Do your kids have braces? UPDATE #29

[mom2boys]

Taking my 10 & 11 year olds for their first consult with an orthodontist tomorrow morning. We have consults scheduled with 2 others over the next month. What should I be asking the orthodontists at these consults?

 

[golfgal]

Our oldest got braces in June. DS10 has had a few consults, but not all his teeth are out yet so he will probably be another year or so before he gets braces. As for what to ask, cost, what they will do for him, how long they will wear them, what happens after they get the braces off (retainers, etc). You might want to check with your dental plan to see what they cover and then see what kind of payment plans are available. We were able to flex out the money for DS's braces and paid for them upfront and got a 5% discount doing that.

 

[kasar]

I have two in braces right now. I didn't have any issues with the costs (they're all the same - it is what it is) or the "rules". My biggest complaint with our orthodontist is his office hours. Seems like the major broken appliances or loose wires happen during times when the office is not open and they're not great about getting us in there or we have to travel far to another one of their offices. It's not a huge deal, but sometimes it can't wait (poking, bleeding) and they seem really put out if we ask to be seen. I don't do this often (3 times in 5 years - 2 kids) but if your kid's in pain its tough to be given the, "it'll have to wait until Monday". So maybe you could ask about their emergency procedures and off-hour problems.

Hopefully they'll explain everything fully - don't worry about what you need to ask about. I've always felt very informed. Good luck and stock up on Jello.

 

[TENIA66]

watching this one!! we're getting braces on 11 yr old on march....looking at about $5500.....

 

[drgnfly30]

I have two in braces right now. I didn't have any issues with the costs (they're all the same - it is what it is) or the "rules". My biggest complaint with our orthodontist is his office hours. Seems like the major broken appliances or loose wires happen during times when the office is not open and they're not great about getting us in there or we have to travel far to another one of their offices. It's not a huge deal, but sometimes it can't wait (poking, bleeding) and they seem really put out if we ask to be seen. I don't do this often (3 times in 5 years - 2 kids) but if your kid's in pain its tough to be given the, "it'll have to wait until Monday". So maybe you could ask about their emergency procedures and off-hour problems.

Hopefully they'll explain everything fully - don't worry about what you need to ask about. I've always felt very informed. Good luck and stock up on Jello.

Ugh.. My main complaint too!! He's only open on Mondays & Wednesdays & the latest appt is like 3:00... 95% of his patients are kids for petesake! You have NO choice but to pull them out of school early once a month!! Plus he's old as the hills & while that lends to experience he has a tendancy to lecture the parents as much as the kids - nothing like being scolded at the age of 37!

Anyway I was clueless during the consults, neither DH or me have had braces. He pretty much explained everything from beginning to end... But after 3+ years my only question is when the HECK can we get these things off!!!

Good luck!

 

[PixieDust32]

My DS 16 has braces, the total grand prices for his treatment was around 5K, our dental ins. paid half, our monthly payments are $139.00 a Month. The retainers are incluided, but if the lose them, you have to pay for them.

They also won't see him if he has any cavities, he goes to his regular dentist and then to the ortho.

My DD 11 is going for a check-up next month

Good Luck!

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Ask how many phases the doctor thinks it will take (it's usually 1-2, but in severe cases can go to 3). That way you can start saving for phase 2, which usually costs more than phase 1. Ask what to expect in each phase of treatment.

Ask about their payment policies. My dd's orthodontist let me make monthly payments (no loan, interest free) for the balance that insurance didn't cover. Even "good" dental insurance doesn't pay much for braces - usually $1200-1500. And it's usually a one-time benefit, regardless of how many phases of treatment needed.

Our ortho has some inconvenient hours/days too that make it hard to avoid taking my dd out of school for an appointment. He shares an office with a regular dentist, which is why his hours are like that.

My dd was 8 when she got her braces. We consulted with two doctors - one said she was still very young and didn't recommend doing anything until more of her permanent teeth came in. The second one was more aggressive, and actually preferred to start his patients as early as possible. We went with him of course, because our dd was having speech issues due to her bad bite and severely crooked teeth. We've been extremely pleased so far, and we're still in phase one, though my dd will be a phase two patient.

 

[drgnfly30]

Ask how many phases the doctor thinks it will take (it's usually 1-2, but in severe cases can go to 3). That way you can start saving for phase 2, which usually costs more than phase 1. Ask what to expect in each phase of treatment.

Ask about their payment policies. My dd's orthodontist let me make monthly payments (no loan, interest free) for the balance that insurance didn't cover. Even "good" dental insurance doesn't pay much for braces - usually $1200-1500. And it's usually a one-time benefit, regardless of how many phases of treatment needed.

My Ortho charged us one fee.. no matter how long it takes or what's involved.. he even told me he'd have a 'permanent' bottom retainer until he was about 21 My insurance paid 50%.. I think my out of pocket was about $2400, broken out over 12 months (no nasty finance companies to deal with)

 

[alli'smom]

My DD is 12 and about to get her braces off. I took about 3 years because we had to wait for baby teeth to fall out and permanent to grow in. It was
$4100.00. $1000.00 up front and $125.00/mo until paid off. That included everything including her retainers until she is 21. The day DD's come off, DH's are going on. His will be $4500.00 and about 2 years. He had braces as a kid but didn't wear the retainer so now he needs them again. Moms, make your kids wear their retainers!! Our ortho has great hours, works around schedules and is just a nice guy. Dental insurance didn't pick up anything for either set of braces.

 

[PixieDust32]

My Ortho charged us one fee.. no matter how long it takes or what's involved.. he even told me he'd have a 'permanent' bottom retainer until he was about 21 My insurance paid 50%.. I think my out of pocket was about $2400, broken out over 12 months (no nasty finance companies to deal with)

Same Thing for us.

 

[ucralum]

My DS 12 just got his top ones on this morning! We didn't really "shop around", so to speak, because he came highly recommended by our dentist...and he did my braces 28 years ago!

 

[Frantasmic]

My daughter, age 11, is in the middle of a one year stint in braces to correct her top overbite. She may have more time in braces later when more of her permanent teeth come in.

 

[Momma Rabbit]

Thanks, for posting this thread. We are getting ready to get braces for DD11. Now, if I can only find someone who will tell her that braces won't be a painful as all of her friends have lead her to believe.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Thanks, for posting this thread. We are getting ready to get braces for DD11. Now, if I can only find someone who will tell her that braces won't be a painful as all of her friends have lead her to believe.

I believe the word our orthodontist used when our dd asked is "uncomfortable". Braces can be really painful at times. My daughter just had new bands and more wires placed today, and she's laying on the couch with a cold pack on her mouth (she says that the cold makes her feel better). She was so excited to get them, but the novelty wore off really fast!!

 

[mom2boys]

Thanks for all the tips. I will be printing this out to take along. I am also posting a link to a site I found that lists "50 Questions to ask a prospective orthodonditst" http://www.bracesinfo.com/50_questions.PDF I won't use most of the questions but it did get me thinking about a couple of things I had overlookded - like the assistant's experience since apparently they do a lot of the work.

 

[Camperkid]

Here you can here wierd messages from backwards songs! http://jeffmilner.com/backmasking.htm

 

[Camperkid]

Oops wrong thing! I wear a retainer that they should get after braces.

 

[funhouse8]

All four of mine had braces. My youngest got his off last week and is being fitted for a retainer this week. After the forth needed them I told the Dr. I just bought you your car and his reply was "You probably did! "

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Every kid I know (I done lots of babysitting and worked in a school) has or is getting braces. It's a fact of life nowadays. No parent I know will let their child grow up anything less than perfect teeth. Most kids get evaluated around age 7 and a "plan" is decided - usually one or two rounds of braces and elastics, and many get the "dreaded" palate expander too. I even know an eight year old who is in headgear at nights. But parents HAVE to do it for their kids, as having a great smile is so important to a person's appearance.

I am an adult in braces, and the thing that surprised me most was that the assistants do everything. The ortho takes a look at me for a minute, tells some techno-dental-babbble to the assistants, then he leaves to see other patients. Then the assistants do everything. Also my ortho has four patients at once in the same open room, so no privacy here! Since I am an old 30-something and all the kids there are about 8 years old, it took some getting used to!

 

[the kabuki]

I have to agree with HugsforEyore..It sure does seem like all the kids' have braces nowadays. I know one dentist we went to was pushing them for DD when she was 7.
Seems young to me, at least for what she had. I'm sure for children with really bad teeth problems, it would be good to start early. But doesn't it seem like maybe they should wait until the kid's grow a bit more and lose their baby teeth before putting braces?

I know there's 2 schools of thought on this, but in the back of my mind I have to wonder if they tell the parents this just for the money. Some friends of mine had them done when they were quite young and by the time they were in high school needed to have them put back on because the teeth shifted.

DD is now 12 and the ortho evaulates her every 6 months. So far she still has 10 more teeth to lose and according to him, she may or may not need them depending on how her mouth grows.