Worries over braces

Toothsmith

You can't 'make' a kid have braces.

If they are not 100% committed to having them, then it will be an endless trail back and forwards to the orthodontist with broken wires, lost appliances, broken appliances, teeth not moving due to the kid taking them out when they're not supposed to - in short endless frustration, and a waste of your time, the orthodontist's time and the kid will become thoroughly !!!!!! off with dentistry in general.

Having said all that, I'm sure the OPs kid will come back round to the idea of having braces - especially if he sees Penny Watchers excellent before and after shots of her son.

It is important that he does come back round to the idea as well, now that he has had his teeth out.

But you can never, and should never attempt to force a child to have orthodontics against their will. They can always have it later in life when they realise it would have been a good idea! True - it will cost them then - but better that than turning a kid against dentistry for the rest of their lives.

blonde36er

I had a fixed brace 13 years ago, the cement took patches of enamel off my teeth - mainly the four top front ones - and now every time I smile I see nothing but the marks on my teeth. For me they totally negate any straightening that the braces did. Personally, I'd rather have wonky teeth that I was happy to smile with (like I used to) than the teeth I have now.

If he doesn't want the brace then don't make him have it - if he chooses to pay and have it later in life, then it's his choice (and if he can pay for the brace, he'll be able to pay for any veneers should he need them!)

Toothsmith

The cement doesn't damage the teeth.

Patients not brushing their teeth as well as they should when the braces are on is what damages the teeth.

This is another reason why you need a well motivated kid before doing orthodontic treatment. And why orthodontic treatment should be refused by the dentist if a kids toothbrushing is less than ideal (Which it often is in teenagers!! )

Kimberley

My daughter had braces for three years, her teeth her perfect now and has a lovely smile. She knows it was well worth having the pain after each tightening. Her teeth are not stained or damaged.

I agree with Toothsmith about letting it be the childs choice. My middle son had braces and after 4 months the Orthodontics took them off because he was not looking after them, he told me a few weeks later that he was glad they were off so I think he neglected them on purpose. His teeth were not too bad anyway but I really do hope that my youngest son will have them done and will do anything in my power to keep braces on them because they are very very bad.

lilmissmup

I have a brace now and am 25, had it for a year and will need to have it for another year too.

I totally regretted not getting it done when i was a teenager and refused to have one as its now cost me £2500 to get it done privately!

Its not half as bad as you think it will be, yes its a bit tender to eat for a week after each adjustment but god the improvement in mine has been amazing and i think its totally worth doing.

Good luck with it all.

tizhimi

I had braces. As soon as I had my braces off I started modelling to supplement my sixth form life style and save for uni, having my braces off made me a really confident young lass.

My teeth are perfect and the cement wasn't a problem at all coming off. Tell him that he HAS to have it, other wise he'll regret it when he's in his twenties and smiles at a girl, ewwwgh!

I refused to go out with guys with minging teeth and I know someone that didn't get a job because his teeth were minging. Its so much more important than you would first think.

Yes it hurt - really hurt (bleeding lips, achey teeth) but damn it was worth it!

Penny_Watcher

Kimberley wrote: »

My youngest sons mouth looks like a car crash. His teeth are all over the place and his bottom Jaw sits a lot further back then his top jaw. His Orthodontis checks his teeth every 6 months because he cannot start treatment until all his adult teeth are through. He did mention that after having braces to straighten his teeth he may want to have an operation at 17 to break his bottom Jaw and have it reset to line up properly with his top Jaw.

Has anyone had this done? Has anyone had a child who has refused this operation because at the end of the day the decision will be up to my son.

Our orthodontist also mentioned this when DS1 had his initial check-up. He'd been a thumb sucker almost from birth. This pushed back his bottom jaw and gave him prominent top teeth. DS1's bottom jaw was moved forward using removable twin blocks . It took a while but he started with a 12mm overbite and ended with level teeth.

LJM

my daughter will need fixed braces soon as her teeth have come through alot bigger than her baby ones and has already had to have 2 pulled out to make room and im glad to hear that in my LO's playground the chat is they are ok/semi-cool im glad the stigma isnt there much anymore,would hate the thought of her being teased over them.a parent in the playground i was speaking to said her girl had them in i could hardly see them as they looked so small compared to the ones years ago

beckseven

i'm another adult brace wearer-had a brace from 28-31 train track top and bottom with bands and now have worn a retainer with teeth for 5 years because i refused a brace as a vain 19 year old and also have to have dental implants because of my refusal for the braces earlier . it has taken much longer for my braces to work and also havent been successful because of my age. I have had no staining on my teeth due to cement. Using an interdental tooth brush morning and night as well as brushing stopped any staining. I know you can't make him have the work done but please show him these posts. I wish my mum had insisted I had a brace when i was youngerx

DKLS

My friend, speaks her mind and when her daughter didnt want braces, she said "fine but you will look ugly when you grow up and your job/boyf prospects will be harmed"
Daughter promptly changed her mind.