DS 13 is a nightmare with braces

[Anonymous]

“ I refuse to let him go through life with his teeth like that, though. He has a really bad cross bite and crowding, and are just too horrible to leave alone.”

Is your problem aesthetic or will his teeth cause jaw problems or something? If you are doing this for aesthetic reasons then you should spare the frustration and leave things alone. Perfectly straight teeth are not a life necessity.

[Anonymous]

I had braces for four years, never cared about straightening my teeth, and was totally fine when my bottom teeth moved back -- actually like them better crooked and think perfect and super white teeth look weird and fake. I gave my kid the choice about braces, and he opted in. I would never have forced it. It's not for everyone, and the sensory experience of it IS a lot.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, OP. As others have said, is it a cosmetic issue or is it an underlying health issue? Both of mine had impacted canines that were angled to erupt through the roof of their mouths if not corrected - braces did the trick, thankfully, otherwise it was going to be surgery to cut the tooth out and then drag it into place with a chain. So in our cases, a necessity, not a cosmetic thing.

[Anonymous]

Braces really hurt, especially each time they are adjusted. It is a lot to ask od a kid especially if he has sensory issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“ I refuse to let him go through life with his teeth like that, though. He has a really bad cross bite and crowding, and are just too horrible to leave alone.”

Is your problem aesthetic or will his teeth cause jaw problems or something? If you are doing this for aesthetic reasons then you should spare the frustration and leave things alone. Perfectly straight teeth are not a life necessity.

Honestly, if he is fighting the braces to the point that treatment is not progressing, then what does it matter if they are for aesthetic reasons or a medical necessity?

[Anonymous]

I had braces as an adult and the pain and discomfort was so much, and so unrelenting (just no true relief and all my orthodontist could suggest was more Advil) that I had my braces removed before treatment was done. I decided the pain wasn't worth it. I could not sleep, has headaches almost daily, and found myself thinking about the pain all the time when I needed to focus on other things.

I am not autistic and I don't have a low pain tolerance generally. I have given birth, passed large kidney stones, and had surgery on my knee. The pain of braces was worse than any of those because of where it is and the inability to escape the sensation no matter what I did. Braces also make eating and talking to people, things id normally do to help myself tolerate pain, harder and less pleasant.

I am curious if the people saying "just make him do it" have had braces and if so if they remember the experience well. I remember my orthodontist trying to talk me out of removing my braces and giving me all these lectures about why I needed to stick with it. But I was an adult and I just wanted them off. The day they were removed was glorious. Never again.

[Anonymous]

That is hard, OP. The catch-22 is that ASD kids often need more aggressive dental treatment because of early thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, and other repetitive movements that push teeth out of alignment. And of course, they struggle with noises, bright lights, mouth touching, oral hygiene, pain tolerance, and compliance.

Maybe you could consider finding a sensory-friendly orthodontist who is experienced in working with patients with ASD? A dentist who understands these challenges can help make treatment more comfortable for your son, or at least something he can tolerate.

I had braces too and hated them - they felt like a torture device imposed on me against my will. Nobody took the time to clearly explain what was going on or what to expect. The upside was that I lost my crippling fear of the dentist. After so many monthly appointments, it just became routine to go in and sit in the chair.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you can put them on him when older? I don't understand the need to push it. I have crooked teeth, I grew up elsewhere and am a female. I'm married with kids and a scientist (to say that I didn't remain an unemployed cat-lady). If your DS has medical issues, then he'll come around when older. I must say that all the dentists I've seen here (and never elsewhere in 10+ other countries I've lived) have told me "you'll have lots of problems when you get older" (most say constant headaches). The strange part is that I NEVER have headaches and by now I'm middle aged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had braces as an adult and the pain and discomfort was so much, and so unrelenting (just no true relief and all my orthodontist could suggest was more Advil) that I had my braces removed before treatment was done. I decided the pain wasn't worth it. I could not sleep, has headaches almost daily, and found myself thinking about the pain all the time when I needed to focus on other things.

I am not autistic and I don't have a low pain tolerance generally. I have given birth, passed large kidney stones, and had surgery on my knee. The pain of braces was worse than any of those because of where it is and the inability to escape the sensation no matter what I did. Braces also make eating and talking to people, things id normally do to help myself tolerate pain, harder and less pleasant.

I am curious if the people saying "just make him do it" have had braces and if so if they remember the experience well. I remember my orthodontist trying to talk me out of removing my braces and giving me all these lectures about why I needed to stick with it. But I was an adult and I just wanted them off. The day they were removed was glorious. Never again.

It’s not the same for kids. Their roots are shallower, less bone density and they are still growing so their teeth are easier to move. Millions of kids have braces and do just fine. Mine had pain the first few days then got them on but each adjustment got easier and the soreness only took about a day to get over.

[Anonymous]

There are certain configurations of teeth that result in brackets falling off more than others.

Our oldest kid ate all the bad for you foods like pretzels and other crunchy things, sticky things, even had gum and broke zero brackets.

Our youngest one tends to follow rules better and avoided everything on the list. That child broke a bunch of brackets and it had to do with. the child's bite.

You sound like you're really upset and I don't blame you because I remember how awful it was to rearrange everything to take our child to the orthodontist again and again, but I would take a breath and try not to put this all on your child. I think a cross-bite is one of those issues that can cause brackets to fall off more easily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Invisalign? Would that be a better option?

Invisalign requires maturity. They have to be take out and your teeth cleaned every time you eat. And they have to be in 23 hours a day.

Plus if OP’s kid’s teeth are as bad as OP says, he’s not a candidate for Invisalign anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about Invisalign? Would that be a better option?

Invisalign requires maturity. They have to be take out and your teeth cleaned every time you eat. And they have to be in 23 hours a day.

Plus if OP’s kid’s teeth are as bad as OP says, he’s not a candidate for Invisalign anyway.

I guess I lucked out then with my ASD child who does Invisalign and absolutely keeps up with everything herself. The first week she lost her retainers (left them somewhere) and after that, never again. Her dentist practically explodes with joy at her appointments for cleanings.

My typical son though, had braces and while he didn’t break brackets or complain that much, he is not as compliant and won’t wear retainers or take care of his teeth the way she does. I wonder if it is also a boy thing and coupled with ASD, that makes it untenable.

[Anonymous]

Your child is on the spectrum. What are you doing to help him?

[Anonymous]

Another DC on spectrum that used Invisalign easily. Surprisingly, no complaints. And, this was age 10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your child is on the spectrum. What are you doing to help him?

OP sounds like my brother, who will acknowledge autism, but then thinks people with just need to get over themselves and accept they live in a cruel world.