Braces

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2005
Braces
12
Tue, 02-21-2006 - 11:43pm

My son got his braces on today. When he first got the spacers he was in pain for
several days. Today they told him that this wouldn't be as bad, and to expect
discomfort for a couple of days. He is complaining about this hurting more than
the spacers. He is having trouble with biting into his food, which I understand
completely. I am fixing softer foods. He took some aleve when he came
home from school, and tonight he took Advil. Does anyone have any suggestions as to
how I might make him more comfortable. Everytime I dosed off to sleep tonight he
came in and woke me up, which means he must be really in misery. I am up for a
while now, so I thought that maybe some of you all out there might have a suggestion
or two.

THANKS IN ADVANCE...

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Avatar for momtb4
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: adhdx2
Wed, 02-22-2006 - 12:31am
I have no braces experience, but if he's gonna take ibuprophen (advil) he needs to take it consistantly. It builds up in the body for the most effectiveness. So, if he can take 2 every 6-8 hours, he'll be better off in the long run. Also, I'd call in the morning and see what the doc has to say. Maybe something hot (tea or cocoa?) or something cold (ice cream?) would help? I'm totally guessing. However, I'm very grateful that you posted this. My DD11 is being groomed for braces and I don't know a thing about them. I know they keep pulling teeth saying it's gonna give her so much more room, but I'm not seeing all this. And I'm also not seeing how in the world we'll ever afford it! How did you handle the money part??
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: adhdx2
Wed, 02-22-2006 - 1:25am

Hugs to you both! My DD has had her braces for more than a year and we still go through this every time she gets them tightened. Keep up with the ibuprophen. I give my DD one before her appointments, which seems to take the edge off. Also, forget any food that has to be chewed. For a few days, my DD lives on smoothies, mashed potatoes and Top Ramen. Luckily, it gets better in a day or two.


Good luck!


Hugs,


Deborah

Avatar for heartsandroses2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: adhdx2
Wed, 02-22-2006 - 9:04am

OMG, both my dd's had braces and on top of that they had this Herbst appliance that was designed to bring out thier lower jaw as well as an upper expander appliance - both were inside the mouth attached to the braces. For the first couple of weeks, thier top and bottom teeth didn't even meet so they could eat anything normal - it was all soft foods.

They basically took advil round the clock for that first week and then as needed after that. We also used ice packs on thier faces and Cloraseptic throat spray will also help numb the painful areas.

Tell him to hang in there, in time the pain will go away.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2000
In reply to: adhdx2
Wed, 02-22-2006 - 9:08am

My boys both had braces.

Pam
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2005
In reply to: adhdx2
Wed, 02-22-2006 - 10:47am

My orthodontist told me to rinse with warm salt water. Also you could use some OraJel on it.

Good Luck!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
In reply to: adhdx2
Wed, 02-22-2006 - 12:36pm

My DD was in a lot of discomfort for several weeks after getting her braces on. Some friends recommended a rinse that sort of numbs the inside of the mouth. (I'm sorry, I don't remember the name of it and it expired so I through it out.) She couldn't handle the taste anyway, so she took Motrin for several days.

She still needs the Motrin the day after the adjustment and can't wait for the day they brackets come off!

After seeing what she's gone through, I'm planning DS' ortho treatment to begin during the summer months, when he won't have to go to school. I had braces as a teen too, and I don't remember being in such severe discomfort, but probably techniques have changed since then.

Avatar for mily12
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-18-2003
In reply to: adhdx2
Wed, 02-22-2006 - 6:55pm

My DS's orthodontist suggested he chew non-sticky gum, such as Dentine, to ease the pain. I know, it sounds odd, but it worked. It was also suggested that he take ibuprofen as opposed to acedaminophen (sp?) to relieve the pain. The ibuprofen works better since it also relieves the swelling.

The pain should decrease as the days progress and shouldn't last for more than a few days. If so, I'd suggest you contact the orthodontist.

Good luck. I hope he feels better soon.

Mily

Avatar for momtb4
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: adhdx2
Thu, 02-23-2006 - 12:57pm
no one has addressed the money part. Do all these kids that have/had braces also have ortho insurance? My DD is supposed to get braces in the next year and I can't begin to fathom how in the world we'll pay for them. They aren't an option on our insurance.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
In reply to: adhdx2
Thu, 02-23-2006 - 1:21pm

We do have orth insurance -- $1500 per child, which barely covers half of the expected cost.

Our ortho offers several different ways to reduce the cost by up to 10% percent: paying in full up front, scheduling appointments during non-busy periods (a lot of parents schedule appts during school lunch periods to take advantage of this) and there's one other option I can't think of right now.

She also allows monthy payments (which is what we do) that are spread out over the length of the treatment.

This is why DS can't get his braces ON until DD gets hers OFF. To her dismay, it looks like she's going to go a little longer than anticipated, so I'm going to have to double up anyway.

Ortho wanted to do a 'phased' treatment with DS starting in 1st grade. That approach would have used up our entire allowance, we still would have been out-of-pocket for phase 1 and he still would have had to go through 2 years of braces after that(completely out-of-pocket costs) so we took the 'let's wait and get it all done at once' approach. Hindsight being what it is, I think it may have been better to go with her program, now that I see how DS' teeth permanent teeth are erupting. Not so great. He's gonna be in for a doozy of a treatment.

Avatar for heartsandroses2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: adhdx2
Thu, 02-23-2006 - 2:14pm

Oh, the money!! My dd's braces were $5000 EACH!! That's $10,000 total - no insurance whatsoever.

Our local orthodontist is awesome. We made an initial down payment of something like $800 and then were put on a payment plan, interest free. Not so ironically, when the last payment was due, the braces came off and the first 2 retainers were included, but if dd lost the second retainer, the next one cost $150.

So, $10,000 later and my oldest dd has crooked bottom teeth - her two front teeth overlap a little (enough to notice) and she will one day need to get that fixed, but I'm not paying. I told her she's on her own in that regard. Thankfully 16dd has perfect teeth and was recently told to wear her retainer again as her bottom teeth are shifting a little, but the retainer should hold them.

With or without insurance it is truly expensive and a gift of love, IMO. When we were growing up only the wealthy kids got braces. Fortunately, I've always had perfect teeth - my sister wasn't so lucky and at the age of 44 she bought herself braces.

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