Jennifer Lea writes for jlogged.com, and is co-owner of 
Aug
17
Jack needs braces
Uh, my kids are growing up and getting expensive. Jaime, hope your morning at the dentist was cheaper than mine.
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August 17th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Uh-oh, braces? I’m sure that will come. Russ had another cavity. But, one cavity at $91 is way better than 3 at $250!
But, all those cavities are still cheaper than braces!
What was the dentist’s main concern and reason for suggesting braces on Jack?
I used to work for an orthodontist and he always suggested braces on little kids when I think many times just a full set when they were a little older and had all their permanent teeth would have worked just fine… Just curious.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:00 am
Jack’s bottom teeth are coming in literally sideways, and his upper teeth are crowding. I do think it would be a tad premature to get them now, but I would love to pick your brain about little one’s getting braces so young.
Our visit was only 50.00, but the next one will be 240.00!! Sealant on three teeth and a cavity to fill. Sigh…
August 20th, 2007 at 9:57 am
be very carefull of this. I got Ash braces at age 10 it was suppose to be a 2 stage deal but when it was time for the second set she refuses to get them no matter what i said now 6 years later she wants her second set but now its Tylers turn and learning from our mistake he is getting the ONE $5000 set ( yes $5000) if i had things to do over i would have gotten a second opion for Ashley. Also my kids had different dentists which have different opions on the matter. …food for thought.
August 20th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
$5000?
Forget that, I’m making them myself with coat hangers and super glue.
-A
August 21st, 2007 at 11:55 am
If I saw him, I could give a more set in stone opinion (really, it is just my opinion), but if the bottom teeth are coming in sideways, I guess I would want something done about that. As for crowding, unless it’s super severe, it can be corrected later without even necessarily needing teeth pulled or anything.
I saw many, many kids get early treatment and then about 99% of them still needed full treatment. I didn’t very many kids who went straight to full treatment (without early treatment) that had to have drastic treatment because of not having early treatment. Does that make sense?
I do love teeth and I’d love to give you my not-super-educated opinion. Or, like Sharissa said, get a second opinion from a different dentist or from an orthodontist. I worked for Dr. Scott (orthodontist) and he does an initial exam for free, or at least he did when I worked there.
Maybe go to a few orthodontists and get their opinions.
As for the coat hangers and super glue…
August 21st, 2007 at 12:01 pm
I haven’t taken my kids to the dentist yet. I’m too scared.
Actually I think they (at least Jo) would be horrified by it. It’s hard for me to think filling kids teeth (when they are going to fall out anyway) is a good idea but what do I know.
August 22nd, 2007 at 8:19 am
Well, his bottom permanent teeth came in sideways, but I just looked and they are straightening out some as he looses more baby teeth.
I will take him in to see the Ortho now, but I will probably wait until he is older the get one full set. That seems to be the general parental opinion, and I think it’s reasonable.
Sharissa, 5000? That’s like a grand or two cheaper than most of the ones here. I’m driving to the ‘burg if that’s the case!
Steff, Jack had a mouth full of cavities at five. I was so embarrassed!! He had eight (if I recall.) I make him brush too, but it was not enough. He rarely flossed, and had cavities between the teeth. 1740.00 later we are square. Jonas’ mouth is perfect. No cavities at all! Lucas had to have two small fillings (which required general anesthesia in the hospital…not fun.)
If you just take them in for a cleaning the place we go to is great. They have t.v with movies in the ceiling, and a prize wall. My kids love to go to the dentist. Although I have thought of not letting Jack pick a toy at the end because I think it is positive reinforcement for not taking care of his teeth, but that’s a whole ‘nother ball o’ wax.
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Yes, I’m interested. With the movie and the prize to look forward to Jo might actually do pretty well. I can imagine it being a horrible thing though. I’ll have to show him the prize wall first and let him pick out a prise so he can know that that is what he’s working towards. I’ve got to go in too.
I’ve got a few little cavitities that I’ve been waiting to have filled. I don’t like the dentist either. Although I love the laughing gas!!!!!! 
August 24th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
If you don’t have baby cavities filled, they get rotten roots which end up needing baby root canals. Not fun and quite expensive. Or they end up needing a big, expensive crown on a tooth that could have just had a small filling 6 months earlier.
Also, some of their baby teeth don’t fall out until, like, 5th grade! If you leave them in there rotten, they will hurt like crap! Not to mention gum diseases and infection in the blood stream. Of course, that would be extreme, but a cavity left alone will easily do that.
Also, just having a baby tooth pulled (since it’s just going to fall out anyway) means it comes out prematurely and it isn’t there to hold the space until the permanent tooth is ready to come in. So, the other teeth shift and fill in the space and the permanent teeth have nowhere to come in! That causes bigger problems later and possibly more than just braces (like surgery or teeth pulled, etc).
So, all that to say, fill those cavities even if it’s painful on the pocketbook!
*whew* I think I’m done.