Sad News!

[TinaLala]

We just found out that my 7 year old needs braces this year. The bummer part is she’ll have a retainer by the time we go to Disney in December. I hope she won’t be miserable about it. Her teeth are really bad in the front - big space, missing teeth that are coming in behind other teeth.

The other side part is that this first stage costs so much that we won’t be going to Disney for another three years.

Oh Well, I'll just have to go and live the experience through all of you on this board.

 

[TheZeppo]

If that's your biggest problem, I'd say you're doing alright.

 

[MsSpinShady]

Wow, 7 years old? That seems so young, most kids usually don't even have all of their permanent teeth by then. How many years are they telling you she's going to need to be in braces?

I don't think the retainer will bother her too much by your trip, and if she needs to she could always take it out to eat. I have two in braces and after a short period of time kids become used to them and don't really seem to give it much thought.

Enjoy your trip, and who knows what the next 3 years will bring...maybe you'll get sprinkled with a little pixie dust somewhere along the way

MsSpinShady

 

[goofy4tink]

I feel your pain. My dd, now almost 13, has had something in her mouth since she was 6!!! We were so hoping that her braces would be off in time to celebrate her 13th birthday in WDW in Oct...but no, there are two teeth that need a bit longer. So, now we have to wait until the first of the year!!!
If her teeth bother her, ibu is terrific for the mouth pains. And just think....when you get to go to WDW again, she'll be 10!!! That's a whole different experience for the kids. There are a ton of things they appreciate much more when they are a bit older. The time will fly by....your dd's teeth are the important thing right now. Good for you for prioritizing!!!

 

[alloyd1170]

I just figure all kids go through the braces stage anymore. 7 does seem young, unless theyre really bad. Personally, if it were my kid I would hold off until all the teeth have come in, possibly even the wisdom teeth to prevent a shift later on. My brother ended up needing braces a second time as an adult because his teeth had shifted once his wisdom teeth came in. Retainers arent that bad anymore either. I had to wear a top and bottom one, and had a hard time keeping the bottom one it. Today I think they can affix them to the teeth so they dont move around. I think my brother had that option.

alison

 

[CindyAnn]

I know what you mean, TinaLala. Sometimes it feels like you are personally financing your orthodontist's new cottage/boat/round the world trip! My two both had to wear very strange (and completely different from each other) hardware when they were younger (I think DD was 7 and DS was 10). I was amazed at how quickly they got used to remembering everything, from special brushing to forbidden foods to retainer cases at a sleepover. Your DD will thank you later. Make sure you get good before and after photos!

I hope that trip comes sooner than you think!

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I understand your pain! I went to Disney only two months after having surgery and then braces put on, and eating was quite a chore! But retainers are much easier to eat with but can be a hassle to remember to wear and keep clean. I have retainers right now, and I can see me being very sloppy about wearing them on my upcoming trip! Don't tell my ortho ....!

Also completely understand about the money! My braces and surgery cost about $10,000! Fortunately I scrimped and saved enough (staying at values, driving down, eating at food courts not sit-down), so I been able to keep going to Disney. But having nice teeth is absolutely essential nowadays, so you are being a wonderful parent for not hesitating one bit to help your DD in this way!

 

[tacomaranch]

I had braces back when they were metal bands and I had to wear gear. It was awful but now people always remark on my perfect bright smile.

Good luck to your little one and it will be worth it. Promise

 

[kytiam]

Wow, 7 years old? That seems so young, most kids usually don't even have all of their permanent teeth by then. How many years are they telling you she's going to need to be in braces?



Nowadays they put braces and other miscellaneous metal appliances in at a young age in hopes of broadening the pallate, expanding the jaw, etc. to help make room for the permanent teeth to come in without crowding. Works for some, but unfortunately, not for mine!
I had all three of my kids in braces at the same time for a while. Needless to say, that cut into the vacation budget BIG TIME! We had to go to Florida annually to visit the in-laws, but never made it to WDW until justa few years ago. Of course, now we're hooked!

 

[patsal]

Both of my children began at age 7 with stage one and then at about 11-12 began stage 2, fully finished with braces by the time they were (will be) in seventh grade. Retainers were only worn full time for about two months after stage two--DD's retainer on her bottom is a permanent one that stays in place 24 7--she's adapted with little difficulty. DS had a pull out that was worn only at bedtime after the second month, even after phase II. DS is done and DD begins stage two on Friday--have to bring the initial payment of $640 with me before they will start! Insurance will reimburse me 50%, but in the end they will both have beautiful teeth that shouldn't cause them any problems in the future. I'll be putting a bit more in my FSA this year to cover the other 14 payments. It is expensive, but the two phase treatment is really quicker in the long run and I've been very happy with the results for both of my children. You will find that your DD will adjust to the differences very quickly, just have tylenol, wax (which you'll get from the ortho), Hurricane and antiseptic mouth rinse on hand for the first full bracketing and when she gets brackets tightened. If you will be working with a quad expander be sure you're comfortable with the key before you leave the ortho. Also when you turn the key be sure that the appliances are shiny or send her back in to brush. Do take the time to cut up carrots and apples as well becasue they will bend the brackets and it is uncomfortable for the kids. Good luch and maybe hte break between the two phases will allow you to get to WDW sooner.

 

[hezreck]

Gosh, now I know what to look forward to with my DD8. Her teeth are very crooked with new ones coming in behind baby teeth that aren't out yet. The dentist tells her everytime we go that she will need braces, but so far hasn't said when. I know there are lots of kids in her school that had them in first and second grade. She's going into third and no word yet. Thankfully we are going to Disney the week after Thanksgiving, so after that no more trips for us because I know braces are coming. So we are making this trip count!!!

 

[prestonsmomma]

Oh I feel your pain. Only mine is a little bit different. It's my DH getting braces. His parents should be slapped silly for not getting them for him a long long time ago (his teeth are horrible). He will be wearing his braces for about 3-4 years too.

 

[Torontogal]

Tell your daughter to not worry. I got braces when I was 22! My teeth were not that bad but my parent's wanted me to get them for my upcoming wedding. They are not as bad as you think! I am now 36 and have nice, straight teeth. I am worried about my 3 year old. He loves sucking his thumb and has a gap between two teeth and his upper teeth are pushed out (kind of like Mater from Cars!)
Did your daughter suck her thumb too?

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

Wait? She's getting braces now and will have them off by THIS December? Correct me if I'm wrong because that is an unbelievably short time. As far as the retainer goes, make sure that she has her retainer case with her at all times! She can take it out to eat but if she forgets her case it just leads to napkin messes etc! I had a retainer for 2.5 years and THEN they told me that I needed braces so I've been through it all! I don't know how long you're going for but my orthodontist said that if I'm going anywhere for a brief period of time when I will be eating walking around (inconvininet to be taking it out and putting it back in on the go) that I could keep it out and wear it at night and on the commute (sp) there, etc. and keep it out while walking around. Check it out with your orthodontist. Worst case he'll say no and you won't be any worse off.

Just as a side note...does anyone else feel like they're using braces too much these days? It's an out for everything I think. Sometimes, yes, they are needed, but to just use them for vanity, etc. just seems way too common...perhaps it's just me.

 

[C.Ann]

My 7 yr. old granddaughter recently had spacers put on her teeth and it's been somewhat of an unpleasant ordeal.. There's quite a list of items she can't eat, but that doesn't bother her nearly as much as when my DD has to "turn the key" on either the top or bottom or both to tighten them a certain number of times each week.. It hurts - and she cries.. She also has some problems speaking properly because of a bar-type apparatus that is in the front, on the bottom.. It interferes with the movement of her tongue and makes it sound like she has a speech problem.. She's very concerned about this because they just moved and she'll be attending a new school in a few weeks and she's afraid the other kids will make fun of her.. It was absolutely necessary though, so we'll just have to find a way to help her deal with it..

DD and her DH got very lucky.. When the in-laws heard the news they offered to pay for all of it because they went thru a real hard time with their son's teeth (DD's DH) because the braces weren't put on soon enough and it ended up costing them more money in the long run..

At leas t you'll get to make this trip, so make it an extra special one!!!

 

[TinaLala]

Thanks everyone for the support. We go for impressions and molds in two weeks and at that time I'm putting the cost $2200 onto my Disney Visa card - can you say $22 reward points? She'll probably be in a retainer by the time we go to Disney. I'm hoping she won't have to have the actual braces, but she'll definately have head gear.

I had the whole shabang - braces for 2 years, retainers- top for 3 years, bottom for 2 years - head gear for 2 years - it was hell for me. The poor thing has my big rabbit teeth with the space and big spaces on either side because the side teeth are coming in behind the canine teeth. It's crazy.

I'm hoping something will change our fortune and insurance will pull a miracle and pay for some of it.

 

[DiszyDeanette]

Personally, if it were my kid I would hold off until all the teeth have come in, possibly even the wisdom teeth to prevent a shift later on. My brother ended up needing braces a second time as an adult because his teeth had shifted once his wisdom teeth came in.

When my braces came off, my orthodontist sent me straight to the oral surgeon to have my wisdom teeth removed. When my mom questioned the additional expense, he said "Do you want to have to go through all of this again??" (my teeth were really bad) I think they were out the next week!

 

[Harmony]

If that's your biggest problem, I'd say you're doing alright.

No kidding! When I read the title, I thought it was something serious.

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

Thanks everyone for the support. We go for impressions and molds in two weeks and at that time I'm putting the cost $2200 onto my Disney Visa card - can you say $22 reward points? She'll probably be in a retainer by the time we go to Disney. I'm hoping she won't have to have the actual braces, but she'll definately have head gear.

I had the whole shabang - braces for 2 years, retainers- top for 3 years, bottom for 2 years - head gear for 2 years - it was hell for me. The poor thing has my big rabbit teeth with the space and big spaces on either side because the side teeth are coming in behind the canine teeth. It's crazy.

I'm hoping something will change our fortune and insurance will pull a miracle and pay for some of it.

Yikes, will she have the head gear on all the time or just at night? I have mine just for at night and I am SO grateful because kids can be so mean! Just another one of those stories to tell the grandkids!

 

[ChrisnSteph]

My dd had braces put on when she turned 8. No big deal, in fact the teeth are easier to manipulate at that age. I seriously doubt though that your dd will be in a retainer by December, especially if her teeth are that bad and she hasn't gotten her braces yet. My dd has had braces on almost 3 years and still doesn't have a retainer! I've also learned that whatever time frame my dd's orthodontist gives us, add a few months to it! Good luck!