Orthodontistry

My son (aged 12, in mainstream school) has exremely crooked teeth - especially the top ones at the front.  He isn't too bothered about the teeth themselves, but he does sometimes get teased about it at school, and he doesn't like that.

I think he would like his teeth to be straighter, but is very worried about the process he would have to go through in order to get there.  I'm finding it difficult to break down with him exactly what he is worried about in order to deal with it.  I know he is worried about the process of having the brace fitted, as that means someone fiddling around in his mouth, which he hates; and he has been told he will probably have to have some teeth removed, which is also a worry; but I'm not sure how worried he is about the wearing of the brace on an everyday basis.

We have recently had an appointment with an orthodontist, who has said he can come around the the clinic and see braces being fitted to other patients; and he can take the process as slowly as he wants.  He could start with a removable brace (although she felt this had pros and cons).

Does anyone have any experience of this?  What helped?  Are there any good resources online or books I can use as a discussion point with my son?  Discussions so far have not gone well - he gets overwhelmed with worry and can't think about it at all.

  • Hi

    I'm new so I hope I am doing this right!

    My older 2 neurotypical children are currently wearing train track braces and our youngest (age 10) who has Aspergers was told last summer that he needs extensive orthodontic work, beginning with 4 teeth out and a removable brace. We were sent to see a dentist in London for the extractions which they did under sedation. It went really well despite our anxieties about it (me as much as him). We have discovered over the years that using an anaesthetic cream creates more anxiety so he didn't have any. They hit a vein first time and he was away. He is very good with the brace wearing it all the time as the dentist told him he must never take it out except to clean it every evening. He does exactly as instructed, and we have to buy the very expensive cleaning stuff from the orthodontist because that was what he was told to use. He was very anxious about the brace when we were snowed in whilst away from home and he didn't have his cleaning stuff with him. 

    He had lots of pain relief for the first week as his mouth was sore and he struggled to eat his usual meals. This was a problem as he eats the same food for breakfast and lunch everyday but he survived on pasta and pancakes (don't ask!) until he could manage hard foods again. It really helped having seen other family members having braces and seeing how they have changed their teeth for the better. He also had long discussions with 2 adults who had braces in adulthood and the problems they had with their teeth and why it was important to have braces when you are young.

    I think I may be rambling. Hope this helps!

  • Hi Toni, that is interesting. S used to see the community dentist who had lots of experience with special needs. On reaching adulthood I was told he could now see my dentist - I don't have one. I'm keen for him to see a dentist with special needs experience ... Do you think most practises would be able to recommend a local dentist who specialises in special needs patients?

    Melly

     

  • I can't help directly but I had a really hard time even getting my son into the dentist chair let alone opening his mouth or having work done but the dentist refered us to a dentist who only sees patients with special needs. She is amazing and he now has no issues about seeing the dentist or having work done. Ask your dentist as there should be one in your srea and they will help you and your child through the process and possibly do the work themselves which is what our dentist does

  • Hi Nicola

    I don't have any advice sorry but I will be really interested in the replies you get.  My 10 year old son is teased a lot about his buck teeth and has has already decided he will not have a brace when he is older because he reckons he will picked on even more.