Braces for buck teeth vs deep bites: did you know they're not the same thing?

My daughter had a pretty deep bite too, and I remember feeling the same way - just staring at all the diagrams and hardware options, wondering how we’d get through it. Her ortho did mention a bite plate early on, but in the end, she didn’t need one. It was mostly spacers, brackets, and a ton of elastics. Honestly, each step felt huge until we were actually doing it, and then it was just... part of the routine. It’s wild how quickly kids adapt, even when we’re the ones stressing about all the “what ifs.” If your doc brings up a bite plate, it’s not as scary as it sounds - my niece had one, and after a week she barely noticed it.

I’ve been trying to wrap my head around all the different hardware too. My son’s ortho mentioned a bite plate for his deep bite, but I couldn’t picture how it’d actually work. Is it uncomfortable at first? He’s only had brackets and elastics so far, and honestly, I expected way more drama from him... but he just got used to it. Did your niece have any trouble eating at first with the bite plate in?

Did your niece have any trouble eating at first with the bite plate in?

That’s exactly what I was curious about too. My daughter’s ortho suggested a bite plate for her deep bite, and honestly, I couldn’t picture it either. She said it felt super weird the first few days - like having a thick piece of gum stuck to the roof of her mouth. Eating was awkward at first, especially stuff like sandwiches or pizza. Did your niece get used to it quickly? My kid took about a week before she stopped complaining... but now she barely notices it.

She said it felt super weird the first few days - like having a thick piece of gum stuck to the roof of her mouth.

That’s exactly how my son described it, too. He kept saying it was like trying to eat lunch with a flip-flop glued up there. The first few days, he basically lived on yogurt and mashed potatoes. Sandwiches were a disaster - he’d take one bite and then just kind of stare at it, like, “Now what?” I will say, though, after about a week, he stopped mentioning it unless I asked. Kids are way more adaptable than I am… if someone put plastic in my mouth, I’d still be whining.

Honestly, the bite plate was way cheaper than some of the other options the ortho threw at us. I was worried about paying for something he’d never actually wear, but now it’s like it’s part of him. If anyone’s stressing about the adjustment period or the cost, it’s temporary pain for long-term gain (and maybe fewer sandwiches for a week).

Sandwiches were a disaster - he’d take one bite and then just kind of stare at it, like, “Now what?”

This cracked me up because my niece did the exact same thing. She tried to eat a burger and just looked so betrayed by life. I honestly thought she’d never get used to the bite plate, but after a week she was back to her usual snack-gobbling self. I still don’t understand how kids adapt so fast. Meanwhile, I get a popcorn kernel stuck in my teeth and it ruins my whole day.

Kids really do bounce back so much faster than adults, don’t they? I remember when my son got his first bite plate - he acted like eating was a full-on puzzle. He’d just poke at his food, looking so confused. But then, just like your niece, he figured it out in days. Meanwhile, if I get a tiny canker sore, I’m practically living on soup for a week.

Do you think it’s just that kids aren’t as set in their ways? Or maybe they’re less self-conscious about the whole thing? I know when I first got my braces, every little thing felt like a big deal, especially with the cost involved. You start wondering if the investment is worth all the hassle. But seeing how fast kids adapt makes me feel better about sticking with it.

Funny how something as small as a popcorn kernel can throw off your whole day though... Makes me wonder if adults are just more sensitive or if we’ve forgotten how to roll with the punches. Either way, you’re not alone - dental stuff is such a weird mix of annoying and necessary.

Meanwhile, if I get a tiny canker sore, I’m practically living on soup for a week.

Totally know what you mean. Kids just seem to shake things off and move on, but for me, the smallest dental thing becomes my whole focus. I had to get a retainer as an adult (insurance barely covered it), and I swear, every meal felt like a battle. It’s wild how fast my daughter got used to hers - she was eating pizza two days in.

I think part of it is definitely being “set in our ways” - I catch myself comparing everything to how it used to feel, and then worrying about whether I’m messing up the expensive work. The money side gets to me too. When you’re paying out of pocket or dealing with high copays, every little discomfort feels like it should be worth something.

But honestly, seeing how quickly kids adapt does make me feel better about sticking with it. Like, if they can do it without overthinking, maybe we can too... even if it takes us longer. And yeah, popcorn kernels or even a stray sesame seed can wreck my day now - I never noticed stuff like that before braces.

Dental work really is this weird mix of necessary evil and daily annoyance. But you’re right: we’re not alone in feeling like adults are just more sensitive about all of it. Maybe we just need to give ourselves a break for not bouncing back as fast as the kids do. At least we’re making the investment in ourselves, even if it’s uncomfortable (and expensive) sometimes.