Whether to do braces or not

[NewRVLady]

Honestly-I thank GOD my parents did it for me
I was a beaver-I cringe when I see my middle school pics....I was one of the youngest kids my Ortho treated-10(this was way back in the olden days)

I did for my kids-they wore just 3-4 years each. It WAS expensive-but their overbite was NOTHING compared to mine, and possibly I could have not done it for them

 

[goofy4tink]

I voted 'got braces, glad I did'. Here's why. I got braces back in the 60's, when I was a teen. My overbite was nasty.....it was for the future of my teeth, not a cosmetic reason. Now my teeth line up and the wear and tear is much more even.
My now 21 y/o dd had something in her mouth from the time she was 4 until she was 14! She went to the pedidontist (children's dentist) when she was 2.5. He quickly told me that she was going to need ortho because her mouth was really small! And no, he didn't do ortho, so had nothing to gain.
When she was almost 4, she got a palate expander. She was early in losing baby teeth so that was a help! Once the palate expander did it's job, she had a few months off. Then, the braces went on. She was in 1st grade with braces! Poor kid. And, glasses. Anyway....she always had either a full mouth of braces, or just an upper or lower set. We could see the different they were making when we looked at the xrays! It was remarkable.
She just had her four wisdom teeth out last spring. All but one had come in beautifully...thanks to the braces. The fourth one was sideways. They took all four because those teeth are the most troublesome as we age.

We were lucky though...dh changed jobs about three times during the reign of braces! Stayed in the same industry..almost expected that you make the changes. So, he kept getting new ortho benefits!!! I can't imagine what we would have had to spend if that hadn't happened!!!

I'm sure my dd wouldn't agree with this but I would do it all over again. Her mouth is in much better condition than it would have been. I believe she would have lost a lot more teeth due to the smallness of her mouth! And that's never a good thing.

But spending that kind of money just for cosmetic reasons? I'm not so sure I would do it.

 

[okeydokey]

I would get the braces for him. It is an investment, and a worthwhile one.

 

[jen73]

we currently have twin 13 year olds in braces and I love watching their teeth move into beautiful smile position! Hubby and I had braces as teens as well and I thank my parents daily for getting them for me. I get so many compliments on my smile, so that makes it worth it (and I do love to smile...lol)

So I voted for got them, so worth it!!

 

[U2_rocks!]

If the teeth are crooked or stick out to the point where it draws people's attention, it may be a good investment. But for my son it wasn't worth doing. He has the same mouth that I do, and I never fixed mine either even though my parents gave me the option. I have never regretted it. My crooked teeth are only on the bottom and cannot be seen when I smile, and my overbite is small and barely noticeable. My brother had braces and his teeth shifted back when he was an adult - he regrets getting them and will not get them for his son unless it's a structural problem. My DD has them because her gums were starting to recede due to extreme crookedness on the bottom. She has a hard time taking care of her teeth properly and I really hope she doesn't cause other problems.

BTW, I do think it's a little ridiculous how society has decided that natural teeth, the way they were made, is not good enough. Why the quest for "perfect" teeth? I don't get it. I am not talking about improving the functioning of the teeth, I am talking about pure aesthetics. Humans are never happy with what they have.

 

[deedeetoo]

I guess it depends how bad his teeth are. My dd was borderline. She didn't "need" them but her bottom teeth were crowded and crooked because of that and and she was self-conscious about them. She wanted braces so we did it. She has had them off a year now and I don't see that they did any harm to her teeth.

My ds on the other hand needed them badly. There was never any question with him. He had bottom teeth that were like fangs and the top teeth were actually pointing backward towards the tongue. His mouth was a mess. What was amazing was how quickly they moved into normal positions once braces were on. He's had them two years now (almost done) and his teeth look perfect to me.

So how bad are your son's teeth?

 

[Dawnlight]

I'll also add that while I had braces from 12-16 to straighten my teeth, now my teeth are not only shifting, but I have receding gums, which my current dentist attributes to orthodontics. I may be looking at surgery in the coming years.

Your child may have the benefit of good looking teeth for a few decades, but it may cause issues later in life that could possibly be avoided by declining braces now.

 

[Christine]

I understand what you are saying. My daughter is missing the teeth between her front and eye teeth. The eye teeth came in right next to the front teeth, so no gap. She has a beautiful smile, but it is noticeable that something is not quite right.

If she wants to move the eye teeth and have implants she has to wait until at least 16 to start the procedure.

It will ultimately be her decision. Right now she would say no. She is 12.

It seems so easy to justify this major procedure for cosmetic reasons. I would never allow a b**b job or cosmetic surgery on her nose for cosmetic reasons.

Also, have you noticed Kiera Knightly's teeth?

Definitely. She's a bit of a snaggletooth. Pretty anyone but I notice it every time she smiles.

 

[Christine]

I had just a normal amount of crookedness and my bite was not perfect. I looked fine without braces and doubt I would have ever been self-conscious but my mom got them for me anyway (back in the 70s) and I am thrilled that I have them.

My teeth have always looked natural after braces so I don't think they look fake. But many people (most in my family) have gum and pocket issues later in life as a result of a bad bite or the teeth just hitting wrong. Most of those issues would have been corrected by braces.

I think for most people it is more than just cosmetics.

 

[blana]

I had braces and for the most part am happy with the results. (Some tooth shifting occurred that the ortho didn't take care of, but no one notices.) DH didn't get braces as a child & went YEARS where he wouldn't smile for fear someone would see the gap between his teeth. I finally told him he needed to do something so he'd be more comfortable. After a year with invisalign, you can't see it & he's a lot freer with his smiles.

 

[tvguy]

My MIL thought braces were a scam by dentists to make more money, thus my wife got her's as an adult.
Her smile looked fine, but she couldn't bite a sandwich.

I work with a lot of successful people with awful teeth, so not sure that is a valid reason for braces.
Look no further than Michael Strahan on Live with Kelly and Michael and Good Morning America. He has to be on a wanted poster in some orthodontists office.

 

[cabanafrau]

I'll also add that while I had braces from 12-16 to straighten my teeth, now my teeth are not only shifting, but I have receding gums, which my current dentist attributes to orthodontics. I may be looking at surgery in the coming years.

Your child may have the benefit of good looking teeth for a few decades, but it may cause issues later in life that could possibly be avoided by declining braces now.

I'd look first to not using the retainer as the issue for shifting teeth. Both of my DD's had braces for different issues and both continue to have great teeth that aren't shifting because they use their retainers. My brother had braces and refused to continue his retainer and regrets that choice because his teeth have shifted.

 

[HM]

It's not about the smile. It's about having a correct bite.

Go back and get at least two consultations with orthodontists and see what they have to say about his bite and alignment.

 

[mjkacmom]

I would not get braces that early. My DD is 8 and I have been told to take her to an orthodontist, something I refuse to do. Several of her classmates have braces, but I am reminded of my sister, who had a giant gap in her teeth when she was 8, which eventually closed up naturally as she grew up, giving her what was considered a "textbook bite" by age 12.

My parents got me braces at 12 for my overbite, and though I hated them at the time, it was 2 years of heartache for a lifetime of nice smiles. Very happy my parents did it for me.

Why? My kids started going to the orthodontist early, and only 3 started treatment early (just expanders, which you have to do early, or it doesn't work - sure beats having permanent teeth removed, like I had done, back in the day). Ds16 went every 6 months for years until he got his braces on in middle school, and dd13 went also, and was told she doesn't need them. Ds12 not only had expanders, but they put braces on his top permanent teeth, because it's still going to be a tight fit when the rest come in. His twin sister doesn't need them yet, because her mouth is different, and they will wait until she loses every baby tooth, and more permanent teeth come in.

I cringe when I look at old television shows and movies - what horrible teeth! My parents never had braces, and should have (but back then it was rare). They are OCD with dental care, and my dad now has dentures. Bad bites cause bad teeth. My mom has suffered through many a root canal, and has a couple teeth drilled in. My sister and I have straight, healthy teeth, thanks to braces.

Crooked teeth in today's world are equal to missing teeth decades ago - it just looks bad.

 

[gwynne]

I'd look first to not using the retainer as the issue for shifting teeth. Both of my DD's had braces for different issues and both continue to have great teeth that aren't shifting because they use their retainers. My brother had braces and refused to continue his retainer and regrets that choice because his teeth have shifted.

BBM. This is often the truth.

I still use my retainer at night. If I didn't my teeth would gradually shift.

 

[nugov2]

Dentists are pushing braces earlier and earlier, even while first teeth are still being lost. I think they do this to increase business, not due to it being a necessity for either health or appearance.

I've had dentists tell me my kids need braces, starting at around 8 years old, and now, as teens their teeth are beautiful- really beautiful (which surprises me because I had braces from 12-16).

Remember, orthos have bills to pay, college tuition, and maybe even Disney vacations to finance. Don't let it be on your back if it's unnecessary.

Braces have come a long way from our days and my dd was one who needed braces early(she got them on when she was 9). It was either that or a palette expander(which is what our dentist said we would most likely need) and our first ortho said too. We saw multiple orthos for consultations and the rest all said the same thing, nothing was wrong with her jaw...but her mouth was too crowded for her teeth, so phase 1 braces would be less invasive and do what she needed done. She only has them on the top right now and they are using the braces to move her teeth to allow for the others to come in properly. A palette expander can be painful, so glad we went with the braces.

I would never not fix my child's teeth unless the child flat out refused. A nice smile IMO is a good first impression and like a pp poster said about bad teeth being associated with poverty is the way society works. Many people with bad teeth(at least the ones I know) don't smile much and are self conscious about their smile. I think it can make people less confident and that can be very obvious especially in an interview when they are older.

 

[nugov2]

I would not get braces that early. My DD is 8 and I have been told to take her to an orthodontist, something I refuse to do. Several of her classmates have braces, but I am reminded of my sister, who had a giant gap in her teeth when she was 8, which eventually closed up naturally as she grew up, giving her what was considered a "textbook bite" by age 12.

My parents got me braces at 12 for my overbite, and though I hated them at the time, it was 2 years of heartache for a lifetime of nice smiles. Very happy my parents did it for me.

I am guessing those kids do not have braces at 8 because of a simple gap between their front teeth and the reason is crowding or other issues that make it difficult for their adult teeth to grow in properly. There is no financial benefit to the Ortho to put braces on before all their permanent teeth come in unless there is a valid reason for them. Otherwise, they will be putting them back on again later and as I stated in my pp it is the same cost(at least at all the orthos I saw) to do braces once or as a phase 1 and 2 plan. Unless, you think they are putting them on at 8 just to try to lock people into getting braces, but I highly doubt dentists would be recommending it since they don't see a dime of the money(unless you think they get a kick back?)

 

[Annadesu]

I had a bit of crowding with my teeth, on the bottom. I also had a bit of an overbite. I never got braces because my parents flat out refused to pay for it. lol

Are my teeth perfectly straight and white? No. Does this cause problems with my quality of life? No. My smile looks good, I've never had issues eating...

I guess my suggestion is this: If it's JUST cosmetic, ask your kid what they want to do. Explain to them what will happen with each choice, and then let them think about it for a while. If it's something you need to do because it could cause health problems later, then yeah. Just do it.

 

[Dawnlight]

I'd look first to not using the retainer as the issue for shifting teeth. Both of my DD's had braces for different issues and both continue to have great teeth that aren't shifting because they use their retainers. My brother had braces and refused to continue his retainer and regrets that choice because his teeth have shifted.

I had and used a retainer for several years after the braces; I don't remember the exact length of time, but I followed the doctors orders as proscribed.

 

[disney is my life]

I was like you when I was told dd17 (14 at the time) was going to need braces. I thought about it for a long time and asked dd what she thought. When I asked her she didn't think about it she immediately said she wanted them. She did end up getting them and honestly they were worth every penny we spent on them. She didn't have horrible teeth but they bothered her enough that when she took pictures she would smile without showing teeth. Since she got them off she now smiles with her teeth and is so much happier with her school picture. She just had her high school graduation pictures taken last week and she told me there is no way they would have turned out as nice as they did had she not gotten braces. She didn't have any problems with discolouring but she also stopped using whitening toothpaste while she had them.