Bracing Myself About This Page:

[statelady01]

Took both boys to the dentist today and he told me, "Well, Kevin is ready for braces when you are.." Agghh!

I never had braces so I am clueless but luckily Kevan had them growing up so he will be able to walk Kevin P through it- hopefully, our insurance is going to help us out with the cost.

I guess I am just really coming to realize that my first baby is growing up!!!

So here's a question- have you had braces?

[graygables]

I never did, but 16yo DD had *2*, count 'em, 2 rounds of braces...cha ching$$$! I was so glad when she finally got them off, and now she won't wear her retainers. I've decided that she can just pay for it herself the next time! Good luck to Kevin...at least they come in cool colors now!

[Crackers]

For five looong years. I had the worst teeth as a child and now Katy will probably need them. Thank goodness for my HRA.

[vsonnier]

I had braces for three years but it was definitely worth it! Your son will be so greatful for his straight teeth when he gets older!

[snoozy]

I've never had braces but my DD just got hers off about 4 months ago. They were suppose to be on for only two years but ended up being on for 4. Now she wears a retainer at night. What a beautiful smile she has. I regret not getting them for my DS at the sametime but, he had to have so much dental work done before he could get braces. He had 6 wisdom teeth along with a bunch of baby teeth that never came out. His teeth have spread out on their own but he could still use some braces. Now he is 17 and says he doesn't want them. He says he would rather wait until he is an adult and get the invisiline (not sure if I spelled that right). Anyways he is so close to being 18 that I think I will let him make his own decision on this one.

[Diz]

It's so sad when you notice they're growing up. DS #1 is 6 feet at 16 years and DS#2 is dying to catch up - he's about 5'10 at 14.

DS#1 has braces. He had to cancel appointments while he's at WDW. DS#2 needs them. He should be going for the prep work in September.

I've never had braces...I have one tooth that sits back to far and thus some cramping. My parents never gave braces a thought.

[loobyoxlip]

Yep, got them when I was 13. I had those ugly extra "fang" teeth! Yuck! I had them on for less than a year.

[Teddysmom]

I never had them but we just got the same line from Teddy's dentist. Good thing is at least our insurance covers none of the work. I know one boy who will be wearing he retainer if I have to tape it in his mouth.

[DCLFANATiC]

I never had braces, but my 2nd oldest son (who is 16) just got his on. But he had to have all 4 wisdom teeth and 3 other teeth pulled before they put the braces on.

[greystone98]

For 2 1/2 years, Maureen. DS got them almost 2 years ago and is now wearing a retainer at night.

[Teresa]

No, didn't, and DH did not either, but his 2 sisters did (he and his 2 brothers have perfectly straight teeth)
I know what you are going through though. My 2nd just got them. Our insurance is new, so they did not cover anything. Samantha had braces for 2 yrs. Insurance covered $1000. That is the standard. The other $3000 to $4000 is on the parents.
Our orthodontist just LOVES us! Of course, Samantha keeps breaking her retainers, so we get to pay for those all the time, too.

[Jennifer2003]

I never had braces, but I did have to wear a retainer for a few years because I had (have???) TMJ, which means my jaw doesn't line up right.

FOr some reason, though, when I was a kid, I wanted glasses and braces. I got the glasses...

Jennifer

[goofy4goofy]

Nope. When my brother and I were little, the dentist told us we would probably need braces when we were older. He didn't mention it again until a few years ago when he said, "Oh, you should have had braces when you were younger!" Well, thanks for telling me now!!! So, if I ever get them put on, it will be after my dental insurance helps pay for it (I get it in 60 days). I MIGHT wait until next year to go to a Florida dentist for an opinion.

Kelly

[graygables]

I forgot, DD lost her expander retainer the 1st week (put it in a napkin at a tea room birthday party and it got cleared!) The whole family went that afternoon and mucked through the tea room trash, but never found it. Had to pay $400 to replace it and couldn't look at scones for months!

Make sure you have that kind of thing built in and secured!!!

[DopeyGirl]

I never had them, but my younger sister did for 4 years (and hated it!!!) My baby sister has TMJ so she has to wear a retainer as well. Our family is funny when it comes to that stuff . . . I had to have glasses but no braces, youngest sis had retainer but no glasses and middle sis had to have braces AND glasses!!!



I was told when I was 8 that I needed to get braces, but I hadn't even lost all of my baby teeth yet, so my mom said it was a bunch of hooey!!! I'm 27 now and have pretty darn straight teeth, so that dentist can kiss my big toe!!!



The best thing my sister said that there was about her braces is that she stopped drinking dark sodas and now only really drinks Sprite (an occasional Pepsi, but mostly clear sodas!) -- she couldn't chew gum when she had them on and to this day, doesn't chew it!!! She also doesn't eat a lot of chewy candy and steers clear of celery!!! She said having those braces for 4 years and not being able to have a lot of the things she used to have too much of, really helped her "kick the habit"



Not me, I never had braces and I drink my diet coke and chew my orbit gum -- and I MUST have celery w/ peanut butter!!!



for Kevin!!! The time will go by quickly!!!



for you and Kevan!!! $$$$$$$!!!! Yikes!!! Thank goodness for insurace -- braces are NOT cheap!!! I think my mom told me that my sister's braces cost $3500 back in 1994!!!