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Sorry if this has already been asked, but I was wondering if orthodontic treatment is usually "easier," pain-wise, on teenagers/children? Most of my friends growing up had braces, and I can't remember even one comment about them hurting, or being annoying, or flossing being a pain or anything! I had one friend with some kind of appliance (called um... a "bi-anator"?) that she had to wear and her only complaint was that her parents kept saying how expensive it was. I also helped a friend dig through the cafeteria trash for her retainer. And one friend didn't like when her elastics snapped off into her food. But no one complained about pain or adjustments or sharp brackets! Maybe I just had stoic Yankee friends?
My boyfriend's mom did tell me today that her younger son had to get his braces off 8 months early because he was taking poor care of his teeth. He had to have some expensive "deep cleaning" work (perio?). She said often he would eat at night and go to bed without brushing. The thought makes me want to yack. Maybe in some ways it's better to get them as an adult.
I agree it's a personal thing, not really an age thing.
My eldest daughter had terrible pain with her brace but my youngest daughter has had a bite plate and elastics and not one ounce of pain, and she was very good at constantly wearing the elastics and the bite plate.
I've heard youngsters complaining of pain after adjustments and others who seem to sail through everything thrown at them.
I do think that teenagers teeth move more quickly however and it is better to get things fixed while you're young.
2 Extractions 2nd November 2006
Brace On 10th November 2006
Top brace off 26 June 2008 (19 1/2 months)
From what I've noticed (I volunteer with teens and have a few little cousins with braces) is that since their mouths can be molded, they undergo orthodontic treatment for a very long time. A few of my friends from college had braces for 5 years because they got them at a very young age.
My little cousin is 12 and just got his braces taken off...he had them since he was 7. I suspect he will get them again as an adult because he is missing a tooth that his mom can't afford to have exposed at this point.
A teacher sees a lot of kids over the years. Here are the generalizations I have made:
1) most teens don't follow the ortho's directions regarding appliance or elastic wear, retainer wear, brushing and flossing. I've written 3 hall/washroom passes in the last 10 years for kids needing to brush after lunch! Three out of how many hundred?? If my own kids hadn't had me or their mom standing over them, they probably wouldn't have teeth today. I'm not sure why I still have mine, lol!
2) It does seems kids wear braces longer: 3 to 5 years in many cases, but it is for jaw growth etc. Now it seems many orthos like two stage treatment: on for space and alignment, off for growth, on again for finishing. Seems perhaps more humane.
3) those of us not needing jaw surgery may indeed get off more easily than teens. We'll see when it's over.
Eh, yeah, I think it's a personal thing.
I hear plenty of people whining about their teeth at school....I especially heard those comments in junior high.
Time goes much faster for adults. The adult is more motivated knowing the social status importance of teeth. It was a real hardship for me when I was a kid. Adult life is so painful and stressful and depressing that braces are a minor nuisance by comparison. Enjoy your childhood
This also applies to university. It is easier to take the course when you are older. You are more motivated and more nervous so you do better.
Again, enjoy your young years when you are attractive.
i had them as a teen as well, and remember a lot more pain. but the technology has imprived since then. overall i gound it much easier having them as an adult
The thought makes me want to yack. Maybe in some ways it's better to get them as an adult.
