Getting braces for a son at college

[St_Francis]

My son ended up going to college a couple of states away. He really needs braces for his teeth, but I am not sure how to go about this.

1. How to find a good orthodontist?
2. What are the criteria?
3. I know that it used to be if you could pay up-front instead of monthly, they’d give you a discount–still true? How does that work?
4. Aftercare: My teeth were mostly straight but I had TMJ syndrome so got braces. After a few years, my lower teeth became very crooked. Is there a way to stop that?

Thanks for any help

 

[bilop]

My son ended up going to college a couple of states away. He really needs braces for his teeth, but I am not sure how to go about this.

1. How to find a good orthodontist?
2. What are the criteria?
3. I know that it used to be if you could pay up-front instead of monthly, they’d give you a discount–still true? How does that work?
4. Aftercare: My teeth were mostly straight but I had TMJ syndrome so got braces. After a few years, my lower teeth became very crooked. Is there a way to stop that?

Thanks for any help

Try Invisalign. It’s plastic trays you wear on your teeth. No wires, etc.

It’s done wonders for me.

 

[St_Francis]

Try Invisalign. It’s plastic trays you wear on your teeth. No wires, etc.

It’s done wonders for me.

Oh, that’s a good suggestion since he’s in college and would probably prefer not to have “metal mouth” Thank you!

 

[jilly4ski]

Oh, that’s a good suggestion since he’s in college and would probably prefer not to have “metal mouth” Thank you!

hmm, it was always my understanding that braces were more effective when kids were young and before their teeth were so firmly set. You will need to get him in for a consultation, so you both know the benefits and risks of braces. It is my understanding, since he is an adult, if he gets braces he will probably always need to wear a retainer at night, otherwise his teeth will continue to move and become crooked again. Something to ask at a consultation (either with a dentist or a orthodontist. It was always our dentists who referred us to an orthodontist or mentioned that it would be beneficial).

A note, I had braces from age 11 to 14. And I had a clear plastic retainer like those invisaline. I disliked my retainer with a passion, and would not recommend them, and just tell people to go with a metal retainer. So I would be hesitant to recommend anything similar.

 

[St_Francis]

hmm, it was always my understanding that braces were more effective when kids were young and before their teeth were so firmly set. You will need to get him in for a consultation, so you both know the benefits and risks of braces. It is my understanding, since he is an adult, if he gets braces he will probably always need to wear a retainer at night, otherwise his teeth will continue to move and become crooked again. Something to ask at a consultation (either with a dentist or a orthodontist. It was always our dentists who referred us to an orthodontist or mentioned that it would be beneficial).

A note, I had braces from age 11 to 14. And I had a clear plastic retainer like those invisaline. I disliked my retainer with a passion, and would not recommend them, and just tell people to go with a metal retainer. So I would be hesitant to recommend anything similar.

Yes, it would have been great to get him braces when he was younger, but we didn’t have the resources for that then. C’est la vie, non?

I didn’t know they had metal retainers. They would probably be less fragile: mine broke. Thanks

 

[mfrances]

Hi. My parents got me braces while I was in college a few years ago. I’m so glad I got it then and finished the treatment right before graduation. I got the white ceramic braces, it was an alternative to metal and was quite a bit cheaper than invisalign.
We went with a very popular orthodontist , the office and doctor had a very good reputation. And my teeth turned out great, my new smile gave me so much confidence.

So to answer your questions…
Try to get recommendations from other students who currently have braces.
We got a discount for doing an automatic electronic payment each month (I’m sure each office has their own policy on this)
One of my bottom teeth turned after a few years. I wore the retainer for a full year day and night as I was supposed to but then maybe 2 years at night before I stopped. I did not take the advice to wear the retainer at night for 5 years as I was supposed to. I think keeping the retainer on at night forever is key.

 

[St_Francis]

Hi. My parents got me braces while I was in college a few years ago. I’m so glad I got it then and finished the treatment right before graduation. I got the white ceramic braces, it was an alternative to metal and was quite a bit cheaper than invisalign.
We went with a very popular orthodontist , the office and doctor had a very good reputation. And my teeth turned out great, my new smile gave me so much confidence.

So to answer your questions…
Try to get recommendations from other students who currently have braces.
We got a discount for doing an automatic electronic payment each month (I’m sure each office has their own policy on this)
One of my bottom teeth turned after a few years. I wore the retainer for a full year day and night as I was supposed to but then maybe 2 years at night before I stopped. I did not take the advice to wear the retainer at night for 5 years as I was supposed to. I think keeping the retainer on at night forever is key.

Thanks very much for your information and sharing your own experience I will definitely point to my teeth and tell my son to wear the retainer for the full time!!! and to get two made so if one breaks when he’s broke, he’ll still be able to wear one.