Advice on braces - whether or not have them fitted

ticklepenny_2

When I was 11 I got the choice of a brace, and I had it in for 12 months, it was quite painful but that was because I had to have my top teeth moved over my bottom teeth (underbite me thinks).
Well it hurt like a #!%$* at the time and I was so grateful for ibuprofen, bonjela and ice cubes. But my dentist had decided to fast track the treatment (for whatever reason) and I am very grateful that it wasnt over 2 or more years.
I am also very happy that I had it done and would do it again, infact if I could go back I would have wanted my bottom teeth done as well as it was a cosmetic brace for the bottom teeth my mum said no but I really wish I could have just had it all done at once. 12 months of pain for a life time of gain... and for free.... its all good

LadyMorticia

I had my braces put on just before my 18th birthday. They were done on the NHS because my teeth were particularly bad. I had hideous overcrowding and my mouth was too small for all of my teeth. I had to have four teeth taken out but had to have them taken out under sedation because I'm an incredibly nervous patient.

I didn't mind having braces to be honest. At first they looked weird (to me anyway) because the brackets were all over the place (because my teeth were) but after my teeth started straightening up, they looked fine.:)

There is some soreness after the wires are tightened but it only lasts a couple of days.

I liked the different coloured brackets that were available. I had black and orange for Halloween once.:D

gs1967

I should have had braces put on when I was 15, I had to have two baby teeth removed in the hospital and my adult teeth pulled down.

My parents left the decision up to me and because I'd had such a bad time in the hospital (I was in for 2 nights and then had another night in when the stitches came out because I bled so much) I decided not to have them fitted.

I really really regret it now. They didn't look too bad when I was younger but over the years one tooth has become more and more prominent. I've lost count of the number of times the inside of my lip is cut because it rubs against it, or I've cut my kids head's when they've accidently knocked into me.

I hate them, Hate hate hate. But there's no way I can afford to get them done now.

lola34

I was in primary school when I got my braces, had to have teeth taken out on the top to make space and had the braces for quite a while I have to admit, it absolutely killed at first as it starts to move the teeth, my only regret was not getting braces on the bottom, definately worth it in the end to have nice straight teeth.

Griizelda

My 12 year old has removable plates which are being used to move his jaw (to create more room and possibly avoid having to have two teeth removed) before the track braces are fitted. We were told that funding is much harder to come by now and is not available in all cases that are referred (he qualifies). This would suggest that your daughter actually needs them. And probably the most telling part of your post was the fact that your daughter "hates" her teeth.
To start with my son wasn't keen on having braces etc, but even tho' we're only on the first stage, he can already see changes (and now recognises the longer term benefits).

I also had braces when I was younger - unfortunately only one tooth was taken out, when it should've been two. This meant one of my front teeth moved out again and for a long, long time, I smiled with my mouth closed. I had work done as an adult (in my 30's), and to make room four teeth were filed (they were made a bit thinner) before I had a removable brace. That was the best decision I have ever made. I now have fairly straight, even teeth and I smile properly!

Penny_Watcher

ailuro2 wrote: »

DH is not for it as he sees it as purely cosmetic, thinks she is beautiful as she is (which of course she is:)) and doesn't want her to go through all that pain just for vanity. .

Remember straight teeth with no gaps, nooks and crannies are much easier to keep clean and run far less risk in the long run for getting decay in those areas. So says my friend the dental nurse.

DS1(15) and DD2(13) have both had/are having fixed braces and the difference has been amazing. We're having to pay for DD2 because she didn't quite fit the NHS categories of need (even though half her bite was inside out) but it will make such a difference in the long run.

So not just for 'vanity' but for health too.

little_miss_messiah

Hi

From the age of 11 or so I had to go to an orthodontist every 6 months due to my crossed over front teeth and generally overcrowded mouth.

They umm and ahhed until the tender age of 15 yrs and 8 months hoping they would sort themselves out (just about to leave school - venture into college and dare i say it the pub)

I went through trials and tribulations of 5 teeth removed, adjustments every quarter and not being able to get served in the pub , snogging was a challenge and I earnt a whole new raft of nicknames.

However I can honestly say I am so grateful for having them done, although would have liked it to have happened at a younger age. The feeling of walking out after having them removed was unsurpassed in my life at the time - EVERYONE gets a smile off you for at least a year - and it didnt scupper my romantic chances as it turned out - I met my hubby at 17 and am now married to him almost 20 years on.

I understand these days it is very difficult to get braces on the NHS so I'd deffo reccomend it for all the benefits above, also it makes you MUCH more aware of your general dental regime, I havent had to have any dental work at all done since I had them removed - a very wise investemtn in the future

One thing - the adjustments do end up with soreness for a few days - I was unable to eat solid food so it was soup and mash - so Dad always took me for my fave lunch before the appointment as a consolation - followed by a damned good brush

ljaneyr

I had one tooth out at 11 because my mouth was too crowded but my teeth still came through crooked on one side. When I was 13 (I think) the dentist asked if I wanted them straightened but as they weren't too bad I said no. Then at 17 the wonky teeth had actually got a bit worse and my dentist said this is the last chance for you to have it done on the nhs. By that time and I was quite self conscious about it so I said yes.

Anyway back to the thing about taking out teeth. I had 2 more out on the right, the molars next to the canine teeth on top and bottom. They use the space created to straighten out the teeth so you are left with no gaps. I basically had too many teeth in my mouth so there really is no problem losing a few. Also your teeth can get worse when wisdom teeth come through and take up even more space.

I eventually got them off on the day before my 21st birthday and my advice would definitely be to get them done and get them done asap. She won't miss any teeth that are taken out and I was so self conscious having braces when I was older and starting to go out etc so I would much rather have had them done when I was still at school. Even so I have never regretted them and there is nothing like the feeling when you get the braces off and your teeth are perfect!

Ladyhawk

Do it, do it, do it!! So what if it is only for vanity? It will definitely give her confidence to look people in the eye and smile.

I had tracks on as a teenager and have straight top teeth - I would have straight bottom teeth but i stood on my plate a week after my tracks were taken off and I was too scared to tell my parents so the bottom ones slowly moved back to kind of where they were.

I have very small teeth and large gums (YUCK) so when I smile you see quite a lot of gum. When I was about 16 I had some of the gum cut away to make my teeth look bigger. Anyway, even after that I am still soooooo self concious about my smile. I have a really high profile job with a lot of responsibility and even now I often can't quite meet people's eyes or smile properly because I am always wondering what they think of my smile.

ailuro2

Update!


Many thanks to everyone who responded,:D DD has decided to go ahead and get the braces fitted, she will have her two teeth out separately in June, then we are on holiday in July, but I have a further week off just me and her at the beginning of August so I have arranged today for them to be fitted then.

Tracks top and bottom, hopefully they will let her take an ipod or something to listen to while they are fitted, I imagine it must take a while.

I think I'm going to cry when I see her first though, she won't be a little girl anymore, she will be more like a teenager.:o