Childhood orthodontia. Is this a good idea LS dentists?

[Storyrider]

Our pediatric dentist/orthodontist says my 8 yr. old daughter needs to start "phase I orthodontia."

 

She does have an overbite, with the top jaw growing faster than the bottom. She also has large adult teeth that are coming in crowded, especially on the bottom.

 

Dentist has already pulled four top teeth and two bottom teeth (all baby teeth.) He wants to pull the bottom canines as well. He has also placed a permanent retainer on top and a temporary one below.

 

Now he says we should start phase I orthodontia b/c the insurance charges will be less than doing things one procedure at a time.

 

My husband is skeptical and wants to seek a second opinion with what he calls "a more conservative dentist". I guess the guy we have is a proponent of early intervention orthodontia, and my husband wants to switch to someone who takes a less aggressive approach?

 

My H. knows nothing about this subject, but I think the money and all the procedures are freaking him out. But I'm worried about her teeth and her future appearance.

 

Is this dentist going overboard or is he just being normal? Does anyone have any advice about this?

[tanbark813]

I had a ton of work done on my teeth as a kid. I have big teeth relative to my jaw so I had at least 4 teeth pulled as a kid. I also had a permanent retainer on top and on bottom for a while during elementary school. Then later those were removed and I had braces. Then, finally, a temporary retainer after the braces.

 

All the orthodontia was finished up by the time I was 15 or 16 (I think). I personally think it was worth it because my teeth look great today and I haven't had any problems since.

 

I don't think your orthodontist sounds overly aggressive but I can only speak from my own experience.

[milvushina]

You know, I think it is never really a bad idea to get a second opinion.

 

I have been learning a lot about orthodontics lately because I have had to start a procedure to re-align my facial muscles and jaw joints. It is very costly and I have seen two orthodontists who've both told me I won't have the good results you have if you intervene early. Because adult bones are harder to mold than childrens', which are still growing, this kind of stuff is much more effective the younger you do it.

 

I have an overbite too of about 2 millimeters. I also have a cross-bite and crowding. What happened to me is that my teeth ran out of room to grow, and so my bones grew back (toward my ears) instead of out (toward, uh my face I guess). This is supposed to be the most common type of malocclusion ("faulty bite") and sounds partly similar to what your daughter is having, maybe?

 

My parents got braces for me, I had my wisdom teeth pulled, and they thought it was taken care of. Now, I'm an adult having more teeth pulled, braces again, and my joints, arches, and muscles moved around.

 

Here are some articles that you might be interested in. I looked these up while doing research for myself.

 

http://www.simplyteeth.com/category/sections/adult/CorrectiveDenistry/OrthodonticsChildren.asp?category=adultList&section=99&page=10

http://www.teethperfect.com/case1.htm

 

Has the dentist you have seen given you an outline of what he wants to do, or told you exactly what your daughter's case is? For example I have a case of Class II malocclusion.

[Storyrider]

Here are some articles that you might be interested in. I looked these up while doing research for myself.

 

http://www.simplyteeth.com/category/sections/adult/CorrectiveDenistry/OrthodonticsChildren.asp?category=adultList&section=99&page=10

http://www.teethperfect.com/case1.htm

 

Has the dentist you have seen given you an outline of what he wants to do, or told you exactly what your daughter's case is? For example I have a case of Class II malocclusion.

 

Thanks for the articles. I will check them out.

 

He has only told us what I described, above. He seems to have a bit of an ego, which is part of what is making my H. distrustful. Once when H. asked him for more information about his approach, he pointed to all his diplomas on the wall and listed his degrees. Put H. off and added to his skepticism.

[Star Gazer]

I had a ton of work done on my teeth as a kid. I have big teeth relative to my jaw so I had at least 4 teeth pulled as a kid. I also had a permanent retainer on top and on bottom for a while during elementary school. Then later those were removed and I had braces. Then, finally, a temporary retainer after the braces.

 

All the orthodontia was finished up by the time I was 15 or 16 (I think). I personally think it was worth it because my teeth look great today and I haven't had any problems since.

 

I don't think your orthodontist sounds overly aggressive but I can only speak from my own experience.

 

I had a similar experince. Lots of teeth pulled, retainers, braces, wisdom teeth removed, etc. I had my braces off by my freshman year of high school, just as everyone else was getting them put on. It was a pain when I was a kid - a lot of crying and pouting - but from the moment I got them off I have felt it was totally worth it. I was lucky enough to have perfect teeth all through high school and still do today, and haven't had any problems since (other than TMJ, which is related to me stressing out and clenching my jaw, not my childhood dental work).

 

My dentist is also of the opinion that kids who go through this experience at a young age have a tendency to take better care of their teeth as teenagers and adults, and therefore have better long-term oral health.

[tanbark813]

Once when H. asked him for more information about his approach, he pointed to all his diplomas on the wall and listed his degrees. Put H. off and added to his skepticism.

 

Now that would make me look for someone else. That's really bad form.

[Star Gazer]

Now that would make me look for someone else. That's really bad form.

 

Hmm, yeah... not good.

 

I love, love, love my dentist. Don't always like what he does to me (the pulling, the drilling, the whatever! ), but he's awesome. I trust him more than any doctor I've ever had... I've been going to him since I was 10, and when living in L.A. would actually fly home to see him for checkups. That's saying something. I hope you're able to find someone you trust just as much.

[Storyrider]

He's not all bad. He has a great manner with kids.

 

It is just with any big decision involving spending so much, we've either got to know a little more about what we're doing or trust the expert.

[ShoeGirl]

I would think that 8 years old is a bit early to put braces on only because when my orthodontist put my braces on at 11 my dentist as well as a family friend who is a dentist thought it was too early to put braces on because your teeth are still naturally moving at that age. But then again that was almost 10 years ago, and I'm sure the technology and research has changed the thoughts behind orthodontia.

 

Storyrider, if I were you I would get a 2nd opinion just to make sure that you are making the right choice in the orthodontist and his/her reasoning that you chose. You wouldn't want to be second guessing yourself throughout the whole process, wondering if you made the right choice.