Having braces is an "in" thing these days????

[Grumpy's Gal]

Kids always want what their friends have, not matter what it is. Especially at that age.

Re: the age thing...I didn't even start loosing my baby teeth until 2nd grade! How can a 2nd grade have braces?

all kids are different My youngest had lost all of her babyteeth by the beginning of 3rd grade. It's very common for kids to have their braces on and off by the time they start jr high. I volunteer at our school here and about half of the 4th -5th graders have braces.

 

[LBAK]

My DD had a palate expander in 2nd grade that stayed on for a year. At the beggining of 5th grade she got her braces which she will wear for 18 months. There was no reason to wait longer as all her baby teeth are out. She will then have a retainer for at night. It seems much easier on them to have it done when they're younger if possible.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

Don't be so sure that he didn't need them.

Actually I wrote this:

The dentist and orthodontist said he did not need braces.

There was NOTHING wrong with his bite. His mama is after a perfect child in every way. So sad to me. Hope he wears that retainer for the rest of his life or whatever inperfection they found to work on will return.

My teeth actually looked perfect, but I needed braces for a cross bite.

This level of perfection is rampant around here, too! In my area, the prevailing attitude is that if you DON'T brace your 6 year old, you are a bad parent and dooming your child's life to flipping burgers as an member of the underclass!! (Yes, I am being sarcastic!!) But that is the "unsaid" attitude about braces. Around here, most parents have to start fixing their kid's teeth young, or others will look at your child's crooked teeth and think you are a bad parent (even if the ortho wants you to wait). It's all about status, class, and appearances.

Yep, that is my sister in law. Except her son's were not even crooked. She just wanted him to have braces.

 

[Becky2005]

My nephew had one of his front top teeth perpendicular in the gum. It wouldn't have come down on it's own. His smile looks so nice now! Amazing what they can do, isn't it?

Wow!! So it's not just my DD! We went to the dentist when she told me "Mom my tooth is coming in crooked" - me thinking, OK, so it's crooked (thinking a little crooked or something)...looked and went how in the heck did it even break through the gum like that?!?!?

The dentist apparently didn't think it was that unusual - said to wait sometimes the teeth come down and turn on their own - OK, if you say so. So, we waited and at her last visit since it had been about a year and that tooth hadn't gone anywhere, her front teeth were protruding a bit, etc... It was now time. We *knew* she was going to need them but was waiting until she was older because well - she still has 11 baby teeth in her mouth at the moment! We already have an adult tooth trying to poke through the gums without having the baby tooth come loose. I did ask what happens then, since she already has braces - I was told they just stick a bracket on it and pull it down (I'm assuming with pulling the baby tooth out!).

Other than your post now I have *never* heard, met anyone who has had a tooth come in that way.

Around here, braces are NOT that usual until older grades - guess we don't seek perfection too early around here - we wait until closer to the teen years.

 

[Stacy_C]

My ds (who will be 11 on Wednesday) is getting his braces tomorrow and is SO excited. Ugh. I wish I could be excited about forking over the $5000.00.

So, I guess it is the "cool" thing to have now.

 

[bananiem]

Becky2005- My nephew's tooth wouldn't even break the surface. They had to go in after it. Poor kid. He looks so handsome now though!!

 

[SeeDisney]

Yes, it does seem to be the cool thing now for kids to wear braces.

Coincidentally, yesterda, I met an 8year old boy with braces!!! I was surprised about that too. I remember I was an 8th grader with braces and wore them for three years.

My son likes the colors that goes on 'em.

 

[Cyndirella]

My 9 year old DD wants braces...she has been bugging me for 2 years. Her sister has them and last week when we went to the ortho for her regular visit DD9 asked him if she can get them. We were able to get a consultation right there on the spot and she was so disappointed that he recommended an expander first. He doesn't want to do that until October and told her it would be another couple of years until braces, if she even needs them at all.

 

[ozarkmom]

My ds is 14 and couldn't wait to get his braces. It's been almost 2 yrs. and he can't wait to lose them. He found out they will be coming off in June and he's excited. At first the whole changing colored bands was cool but after a while they were just a pain in the butt. He hates the appt. He doesn't want to miss classes and he doesn't want to miss football or track practice. According to him there is no good time. So I too will be glad to see them come off. I also will be glad when they're paid for. I went from paying for my DS to paying for his. So for about 4 yrs. I've been paying for braces.

 

[Stacey2grls]

MY DD is in the 2nd grade, and she desperately wants braces too! Her best friend has braces. I recently took her to the orthodontist for her first checkup, (her regular dentist reccomended this), and all she wanted to know was "am I getting braces." Well, much to her disappointment, the doctor feels she needs to wait at least one more year until she gets them on.

 

[flipturngirl]

Braces are "cool" thing now because many people do not want to end up with bad teeth. I had them twice and all the kids thought it was so cool. IT hurts so bad but it is a major payoff and you do not have to be embarressed to smile. MY doctor started to talk about braces when I was about in second grade and I got them in 3rd I think.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Confession--myself as well as other students would unbend a paper clip in elem school to make our own braces. (so they'd be the right color).

Must be something about braces at that age that are intriguing.


(And yes I know that is a bad yucky thing--but I wasn't the only one!).

I did need braces and finally got them as an adult and was pleased as punch to correct something that I had known to be a problem for years. My parents thought braces were only for fixing how you look and didn't realize I had a problem with function that needed fixing.