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Isa in Michigan
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| Posted: Feb 02 2009 at 9:09pm | IP Logged
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My older two children (ages 8 and 9) have a big gap inbetween their upper two front teeth which may necessitate braces at some point. In your opinion, is it better to go earlier or later for an orthodontist's opinion and possible treatment? I'll be very interested to hear what you think.
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Fuzzy
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| Posted: Feb 02 2009 at 9:19pm | IP Logged
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Hello! I have worked as an orthodontic assistant for over 10 years, and this is the best age to come in for an evaluation. There are a number of factors to be considered with kids and their teeth, and it is great to have an idea of what is to come, or what can be done at this time. They may have a large gap, but their teeth may be very large, and may need more space, or the bite may need some work. Sometimes it is not just spaces, and if you can fix the other things before braces, it will shorten the time in braces.
I hope this helps!
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 Fuzzy
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Mary G
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| Posted: Feb 03 2009 at 5:11am | IP Logged
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So far only my older son has had to wear braces but we did talk to the ortho ALOT about it all ... their advice is go have the eval (which is usually free if your dentist recommends the eval) as all have such different mouths, issues, as Fuzzy mentions.
My younger daughter was 7 when hers were evaluated, but that was because her permanent teeth were coming in over her baby teeth -- turns out dh's family don't like to let go of their baby teeth  ! Anyway, the ortho at that time said to have her evaled every year or so until she starts her growth spurt (which as we all know can be anywhere from 10 - 14 or so) and than that's the optimum time for braces ....
I'd go have the eval if you're worried ... but usually you have plenty of time to figure out what needs to be done and how you're going to pay for it all! 
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LisaD
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Go have the evaluation now. We knew our oldest would need orthodontia, and by going early, and getting some treatment now, we are avoiding much more painful and invasive treatment later. DD is 9 1/2, and she got headgear, a lip bumper, and braces on just her four upper middle teeth last May. She has an under-developed lower bite and 100% overbite, as well as significant crowding. If we had waited three or four years, her bones would have "hardened" and we could have been looking at tooth extractions as well as surgery on her palate. This "stage one" of her treatment should last 12-15 months. Then, after the majority of her adult teeth come in, she'll get the full set of braces for 1-2 years.
After just nine months of treatment, the change in dd's entire lower face is absolutely astonishing. I am so glad we took our pediatric dentist's advice and went early. Even my dh, who grumbled about "braces twice," and "paying for the ortho's new car," is convinced we are doing the right thing.
We will take the others for early evaluations, but their mouths are so much bigger than dd's, I doubt if we'll have to do the two-phase treatment with them.
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: Feb 03 2009 at 6:45pm | IP Logged
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I have mixed feelings. I do think there are scenarios where the 2 phase treatment is an absolute necessity. I've also heard stories of orthodontists ripping off patients by insisting on the 2 phase method when it wasn't really necessary.
I have taken 2 in for consultations. The first one has gorgeous teeth but a weird situation with an adult tooth that didn't want to come up. $4000 dollars later they are saying, "Oh, so sorry the surgery/chain on the braces to pull it up didn't work. Now we'll have to extract the tooth and get an implant."  To the tune of another $4000, I might add. I could scream. I wish we had just pulled it at first and did an implant then. We would have saved both money and grief.
My second child was told her teeth weren't bad, to bring her back when she was 12 for the "Hollywood smile." Uh...not my priority, thankyouverymuch.
My third definitely needs braces. She's 9. Her adult 2 front teeth came in behind the baby ones without ever pushing them out.  I am trying to decide if I should take her in for a consult now or later. Frankly, I am not really sure she is mature enough to handle taking care of them, having seen what my 14 yr old went through.
Sigh...my dear hs friend and I often lament that we hate teeth!
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Sarah M
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I'm not looking forward to this part of parenting! I wore braces from the time I was 8 till I was 16- no kidding. I have a hard time believing 8 years was necessary (and really wonder how much the ortho needlessly extended things- my treatment and his pocketbook), but I have straight teeth, so... anyway- best wishes to you! Hard decisions!
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: Feb 04 2009 at 8:43am | IP Logged
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I would go to visit a few orthodontists and get their recommendations.
My dd had braces the first time, when she was 8, she has them again now. I'm not sure she really needed them the first time, but oh well. She was definitely to young....maturity wise to take care of them. Now that she is 13 it is coming much better.
For the boys, the orthodontist we see said to wait until our 11ds has hit puberty. I'm not sure he would say the same thing about our almost 9 ds, he has a big gap between his two front teeth.
If you have options, visit as many orthodontists and you can, find the one that fits with your family best and then trust them.
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Bridget
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| Posted: Feb 04 2009 at 9:33am | IP Logged
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Not to be flip, but we do them as we can afford it. Our 13 year old is in them now and the twelve year old needs them but we just don't have the funds yet. It will be this year. It looks like the nine year old does as well, but he'll have to be put in the queue.
Our orthodontist would like us to start each child earlier, but there just isn't a choice.
Our insurance covers about half.
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Bookswithtea
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I don't think its flip at all, Bridget. We don't do it until we know we have the money for it, either. I think I am going to take my 9 yr old in, just to see what he says...and then I'll ask what the harm is if we wait till she's older, probably.
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: Feb 04 2009 at 1:26pm | IP Logged
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In total agreement Bridget and Books! I hope that we can space the boys out to have only one in braces at a time. And I would not pay for a "hollywood" smile.
When my dd13 was days old, a lactation consultant came to the house to get us on track with nursing. After looking a dd, one of the first things out of her mouth was....start saving now for braces. She could tell they would be necessary just by looking at her jaw.
Also, a ped dentist once said that the little ones with perfect teeth before they start to fall out, are likely to not have perfect teeth when the permanent ones come in. That is very true for ds9.
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Jen L.
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| Posted: Feb 05 2009 at 12:31pm | IP Logged
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Our orthodontist takes an x-ray of the kids' hand.
To my understanding, the x-ray shows the status of overall growth and helps determine course and timing of treatment.
The gap, btw, could be a good thing. With no gap there is no space for the new teeth to move in. To the untrained eye (mine!), my kids teeth looked great with baby teeth but there was no space for the big ones!
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Topic: Best age for braces?
