

OK - so an expander is not like a retainer where you take it in and out? It's permanant?

There are two ways they can put it in. If they put braces on his molars, they will attach it to the braces. If they don't put braces on, they will cement it to his teeth. It cannot be taken out. Most likely, you will have to turn it every day. There is a "key" that you stick in the hole of the expander at the roof of his mouth and push it backward one turn. It doesn't hurt. At least it did not hurt my daughter.

There really isn't anything for him to be afraid of. If he does not have it applied, and ends up needing it when he becomes an adult, he will need surgery, which is not pleasant and VERY expensive. As an adult, your bones cannot be expanded as easily as they can as a child.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

He is a gagger. If you put fingers or xrays in his mouth he gags so bad he can sometimes throw up. He gets very upset even getting his teeth cleaned.The dentist is just one thing he can't stand. Give him a doctor and a full set of shots any day and he's fine.

Oh. When he does go to the dentist, he must breath through is nose. This way no gagging. People gag because they are breathing through their mouths. I was a chairside dental assistant for 10 years, so I know of what I speak.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I recommend you get more than one opinion when you see an ortho. I would get 2 more consultations.

That being said we are getting braces for my 10yodd. Now she does not need an extender or anything and this will be a first set for cosmetic reasons. Her teeth are really, really spaced.
She has to get a frenectomy and then get her braces. Just a top layer.

 

[flipturngirl]

I had and expander for about 6 months to a year. I ten had braces.. I was about 10 when I had my first set.. Then I got them off before middle school and they were put on a couple years later....... I would do it now if you can... or wait till the baby teeth are out.. I was and still am a gagger and my appointments took 45 minutes just for a 15 minute procedure lol

 

[laurie31]

my DD10 got braces a few months ago. We had the same options - get them now, and wear them for a shorter time, or wait and wear them longer.

We chose now, but it was an easier choice because she's been BEGGING to get them for over a year. She was thrilled when the dentist gave us a referral. She thinks it makes her more like a teenager to have braces - lol.

Anyway, the biggest pain was financial...but she did have soreness for a few days after they were put on. Ibuprofen helped a lot with that. She doens't have any pain when she has them adjusted every month.

Good luck!

You can always get a second opinion, and let your ortho know of your son's gagging and fears. They should be able to try to put him at ease. My dd's ortho let her watch Home Alone while she got hers on. She was upset that they got finished before the movie was over!

 

[Jennifer S]

I was and still am a gagger and my appointments took 45 minutes just for a 15 minute procedure lol

OH no - I thought my DS would outgrow it by the time he needed the full set of braces. Guess once a gagger always a gagger. His appts. ore tough. I feel for you

 

[flipturngirl]

yah I am sorry for putting a downer on it.. but yah.. i have gotten better and it is not that bad actually.

 

[tink1978]

We had a consultation yesterday at the ortho for DS10. He said we could either:
1> do an expander and braces on his four top teeth only - now

or

2. wait until he loses all his baby teeth (about two years) and do it all then.

DS is such a gagger and he has no desire to do this now. I'm thinking we should just wait until he is older and can handle it better.

My question is what would be the advantage to start treatment now? The ortho said if we do it all later he'll just where the braces longer and if we do it now his mouth will look a little better than if we waited.

He didn't pressure us either way. ANyone done through something similar? What was your decision?

Wait until he loses the baby teeth....I had braces when I was 7 and then had to have them again when I was 12 after my permanents had come in. It would have been easier to have only had them once.

 

[Jennifer S]

Wait until he loses the baby teeth It would have been easier to have only had them once.

and cheaper

 

[twoeeyy]

Our 14 yr old started young with the two phase. She also is a gager, it is kinda funny because on her folder in the Ortho the have GAGS written real big! When she has had to have the molds done I tell her to make sure she breaths from her nose and get herself into the 'zone'. She does fine.

By starting early they were able to actually prevent her from having to get a lot of teeth pulled, they made room for the teeth as opposed to waiting for them all to come in and then trying to find / make room. Plus now a lot of her friends are just starting braces in 8th grade.

She now has a perfect smile that will be brace free tomorrow AM

 

[SandiH]

He is a gagger. If you put fingers or xrays in his mouth he gags so bad he can sometimes throw up. He gets very upset even getting his teeth cleaned.The dentist is just one thing he can't stand. Give him a doctor and a full set of shots any day and he's fine.

As someone with a almost 9 year old who is going through this exact same thing with a child who doesn't like things in his mouth - wait. If he can't handle a cleaning or the dentist, he's not going to be able to handle the process of this right now. Work on preparing him for it in the future. Don't expect him to be able to deal with this without a lot of prep and practice. He's not going to suddenly decide to tolerate this dental procedure over any other procedure he's struggled with. It seems easy enough to us but for someone who truly has trouble in this area, it's not.

My son just came back from trying to get impressions done (the first step to making the expander) and couldn't do it for a second try. He was even on Valium to try to help him be sleepy and relaxed. We also spent the past three weeks putting things or tastes he doesn't like in his mouth so he can become less defensive about weird things in his mouth. He wasn't / isn't ready yet. So we will spend this next year helping him toughen up about it and continue to help him get used to weird things in his mouth.

Although most people can tolerate the expander well and in the realm of things, not really a big deal or very painful, for someone who doesn't like things in their mouth - it is a big deal.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. I have had a very difficult time this afternoon with my son's difficulty doing what should be a simple task. Being able to type it, helps me come to the realization that although the orthodontic work needs to be done, it doesn't have to be done right now and it's our job as his parents to continue to help him be ready for it.

Good luck in what ever you decide. I'm sure you will do what's best for your child.

 

[lsyorke]

If this is going to cause such a trauma to your child the I would wait. My son's teeth were a mess as they were coming in. Once all the adult teeth were in... totally straight and beautiful. I think I would rather have a longer "brace" time, than have it be a major source of stress.