Anonymous wrote:There are 18 kids in my DD's 2nd grade class. Three have palate expanders and one has braces. To me, this is statistically significant.

DD has crowding and had shark teeth as well and we have had an early orthodontia appointment (waiting as she is late on losing teeth).

How many permanent teeth does a second grader have?

Consult with your dentist first!

DH had crowding and as an adult had a couple of wisdom teeth pulled. They had come in no problem. Turns out he also had unerupted "extra" teeth behind the lower wisdom teeth. So much for not getting xrays as a kid.

When DS had his first orthodontist appt in 6th grade, they recommended an expander. Due to life circumstances, he didn't follow through until 7th grade. By then he didn't need an expander anymore.

Yup. Our mouths are getting too narrow for our teeth due to softer foods and utensils and not eating and gnawing on things like whole anpples. Both my kids have had shark teeth. The youngest has a very small head and mouth and already has crowding at 7.

My kid had a severe underbite and was early to lose baby teeth (lost the first one the day he turned 5). He started with an expander in 3rd grade, moved to braces in 4th grade and was finished with braces in December (6th grade).

Part of the timing determination is how quickly kid gets adult teeth, they usually want to wait to put on braces until they're in.

My son had an expander in elementary (3rd into 4th grade) and a number of his classmates did as well. He had extreme crowding, and it made a big difference. A lot of his classmates had them around the same age +/- a year so.

My daughter didn't need an expander and just got braces in 9th grade. We had to wait because she still had molars that hadn't come in enough to put braces on. Some of her friends with really crooked teeth had partial braces in 4th or 5th grade, and then did/are doing a second round of full braces. Others started their first round anywhere between 7th and 9th. One of her friends has an expander now.

I also had braces, and both my sisters had teeth pulled due to crowding. I think the palate expander is a better option than pulling teeth.

There are 18 kids in my DD's 2nd grade class. Three have palate expanders and one has braces. To me, this is statistically significant.

DD has crowding and had shark teeth as well and we have had an early orthodontia appointment (waiting as she is late on losing teeth).

Anonymous wrote:Expanders are usually before puberty, I think, because that's when the most movement is possible. I've seen a ton of kids with braces in 3rd grade, and those kids usually do two rounds.

Our orthodontist does braces around MS, because some kids have crazy teeth changes in puberty. But my kids' teeth are slow to come in, so that's probably part of it.

Go get a free assessment done from a couple of orthodontists

Definitely talk to your kids' dentist about orthodontists they recommend and inquire with friends for additional recommendations. The initial consultation is free so you can take your child to a few before deciding which orthodontist is a good fit. Be careful, some definitely feel like they are selling a car rather than actually doing what is best for your child.

Ask your dentist. I would go to an orthodontist until your dentist tells your to. Orthodontists will put braces and expanders on everyone.

Expanders are usually before puberty, I think, because that's when the most movement is possible. I've seen a ton of kids with braces in 3rd grade, and those kids usually do two rounds.

Our orthodontist does braces around MS, because some kids have crazy teeth changes in puberty. But my kids' teeth are slow to come in, so that's probably part of it.

Go get a free assessment done from a couple of orthodontists

DH and I have no family history of shark tooth or tooth crowding. Both kids had shark tooth for the first few ones, and they definitely need braces due to crowding. One kid has swallowed a few baby tooth in the stomach while eating, and I am not even sure if it is a blessing or a joke. One has a record of three tooth falling out in 2 weeks. At this rate, the older child may need to consider to see orthodontist as early as 5th grade. Do kids normally do braces or expander in MS or later in HS? What is the procedures?