My 7-year-old just had a dentist appointment, and the dentist mentioned something about starting orthodontic treatments early, like braces or expanders or something. Honestly, I was kinda surprised—I always thought braces were for teenagers, you know, middle school awkwardness and all that. But apparently, starting younger can help with jaw growth and prevent bigger issues later on? I dunno, sounds logical but also feels like it could be a bit much for a kid who's still losing baby teeth.
Has anyone else gone through this with their kids? Did it actually help long-term, or did you feel like it was unnecessary stress (and expense!) at such a young age? I'm kinda torn between trusting the dentist and feeling like maybe it's jumping the gun a bit. Would love to hear some real experiences before we make any decisions.
"Honestly, I was kinda surprised—I always thought braces were for teenagers, you know, middle school awkwardness and all that."
I get where you're coming from, but honestly, starting early can make a huge difference. My niece had an expander at 8, and it saved her from needing more invasive treatments later. Definitely worth considering...
I totally understand the hesitation—braces do have that teenage stereotype attached. But from personal experience, addressing dental issues early can really pay off. I had braces twice: once as a teen and again in my late twenties because some problems weren't fully corrected the first time around. My orthodontist explained that if we'd tackled things earlier, like around 8 or 9, we could've guided my jaw growth better and avoided more complicated treatments later.
Honestly, the second round was way more uncomfortable (and expensive) than the first. Plus, as an adult, juggling orthodontist appointments with work and other responsibilities was a hassle I hadn't anticipated. So yeah, while it might seem odd to start orthodontics when kids are still young, it can actually simplify things down the road. Just something to think about...
I get what you're saying about early intervention, but honestly, the idea of braces still freaks me out a bit. I'm an adult considering them now and I keep picturing myself awkwardly smiling in meetings with a mouth full of metal... not exactly confidence-inspiring. 😅 But your point about tackling things young makes sense—wish my parents had thought about it back then. Maybe it would've saved me some anxiety (and money) today, haha. Guess hindsight's always 20/20...
Maybe it would've saved me some anxiety (and money) today, haha.
I get the logic behind starting early, but honestly, dental stuff always makes me nervous. My grandson had expanders put in around 8, and it seemed like a lot for him at that age. He handled it okay, but I worried about discomfort and whether it was really necessary. Dentist said it helped avoid bigger issues later...guess we'll never really know for sure. Still makes me uneasy thinking about it.
