Braces advice

[jent]

Did anyone decide not to do braces for their child?

Growing up, I had terrible teeth and there was no question I'd need braces. However, DH has perfect (as far as I can tell) teeth and never had them. For the past few years, it's been DH taking DD to all her dental appointments. We go to a big practice that has both dental and ortho. At one point, they told us she would likely need braces, but "come back when all her teeth fall out" (she is a late bloomer and this was at age 13.5). DH and DD tell me that the dentist didn't bring it up at the last few dental appointments. I decided to make a consult with ortho so I could hear for myself.

So.. the ortho told me we "don't have to do anything at all if we don't want to", but that she does have a severe overbite, and that could cause problems in the future. On the one hand, I feel terrible for waiting so long. On the other hand, as DH points out, her teeth look fine, and she's not having any problems, so maybe the ortho was just willing to sell me a treatment because I asked? I can't figure out why the dentist(s) never pushed for it again in the past 3 years after her first consult. (it's a big practice- I'm not sure if DD even sees the same dentist each time she goes).

This isn't about the cost... if she needs it we are happy to pay.

Planning to go for a second opinion but thought I'd ask here about experiences.

[georgiegirl]

DD (17) didn’t need braces. Her teeth are perfect. Like it looks like she had braces. We did consult ortho several years ago because one of her baby teeth wasn’t falling out and she needed it removed. If the adult tooth hadn’t grown in properly, she would have needed braces and a chain to pull it down. Thankfully it grew perfectly

DS1 (14) doesn’t NEED braces, but he could get them for cosmetic reasons. We haven’t even taken him to the ortho but I’ve asked dentist multiple times.

DS2 is 10 and he’s still getting teeth in, so it remains to be seen. But he doesn’t have major issues that scream “kid needs an ortho appointment.”

I never had braces and DH only had a retainer (he grew up in a different country, so orthodontia was different there.

My sister had a lot of orthodontia (jaw surgery and brace twice) and she’s very much against braces for cosmetic reasons because she now has TMJ and other various issues because of it.


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[niccig]

DS has straight teeth but an overbite. I have a slight one, DS’ is more pronounced. The ortho was concerned that the bottom teeth were hitting the gums of the upper teeth. I asked my dentist about it and she said it could cause issues for him when he was an adult. We decided to do braces as easier when he was growing.

I’d ask what problems the overbite could cause


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[SnuggleBuggles]

Both of my kids were given the option of braces but told they didn't really need them. Both opted not to have them. Their teeth are just fine. They could be more perfect but there is really no reason to go through the time, money or pain for them.

[elbenn]

Would invisalign work to fix it? DS1 had Invisalign and DD has braces and the Invisalign is just all around easier.

[jent]

Would invisalign work to fix it? DS1 had Invisalign and DD has braces and the Invisalign is just all around easier.

Yes- he said both are options for her. Really similar in cost and total time. There were 2 versions of the braces plan, the more aggressive option would be fastest (but more uncomfortable in the beginning). The stepwise braces option would take the longest. Invisalign would be not as fast as aggressive braces but would be faster than the stepwise plan.

Good to know that your family found Invisalign easier. I have heard mixed things, but based on what the ortho said, if we treat, we are leaning toward Invisalign.

Niccig- the ortho did list potential problems down the road with overbite- if I'm remembering right it's how the teeth rub against each other could wear the enamel down. He was very honest (I felt) in saying that it's not known for certain that she could have problems.

[MSWR0319]

DS has straight teeth but an overbite. I have a slight one, DS’ is more pronounced. The ortho was concerned that the bottom teeth were hitting the gums of the upper teeth. I asked my dentist about it and she said it could cause issues for him when he was an adult. We decided to do braces as easier when he was growing.

I’d ask what problems the overbite could cause


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DS1 was the same way. His overbite was so bad that the teeth were hitting the roof of his mouth right where the big teeth got to the gum. He had developed a large bump between his front teeth in the back that was swollen and hurting from his teeth constantly hitting. We had to go get it checked by a specialist to make sure it wasn't cancer. He then told us to come back once the braces were done to see if it needed removed. DS had braces for almost four years. Just got them off. The before and after pictures of his teeth are crazy. His teeth are similar looking (there wasn't much to correct other than some slight crookedness) but his bite has changed his jaw shape so much. The bump is still there. It doesn't hurt anymore before he doesn't hit it. I need to get his appt scheduled to see if we need it removed.

DS2 is now starting to complain about the same area and it's a bit swollen. He's getting braces in June more than likely.

OP - I'd definitely get a second opinion if you're questioning anything. I wouldn't hesitate to get braces to correct only an overbite though. They aren't just to straighten teeth.

[AnnieW625]

If I was told my kid had a severe overbite I would be doing braces or at least getting a second opinion.

Both of my kids had/have braces as did Dh and myself (plus my parents, and I think MIL; FIL has good teeth but his parents probably couldn’t have afforded braces so I don’t know if had them or not), but my siblings didn’t have them.


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[Liziz]

I can't figure out why the dentist(s) never pushed for it again in the past 3 years after her first consult.

I of course don't know the answer to this, but in the past year, I've had conversations with several people dealing with complicated mouth situations where this sort of comment came up, about the fact that they just assumed that since they went for routine dental visits and the dentist never said anything their child didn't need anything. Just saying it to note that just because the dentist hadn't commented on it in the past few visits doesn't necessarily mean that the orthodontist's current recommendation is "just to sell you a treatment", either.

I definitely think a second opinion will be worth your while. If you get similar recommendations (i.e. - they also see and want to correct a severe overbite), I'd lean strongly towards treatment - I think it's an easier thing to deal with as a kid vs. later as an adult, if problems arise.

[ang79]

DH and I both had braces. I could actually use them again because even after wearing my retainers for several years my teeth got to the point where they were shifting during the day and putting the retainer in at night was painful. Dentist referred us to ortho for youngest DD. I also had a consult at the same time. Dentist said DD2 and I have the same issue, very narrow jaw and not enough room. DD1 was with us and he asked if he could check her as well, same narrow jaw issue even though her teeth didn’t look bad at the time (she was 6th grade I think?). He said as she got older her teeth could overcrowd like mine currently are. We did a second consult elsewhere with the same result. We opted to have both of them treated at the first place, as we didn’t want them to experience issues later on. They recommended doing a hybrid approach which meant expanders (DD1 had 1 round, Dd2 had 2 rounds). Then brackets on the front teeth for a short time, then their version of Invisiline to fine tune things. The hybrid cost the same as traditional but didn’t take as long. DD1 didn’t need them as long as DD2 did. They are now both in HS and still wear retainers at night. Once we finish paying theirs off I may go get invisiline for myself because the way my teeth have shifted cause me to frequently bite my lip.


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