orthodontics and 7 year old

[cilantromapuche]

DS, just 7, was referred to the orthodontist because of severe crowding (he has a small mouth) and overbite. The plan is to wear an expander for 2 years. Is there any benefit to waiting later to start, since there will be a gap between when he needs braces or just bite the bullet and do it now? Any other advice?
He has suddenly turned very expensive between this and expensive allergy treatment.
sheesh!
c

[cchavez]

no advice but just subscribing b/c ds7 also has similar issues.

[HIU8]

DS has overcrowding and a small jaw and an overbite. I'll be watching this thread b/c he will need orthodontia. Heck, I wore a retainer for 2 yrs, braces for 4 yrs and a retainers for 6 yrs after. I certainly hope there are other options than just that for DS.

[smilequeen]

There is a very big advantage to starting now. Doing orthodontics in phases is typically the ideal. The expander would mean that his palate is too narrow. At 7 it is easier and more comfortable to expand his palate. At 12, it would be difficult and more painful and might even require breaking the midpalatal suture. Then you'd still have to deal with the braces and his teeth would be even MORE crowded b/c it would be all permanent teeth rather than a mixture.

[cilantromapuche]

Thanks that makes me feel better. He did mention that his bones are softer now.
The office is so plush, that I wonder how much is true and how much is BS to get you in. He has raffles for limo rides, ipods, etc. all the time. treats and a fridge for kids to get juice. I would rather that he skipped the luxury and knocked down the price a little.
That being said, DS is VERY excited to go back!

[Andi98989]

My sister started in an expander in kindergarten; I know she had an upper one and I'm pretty sure that she had a lower one later on; had those for several years. She was in retainers for a couple of years after that and the had braces for a year or two. It was all done by 8th grade. Her mouth was a *mess*

[cilantromapuche]

I was talking with a friend and she recommended an orthodontics school. I called and it has a bit of a waiting list but is $1040 vs. $3800! Even though it is a drive I think we are going to go for that instead. Then we can get the braces done there as well. Just knowing that DD (who is 4) is down the same path makes me want to get in the program.

[chays]

why don't you go for a second opinion?

[egoldber]

FWIW, my older DD just had an orthodontia eval yesterday. We were quoted $3280 (slight discount for cash) for an expander for 6 months and braces for 6 months, total timeline about 12 months. This is for "Phase 1" orthodontia. Expander only on upper and braces only on top front 4 teeth.

[WolfpackMom]

Originally Posted by chays

why don't you go for a second opinion?

I second this. I had a molar pulled and a spacer put in at age 6 because the dentist insisted to my parents that I was going to have overcrowding issues and that my molar was coming down early so we needed to get the baby one out of the way. Once the spacer came out I spent 2 years with a big ole gap where that molar was supposedly coming in early and then once I got braces at age 11 they closed up the extra space that had been created. It was a whole lot of pain and money for nothing.