Parents of kids who have/had braces.....

[zalansky]

Also, I have the porcelain braces on top and the n-Ovation-R braces on the bottom. If I had to do it over again, I would TOTALLY get the R brackets on the top --- the porcelain ones have given me fits. They cut and are not as easy to change the wire. I was ineligible for Invisalign.

Sorry, my response doesn't have anything to do with teens getting braces. I just wanted to commiserate with Gypsydoodlebug! I got porcelain braces on top too and GOLD on the bottoms, at age 37 (I am now 39) and had the same issues. I was not eligible for Invisalign either and really didn't think my teeth were all that bad, but I wanted them straighter. 2 years later, and I just got my tops off this week and its like HEAVEN.

My DH had suggested I get gold on the bottoms, thought it would look nice. Well, I can't tell you how many times I have been asked by the WalMart cashiers if I have a "grill." Lovely. Good times. I also can't tell you how many people have flat out stared at me like I have 3 heads because I have braces on. I just don't get that.

OP - they'll tell you this but no popcorn, no hard chips, no sticky stuff. It has helped me keep weight off the past two years! Good luck to your DS.

 

[Savsmommy]

My dd is 7 and she's had braces on for a little over a month now. She had an extra tooth so we had to get it pulled because it shifted all her teeth over. She loves her braces. The first 3 days she was a little sore and got sores on the inside of her mouth but she never really complained about them. We just went for her monthly checkup and she was excited about getting new color rubberbands.

 

[Mkrop]

subscribing bc I just tried to call and get DS10 in for a consult but the office was closed on Fridays. So I am interested in what everyone has to say. thanks

 

[darrose]

Be as loyal as you can be with your ortho appointments. Both my kids were able to get their braces off a few months earlier than predicted due to us being loyal to those appointments.

 

[Narnian_Princess]

I agree with what everyone else here has said: brush well, definitely get the waterpik and the little "christmas tree" flossing things, wax. Also lots of Motrin; my first month of braces I couldn't even chew soft bread because my teeth hurt so badly. I did get used to it though, and by the end of my time the discomfort from adjustments only lasted about 3 days.

Here's a note; even though they told me not to eat certain things, after awhile, I was eating hard chips, crusty bread, baby carrots, and steaks. All those being things they told me not to eat. BUT, I was always careful not to chew those items in such a way as to possibly cause a bracket to break off, and in 3 years I never had a problem. If you think your kids could be very careful with every bite, they can eat those things. I still wouldn't eat sticky things or chew gum, though.

Another thing that I found to be very important is if you have ANY problems or concerns, go for an emergency appointment right away and don't just assume it's normal! One time during the "tweaking" stages, the doctor twisted the wire to fine-tune a certain area. The next morning, I was shocked to see how my teeth were; where he had been supposed to lower two teeth just a tad, they were raised higher than before. I immediately went back and it turned out he had made a mistake. He fixed it immediately and was so glad I hadn't waited, as it would have set my treatment back at least another month. I'd never had any problems in the 2-1/2 years previously and never did after, but it only takes once to get things screwed up. You may feel dumb going back and asking, but you may be glad you did.

 

[Camicar]

Both my kids were able to get their braces off a few months earlier than predicted due to us being loyal to those appointments.

I don't understand why making it to your appointed time as s opposed to...rescheduling? .... resulted in braces being removed earlier than expected. What is the cause and effect here?

Why would rescheduling an appointment for the next day or so have any impact in terms of MONTHS of wearing braces?

 

[Narnian_Princess]

I don't understand why making it to your appointed time as s opposed to...rescheduling? .... resulted in braces being removed earlier than expected. What is the cause and effect here?

Why would rescheduling an appointment for the next day or so have any impact in terms of MONTHS of wearing braces?

It had no effect for me. I made every appointment on time and never missed one, but my teeth were slower to move than they had expected and I was a month late getting my braces off.

 

[DVCLiz]

I don't understand why making it to your appointed time as s opposed to...rescheduling? .... resulted in braces being removed earlier than expected. What is the cause and effect here?

Why would rescheduling an appointment for the next day or so have any impact in terms of MONTHS of wearing braces?

In my orthodontist's practice there was no such thing as rescheduling for a day or so later. DD14 had a follow up appointment that had to be cancelled in Mid January, and February 20th was the next available appointment. If you are waiting a couple of weeks instead of a couple of days it can impact how long you have to wear your braces.

 

[taximomfor4]

Honestly, I didn't remember the Ortho saying it would be almost 4 yrs either. Just pay close attention to all the details and you will also get the plan in writing.

BTW, if you have any younger children, you may want to get a consult now. It seems most of the kids at the ortho finish way younger than our son (almost 15 now). I think they recommend the first phase by 8 or 9.

Definitely check with several ortho's. Many are no longer recommending 2-phase treatments anymore when it means having braces twice. Apparently, the benefit of the SLIGHTLY shorter 2nd phase was not worth the price tag. In the end they were finding that kids' second set of braces was only on for an average of a couple months less!!

But if that first phase is to spread the palate, or some other procedure, it may be best done earlier.

 

[Jennifer S]

Anyone here use the new technology Suresmile? It's supposed to get your treatmentdone about 30%- 40% faster.


www.suresmile.com

 

[actionvaughn]

$4800??

It was a long time ago, but when I got my braces at 15, it only cost us $2500. (I love how I said only $2500.) I had them on for about two years, but suffered for them... When I heard that I couldn't eat crab anymore, I just about cried. Having to thread in and out to floss was a pain, so now that I have them off, I love flossing for some reason.

Get your DS wax! Other posters have mentioned this, but I can't stress this enough. If my dentist didn't give them to me, I would forget to ask, so I would have to bum them off my friends. You'd think we were involved in hard drugs the way we were so desperate for wax.

It paid off though! My mom likes to stop me and look at my teeth every so often.

 

[D1sneyDad]

If there is a dental teaching school you can get a GREAT deal on braces. My DS has them now and the ortho wanted $5000, went to the dental teaching school at Case Western in Cleveland OH and it is costing us $2500 with $1500 being reimbursed by our dental insurnace company.

 

[PrincessPatty]

Remember to eat before getting them tightened.

 

[aprilgail2]

We were told around $4800. I sure hope it doesn't end up being more then that!!

We were just at the orthodontist last weekend for my 8 year old. She is going to start with braces in June! She won't need a palate expander so that was good but they are going to cost about 6,000. My insurance pays 2,000 and I won a 1,000 gift cert at the wellness fair to this orthodontist so it will only cost me about 3,000. I already put the money in my flex spending account since I knew she was starting this year so I can just pay them off in one shot and not have to worry about paying by the month etc.

 

[littleteapot]

"Whatever you do, don't _________."

What ever you do don't let him wrestle with his 7 year old brother, end up with a foot in his mouth and then have brother's sock snag the bracket. Otherwise he'll end up having an emergency ortho visit instead of a trip to a play on his birthday

 

[720L]

In my orthodontist's practice there was no such thing as rescheduling for a day or so later. DD14 had a follow up appointment that had to be cancelled in Mid January, and February 20th was the next available appointment. If you are waiting a couple of weeks instead of a couple of days it can impact how long you have to wear your braces.

Same here. We missed one appointment, and I will never miss one again. It set us back a month!

 

[torinsmom]

After the braces go on, soft food for 1-2 days...yogurt, pudding, ice cream, jello, etc. After that, my DS went back to almost normal, with the exception being no gummy foods. He has had his braces on over a year and has had no problems. Definitely medicate before he gets them on and before tightening.

I buy something called Superfloss for him to floss with. It has a harder end to thread through the braces. Waterpiks are good, but his ortho said it is not a replacement for flossing.

His braces will cost $3400, $1500 is paid by insurance. He has to wear them 20 months, or so we were told. It's amazing the difference the braces have made already. He had major spaces and they have closed up nicely.

I would be wary of using the Invisalign on a child. My dentist told me that they are more successful with adults, whose mouths have stopped growing. He said in kids, the teeth can move back.

Marsha

 

[auntie]

I've had two kids wear braces..both around $5,000. Different type of work to each. I have never had to wait to reshedule an appointment for a month. A week...maybe. I also always tried to take the earliest after school apt. Picking them up, rather than them taking the bus on appt. days, so that we would be the first appt. in their office for afternoon. 2:30. appts. were standard for us.
I actually have my 16 year old back in a palate expander retainer..as he had some shifting in his teeth..and he's out of braces for two years. He did wear his retainer..but he also had an enormous growth spurt(he's now 6'2" tall.) Naturally his jaw grew also. He started experiencing some problems with TMJ..and pediatrician sent us back to the orthodontist. She isn't charging as a retreatment...as it's not do to lack of wearing the retainer..but his natural growth. Charging us for this palate expander retainer..which turned out to be about $450.00. However the treatment is for as long as it takes..and whatever needs to be done to relieve his discomfort.

 

[SunKat]

Remember to eat before getting them tightened.

Good idea. My dd11 had her first appointment for tightening the braces just last week. I picked her up from school and went straight to the orthodontist, so she was hungry when we got there. Needless to say, when we got home she was starving but was in such pain she couldn't eat anything. She basically lived on pudding, applesauce, ice cream and mashed potatos for a week. Plus, we went through a bottle of Motrin. Next time, I'm making sure she has a good meal before she goes to her appointment!

 

[eh24fan]

I had braces for 2 years and I remember a little tenderness, but not severe enough pain to keep me from eating. The worst part for me was that I was in the band and played clarinet. I had to build up a "callous" on my lower lip, which took awhile and boy did it hurt! Then on top, when I'd had my braces tightened...wow. Soooo not fun.

I used to chew gum after getting mine tightened. I know, a big no no according to some, but my ortho knew it. It actually felt GOOD! The counter pressure just felt so good to me. I chewed Freedent, I think that's the name of it, supposedly non-stick gum.