Too Young for Braces?

I actually did have braces in second grade for the first time, so must have been around 7 or 8. It isn't as uncommon as you think. Very expensive, but not uncommon.

Hi L.,

My name is D.. I got my braces when I was 9 years old, but mine were not to make room, mine were medically necessary. I was not able to close my mouth. I personally do not see that as medically necessary, but whatever, I also got them off when I was 11, and was done with them. However, do to my teeth moving so much, I was supposed to wear my retainer for the rest of my life. Notice I said supposed. I lost it years ago. lol

I hope this helps some how. Good luck!

D.

Dear L.,
I've been in the dental field for 13 years including orthodontics. I think its a very good idea to begin the early phase orthodontia. Starting the process early on can save a lot of time and perhaps even more expensive procedures in the future. Usually if they start this early they are trying to save your from having to put your child through orthodontic type surgeries, which are sometimes required to acquire ideal jaw positioning. Who is doing your daughter's ortho?

My son was in 1st grade when he got his first phase of braces. His mouth was too small for the amount of teeth. He had teeth growing everywhere but where they were supposed to. As a result when the adult teeth would have came in, they would have rubbed up against them and ruined the adult teeth.

It was the best thing I could do for my child. He did not have to be teased about his teeth, and he has a great smile!!

Hi L.,
I can totally understand where your coming from My daughter got her first phase of Braces when she was 10 years old and has two years to wear them. She has had them on since December of 2008. She also has to wear Head gear to pull her top pallet back to aline and correct her bite. She also had to many adult teeth and 12 years molars coming in which was pushing her teeth ever which way and was causing eatting, grinding teeth and talking issues. Since January 2009 I have seen a major diiference and correction in her smile, eatting a the total dofference that the braches and head gear has made. She now has her teeth trained (as the Ortho Says) to allow her adult teeth settle the right way. She has come a long way and i will have to say I was scared and saying no at first but, I am so happy that I went forward and had the whole Braches & head gear procedure done. Every month that she goes to the Ortho it is a shock on how much it has changed her and corrected her beautiful smile.
Also My son is 6 yeas old and has had the exact issues and problems as my daughter did. He has had his braces on for 2 months now and has made amazing progress too. He is wearing a bottom pallet retainer to pull his front bottom teeth back into where they need to be. It really amazes me to no end on how these procedures can change their whole apperiances. They even have a better out look on how their smile is. My son has braces only on the top pallet until feb 2010 then after the retainer is done correcting the bottom pallet then he will have a full set of braces on top and bottom for 8 months.
I use a very well respective, honest, great priced Orthodonist in tempe, az. his address is 2626 north Rural Rd. His name is Dr. John D. Jones here is his phone number ###-###-####. He is terrific and awesome with ever and any age groups. He came highly referred to me by my children dentist and I drive from N.w Phoenix to tempe one day every month and it only takes 25 minutes. for both of my children services with Dr. Jones is only $9000.00 Including sibling discount.
Yes they do start early now days for Braces but to tell you the truth, With all the hormones that is put in the school dairy products and how fast our childrem mature it doesn't amaze me at all. You can tell the Dr.s office that I did referr you and good luck to you. If you would feel more comfortable talking to me more about this please feel free to email me back ____@____.com.
Thanks
M.

I have heard of the 2 phasing as my daughter never went through it but Ifeel your cost is crazy speciallyif insurance is paying for some of it.. My oldest has braces & with insurance I pd $1500. I have now took my youngest in to see the Ortho & it to with insurance is only $1500 so please if you can I would get a second opinion & price...

I do see kids this young with braces but I too would get a second opinion. I just don't see any point paying all this money when all her teeth aren't out yet. Its not like having braces earlier is better even at 12 they still do their job to straighten teeth! LOL If my kids need braces I just plan to do it before they hit high school.

Definitely do both phases. Orthodontics has changed a lot since I had braces as a teen, and it's for the better. I have 2 teens finished with braces and one left to go, and I've found that the "pre-work" they do to prepare the mouth, jaw, teeth and upper palate are essential to the success of the straightening. Making room for all of her teeth to come in is very imporant and will make the straightening easier and hopefully in less time. You can also possibly avoid extractions by doing this as well. Anyway, I wish they had done this stuff to me when I had braces, I'm sure I would have had a better experience - and my teeth have shifted since then! Listen to the ortho - he is completely right. If you're worried about the price, shop around and compare different orthodontists until you find one that fits your budget.

I got my braces when I was in 5th grade. By the time I was in 8th grade, they were off! But I only did one round of braces. I believe I had all of my adult teeth.

It really depends on your daughter's circumstances. At our dentist's recommendation, I started taking my daughter to the ortho at age 7. I found two that I liked, and took her every 6 months for a "growth check". This is where the ortho takes preliminary xrays, watches how the teeth are coming in and makes any recommendations for treatment. All of these growth checks and xrays were completely complimentary. One of the orthos recommended stage 1 braces at age 9, but they were very clear that this first treatment was completely optional for her. Why would you put a child through the pain of braces, not to mention the cost, for unnecessary treatment?!?

We chose not to do stage 1, but we did do space maintainers (not free) when she lost her last baby teeth. Your daughter's case may be much more serious and require both stages for optimal outcome. I would always get a second opinion, and be sure to do price comparisons.

Our daughter finally got her braces at age 13, and Dr. Jack Wright in Mesa was much less expensive than another ortho. Plus she received an Ipod touch the day the braces were put on. She was thrilled.

I don't think 2 sets of braces would be needed. My daughter just had a palate expander to make room for the adult teeth and then got her braces on once the ortho felt we had enough for the teeth she needed. We did end up removing 2 teeth from the top and 2 teeth from the bottom but her dad and I both had this done at a her age so I assume that is a common pratice.

I can't say much as far as Phase 1 and Phase 2 of braces go, but as a teacher of children up through 5th grade, I think the earlier you start with braces, it could be easier on the child. I think about the possibility of not having to wear braces throughout high school. . . Good luck!

When we were young, orthodonists could only straighten the teeth we were given. Now, they know more about the developing mouth and can actually expand jaws and make the mouth better but they have to start young - before these bones fuse in their adult shapes forever. My son is also nine and his dentist recommends waiting one more year but I will probably take him for a consultation soon because he inherited my jaw line and I didn't have enough room for all my teeth. It is nice to know that they don't have to pull alot of adult teeth now - they just make the room for them. I know it is hard to accept the changes sometimes but by all means get a second opinion and do what you feel is best for your child.

I personally had braces when I was in 1st grade. I had what they called a "mature" mouth. I had started losing baby teeth at age 3 and had a good majority of my permanent teeth by 1st grade. That being said, I'm not familiar with the concept of Phases with braces and to me it sounds like a way to make money unless your daughter has an unusually tiny mouth that's crowded or has very crooked teeth. Even in that case, they use to put spaces in to prepare for the braces and I would imagine they still do something similar. (Mind you I had braces 24 years ago! Wow, that makes me sound old!) Anyways, I'd think about getting a second opinion which would be a lot cheaper than two phases of $4,500! I would also factor in your daughter's maturity and ability to properly care for braces at age 9.

Both of my children were recommended phaseI and phase II braces. After Phase I came off they had to wear retainers everynight. Then when it was time for phase II my son did not need it. We didnot need any teeth pulled and both had braces off before starting high school. They both have beautiful smiles and we are so glad we did.

I admit I was skeptical too when the idea was first presented to us for my then 7 yr old daughter. We just completed phase one and are very pleased! My daughter is really happy as well. She had a ton of crowding and I think it was really starting to bother her. Plus, at this age, all her friends thought it was totally cool! I'm hoping the next phase goes as smoothly. So far, I have no regrets and I have already seen positive improvements in my daughters self image as well as her bite! Good luck!

I would say that is a little young. I did not have braces until I was a Sophomore in high school because I remember my dentist and orthodontist saying that your teeth are not even settled in your head and finally placed until you are almost in high school. They also said that they have a better idea with what your wisdom teeth will do when you are that much older which is something that can change and effect what they do with the braces treatment plan. There is less chance of shifting and better odds of the expensive work lasting and staying as it should.
My parents also thought that I would be more responsible in taking care of them when I was in high school versus elementary or middle school. A second opinion is worth looking into but it is ultimately up to you and what your child is comfortable with.

I would get several more opinions before you commit to $9000.00 worth of orthodontics. I thought the purpose of Phase I, early orthodontics was to reduce the time (and cost) of Phase II, for those with more sever problems. We have consulted with three orthodontist so far for our daughter and have gotten three differing opinions of what to do. We opted for the more conservative approach with her. She is now 11 and we will be consulting again, to see what if anything needs to be done.
Bottom line is that the best way to be sure is to get multiple opinions. BTW, if they want to charge you for a consult, tell them "No thanks".

It really does depend on the individual circumstance of your child. My daughter had braces in 4th or 5th grade just to pull back her top front teeth (large overbite). The ortho. gave her the choice of waiting to have it all done later when her molars were in or have it done in two phases. She chose two phases because she was being teased. Now she has the phase two braces on, upper & lower. Her friend had the same thing done and she is now in phase two also.

WOW!! 9,000 is a lot for braces!! my daughter had them 1 time only at a cost of 4300 for every thing including her check ups with the orthodontist every year! that even included top and bottom retainers! I will tell you tho my best friend from grade school had them 2 times once for the first time like your ortho suggested and the 2nd time later on, well it did not work!! she had to get them again in her 30's! so instead of just 1 time she had to do it 3 times now, I suggest a second opinion, my daughter only had to wear her braces for 16 months! and they are fantastic! I cant tell you what to do but I do highly recomend the 2nd opinion. that seems like a lot of money to me! Also my daughter got her braces on in 7th grade and off by the 8th! she liked them and it wasnt difficult for her in school at all.

My daughter is 10 and has braces, that went on just after her 10th b-day. The ortho said she'll probably need them again later on, but that it was necessary to do them now too. Her mouth was way too small. As it is, we didn't get the braces on quick enough (our fault, not the orthos), so we had to have an emergency dental appointment to remove a couple of teeth. Her mouth was so crowded, that the adult teeth, that hadn't come in yet were dissolving the roots of the teeth next to them. Long story, short..... she ended up with a really bad infection due to this issue. I completly trust our ortho to do what is right, as when I took my son in for his exam, the ortho told us that yes, there is work that could be done, but he would not recommend it, as it is not imperitive that it be done and although he could do it and make money it is not necessary and he won't recommend doing something just so he can make money. If you are interested in having a second opinion on your child.... our ortho is: Dr. Cordon......###-###-####. They are very good, even with kids that are scared of everything. They are very patient too. :)

I was told by our family dentist and confirmed by our orthodontist that you shouldn't get braces until all molars are completely in which is usually 12-15ish. My son at 14 just got his on.
Anyway, I'd get a second opinion because not only is it expensive, it's a lot of time and energy and wouldn't be fun for your child to go through the experience twice.