Q : Teeth braces for kids

[Wood_workur]

I got mine done by our local medical school, and the price was about 1/4 of what you would pay for a non resident orthodontist, and the quality was the same (an orthodontist watched over the residents religiously) I'd see if there are any schools that would do them for a lot less in your area.

[jaywood]

Thanks!

I think the moral of the story is: It depends. Obviously some folks here would have greatly benefited from braces. I am anticipating paying for 2 of my 4 kids to have braces.

But I was also told my daughter "needed" them and it is just clearly not the case.

The Orthodontist has a vested interest in selling services. Doctors are no more immune to this affect than anyone else. Ask probing questions and get a 2nd opinion. Ask your regular dentist lots of questions too. Make sure they understand that it is a financial strain. Maybe even tell them it is a choice between braces or a college fund - Which do you recommend?

There is a difference between "needing" them for cosmetic purposes and "needing" them to correct one's bite.

To the common eye, I had a picture perfect smile of nice, straight, white teeth before I ever got my braces. People used to think that I'd had braces when I was younger because my teeth looked so nice and straight. It wasn't until my dentist (who gained nothing financially from me getting braces) told me that I had to have braces in order to avoid me wearing out my teeth. So mine wasn't a case of cosmetics at all. If you were to see a before and after picture of my teeth... you'd probably never be able to see the difference... but I can sure FEEL a world of difference and my dentist says that the braces have saved me from having a mouthful of false teeth.

Doug... your daughter obviously has a beautiful looking smile... but there may be some stuff going on with her bite that is creating the need for braces. I wouldn't write off the orthodontist's opinion too quickly.

[dkerfoot]

Doug... your daughter obviously has a beautiful looking smile... but there may be some stuff going on with her bite that is creating the need for braces. I wouldn't write off the orthodontist's opinion too quickly.

Excellent points - which is why in another post I recommended doing exactly what you did - asking your dentist pointed questions. I didn't decide anything quickly - including taking the Ortho's opinion as gospel. And again, I am paying for two sets of braces, so it isn't like I am anti-orthodontics or anything.

Of course, I am just enough of a kook to believe that medical insurance is the CAUSE of the high cost of medical care, not the cure for it. If everyone where on a high-deductible, Health Care Spending Account like I have chosen, we'd all be much better consumers of medical care.