So confused about braces!

Our ped dentist recommended our 9 year old see an orthodontist. She has a slight underbite and crowding in her upper jaw.

We've had a couple of consultations and are more confused than ever! Two orthodontists said we should come back in a year or two since DD has many baby teeth to lose.

One orthodontist recommended starting with a palate expander immediately.

Did your child need a palate expander? How old were they when they put it in? Maybe I just need a 4th and 5th opinion???

PS Thank you to whoever recommended Vittigliano in West Islip. We will probably end up using them. We found the staff there to be very patient with all of our questions and very accomodating to our daughter's anxiety.

Re: So confused about braces!

I've been through this and bottom line is it's confusing and there will be differing opinions.

Insurance doesn't cover the $2-3k palette expander that was recommended for each child so neither one of my DDs got one. DD1 got braces at 9.5 because all her front teeth were adult. She and DD2 may need to get teeth pulled due to crowding (the palette expander would have prevented this ) but that's yet TBD after we see how braces work. It sounds horrible but getting teeth pulled is cheaper bec ins pays for it!

DD2 will start braces treatment when DD1 is close to getting them off so I can afford the copays for one at a time.

Re: So confused about braces!

OMG _ I wanted to post this as well. My 9 year old just had his first consult and I was so confused. She mentioned all these things he should start with but the in the end said lets wait 6months and talk again. I asked why and she just said well he will continue to grow and lets see how it changes. I am like won't he always continue to grow? She too said palette expander on top and space maintainers on bottom. His teeth on top are coming in very nice and straight. His bottom does have some over crowding. He has lost 8 teeth - how many has your daughter lost? She also mentioned he may loose more teeth in 6 months which I told her was doubtful as this happens very slowly in my household. (His teeth are loose for 6 months plus before they fall out and none are loose and he is a late teether - his teeth pretty much come out a year after the typical range).

Re: So confused about braces!

My dd is 8 and we just went through this exact situation. We decided to go ahead with the palate expander bc her mouth is clearly not big enough for her teeth she has and the ones that will grow in eventually. Our orthodontist said that braces are way down the road, but that she needs this now to make sure her mouth has room for the adult teeth she will get soon.

Re: So confused about braces!

I will also add that our insurance covered almost all of the cost of the palette expander, which was key in our decision.