Orthodontist wants to wait for tween to stop growing. Is that normal?

[Anonymous]

DS 14 has been with ortho since age 9. We've already paid the fee and maxed out lifetime ortho insurance. He had a "turtle" palate expander already and that's been fine. Now they are saying they want to wait until his jaw has stopped growing, so maybe 18 years old to start straightening treatment. What next? They want to wait for wisdom teeth and then dentures to be really sure? Is this normal?

[Anonymous]

I cant say what's normal or not, but my teeth ended up shifting in my teen years and it kind of feels like all the ortho work was pointless! I'm sure it wasn't and I'm still better off, but I can absolutely see why they may want to wait for some things.

[Anonymous]

No this is clearly not typical as every middle school is filled with kids in braces and high schools/college are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cant say what's normal or not, but my teeth ended up shifting in my teen years and it kind of feels like all the ortho work was pointless! I'm sure it wasn't and I'm still better off, but I can absolutely see why they may want to wait for some things.

Your teeth shifted because you didn't wear a retainer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No this is clearly not typical as every middle school is filled with kids in braces and high schools/college are not.

+1 never heard of this, is this a new approach maybe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No this is clearly not typical as every middle school is filled with kids in braces and high schools/college are not.

+1 never heard of this, is this a new approach maybe?

The pendulum has totally swung to getting them in braces as young as possible once adult teeth are in. I've asked my ortho about this. Their mouths are more pliable at this point. I asked her why any kid in high school would have braces and she said barring some extreme issue with super late adult teeth (which happens), it's usually the parents just didn't bring them in any earlier.

[Anonymous]

Get a second opinion, maybe?

My DS didn’t start ortho (minor corrections) until age 16.5. He was a very very late bloomer though- is yours? If so, maybe that factors in? Dentist didn’t deem him ready for ortho until then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get a second opinion, maybe?

My DS didn’t start ortho (minor corrections) until age 16.5. He was a very very late bloomer though- is yours? If so, maybe that factors in? Dentist didn’t deem him ready for ortho until then.

I also wouldn't rely on a dentist to tell you when they are ready for ortho. Go to an ortho.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cant say what's normal or not, but my teeth ended up shifting in my teen years and it kind of feels like all the ortho work was pointless! I'm sure it wasn't and I'm still better off, but I can absolutely see why they may want to wait for some things.

Your teeth shifted because you didn't wear a retainer.

Nope, I did wear a retainer. Removeable for the top and a glued one on my bottom front teeth. You don't wear them indefinitely though, and they eventually shifted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No this is clearly not typical as every middle school is filled with kids in braces and high schools/college are not.

+1 never heard of this, is this a new approach maybe?

The pendulum has totally swung to getting them in braces as young as possible once adult teeth are in. I've asked my ortho about this. Their mouths are more pliable at this point. I asked her why any kid in high school would have braces and she said barring some extreme issue with super late adult teeth (which happens), it's usually the parents just didn't bring them in any earlier.

OP here. That was my understanding too. That's why we started consults early and did the palate expander early. We want straightening done and over with. Not when the poor kid is 20.

This is a reputable ortho and they kind of dominate the region. Not sure how to go about a second opinion. I was just hoping someone had the same situation. It's potentially genetic with jaw growth. I don't have this on my side of the family!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No this is clearly not typical as every middle school is filled with kids in braces and high schools/college are not.

14 is already end of middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cant say what's normal or not, but my teeth ended up shifting in my teen years and it kind of feels like all the ortho work was pointless! I'm sure it wasn't and I'm still better off, but I can absolutely see why they may want to wait for some things.

Your teeth shifted because you didn't wear a retainer.

Nope, I did wear a retainer. Removeable for the top and a glued one on my bottom front teeth. You don't wear them indefinitely though, and they eventually shifted.

Yes, actually, retainers are supposed to be worn indefinitely. They should also be updated every few years. The teeth will move if a retainer isn’t being worn most nights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No this is clearly not typical as every middle school is filled with kids in braces and high schools/college are not.

High schools are absolutely filled with kids with braces. Tons of high schoolers have braces.

[Anonymous]

I know many older teens with braces and I see young adults at the orthodontist office. My dc didn't start braces until 16 for many reasons, yet his alignment is going just fine. He has classmates who have braces or invisilign and no one really gaf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cant say what's normal or not, but my teeth ended up shifting in my teen years and it kind of feels like all the ortho work was pointless! I'm sure it wasn't and I'm still better off, but I can absolutely see why they may want to wait for some things.

Your teeth shifted because you didn't wear a retainer.

Nope, I did wear a retainer. Removeable for the top and a glued one on my bottom front teeth. You don't wear them indefinitely though, and they eventually shifted.

Yes, actually, retainers are supposed to be worn indefinitely. They should also be updated every few years. The teeth will move if a retainer isn’t being worn most nights.

The rec for my kid was 12-18 mons. I don't know any kids that wear them indefinitely.