? about braces

[Dirk]

My dentist recently told us that my 11 year old son has a deep overbite and he recommends braces. He said it's not a necessity but he recommends it. I asked him what could happen if my son doesn't get braces and he really didn't give me a straightforward answer.

From your experiences, do you think I should take his word for it?

 

[Debi]

no. having worked in a dental office, most kids aren't even pushed to have braces until a bit older...and I once questioned why every child suddenly needed them by this magical age of 14. so when it was my son's turn, I said no. like your dentist...it was recommended, not necessarily needed. well...that didn't inspire me to spend thousands and take the chance of the braces ruining good teeth (sometimes happens) not to mention my son had beautiful teeth. he is 29...still has a beautiful teeth. I'd never tell a parent to pass on good care for their child, but I would say to wait a little longer and get other opinions.

 

[sparks19]

I would wait until he is at least around 15 or 16..... he is still growing so much including his mouth. I have always heard that you shouldn't get them on at such a young age because chances are they will need them again later on.

 

[~Jessie~]

I had a horrible overbite when I was younger... I had to get braces when I was 11. However, my parents took me to a few different orthodontic consultations and went with the one we trusted more. My overbite was very obviously bad, though... and the roof of my mouth had to be widened, otherwise my teeth would overcrowd and get pushed out :yikes: I have a perfect bite now, though (after having braces for 3 years).

My fiancee was told he needed braces when he was in elementary school. His parents decided to wait until he was in middle school to look further into it (since everyone in his family has a perfect bite). He ended up not needing braces, so they were happy they didn't go through with them.

Honestly, I would get a few opinions if I were you. Then, if your son's bite looks like something that will eventually correct itself when all of his adult teeth are in(or something that needs growing into), I would wait it out a little bit longer. I've had friends who had braces on when they were in elementary school, and needed them again in highschool/college because they didn't work out right the first time.

 

[sparks19]

Yes just to touch on what Jessie said.... there is a chance that ALL of his molars haven't come in yet. I definitely would recommend not getting the braces until he has all of them.

I got braces when I was 16 and had them for two years.... of course right after the braces came off my wisdom teeth came in so my teeth are less than perfect again.... but they are a million times better than they were. I ended up having to have 4 adult teeth removed to get my braces on.

 

[Lizmo]

How much of an overbite does he really have since it was only recommended?

I have a horrible overbite and got braces a year ago. I'm 14 now. IMO, if I could have gotten braces when I was younger I would have, becasuse they probably could have made some of the problems I have now with my teeth, easier. And I know many, many kids who are 9/10/11/12 and getting braces and do just fine. And have a beautiful bite/smile.

But then again, you might want to wait just so that he is able to handle the pain better. I don't want to scare you, but almost everytime I go to the ortho there is some little kid crying or screaming because there doing something that hurts or scares them while older kids/teens can handle it.

I second the idea of getting a few opinions before making a choice about it, though.

 

[Denaluvscorgis]

I would also recommend waiting until he's a bit older.

 

[Dirk]

Thanks to all for the good advice.

I'm not sure if his overbite is too deep or not. Should i go by how much of his bottom teeth are covered or how wide the gap is between the front upper teeth and the front lower teeth?

 

[sparks19]

Thanks to all for the good advice.

I'm not sure if his overbite is too deep or not. Should i go by how much of his bottom teeth are covered or how wide the gap is between the front upper teeth and the front lower teeth?

It probably could be both but my overbite (which I didn't even know was an overbite until now that it is fixed lol) was just the gap between the top and bottom.

 

[RedHotDobe]

I had an overbite and the dentist recommended braces. He said left untreated, my lower teeth would erode away the inside of my upper teeth. I got braces, but it was the headgear that was supposed to fix the overbite. I never wore the headgear because it hurt, so I still have the overbite, yet my dentist has said nothing.

Unless it's really bad, I'm guessing braces aren't necessary. Mine wasn't fully corrected, and both the orthodontist and dentist haven't mentioned it at all.

 

[sparks19]

I had an overbite and the dentist recommended braces. He said left untreated, my lower teeth would erode away the inside of my upper teeth. I got braces, but it was the headgear that was supposed to fix the overbite. I never wore the headgear because it hurt, so I still have the overbite, yet my dentist has said nothing.

Unless it's really bad, I'm guessing braces aren't necessary. Mine wasn't fully corrected, and both the orthodontist and dentist haven't mentioned it at all.

I was lucky .... my overbite was fixed with just the elastics. but my overbite was just a gap.... it did not come down over my bottom teeth.

 

[happyhound]

Hmm, maybe you should see an oral surgeon as well and get their opinion.

I had a HORRIBLE underbite (which had to be corrected with surgery) and years of braces was really a pre-requisite to being able to have the surgery. My crazy teefs needed to be corrected before surgery.

I had braces on for 5 years though :yikes: ... glad I don't have to deal with that anymore.

 

[Debi]

oral surgeons have nothing to do with orthodontics. and...just as a little sidebar.....those flouride treatments your dentist charge for..pretty much worthless. flouride is in most city water systems. and...having a child dip their teeth in a tray of goop for a second......does nothing. it's just something on your tab.

 

[noludoru]

I had an overbite and the dentist recommended braces. He said left untreated, my lower teeth would erode away the inside of my upper teeth. I got braces, but it was the headgear that was supposed to fix the overbite. I never wore the headgear because it hurt, so I still have the overbite, yet my dentist has said nothing.

Unless it's really bad, I'm guessing braces aren't necessary. Mine wasn't fully corrected, and both the orthodontist and dentist haven't mentioned it at all.

Of course they wouldn't.

I would wait until he is at least around 15 or 16..... he is still growing so much including his mouth. I have always heard that you shouldn't get them on at such a young age because chances are they will need them again later on.

Exactly. I have a friend with this problem. She had braces when she was 11-12, and by the time she turned fifteen she needed them again.. but due to money issues she can't get them now, and she's turning 19 soon.


I have a "severe overbite that will cause trouble as I grow and my teeth will push on eachother" or something to that effect. Funny thing.. it hasn't grown yet. Or in the.. god, how many years now? 4 or 5 at least that they have been warning me it ill grow. The truth is that my overbite isn't severe, it's minimal, and it doesn't affect my way of life. It's comfortable, and if I can still chew and bite people (I mean, uhm.. food..) I'm good.

I never wanted my braces in the first place, and while they have certainly done me some good, I have protested many of the changes the orthodontist has tried to make, because I like my teeth the way they are, so I finally put my foot down several months ago and told my parents NOTHING was going to touch my teeth until these braces are off.

You ought to ask your child if he wants braces.. wait till he's a little older, then present him with the facts, the pros and cons, and give him a month or so to think about it.

 

[OutlineACDs]

A friend of mine has a severe overbite and her top teeth were pushing her gums away from her bottom teeth and causing her a lot of pain. Shes 21 and has had braces for maybe 6 months. Her teeth (while they weren't really crooked to begin with) look good and her gums are healing and she said her mouth feels much better.

 

[Debi]

just be careful of anyone that plays up your concern as a parent. that is powerful marketing......for THEM. soooo much out there is a racket. sorry..but it just is. yes, I do promote YEARLY dental cleanings and checks..cause it's a must for keeping our teeth healthy. every 6 months...uh...no way, unless you have proven gum disease. (diagnosed by a specialist...not your general dentist) and learn to read your xrays...then ask for them and study them.

 

[RD]

An orthodontist said I needed braces when I was 12. My teeth were kinda crazy and I had a slight open bite. 5 years later my teeth are fine, they seemed to straighten and close up a lot as my mouth grew into my teeth.

 

[sparks19]

Even though I desperately should have had braces a dentist never told us that I NEEDED them. I just had severly crooked teeth and when I was a teenager I decided I wanted them fixed. when I was 10 or 11 I did NOT want anything to do with braces or the dentist and no one gave my mom the typical lines "she will need braces or else...."

If your child can eat, speak and carry on normally with life I say it is not nessecary. Let them make the decision if they want braces or not when they are teens and their mouths aren't still growing and changing like it is now.