Does he really need braces?

[Mickey'snewestfan]

To me, my kid's teeth look great. He's had other people comment on how lucky he is to have such great teeth. None of his classmates have ever said anything negative about his teeth and he's an 8th grader so prime age for teasing. However, his dentist told us the other day that he has an "overjet" and should see an orthodontist. He said the treatment was optional and up to us.

Looking online I found an article that says that you should fix your child's overjet to avoid "teasing and bullying" but I don't think that's an issue because they look fine.

Are there any physical reasons we should get this fixed? The articles I found said it is often caused by sucking on things and he was a total pacifier addict as a baby/toddler, but since he no longer sucks one I assume it won't get worse.

We could afford an orthodontist, but there are things I'd rather spend that money on, like college, or retirement.

 

[Handbag Lady]

To me, my kid's teeth look great. He's had other people comment on how lucky he is to have such great teeth. None of his classmates have ever said anything negative about his teeth and he's an 8th grader so prime age for teasing. However, his dentist told us the other day that he has an "overjet" and should see an orthodontist. He said the treatment was optional and up to us.

Looking online I found an article that says that you should fix your child's overjet to avoid "teasing and bullying" but I don't think that's an issue because they look fine.

Are there any physical reasons we should get this fixed? The articles I found said it is often caused by sucking on things and he was a total pacifier addict as a baby/toddler, but since he no longer sucks one I assume it won't get worse.

We could afford an orthodontist, but there are things I'd rather spend that money on, like college, or retirement.

I would get a few ortho's opinions first before I did anything. But really, if it isn't noticeable at all, my only concern would be for anything that isn't visible that could cause problems in the long run.

 

[Mel522]

A lot of Orthodontists will do free consultations. You could go see one or two and get a professional opinion. The Ortho will go over the problem, how it will be corrected, how long, how much, and go over the difference the treatment will make. You can then decide if the benefit is worth it (both emotionally for your son and financially.)

 

[Poohforyou]

If you looked at my dd's teeth you would think they're perfect. However her molars are all out of alignment from sucking her thumb. It throws off her bite & would likely causexissues down the road like cracking/chipping teeth etc. She's been in braces for a year now. I'd personally get some medical opinions & not go by looks alone.

 

[sookie]

It is possible. Sometimes the teeth can hit and it can cause cracking or pressure. In the future, that pressure over time can lead them to be more likely to have bite issues and other complications (headaches, cracked teeth, wear).
I would get an eval just to see what the experts (ortho) think.
Getting them done during the teen years is easier on your kid - it is harder if they have to get it done as an adult. Plus insurance often won't pay as an adult.

 

[Pigeon]

I think routine orthodontics is a huge racket. Personally, I wouldn't think twice about skipping it. You ca go for a consult, but a healthy dose of skepticism is a good thing. There isn't much motivation for an ortho not to tell you your kid needs many thousands of dollars of treatment.

 

[*JoGo*]

I would go for a consultation. It should be free, if not go to a diff ortho.

I thought we were going to get lucky and only have braces for my younger son... Until the dentist told me my older son was ready for braces. What?! He's not a smiley kid and they didn't look terrible from the front, just a lot of spacing issues.... Then the ortho placed his jaw where it should be and wow he has issues!

While it's quite obvious when some need braces (younger son!!), that's not always the case. I would go for a consultation and the ortho should explain to you why and how the braces will help. The first consultation with my younger son, she told us we could put braces on him then but it would be purely aesthetic and he would need braces again (2nd phase) when his jaw/other permanent teeth were ready. At that time, my son wasn't bothered by his wonky teeth. Recently he's become self conscious about them and he has an appt for the ortho to just check them coming up so we will revisit his options at that time.

 

[M5ward]

I would be concerned about the affect this has on his bite. Malocclusion can create major issues as you get older.

 

[pacrosby]

I have a malocclusion. I'm 50. No problems. Ever.

Oh yeah...and I had braces for 3 yrs in my teens. So much for that lol

Do with that information what you will.

 

[Agri]

My teeth always "looked" fine. I had to have braces because there wasn't enough space for my permanent teeth without some adjusting - my mouth was so crowded I had to have one tooth 'pulled down' because it just wasn't budging because it didn't think it had enough space.

Just because teeth "look" fine, doesn't mean that there aren't other issues going on that could worsen over time.

Drove me crazy that while I was going through it all everyone would say "but her teeth look fine!"...yes, braces CAN be for purely aesthetics, but that is rarely the case when a dentist says they're needed.

 

[TwoCortWort]

To me, my kid's teeth look great. He's had other people comment on how lucky he is to have such great teeth. None of his classmates have ever said anything negative about his teeth and he's an 8th grader so prime age for teasing. However, his dentist told us the other day that he has an "overjet" and should see an orthodontist. He said the treatment was optional and up to us.

Looking online I found an article that says that you should fix your child's overjet to avoid "teasing and bullying" but I don't think that's an issue because they look fine.

Are there any physical reasons we should get this fixed? The articles I found said it is often caused by sucking on things and he was a total pacifier addict as a baby/toddler, but since he no longer sucks one I assume it won't get worse.

We could afford an orthodontist, but there are things I'd rather spend that money on, like college, or retirement.

My parents didn't think I would need braces, and my teeth on top were a mess. My brother had to have them due to never losing his teeth (had 13 pulled) but his was needed, mine was cosmetic, but I was also teased because of my crooked front teeth.

I would personally ask if it bothers him. And if you decide to, please do research on orthodontist's. Mine treated me like crap and was verbally and physically abusive, this has forever scarred me. Mine came with high recommendations and well he fixed the crooked teeth, but did other crap that forever changed my trust in the dentist.

 

[diznygirl]

I don't like orthos either, but I sure wish my parents had done it when I was a kid so I didn't have to mess with it as an adult.

 

[katrina1122]

Orthodonitics doens't necessarily mean braces. If he has an overbite, it may be as simple as an appliance.

Misaligned teeth can lead to TMJ. Believe me a few thousand dollars now to avoid TMJ later is money well spent. TMJ is a nightmare.

 

[shortbun]

The majority of docs will encourage you to do it. They will point to possible physical problems that MIGHT happen later in life. I said no to braces for my son. So far, we're over the hump and none of the problems predicted have occured. I knew it meant nearly two years of pain, his teeth are straight, no noticable overbite, space between them so no crowding, no cavities yet and he's 17. I think I made the right decision. If he's concerned when he's an adult-some cosmetic thing or whatever, he can get braces. If someone had told me he had a definite health issue-teeth buried and coming down on existing teeth, etc., I would have gotten the braces.

 

[HeatherC]

I am probably one of the few that is skeptical that practically every kid these days "needs" braces.

I would actually go to another dentist first. I would think an ortho is going to of course point you to all the reasons you need braces.

Here is why I am skeptical...my dd 16 now was told a couple years ago that she ABSOLUTELY needed braces. Dh and I didn't see it, but didn't want problems down the road. So we started the process...xrays, molds made, etc.. Then one day I got into a billing dispute because they were charging us for things they never did.

Long story, short, we switched dentists. Very first appt. the dental hygenist tells me there is no way she thinks my dd would need braces but that she is not the expert. Second hygenist walks in, takes a look, says the same thing. Then the dentist comes in, does a really long exam...looks at all the xrays, etc. and tells me there is no reason at all why they should have suggested braces. Her Dh is the other dentist there too so she gets him and asks him to do an exam without telling him way. Same conclusion...no reason for her to have braces.

Had I listened to the first guy, I would have been out over $6000 and my dd would have had to have work done she didn't need.

So I am very cautious now. My ds doesn't need them, but third kid dd may. I trust these dentists and will get them for her if necessary.

My point is...buyer beware!

Good luck to you!

Now they do some ortho work in their office, so they lost a lot of money by not pushing braces.

 

[mjkacmom]

Three of my kids definitely need them - all have bite issues (top and bottom don't line up), and crowding issues (needed expanders to avoid having teeth pulled). Ds14 was a maybe for years, according to his dentist. However, once his permanant teeth came in, his bite shifted, and the dentist (who has no stake in this) told us to take him back to the orthodontist (he had been - had xrays taken - and was put on the maybe list). They took some more xrays, and it was obvious that two of his molars were facing the wrong way, and his teeth no longer "fit," which will usually cause problems later on (my poor parents, and their poor teeth!).

Dd11 is almost certain not to need braces (according to the orthodontist). Her bite is great, and she seems to have enough space for the permanant teeth.

I met DH when we were 12, and he had no obvious need for braces - now, he could use them! Fortunately, he's not in his 20's, competing in the job market against the rest of the perfect smiles. Our generation is much more forgiving of crooked teeth than the present one.

I love our orthodontist - dd16 hates him, because he refused to take off her braces until her teeth were perfect (she wasn't the best with the elastics). Her bill was paid in full more than a year before she stopped monthly appointments. She still goes in every 6 weeks or so to be checked, even though the braces have been off for over a year now.

 

[Princess Dolly]

I don't like orthos either, but I sure wish my parents had done it when I was a kid so I didn't have to mess with it as an adult.

Ha! Had them as a kid and just go re-braced yesterday to deal with some crowding issues (causing periodontal issues) and a tooth starting to overlap and turn (yes I am vain).

 

[pacrosby]

I am probably one of the few that is skeptical that practically every kid these days "needs" braces.

I would actually go to another dentist first. I would think an ortho is going to of course point you to all the reasons you need braces.

Here is why I am skeptical...my dd 16 now was told a couple years ago that she ABSOLUTELY needed braces. Dh and I didn't see it, but didn't want problems down the road. So we started the process...xrays, molds made, etc.. Then one day I got into a billing dispute because they were charging us for things they never did.

Long story, short, we switched dentists. Very first appt. the dental hygenist tells me there is no way she thinks my dd would need braces but that she is not the expert. Second hygenist walks in, takes a look, says the same thing. Then the dentist comes in, does a really long exam...looks at all the xrays, etc. and tells me there is no reason at all why they should have suggested braces. Her Dh is the other dentist there too so she gets him and asks him to do an exam without telling him way. Same conclusion...no reason for her to have braces.

Had I listened to the first guy, I would have been out over $6000 and my dd would have had to have work done she didn't need.

So I am very cautious now. My ds doesn't need them, but third kid dd may. I trust these dentists and will get them for her if necessary.

My point is...buyer beware!

Good luck to you!

Now they do some ortho work in their office, so they lost a lot of money by not pushing braces.

Naaaah, you're not alone

The fact that very few people are born with perfectly straight teeth and a perfect bite suggests to me that it is no more necessary than a nose job.

I'm waiting for my kids. My daughter's teeth looked like a hot mess as they were starting to fall into place but now at almost 13, after almost everything has come in and shifted around, the problems look minimal. I'll probably pursue something for her top teeth within the next year or so. There is a new program called the 6 Month Smile that looks like it might be just the thing for her. As far as my 3 boys (who are younger)...we'll wait and see how things look when they hit 12 or 13.

And fwiw this whole issue about bad bites causing big problems in an adult makes my eyes roll. Just because people who have complained about TMJ have been more likely to have bad bites doesn't mean that a bad bad is likely to cause TMJ in the future. "Can" it pose problems? I'm sure it can but I'm not paying 6 grand now to prevent something that may, but more likely may not, cause significant problems at some point in the future. To me it's the equivalent of very expensive just in case therapy. I guess I just prefer to deal with problems 'when' they come up.

Not to be overly cynical but orthodontists have a lot to gain from getting you to believe that your teeth need to be perfect. Never forget that.

 

[Princess Dolly]

I wanted to add that it was my periodontist who suggested I seek treatment.

 

[Pigeon]

No, you are not alone

The fact that very few people are born with perfectly straight teeth and a perfect bite suggests to me that it is no more necessary than a nose job for everyone is.

I'm waiting for my kids. My daughter's teeth looked like a mess as they were starting to fall into place but now at almost 13, after almost everything has come in and shifted around, the problems look minimal. I'll probably pursue something for her top teeth within the next year or so. There is a new program called the 6 Month Smile that looks like it might be just the thing for her. As far as my 3 boys (who are younger)...we'll see.

The whole issue about bad bites causing big problems in an adult makes me roll my eyes. "Can" they pose problems? I'm sure they can but like you I'm not paying 6 grand now to prevent something that may, but more likely may not, cause significant problems at some point in the future. To me it's the equivalent of very expensive just in case therapy. I prefer to deal with problems 'when' they come up.

Not to be overly cynical but orthodontists have a lot to gain from getting you to believe that your teeth need to be perfect. Never forget that.

ITA. I've even heard the rationale from orthodontists that not having orthodonture can cause all sorts of horrible problems from poor nutrition stemming from incorrect chewing. Maybe, but I think your problems would have to be pretty freaking extreme, because people aren't dropping dead en masse in Europe from lack of orthodonture resulting in starvation.

Dd1 had one tooth coming in at a 90 degree angle. We took her to 2 orthos, who wanted to expose the tooth, give her a full set of braces for a minimum of 2 years and $8K and attach a chain from the problem tooth to pull it into alignment. She otherwise has a very, very, very moderate overbite, to the point where the ortho was struggling valiently to find differences between her teeth and the "perfect" teeth on the overlay.

Only because I gave a little push back did one of them offer Plan B, which was to create a much more moderate little appliance to attach the problem tooth to in order to pull it down. Plan B cost $1,000 and the ortho estimated 8 months. It was done in 4 and her teeth are gorgeous.

His office manager, who has been in the business for a very long time, turned out to me someone I'd gone to school with and she privately told me that I'd absolutely made the reasonable decision and that it was extremely rare that they don't recommend a full set of braces at a consultation.