my kid might need braces—didn't realize there were so many options

photographer78 · 2025-03-31T12:34:39Z

My daughter just turned 11, and at her last checkup the dentist casually mentioned braces might be in her future. I was like, okay, metal wires and brackets, right? But turns out, there's a whole bunch of different kinds these days. I mean, when I was a kid, braces were braces—metal and awkward and that was about it. Now apparently there's ceramic ones, clear aligners, lingual braces (the ones behind the teeth, had no idea those even existed), and even ones with colored bands kids can customize every month. Did a little googling (I know, dangerous lol) and found out ceramic braces blend in better with teeth, but they're a bit more fragile. Clear aligners like Invisalign seem cool, but I'm wondering if an 11-year-old would actually keep track of them or they'd just end up lost in the lunchroom trash can or something. Lingual braces sound interesting because you can't see them at all, but I've read they're tricky to clean and can make talking kinda weird at first. Also found out braces aren't just cosmetic. Apparently, straightening teeth can help with jaw alignment, speech, and even digestion—who knew? Guess it's not just about having a nice smile for school pictures anymore. Anyway, now I'm kinda overwhelmed with all these choices. I'm leaning toward traditional metal ones because they're sturdy and probably cheaper, but my daughter is already complaining about how "embarrassing" they'd be. She's lobbying hard for clear aligners because some TikTok influencer she follows has them (seriously, kids these days...). Would love to hear from other parents who've been down this road. What did your kids end up with, and any regrets or things you wish you'd known beforehand?

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Pediatric Orthodontics & Braces

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crafts_jake

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"Honestly, I'm leaning toward traditional metal braces because I know how forgetful he can be—he's lost at least three water bottles this school year alone."

Have you considered a compromise like ceramic braces? My daughter was also super forgetful at 12 (still is, honestly...), and we went with ceramic braces. They're fixed like metal ones, so no worries about losing aligners, but they're less noticeable. Might be a good middle ground between what he wants and what's practical for your sanity. Just something to think about.

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my kid might need braces—didn't realize there were so many options

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