Braces/ Ortho Apptment Help

[Anonymous]

What age did you take your child to the Orthodontist and additionally what age is typical for braces? Our dentist recommended our 8 year old go now as they have started doing two sets of braces or something ? even-though he has not even lost half of his baby teeth yet? I don't really want to pay for two rounds of braces and I am curious of others experience.
thanks so much

[Anonymous]

It depends on what needs to get done. Clearly no teeth straightening for baby teeth! But around 8, I think, our DC went to the ortho to expand her upper palate—I think that work is quicker and less painful when kids are younger. I was skeptical but we consulted with 2 ortho practices and both recommended the same. Good luck

[Anonymous]

PP is right. First round is to expand palate. But it is t always necessary. One of my kids needed it. My youngest has been monitored since about age five. She goes once a year and will get braces at age 13. The orthodontist discovered a tooth growing in sideways and made recommendations to the dentist for care that was far less painful than what would have had to be done had it been discovered later.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]What age did you take your child to the Orthodontist and additionally what age is typical for braces? Our dentist recommended our 8 year old go now as they have started doing two sets of braces or something ? even-though he has not even lost half of his baby teeth yet? I don't really want to pay for two rounds of braces and I am curious of others experience.
thanks so much [/quote]

I'd get a second and third opinion. Our dentist didn't recommend it for my older daughter until she was 11. She needed a palate expander and now has braces. I don't see any kids as young as 8 in the orthodontist's office - a large practice in Vienna.

I'd want to hear some pretty substantial reasoning for taking an 8 year old barring some known issue that is beyond a regular dentist's care.

[Anonymous]

Both of my kids will only need one phase- my older kid got hers when she turned 11, and we are still waiting (getting 6 month checks with the ortho) for my 10 year old. It just depends on the problem so not all kids will need 2 phases.

The reasoning for 2 phases is that adult teeth tend to migrate back to where they came in so if the baby teeth are moved to the correct position before adult teeth come in, the adult teeth will move less later on. But again, it just depends on what the need for braces is.