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07-01-2009, 07:27 PM
|  | Denim God | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sector 001
Posts: 6,655
| | | My boy needs braces :( Advice?
Found out that our 11 year old son needs braces.  My husband had them when he was younger and I think he almost cried when the dentist said our kid needs braces. I never had braces, so I don't really understand. Do they hurt a lot? Are clear ones any better?
I have been looking into Invisalign but obviously need a consult before we go anywhere with any options. We had a consult with one orthodontist, but she was really rude and curt,  so she's off the list.
Does anyone have any advice as to what kind of questions I should ask the orthodontist? And how do you know when you've found the right doctor? Any help/advice would be much appreciated. Thanks! 
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07-01-2009, 07:51 PM
|  | Denim God | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: WI
Posts: 3,192
| | | Not really sure I can help but i did have braces for 5 years. It wasn't bad but i do have a retainer that I have to wear at night for the rest of my life.
I didn't mind the regular braces ... I thought they were actually pretty sweet! lol
I have an old school retainer ... they gave me an Invisalign one a couple months ago but i hate it ... It hurts my teeth so much! ... my only experience with it and I am not a fan.
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07-01-2009, 08:08 PM
|  | Denim God | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Here
Posts: 36,937
| | I don't know why your husband is so upset.  Most people get them, the traditional ones, and do just fine. I'm pretty sure most, if not all, of my daughters will need them. The end-result is well worth it, and they have improved the preparation for braces a lot now. Most orthodontists try to avoid pre-molar extraction (they see the child earlier and extract baby teeth instead, allowing time for growth ad adjustment).
Anyway, it's not too bad; I lived! Biggest mistake I made was not wearing my retainer; having children and just time made my teeth shift some (not a lot, but still). |
07-01-2009, 08:18 PM
|  | Denim God | | Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North Texas
Posts: 5,383
| | i had invisalign, and compared to traditional 'pick food out of them' braces, they were only good for eating. (you could take them out) but I got lazy and left them out a lot. then Id be good - and nothing happened.  I ended up getting more traditional braces (just not shiny metal ones) that worked much quicker.
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07-01-2009, 08:20 PM
|  | Denim Addict | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Catharines, Ontario
Posts: 1,827
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Dojoqueen 
Anyway, it's not too bad; I lived! Biggest mistake I made was not wearing my retainer; having children and just time made my teeth shift some (not a lot, but still). | ditto for me 
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07-01-2009, 08:24 PM
| | Denim God | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sector 001
Posts: 6,655
| | My husband said it was really painful. Maybe he's a wuss.  Or it just seems worse than it actually was.  I've done some research on Invisalign and it seems like people either love it or hate it. Seems like regular braces are probably our best best and will provide the best results.
The regular dentist was really only worried about one tooth being in the way and having to be extracted possibly (a permanent tooth was growing in and a baby tooth not falling out). It has since fallen out and we have to go back to the dentist in a few months to see how his teeth are looking. Both the orthodontist and the dentist said that it would still be a year at least until he's ready for braces. I'm just trying to save my kid as much pain as possible.
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07-01-2009, 08:31 PM
|  | Denim Lover | | Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 323
| | Braces are so worth it! I had the traditional clear ones. I felt like they were less noticeable. They are great if your son can give up a few things, eg dark sodas, red/purple juice, mustard and ketchup. They do stain easily. If you don't take care of them, they turn yellow and look worse then regular ones. Not that regular ones look bad...I think they are cute.
The hurt factor will depend on what all he has to have done. I wore headgear (at night...not to school, thank God), had a spreader, then had braces. The actual braces part wasn't too bad. You're jaw is just real sore for a day or so after you get them tightened, which was about every 6 weeks for me, if memory serves. Its nothing some ibuprofen can't take care of.
I don't really know of any questions you need to ask, that you aren't already asking. Your son probably has a lot of questions...I know I did. I'd say you've found the right ortho when you find one that speaks directly to your son...and one your son is comfortable around. Also, pay close attention to the assistants. They do the actual tightening and after the initial application will spend more time with your son. Again...if memory serves. 
Good luck! He will thank you when hes done!  |
07-01-2009, 08:37 PM
| | Denim Fan | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Buckeye State
Posts: 46
| | | ^
Same here! When I got my braces I thought it was horrific, but a lot has changed now. It seems like all of son's friends have them and they don't complain about them. Just be sure that you pick the orthodontist that you feel comfortable with, that is what my parents did. They wanted to make sure that they could ask questions and that it was easy to get in if I broke anything. |
07-01-2009, 08:56 PM
| | Denim God | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sector 001
Posts: 6,655
| | | Okay, thanks everyone. Hopefully this isn't as bad as I thought it was at first. I will definitely pay close attention to the assistants!
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07-01-2009, 08:59 PM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Flitting about the midwest
Posts: 21,237
| | Did your hubby have the old school ones where you had to have a metal band going around every tooth (as opposed to just having the brackets glued on)? Yes, those would hurt like hell--I just had to have those bands going around my molars, and the spacers I had to wear beforehand sucked. (I had them put on when I was 12) Even 11 years ago, they only did that for a couple sets of molars, and they may now have ways of fitting braces that don't even require those. It's really not bad at all...yeah, there will be foods he'll need to avoid (I popped many a bracket ignoring those rules), but it shouldn't be a huge deal for him, since 99% of his friends will have them too! I also had rubber bands and a huge ass retainer, which I never wore, and now I still have a bit of a residual overbite  |
07-01-2009, 09:42 PM
| | Denim God | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Here
Posts: 36,937
| | RUBBER BANDS!! omg, i just had a flashback.  no night gear though  |
07-01-2009, 09:52 PM
| | Denim Obsessed | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Canada
Posts: 685
| | | ^ those were the WORST. I remember the first few days after a tightening were a painful, but honestly, I was so thrilled to have braces, I would never consider it to be a bad experience. Hopefully your son doesn't have to have them on very long (I had mine less than a year) I was 16 years old though...would have been nice to have them at 11) |
07-01-2009, 10:09 PM
|  | Administrator | | Join Date: May 2006 Location: Westchester, NY
Posts: 34,181
| | | Invisalign cannot be used on children |
07-01-2009, 10:26 PM
|  | Denim Obsessed | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 502
| | | Having the braces tightened sure wasn't comfortable for the first few days after. I can only remember one time where the pain made me cry but I am a weakling when it comes to pain. I hear it helps to take an Advil before going to the orthodontist so it doesn't hurt so bad right after.
Braces were SO worth it... I say that to everyone and I mean it. I wish I had worn my retainer more but I still wear it to bed every now and then and my teeth are fine.
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07-01-2009, 11:04 PM
|  | Denim God | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NEW YAWK
Posts: 8,880
| | | he's 11. When i was his age i would say more kids had braces compared to kids who didn't. |
07-01-2009, 11:35 PM
|  | Denim Lover | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: la la land
Posts: 431
| | Braces aren't too bad. I thought they looked cute  It wasn't painful at all actually. The only painful part was the separators they had in the beginning.. eeeek!! THAT WAS PAINFUL!! But it was only for 2 or 3 weeks or so, which is not too bad. Overall, having braces was well worth it! I hated my smile before but now I always smile with teeth in pictures.
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07-02-2009, 12:36 AM
|  | Denim Fan | | Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 75
| | | I've never needed braces, but I've always had a thing for girls with braces. It's cute. Sorry I can't help with your question, but I just wanted to chime in.
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07-02-2009, 08:16 AM
| | Denim God | | Join Date: May 2006 Location: Houston TX
Posts: 3,422
| | I've always wanted braces but my parents told me no. I'm glad you're doing this for your kids, they may not like it but I'm sure they'll thank you for it later on
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07-02-2009, 08:46 AM
|  | Denim God | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 3,722
| | i only remember braces hurting (and mildly at that) just after they were tightened. Nothing really painful, just a little jaw soreness. It was worth it though, and I used the think it was totally cool that I got to pick my rubber band colors |
07-02-2009, 03:35 PM
| | Denim God | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NEW YAWK
Posts: 8,880
| | | I used to get cut up on the back sides of my mouth. loved that wax. |
07-02-2009, 03:48 PM
|  | Denim God | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: small town GA
Posts: 14,338
| | | Braces hurt, but it's not bad. Mine hurt two days after they were put on and every time they were tightened. I downed a couple of Advil and ate soft foods and that was it. The end result very worth the two years I had to wear them.
And the pain? It's more like discomfort. And I had to wear the thick rubber bands AND headgear at night!
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07-02-2009, 04:00 PM
| | Denim Addict | | Join Date: May 2006 Location: Berkeley
Posts: 1,927
| | | Perfect teeth = totally worth it.
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07-02-2009, 04:11 PM
| | Denim God | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Here
Posts: 36,937
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by lilcram I used to get cut up on the back sides of my mouth. loved that wax. | I remember that too. It took a while for that to heal too. Quote:
Originally Posted by Rivkah Perfect teeth = totally worth it. | Absolutely. |
07-02-2009, 04:47 PM
| | Denim God | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sector 001
Posts: 6,655
| | I'm so glad to hear all of your experiences! It really makes me feel better about him getting braces. A little discomfort or pain will really be worth the end result.
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07-02-2009, 07:37 PM
|  | Denim God | | Join Date: May 2009 Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 3,359
| | I think braces are well worth it and it's better to do them now while he is young. I got mine the first year of high school, how horrible for a teenager. lol But whatever.
I had metal braces and also had the invisalign (as a retainer after on top). I have a permanent retainer on the lower teeth, hate it but used to it.
The braces do hurt when they are first put on and everytime they are tightened. Also, I had to use rubber bands which also hurt the first couple days. And as many noted, they do cut up the inside of your mouth at first. It just takes some getting used. But absolutely well worth it in the end IMO. | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
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