[jojonbeanie]

My teen has braces and, seriously, most of his friends, acquaintances and school mates have braces. It seems everywhere we go the teens have braces. Having to take time off to attend monthly orthodontic treatments is so common his school has introduced a policy to deal with missed classes due to orthodontic related absences. When the braces are removed you can tell their perfect teeth are the result of braces, not mother nature. There is a certain look that comes with the finished product, even a way of speaking. The kids who don't have braces stand out.

I wonder if, as these children grow up, their beautifully formed teeth will be some kind of status symbol. I wonder if down the track some sociologist will be doing a PhD on braces vs no braces affecting leadership success in adulthood.

When I was a kid you had to have a mouth that looked like a train wreak before your parents even considered braces. Now parents like me are forking out huge amounts to correct even slight imperfections.

A standard set of orthodontic work won't leave you much change from $6000, more if you need something fancy. Work is painful and takes a couple of years.

If your kid's teeth were, say, a 7 out of 10 on the straightness scale, would you be forking out for the perfect corrected smile? Do you think society will smile more kindly on those who have undergone the treatment and shun those with teeth as mother nature intended?

[lustreless]

We are facing this dilemma at the moment. Our DD aged 12 needs braces and I am worried its going to cost us a small fortune as we don't have PHI.

DD's teeth are quite "bad", if there was only a slight imperfection we probably wouldn't worry about it.

[moss]

I would.

Straight teeth can be a real self esteem issue so I would want to correct any problems.

I understand what you are saying though. So many people now have orthodontic treatment as a teen that to not have any treatment makes you stand out.

[curlypops]

if they were a 7/10 and the ortho recommended braces then yes we would do so. Recently I sat at the dentist and while waiting watched a presentation of the invisalign braces. If either of my kids needed then this this would be the way I would go if it was suitable.
No big metal things in their mouth. The process is more exy but faster.

I guess we see so many kids with braces as that is the better age to get them done. My sis had braces in her 30's and it was a horrible time for her. As an adult your bones are not as flexible and braces are supposed to be much more painful.

TBH I don't think it is an overly new thing, I can remember plenty of my friends having braces yrs ago. I was lucky to have straight teeth so never needed them.

This post has been edited by curlypops: 22/08/2009, 09:06 PM

[eleishas]

My children would not be having 'procedures', braces or otherwise without it being a necessity.

Unless they are paying for it themselves (by which time I don't think they will need mums permission).

[cinnabubble]

I would. My teeth look like a broken fence and I actually refused braces when I was in my teens because I didn't want to be fat and ugly with glasses and braces .

[Blish]

My son has braces. We were recommended them by my dentist (no, he didn't get any money out of it, he simply recommended it) - anyway, it was purely for aesthetic reasons.

If your child has crooked/gappy teeth and you can make them straight, then why not do it?

So here we are with braces. He's getting them off in 3 weeks time. They cost us $2,880 and I got $900 back from my health insurance so not that big a deal in my book.

[jusstyce]

I would if it was necessary. DD#1 is not even 7 and our dentist has told us that she will need braces in a few years as her teeth a quite crooked.
For a slight imperfection I wouldn't. I had braces at 17 and my top teeth were straight howeer my bottom teeth were a little crooked which would have resulted in a tooth at the front rotting as it was crooked enough it couldn't be cleaned properly.
I love that my teeth are great now but I wouldn't do it if it wasn't necessary.
We have PHI as we know DD#1 is going to need them.

[PurpleWitch]

if they were a 7/10 and the ortho recommended braces then yes we would do so.

Ditto.

My eldest has teeth at a 9.5 out of 10. The dentist said if he wanted "Hollywood" teeth then braces would be the way to go.... but they're pretty perfect.

[vanessa71]

I needed braces, there was no question about it. I remember someone calling me Chad Morgan during my first year of high school, it wasn't fun.

DH's parents spent far too much money on alcohol and cigarettes to get his teeth fixed, they should have though, his teeth are awfully overcrowded. I am hoping DD and DS don't need their teeth fixed, but if there is a slight imperfection, they will be getting them done.