My 10 year old son had an appointment with an orthodontist today (Atlanta: 2014, insurance)

[mjames2014]

I'm not spending $4k on this unless there are good medical (and not cosmetic) reasons for getting braces. So I've asked the orthodontist to provide a written copy of his medical reasons for recommending braces.
My question is : what are the guidelines for recommending braces? In other words, under which circumstances would braces be recommended for non-cosmetic reasons? I'm looking for actual diagnostic terms so I can take that checklist to the orthodontist.


My son's teeth look close to perfect but I'm not an orthodontist. I'm not a sucker either. I might come off as defensive, but I'm just trying to make sure that there are justifiable reasons for spending a lot of money. It's like asking the baker: Do I really need your bread? I'm not expecting a non-biased opinion since they're making money off of it. So I'm trying to educate myself so that I can make a well-informed decision based on facts and not speculation.


If somebody could post a link to a site with non-biased, factual information it would be greatly appreciated. All I see when I google for info is orthodontist/dental websites praising braces. I'm looking for some educational information where reasons for getting braces are graded according to gravity. I'm sure some conditions are more likely (maybe even guaranteed) to cause problems later in life than other conditions. So what are the "serious conditions" which will cause problems later in life? And what are the less serious / cosmetic issues which may or may not cause minor issues ?


Orthodontics deals primarily with the diagnosis, prevention and correction of malpositioned teeth and the jaws. So I assume that there well-defined classifications and categories which are used when diagnosing and determining the need for braces.



Thank you.

[wasel]

I think this belongs in a different forum since this topic isn't Atlanta-centric.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by mjames2014

I'm not spending $4k on this unless there are good medical (and not cosmetic) reasons for getting braces. So I've asked the orthodontist to provide a written copy of his medical reasons for recommending braces.
My question is : what are the guidelines for recommending braces? In other words, under which circumstances would braces be recommended for non-cosmetic reasons? I'm looking for actual diagnostic terms so I can take that checklist to the orthodontist.


My son's teeth look close to perfect but I'm not an orthodontist. I'm not a sucker either. I might come off as defensive, but I'm just trying to make sure that there are justifiable reasons for spending a lot of money. It's like asking the baker: Do I really need your bread? I'm not expecting a non-biased opinion since they're making money off of it. So I'm trying to educate myself so that I can make a well-informed decision based on facts and not speculation.


If somebody could post a link to a site with non-biased, factual information it would be greatly appreciated. All I see when I google for info is orthodontist/dental websites praising braces. I'm looking for some educational information where reasons for getting braces are graded according to gravity. I'm sure some conditions are more likely (maybe even guaranteed) to cause problems later in life than other conditions. So what are the "serious conditions" which will cause problems later in life? And what are the less serious / cosmetic issues which may or may not cause minor issues ?


Orthodontics deals primarily with the diagnosis, prevention and correction of malpositioned teeth and the jaws. So I assume that there well-defined classifications and categories which are used when diagnosing and determining the need for braces.



Thank you.

I suggest you get a second opinion.

[ATLTJL]

I would say it never makes sense to put braces on a 10 year old. Even if they stay on for 3 years, they'll come off at 13. You think a 13 year old can be counted on to wear a retainer? They'll just shift back.

NOTE: I'm not an orthodontist, but I do have common sense.

[Vanmichael]

I have a 10 year old and when she was 9 an orthodontist wanted to put braces on her. I did not feel comfortable b/c she had over a dozen baby teeth left, so I went to my orthodontist (who had put braces on me as an adult) and got a 2nd opinion. He was a bit more conservative and recommended waiting to put her in braces until all her baby teeth fell out which he estimated would be in 2 years. The reasons were overcrowding (her teeth are overlapping) and to correct her alignment and her jawline (he mentioned something about her palate). He is not pushy and he has a very successful business. The first ortho was young, just starting his business and wanting me to schedule my daughter ASAP. I did not feel comfortable putting braces on her when she is still a bit immature. I think it is your comfort level. The idea is phases - some orthos will tell you phase 1 is putting them in braces for less than a year than they put them back in braces a 2nd time however your insurance will only pay once. I am not sure what other reasons besides cosmetic but I imagine correcting an overbite and overcrowding teeth can help proper growth in the mouth. I don't plan to put them on my child for couple more years and you can get a free consultation until then. best of luck.

[Vanmichael]

Originally Posted by mjames2014

I'm not spending $4k on this unless there are good medical (and not cosmetic) reasons for getting braces. So I've asked the orthodontist to provide a written copy of his medical reasons for recommending braces.
My question is : what are the guidelines for recommending braces? In other words, under which circumstances would braces be recommended for non-cosmetic reasons? I'm looking for actual diagnostic terms so I can take that checklist to the orthodontist.


My son's teeth look close to perfect but I'm not an orthodontist. I'm not a sucker either. I might come off as defensive, but I'm just trying to make sure that there are justifiable reasons for spending a lot of money. It's like asking the baker: Do I really need your bread? I'm not expecting a non-biased opinion since they're making money off of it. So I'm trying to educate myself so that I can make a well-informed decision based on facts and not speculation.


If somebody could post a link to a site with non-biased, factual information it would be greatly appreciated. All I see when I google for info is orthodontist/dental websites praising braces. I'm looking for some educational information where reasons for getting braces are graded according to gravity. I'm sure some conditions are more likely (maybe even guaranteed) to cause problems later in life than other conditions. So what are the "serious conditions" which will cause problems later in life? And what are the less serious / cosmetic issues which may or may not cause minor issues ?


Orthodontics deals primarily with the diagnosis, prevention and correction of malpositioned teeth and the jaws. So I assume that there well-defined classifications and categories which are used when diagnosing and determining the need for braces.



Thank you.

I have a 10 year old and when she was 9 an orthodontist wanted to put braces on her. I did not feel comfortable b/c she had over a dozen baby teeth left, so I got a 2nd opinion. The ortho I choose for my 2nd opinion was one I used for my own braces and is a bit more conservative and recommended waiting to put her in braces until all her baby teeth fell out which he estimated would be in 2 years. The reasons were overcrowding (her teeth are overlapping) and to correct her alignment and her jawline (he mentioned something about proper teeth alignment helps the jawbone grow properly or something. She also has an overbite). He is not pushy and he has a very successful business. The first ortho was young, just starting his business and wanting me to schedule my daughter ASAP. I did not feel comfortable putting braces on her when she is still a bit immature nor did I like his style so I declined. I think it is your comfort level. The idea is phases - some orthos will tell you phase 1 is putting them in braces for less than a year as young as age 7 or 8 (yes he wanted to put my other child in braces as well who was in 1st grade and I flatly said no) than they put them back in braces a 2nd time however your insurance will only pay once and the literature doesn't show benefits to either method so why endure this? I am not sure what other reasons besides cosmetic but I imagine correcting an overbite and overcrowding teeth can help proper growth in the mouth. I don't plan to put them on my child for couple more years and you can get a free consultation until then. best of luck.

[ATL Golfer]

I always consult geographical based discussion forums when seeking medical second opinions.

You may find your methodology more concerning than the orthodontists. Maybe not.