Braces preference for boys?

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#1 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:31 pm

Just out of curiosity those of you with boys. Which type of braces do you think boys prefer? My son says he really doesn't care. I did some research of my own and found out that the self ligating braces can work more quickly and are supposed to be more comfortable.

We (my son and I) are both getting our braces put on at the same time. He says he wants self ligating and we were going to go with the Damon 3's. However, now I find out they have the OPALs which are virtually invisible accept for the wire. I have decided to get these, do you think it would be weird to have him get the same? He is one of those kids that is sorta sensitive about his looks. I don't think he would care if they were silver but I'm just wondering if any of your boys had a particular preference?

Brandy

#2 Post by **jenns91civic** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:44 am

He's a teenager so I would go with regular metal brackets that he can have colored ligs on. That way he can get school colors, sports team colors, whatever. The docs on the site have said Damons don't work much faster, if any faster, than regular brackets. The good thing with them is it usually means longer time between appointments. I would be disappointed though because the best part of braces is being able to get diff color ligs at each appointment. That's just my personal opinion and I don't have kids (no way jose. I've seen childbirth videos lol!) so I can't really comment from that standpoint.

I think you said your ortho offers them all at the same price so it's really just whatever you and he prefer. I'd hate to see a kid getting ceramics. They eat too much weird stuff to keep the clear ligs clean. Most of the kids in his class probably have braces so there's not really anything to be self conscious about. Again, just my opinion.

Good luck to both of you on your orthodontic journeys!

#3 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:55 am

My son is kindof weird....LOL...he totally thinks the colored ligs thing is stupid. He said he is not wearing any colors! LOL.. Honestly for a boy he is pretty vain. I think he would be fine with metal, but he would just keep them plain.

I was more into the Damons because I've heard they are more comfortable, (have smoother edges), and like you mentioned the adjustment times are more spaced out.

Oh...and the childbirth thing, its not bad. Does it hurt, yeah, but there is nothing cooler than seeing your newborn child and holding them in your arms aftewards. The depths that you are capable of loving something is truly incomprehensible until you have a child of your own (I think.) Never in my wildest dreams could I ever imagined how deep and truly amazing it could be. There is something really incredible about loving someone so much that you would freely give your life for them. You must experience it to truly get it (I think.)

Brandy

#4 Post by **Anticipator** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 9:37 am

I'm a guy (I'm in my 20's) and went with metal (over Damon3's or clear) because I wanted low-maintenace and simplicity. After my braces were on my orthodontist told me that the group that has the most problems with broken brackets are teenage boys, and since I haven't entirely matured (

) I'll assume that applies to me too.

Apparently we are more apt to chew on rocks or something.

#5 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 1:12 pm

Thanks this is what I want to know. My son would be fine with anything I think. He is very responsible and careful so I'm not worried about breakage. Braces are just a non issues for him. I want something that will be the most comfortable, least irritating, and best for him.

I just want to hear what types others have preferred and why?

Thanks.

Brandy

#6 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 1:58 pm

I have just read that they are more comfortable because they have rounded edges (no sharp corners)

Brandy

#7 Post by **dr.j** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:19 pm

Well said.

I just ordered 10 cases of Damon 3's to see what the buzz is about. but I'm careful not to tell anyone that they are faster, better, sleeker than anything else. Ormco has tons of $$$ to throw into marketing which is the reason you guys know about Damon 3's.

The type of bracket is irrelevant. If you have a good orthodontist, he can straighten teeth with barbed wire. Damon 3's in the hands of a hack will give as poor results as cheap brackets.

I also think Damon 3's look just as uncomfortable as any other bracket. It is usually the patient, and not the bracket type, that determines the perceived level of uncomfortability.

Opals are smooth but I found them to be H*LL to work with. I felt llike a beta testing site for a new bracket. But that's just one doc talking

#8 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 6:55 pm

Don't get me wrong, I'm well aware that brackets are pretty much brackets. I agree that whatever the customer percieves to be best for them is probably going to work for them.

I'm also wise enough to know that most of the time the items you hear the most about are from the companies who have a ton of money to throw into marketing. Aggressive marketing does not make a product superior and I'm well aware of that.

I like the look of the Damon 3's plus from the research I have seen and what my Ortho has told me.....for some people it can speed up the treatment time. I'm shooting for a summer surgery date, so I'm all about time right now. If we can't get my teeth ready by May of 2007 then I"m stuck in a holding pattern (braces on) for another year due to my work schedule. Even if it is not a guarantee , I'm going to be all over anything that could possible make things go faster for me right now.

AS far as my son is concerned he looked at his choices and picked the Damon 3's. He didn't read about them, just looked at the pictures and liked the way they looked. So....I"m fine with that since that is what he will feel comfortable with.

Both of us don't have any misconceptions about braces being a walk in the park. Adjustments are not as often though with the Damons, and having a rather tight schedule it just works better for me if we don't have to go into the ortho's office as often.

Brandy

#9 Post by **bre** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:11 pm

well if this helps any...ima teenage girl (14) and i find that plain regualr metal braces are just fine. They don't break,and i don't find tham irritating at all...i never have to use wax or anything...

Just thought i'd pop that into the convo!

#10 Post by **cat352** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 2:04 pm

..I have been in D3s for 18 months..I haven't had any problems with cuts or canker sores..The only thing is the clear part on the top of the brackets breaks off..it isn't very noticeable ,but if your like me you will notice..that's the only draw back to the D3s in my opinion..My Ortho told me about the D3s I never knew of them till I went in for consultation...I wanted a cosmetically pleasing bracket

#11 Post by **missingu** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 10:42 pm

I've had Damon 3s for a few months and, I think, I wish I had known what DrJ said before I got them.

I think I must be some kind of mutant because I've been miserable. The edges are sharp, at least the ones on the brackets in the back and the inside of my cheeks are shredded. I guess the company that makes them markets them by saying you only go for adjustments every 8 weeks, but I seem to be in the ortho's office at least once between adjustments because of problems.

I have to admit, I didn't know I could choose the braces I wanted. The ortho said he was using Damon 3, I asked why, he gave reasons which sounded reasonable, so I went ahead. Now I know there is "big business" behind all this -

three cheers for the young lady with metal braces doing fine!