hmmm well maybe I need a 3rd opinion!

[LaDonna]

Wow, went to 2 different orthos and both earily different, one said braces and nightime headgear for 2-2 1/2yrs estimate at 6500(this was an older guy in business almost 30 yrs) and the other(much younger guy in his 30's)said need to pull 4 permanent teeth and braces for same amount of time but estimate was only $3200......what sucks is these are the only 2 closest to my home, everyone else will be a good 30minute+ from my home, and dds school where I'm sure I'll be picking her up from frequently from her appts. is even further away!
Anyone ever had permanent teeth removed? From what I'm reading googling seems pretty common.
I actually thought dds teeth weren't that bad, she doesn't have a lot of crooked teeth but does have a large overbite, but I dunno I just never noticed her overbite being that bad looking, maybe I'm just getting used to looking at her lol
any thoughts?

 

[ktlm]

I'd probably go ahead and get a 3rd opinion, and also see what you can find out about the reputation of each of them. You want to be sure she is with a good orthodontist (as my DH can tell you from experience).

I had 4 permanent teeth removed as a teen years ago and braces for 2 1/2 years. The teeth removal wasn't a fun experience, but I have never had any problems with them not being there. HOWEVER, DD has crowding issues and DH currently has braces. DH had to have a second set of braces as a 40 year old as a result of them doing his braces wrong when he was a teen and messing up his jaw. Prior to getting the braces he had jaw pain for years. Although he didn't want braces again, it finally got to the point where he had to do something about the pain. He was told by the othodontist that he had one of the worst mouths they had seen as far as old orthodontic work completely putting the teeth in improper allignment. DH goes to the place considered the absolute best in our area. His braces cost around $7,000 (close $9,000 total if you count some splinting and things they did before the braces) and he will be getting them off soon which will be around 2 1/2 years. His jaw is now pain free. I also have a friend who has a college age daughter who just got her second set of braces off, because the first orthodontist messed them up. Being cheaper at the front end, won't save you any money if you wind up having to re-do the braces later on. Also, is the $3,200 just the braces, or is it the teeth pulling too? That sounds really low for both. Better to drive 30 minutes, if it gets you to someplace that will do better work for your DD. I'm not saying the 30 year old isn't good. I'm just saying I would want someone else to confirm his opinion before I would go with him.

DD is only 5 now so we are just starting to talk about what her future will be. We have talked to the place that did DH's braces and another orthodontist in our area, and a few pediatric dentsists and pretty much all of them have told us that the removal of permanent teeth was the "old" standard way and that they try to stay away from that now if at all possible. In the old days, that is what they did pretty much as a matter of course. We were told that now, removal is a last resort if other methods are expected not to work, or didn't work. Since you have one guy saying no removal and one guy saying removal, I think I would look for No 3 and see who he sides with.

 

[LaDonna]

Also, is the $3,200 just the braces, or is it the teeth pulling too? That sounds really low for both.

That did not include the teeth pulling, I was told I'd have to go to my dentist first for that

 

[juliebean]

I'd get another opinion too. I just finished braces as an adult for an overbite that was causing all kinds of jaw pain. Ironically enough I had straight teeth before the braces. This is where you realize that braces are often not the vanity item we think of them being.

I've seen a lot of variation in treatment depending on where you live - here (near NYC) they rarely pull teeth and use headgear. It's all corrected within the mouth. To correct my overbite they put "buttons" on the back of my front teeth so that I couldn't bite down all the way and the molars actually grew higher so now when I bite down the back teeth meet way sooner than before and the ligaments don't get overstretched, which was causing the jaw pain. I also had rings on the very back teeth to help pull the molars into alignment with each other and bands for the same goal. I had my wisdom teeth removed some years ago, so there was some room to work with in there.

My son is going through a similar treatment right now, they are using little springs instead of bands - he was not great at wearing them - the springs cannot be removed...

Good luck - I'd try to get another opinion, finding the right treatment and orth is SO important. Try to get to where two are recommending the same thing and it's also treatment and drs. you are confident in.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd get a third opinion, even if that helps you choose between the first 2. Most orthodontists here no longer pull teeth (I'm missing 6 myself). My dd14 was referred to an orthodontist around 9 by her dentist, for crowding and bite issues. She had a palate expander for a couple of years, and then braces. I'm really surprised your dentist didn't refer her when she was younger, as I don't know if she's too old for the expander now.

Dd's cost $6500. We're still waiting on poor ds (almost 13). He's been going twice a year (no charge) for years now, but he still has to lose 3 more baby teeth before braces (he didn't need an expander).

 

[disneychrista]

I'd get a third opinion, even if that helps you choose between the first 2.

This was going to be my advice to.

 

[loveysbydesign]

We went to 3 before deciding what to do for our kids and we were very happy that we did!

 

[PixiePlanner]

DS(12) had two permanent upper teeth pulled. His bottom teeth were almost touching the gums right behind the top front. This never looked "bad" as his lips covered. He did wonderfully. The only reason we ever saw an ortho was that I noticed he had lost 8 uppers, 6 had come in and he looked good...but had no space left & obviously the numbers didn't add up! Now he has braces (since Jan). I am AMAZED at the change in his appearance and confidence. Like I said, I never thought his teeth looked bad to begin with.

FYI, the extraction for the two upper bicuspids was $350. Braces are $5,720.

 

[angierae]

We also got 2 drastically different opinions. I went to a 3rd ortho who was kind of in the middle, and ended up going with him because i felt like he gave me the best of what both docs wanted.

(Ortho 1: DD needed her wisdom teeth dug out and pulled, then jaw surgery because her overbite was so bad. She'd still need $6k worth of braces plus what I had to pay for the surgery. Ortho 2: Braces, headgear, couldn't promise good results if we opted not to do surgery. Ortho 3: pull two teeth, braces, headgear, thought he could get her to 90% of perfect without surgery, and that no one other than an orthodontist would be able to tell that it wasn't "perfect". $8k.)

We ended up going to the third ortho and we're at 19 months or so and she's looking GREAT - we're done with headgear, just a few more months and we'll move to rubber bands and she'll probably be done by the end of the year. No surgery, and her bite looks SO much better.

 

[chris31997]

Get a 3rd opinion. You need to be carefully when correcting an overbite. I had an overbite corrected with braces and now battle with problems with my jaw. Years ago they would pull your jaw forward.

 

[ktlm]

That did not include the teeth pulling, I was told I'd have to go to my dentist first for that

With the anesthsia etc. required for that, I wouldn't be surprised if you were talking about another $3,000 for that.

I just finished braces as an adult for an overbite that was causing all kinds of jaw pain. Ironically enough I had straight teeth before the braces

That was DH too. His teen braces pulled all those teeth perfectly straight-- without any regard by that orthodontist as to where that was putting his bite or lining up his teeth or jaw etc.

 

[My3kiddos]

I would get a 3rd opinion then decide between the 3. My son has had braces for 2 years, has worn headgear for the whole time, and will still have to have surgery to correct is underbite because it is so severe. He gets his braces off in 2 weeks. He had a couple teeth pulled and 1 baby tooth pulled then a chain put on it to pull it down. I hate that the headgear didn't work, but from what I've read surgery might be the best route to avoid jaw pain as an adult. His ortho told me not to do the surgery until he was finished growing though.

 

[Belle5]

Ask a different ortho, get a different answer! I can better that...ask your ortho one year, same ortho gives a different answer another year! I asked him about having DS4's (now age 18) wisdom teeth pulled. He responded that the latest science proved that removing wisdom teeth does not prevent crowding in the long run. Shifting teeth are just part of the aging process. A year later, this same man starts hassling my son to get his wisdom teeth pulled! What's with that (DS was old enough to go to ortho by himself two years ago)?

I have heard negative things about pulling teeth...I would tend to go with the ortho who doesn't want to do that, but that's just me...Yeah...third opinion might help! Good luck!

I have put four through braces...none had any teeth pulled.

 

[LorieDisneyLover]

definitely get a third opinion

pulling teeth should be a last resort these days ... ortho treatment has come a long way and usually teeth pulling is not needed

also ... be sure each dentist is including the same things in their bottom line price. some dentist charge extra for the x-rays, retainer, etc.

We pay $6500 and that's all inclusive -- it includes all x-rays, retainer and ALL visits ... even after the braces are off the orthodontists needs to check up on the teeth for a few years ... but just once a year to be sure the retainer is still in good shape and being worn.

 

[Kellydelly]

I don't understand why a few people are saying that pulling teeth is rarely required and shouldn't be considered . I had four teeth pulled when I had my second set of braces put on at 14 yrs old. I had a crowded mouth, as do many people . I don't think it would cost $3,000 to have four teeth pulled, unless you went to an oral surgeon and were given twilight sedation. I was not put out when my teeth were pulled. I know my dad did not pay thousands of dollars to put me out .

 

[nettekay]

Tooth extraction is ususally around $38 per tooth unless there is a problem. I also had to have 4 permanent teeth pulled before i got braces as I did not have enough room in my mouth for all my teeth. It is a common problem. It would not hurt to get a 3rd opinion.

 

[chetchetsit]

Both my children age 12 and 14 had 4 permanent teeth pulled each. My 12 year old also has a palate expander. Our dentist pulled the teeth and I couldnt believe how easy it was. We had 2 pulled at a time, and we were in and out within 1/2 hour. Have them show you the xrays. With both my kids you could see the teeth that needed to come in and the space available. With both of them it was clear from the xrays all those teeth were not going to fit. Thye both have braces now and they look great. You wouldnt even know they are missing those teeth. Good luck.

 

[kellydizfan]

We were advised by our Ortho not to pull permanent teeth in females due to it could collapse their cheeks. I would get the third opinion. I didn't pull the teeth in both of my girls. My oldest DD had to have a molar removed due to it grew in sideways and was pushing against the other teeth. We did have 2 out of the 4 wisdom teeth removed also. The other 2 were way up too far to do so.

 

[meriface11]

granted it was a long time ago, but i had 4 teeth pulled. they did it with novacaine and laughing gas, 2 at a time

 

[DizneyDogs]

when I was in the 3rd grade my parents had that same option either pull permanent teeth or do braces. My mouth is too small to hold all my teeth. Anyway I ended up having the permanent teeth pulled. I had 4 permanent and 3 baby teeth pulled all in one day. They put me under while they pulled them. For a week all I could eat was liquids and I remember having a lot of chocolate milkshakes from McDonalds as a kids that was awesome! Anyway today 30 years later my teeth couldn't be straighter so it worked out well for me. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.