Crapicola
That’s what I’m thinking. Crapicola. Sounds like a weird deli meat, but it’s one of our ways of swearing around here. Why would I be swearing, you might well ask? Because at Maya’s orthodontist appointment the other day, we discovered that she’s going to need a second round of braces. Can we all say it together this time? “CRAPICOLA!!”
1st, $4,000 is a lot of money. I mean, we paid it the first time, and now to have to pay it AGAIN blows.
2nd, I had braces, and it hurt like hell (personally, I think it’s worse than childbirth, because with childbirth, you don’t have to go back every few weeks and have them put you in pain AGAIN). I don’t want Maya to have to go through that again.
3rd, her smile is BEAUTIFUL. Her teeth look GREAT to me, so why would she need braces again?
These are the questions I harranged poor Ted with when he came home with the bad news, as if he had the answers, as if HE were the one who made the decision, not the orthodontist. Poor Ted. He suggested that I call and talk to the orthodontist, and ask him my questions. So, because Ted is usually right, I did. The orthodontist said that while her teeth are 152 times better than they were when she first started ortho several years ago, that the expander that she wore and the braces she suffered through and the neck gear she continues to wear every night have done a GREAT job of improving her alignment and her bite, they have to wait until the 12-year molars come in to fine tune everything. And yet, if they had waited until the 12-year molars came in to START the process (old school ortho), she might have lost some permanent teeth, because the expander made more room for those teeth to come in. Also, her overbite was so bad that her top and bottom teeth didn’t meet, and thus she couldn’t bite food very well, as the bottom teeth were meeting the top of her mouth. OK then. What of this fine tuning? How important is it? Is this just a way to squeeze another $4,000 out of us, for something that she doesn’t REALLY need? Are her 12-year molars going to come in and mess everything up THAT badly? No, he says, it’s not that they’re going to mess things up which we then have to fix. It’s that her bite is still slightly off, which cannot be accurately corrected until those molars are in, and if we don’t correct it, her teeth won’t wear correctly as she ages. Especially those ‘eye teeth’, which are otherwise known as canines. Since my canines have been pretty much worn flat by my incorrect bite (too bad we didn’t have expanders when I was 7, or maybe I could have kept all of my adult teeth, and maybe my bite would be better now…who knows), I kind of understand what he’s talking about. But still.
We do want what’s best for her. We do want to give her the healthiest mouth we can, to avoid problems in the future, etc. But is this really necessary? We do have a dentist that we really trust, who back when she was 7 looked in her mouth and told us, “Um, yes, she does indeed need braces”. “When?” I asked. “Today” he said. And as he is not affiliated with any orthodonist, and has nothing whatsoever to gain from it one way or the other, we trusted him. I think we’ll go back and talk to him about this next phase, and see if he thinks it’s worth the time, pain, and money involved. (Her previous dentist had said she needed braces, but as the office was ATTACHED to an orthodontist office, and indeed it was part of the same practice, we were clearly skeptical of their motives, and thus wanted a second opinion).
So…advice out there, from those of you with kids this age, or who went through ‘stage 2’ of orthodontia? Because to me, this SUCKS.
16 Comments
Ml
M’kay, I don’t have any pickney, so I can’t offer advice in that arena. However, I had braces as an adult and because my issues should have been corrected as a child, I have permanent, ongoing problems that will be with me the rest of my life. I’d hate Maya to have to deal with that crap.
But, it’s sooo much freaking money. ACK! Good idea to talk to your dentist about the second round. It may be that Maya won’t need the so called “fine tuning.”
Beenzzz
Man, that sucks! I would be upset too. Is there a way you can get a second opinion or maybe wait it out? I mean that seems like a lot to put Maya through again!
Wendy
I don’t know – I spent years with braces and retainers and all that stuff and you know what? In the end, my teeth shifted back to the way they were – my front teeth were still nice and together but my bottom teeth alignment got all screwy again – I know my parents were pissed! But hell, what can you do? I don’t know if I’d go through it again if I were you (for Maya) but then again, I’m not facing it as a mother (yet!) so this is a pretty useless comment, huh? lol!
kookiejar
I had perfectly straight healthy teeth all through my childhood and teenaged years, but once I had children they started to shift. Same with my husband. If we’d had braces when we were young it wouldn’t have mattered. Your teeth move as you age.
We did not get braces for our boys (even though the dentist thought it would be a good idea), and I still think it was a good decision.
Don’t put Maya through that again.
Maya's Granny
I think having your dentist take a look is a real good idea. The orthodontist has a financial stake in what you do, and it is hard for him to be totally objective and even if he is it is hard for you to be sure about it.
Maya's Granny
PS.
I want a copy of that picture!!!
Autumn's Mom
I just went through this too J. We finally completed our first phase which was about $2,000. That treatment made room for her teeth and they came in straight, which is great. When they removed the last of the metel, they said ok, make your appointment for phase 2. I haven’t made the appointment because I think they are kind of pushy. I’m going to ask her dentist at her next cleaning to see what they think..or I may take her to my dentist. Her dentist is affiliated with her orthodonist in the same office. While, I don’t want Autumn to have problems in the future, I also don’t feel the pressure for her to have PERFECT teeth. And yes, they will shift, because mine did as an adult. I never had braces and my teeth have stood the test of time just fine.
My thinking is to wait it out at this point. If they actually can point out a problem to me then I’ll reconsider. But I’m not willing to put Autumn or my pocket book thru.
Gina
I think that orthodontists can be really pushy, and as people have said (and is the nagging thought in your head) that they have a financial motive rather than the absolute best interests of the patient.
I know that a dentist that saw Hubba-hubba told him he needed adult braces, and listen, that was a total crock. So I tend to be wary about it as well.
Cherry
Crapicola does sound just like my favorite Italian deli meat, Coppacola. đ
I didn’t get braces until I was in high school (old school style), as they wanted to wait for all of the molar business and to remove my wisdom teeth first. Since the wisdom teeth were out, they had more room to work with (or something like that). But I too ended up with the bottom teeth shifting back to a crowded state and they ending up twisted again. Granted I didn’t continue to wear my retainer so I sorta blame it on myself.
I’d say to wait. Wait to see if a problem really comes up, and maybe even let her make the decision when she’s older. Eric’s sister got Invisaligns to help with any shifting she’s experienced as an adult, and she had perfect teeth as a kid, so I don’t think you can really give her a perfect mouth at this age. Teeth shift.
I’m curious to hear what your trusted dentist has to say.
Joan
Wow. Keep us updated. My son just got his braces off last week. His problem was pretty routine. My 10 year old daughter’s teeth are worse. She actually went to the orthodontist before her brother. She’s done the expander and is waiting for braces. Good luck.
Lalunas
I have had dentist tell me Big sis needed braces since she was wee little.. I never saw the need.
ally bean
“and if we donââŹâ˘t correct it, her teeth wonââŹâ˘t wear correctly as she ages”
This point I have some personal experience on. I had braces as a kid and the orthodontist did what was currently the SOP. My teeth looked great.
However, after about twenty years my teeth weren’t right anymore because he didn’t take into consideration the wear and tear on teeth. The result was that one side of my teeth wore down and turned my smile lopsided and my jaw began to ache all the time from the misalignment.
So I had 2 years, 2 months and 2 days more (oh yeah, I kept track ) of braces as an adult. Now I have a pretty smile, even surfaces on which to chew and no jaw pain. I also have a permanent retainer on my lower teeth and a nightguard for life. This is the daily price I pay for not having had my teeth done properly as a child.
How this relates to Maya is that if the orthodontist is for real about her truly needing more correction (good idea to doublecheck that) then I’d suggest that it’d be better to do it as a child than as a grown-up. Adult orthodontia takes longer than child orthodontia and will cost less now than it will in 20 years.
My story, for what it’s worth.
MsMamma
That just sucks. Poor Maya, poor you guys. Sometimes I think orthodontists and certain dentists, like those who graduate from LVDI are overzealous and overpriced.
dew
The orthodontist is in the business of making money. He will tell you whatever you need to hear to hire him for several more thousands of dollars. When my son’s braces were done, the orthodontist told us he should start a whole new round because of his “bite” being off. He showed us a video of people in horrible pain from this “bite.” He talked about how my son would have a more “manly” jawline. After his spiel, I said, “You mean this bite?” And showed him mine. He said yes. Well, I’ve never had jaw pain, never had braces, never had a cavity, etc. Somehow, this dreaded bite my son inherited from me has caused me no problems whatsoever. So we politely declined paying $5000 and two years more of painful treatments for my son.
Jenny
My co-workers son did. He is now 16 and currently in his second faze. I am not sure when he had the first ones on, but I think a bit early like Maya. Luckily I have waited (mostly because of finances) for those teeth to come in before putting my daughter in braces. Also my ortho said it is best to wait so she doesnt have to have a second round. Sounds like I saved my self about $4000. But there is nothing you can do if your kid is like 7 and has such a bite problem you have to put them on early. I am glad you are letting people know so they can hopefully avoid this same issue. Surprisingly my son who is now 13 1/2 still doesnt have all his teeth so he cant even start the process yet. My daughter who just turned 12 has all of hers coming in now and is starting the process. I agree, your dentist should be involved and maybe you dont have to do it again. But like you said it is tough because you dont want her “eye teeth” to be worn down. Good luck.
jay lassiter
my orthodontist was a perfectionst and insisted that I take another lap on the braces bandwagon. my mother told him to go take a flying leap.
20 years later, my smile remains the straightest feature, like, ever.
but just so you know, i wore my retainer religiously for a whole year afterwards.
my advise: don’t do it. insist that Maya ALWAYS wear the retainer.