How to tell 7 y.o. she needs 6 baby teeth pulled?

[Anonymous]

Poor kid just got a palate expander last week. At that appointment, the orthodontist handed me a scrip to have 6 baby teeth pulled. I've already had to tell she needed her frenulum clipped and this palate expander put in. I am just at a loss about telling her about her baby teeth. I am not sure I can handle any more orthodontia.

[Anonymous]

I'd think up a reward system for each session. If she toughs it out each time, she can do or have X. After the whole thing is done, I'd do something big. (Trip to an American Girl store, maybe.)

[Anonymous]

Is this massive orthodontia on young children a new trend???

My friend had almost all of her 6-year old's baby teeth pulled---suggested by dentist so they would grow in straight...then he put him in braces a year later..2 years into this nightmare now. The poor kid is always complaining he can't eat. The kid's teeth did not look bad.

My kids go to the dentist I have been going to for 30 years. he does nothing but clean them--4.5 and 7. My 7 year old has lost two baby teeth so far on his own. I would be supicious and get a second opinion if I had a dentist requesting this much orthodontia this early. My sister, bro and I didn't even need braces. I wonder if a ped dentist today would have pulled all of our teeth today.

[Anonymous]

I had 8 adult teeth pulled due to crowding before my braces were put on. That was in the early 1980s when I was 11 or 12. I think early intervention is more recent and had it been more common when I was a kid, maybe I could have kept some of those teeth.

My DD seems to have inherited my crowding issue so I'm interested in the replies to OP.

[Anonymous]

OP, can you get a second opinion on this? I'm not saying your dentist is not right, but it just seems so extreme to have 6 baby teeth pulled at 7 when they should be falling out soon on their own. Is she in pain?

[Anonymous]

Which ortho? Did they tell you that when you had a consultation?

My 9yo has lost only 8 baby teeth. This story makes me want to delay orthodontia for a couple more years.

[Anonymous]

The poor thing! I would want anesthesia and any American Girl Doll or Lego set she wants after.

[Anonymous]

Our dentist said that one of our kids will probably need this done, she has a smaller jaw and the doc anticipates she will need space to let all the adult teeth grow in without crowding.
DH has a bite problem that was never addressed, while I just have a couple slightly snaggly teeth from never having braces.
How much are braces going to cost us, anyway? are we talking 3 grand or 10 grand?

[Anonymous]

I lost my last baby tooth in the 9th grade. I was 14.

[Anonymous]

I had 12 baby teeth pulled at age 9 for orthodontia. My mom had it done in one session. Her theory was that I would never go back if she split it up. I can honestly say it was ok. Not my favorite experience but not painful and recovery was quick. My DDs inherited my failure to timely lose teeth and have had numerous baby teeth pulled also. Having watched as an adult it's usually extremely quick and the lidocaine is the worst part. Sorry your DD is going thru all this!

[Anonymous]

Why does a 7 year old need 6 baby teeth pulled? Her baby teeth will barely have started to fall out on their own yet.

Is this a new cosmetic - kids must have perfect teeth trend?

[Anonymous]

OP, get a second opinion. I had eight teeth removed as an adult (small jaw) and then moved, and went to a different orthodontic practice I understand now that I probably didn't need to have all those teeth removed; the new orthodontist (recognized as one of the best in the field; at a major university) was careful to say that while tooth removal in my case wasn't per se unreasonable, he wouldn't have done it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lost my last baby tooth in the 9th grade. I was 14.

I still have one. I'm 27.

[Anonymous]

OP please get a second and third opinion.

I had 4 teeth pulled but only after I turned 15. We waited until nature didn't do its job.

[Anonymous]

Why on earth now as a 7 year old?

I understand that some kids have crowded jaws, but at that age her mouth hasn't finished growing yet.

And if she gets braces now, will she need a second set in a few years?

I would get a second opinion. This new trend of putting braces on 6 -8 year olds seems like a scam to bilk the parents out of money that is not necessary at that age.