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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: April 29 2007 at 9:32am | IP Logged
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Lord have mercy on me.
I have two consults scheduled for two different children next week. I cannot shake the feeling that orthodontists are hucksters these days. When I was a kid, it was only really bad problems that were corrected (80's). Why is it that perfect teeth are now a condition of adulthood?
The orthodontist sent over a slick brochure along with the new patient forms (asking all sorts of personal info. that is none of their business, I might add...like I'm going to authorize a credit check before an initial appt.?????  ).
That brochure states that all children should have a consultation by age 7!?!?! and that they start interfering with their mouth/jaw growth often by the age of 9. When I was 9 I was told I might need braces. By the time I was 12, my jaw had caught up with my teeth and I never needed braces. How on earth can they know that my child will need braces at age 7? Oh, and I just love that they have gameboys and play stations chair side (something we do not even allow in our home). 
How do I know if I'm being taken? I feel like I'm going to visit a used car lot!! 
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
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juststartn
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| Posted: April 29 2007 at 9:55am | IP Logged
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Yowch.
Well, I KNOW my dds are going to need them. DH needed them badly and didn't get them, I needed them, and did...and while my teeth aren't perfect, they are FAR better than they were..or would have been (one of my front top teeth would have literally been backwards without them). I got my first set of braces at 7 (and this was in 81, mind you), and got another set in my middle school years...
Both of my sisters had to have them, too...definitely a family trait. Big teeth, small jaws. Goes along with the nearsightedness, the bad skin, etc. LOL
I don't even necessarily want their teeth to be "perfect", I just want them to not look like sharks...which is what my oldest one will look like, unfortunately.
Personally, I'd probably NOT go with Dr Slick Ad with the Game Boys. Mostly because I'd just want "basic" orthodontics--none of that fancy stuff-it all costs me more, whether I need it or not...kwim?
Rachel (we don't do game systems either, so believe me, I know. Shoot, I get snarly about all of the darned DVD players everywhere--as if we can't expect dc to sit still without being constantly visually stimulated...grrrr)
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Married DH 4/1/95
Lily 3/11/00
Helena(Layna) 5/23/02
Sophia 4/19/04
John 5/7/07
David 5/7/07
Ava Maria, in the arms of Jesus, 9/5/08
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juststartn
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| Posted: April 29 2007 at 10:05am | IP Logged
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Oh, I know that my oldest one is going to need a palate expander on the bottom jaw, already(not enough room down there for the teeth she's already got, much less the ones coming in!), and my middle dd will likely have to have one on the top....BUT that (the expander) will hopefully save us money in the long run--make the room NOW, while the jaw is growing quickly, and NOT have to rearrange the teeth once they are already in, iykwim.
Less time consuming and less expensive overall to spread the jaw as its growing than to have to force the teeth around later, iykwim.
Rachel
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Married DH 4/1/95
Lily 3/11/00
Helena(Layna) 5/23/02
Sophia 4/19/04
John 5/7/07
David 5/7/07
Ava Maria, in the arms of Jesus, 9/5/08
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Fuzzy
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| Posted: April 29 2007 at 1:35pm | IP Logged
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Books, do you know anyone who is a patient, or KNOWS the orthodontist that you are going to? Sometimes it is really nice to have someone that you know, who can help you, and make you feel more comfortable.
I used to work for an orthodontist, and it was such a family friendly atmosphere. He and many of the staff attended my parish and it was so wonderful to work there. They also had video games and game boys, but if you didn't have to play with them. Most visits to the orthodontist are once every couple months, which (as my nephews learned) makes the games a novelty and a VERY rare treat, IF they do get to play them. 
I don't think it is not "necessary" to have a consult by age 7, but by that time, there are adult teeth growing in, and the doctor can more easily assess the situation that will come later. The nice part of braces now, is that it is not "just" braces anymore, and it is done in stages. If there is a need for more space, they can do an expander, make room for adult teeth, and if braces are needed down the road, it is much shorter because you have made it easier in the beginning. Rachel said it very well, it saves you in the long run! 
I know I am rambling a little, but I just wanted to let you know that it may not be braces necessarily right away, and just like you, they may see the need, but it may not happen.
I'd love to hear more about the consults for your kids! Good luck!
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Fuzzy
Mom to DS 12, DD 10, DS 7, and DS 4, and DD 1!
Fuzzy Memories
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Philothea
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| Posted: April 29 2007 at 3:06pm | IP Logged
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I know it is very expensive, but if your children need braces and you can possibly afford them, I personally think you should do it. Even teeth that dont "look" that messed up can be crowded tightly enough to cause problems with hygiene down the road (when they can't fit floss between the teeth, etc. -- this happened to me). And if they are visibly crooked, that can cause serious issues with self-esteem and even cause them problems when going to job interviews and things like that. Unfortunately, the world is a harsh judge. We all know that these things do not have eternal importance, they can make life unneccessarily difficult here on Earth and distract us from the things that do matter.
Your children will thank you a thousand times if you follow the orthodontist's advice. Just make sure they hold up their end of the bargain and wear their retainers, keep up with their hygiene, and all that. I ended up with my husband paying for braces as an adult, and I will tell you what the orthodontist told me -- it hurts MUCH more as an adult. I was in nearly constant pain for almost two years. It was worth it in the end, but oh, it was not fun. I don't know how much less it would have hurt as a kid because I never got braces back then, but I can personally testify to my orthodontist's opinion that for an adult, it is no picnic.
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Maryan
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| Posted: April 29 2007 at 3:24pm | IP Logged
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Books --
I was the oldest of a family of 6 girls and 1 boy -- we ALL were told we needed braces and we had absolutely NO coverage and were struggling to get by.
Our family dentist (who was also a family friend) is the one who sent us for a consult. When the results of the consult came back -- we asked our DENTIST-- the one not getting the money from the braces -- what he thought we should do.
He thought everyone but one sister and myself didn't NEED it -- just cosmetic. But felt that my sister and I needed it for spacing. (Some of both of our teeth were sideways). He wasn't sure about my sister waiting -- but he was sure that mine could wait for me to pay for it on my own.
In the meantime, they did pull some teeth to ease the crowding.
Both my sister and I did get them as adults. The upsides of that: we paid for ourselves and we were responsible for all the expensive equipment. It did hurt; I was slightly embarrassed. And when I got them off -- everyone asked me if I got my haircut.
But I knew there was no way my parents could swing it -- I didn't mind waiting. Being able to give something up to help my family was okay to me. That probably depends upon kids, temperaments, etc.
No medical background -- just braces experience in a large family background!
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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helene
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| Posted: April 29 2007 at 8:07pm | IP Logged
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My oldest just started wearing braces this year. Her teeth were EXTREMELY crowded and tight (they bled). I am very impressed with what they were able to do for her. Her teeth all came down already and look perfect...I want them off now! But I guess it takes awhile to fine tune them and firm them up in their new positions. It was hard to take the plunge but it does a lot for her self-esteem and is completely worthwhile.
My son, on the other hand, has one tooth slightly crooked. Everything else is straight with plenty of room. They want to put braces on him and I don't think we will.
I guess it depends how bad the situation is. I agree that braces seem to have changed from a treatment option for some kids to a rite of passage for all. Ridiculous.
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Happy Mom to five girls (20,17,13,11and 4) and five boys (19, 15, 10, 8 and 6)
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Karen T
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| Posted: May 05 2007 at 9:10pm | IP Logged
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All of my kids have large teeth and small jaws. I have been told by every single dentist who has seen them, starting at age 3, to start saving for braces 
With oldest ds (now 14), he lost two baby teeth and one adult came in and took up ALL the space. The remaining adult tooth came in completely in front of the others. I kept asking our dentist if it was time to get a consult with the orthodontist and he kept saying the orthodontists are just trying to see the kids earlier to make more money. We followed his advice and I regret it bitterly. By the time ds did go to the orthodontist, things were so bad that he's been in braces now 4 full years (with no end in sight), including palate expanders for about 6 mos. She told us that if he had come in when he was about 7, he'd have had the palate expanders a few mos, then wait a few years and probably would have only needed the actual braces for 2 yrs tops. And the cost is based on the actual type of treatment, not how many months they are actually in the braces, so we didn't save anything by waiting. In fact, now that we are about to move, we'll have to find a new ortho, and we've already completely paid our old one long ago.
Crooked teeth are not just a cosmetic issue. Sure, if it's mild and doesn't impact the bite, it's probably fine to leave it. But crowding of teeth can cause them to loosen prematurely, prevent adequate cleaning, cause jaw pain due to improper bite, etc.
I would certainly talk to several people and get personal recommendations for orthodontists, but the videogame stuff, while I hate it also, isn't necessarily a bad sign. Most of their patients are children and most children today are eternally connected to some sort of device so it's not surprising to me that they cater to that audience.
By the way, the dentist who told me the orthos are scammers - yeah, he's not exactly near the poverty line anywhere either 
Oh, and orthodontic treatment is much kinder/gentler than it was for me and dh years ago - no more headgear! They also put in spacers between the teeth for a couple weeks before the actual brackets went on, and ds hardly had any discomfort when they were - I remember not being able to eat or even speak much for about 3 days!
Karen T
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Kathryn UK
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| Posted: May 06 2007 at 4:07am | IP Logged
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Interesting to hear the differences in treatment - I have never heard of a child seeing an orthodontist before 10 or 11. My 12dd is getting braces this summer. Thank God for the National Health Service ... all her orthodontic treatment is free, and given the effects of 11 years of thumb sucking I am very grateful for that .
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Kathryn
Dh Michael, Rachel(3/95) Hannah(8/98) Naomi(6/06)  (11/07)
The Bookworm
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: May 06 2007 at 2:56pm | IP Logged
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Hi everyone,
I've been so green lately I've hardly checked the board.
We did have the consults last week. The video games are avoidable.  I knew my oldest would need need braces. He has an adult tooth that needs to be pulled up. I nearly went into shell shock when I heard how much it would be. But I was much relieved to hear him say that my second was a "wait and see" case. He said to come in in about 1 1/2 years so that he could "slightly broaden her look and give her the Hollywood smile." Yeah...right! Like that's gonna happen. He even acknowledged that at worst, she'd have minimal inconspicuous crowding. At least he was honest, though!
Thanks everyone, for sharing all your opinions and experiences. I am so grateful.
__________________
Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: Orthodontics
