Today was the dreaded visit to the orthodontist. Chicken’s history with orthodontic care goes back to the middle of elementary school, when he had a spacer, head gear, and then four brackets on his top four teeth. His jaw wasn’t wide enough for all of his adult teeth and he had a cross bite. I knew that when his adult teeth were in we would be back for part two, a full mouth of braces. Luckily for me, Chicken’s teeth have always been on the slow side. When most teens are done with braces Chicken hasn’t even started.
Unluckily for me, the reason Chicken isn’t in braces yet is that his mouth is fucked up, yo. On each side of his upper jaw there is a tooth that has issues-it’s the same tooth. On one side the baby tooth has no root, is hanging on by sheer will and the adult tooth is RIGHT THERE. But the tooth hasn’t fallen out. It needs to come out, but Chicken isn’t the tug on tooth kind of kid. Luckily I’m the smack him in the mouth and save me the cost of extraction kind of mother. Or, the orthodontist offered to tap it gently-it will fall right the fuck out and save me the interaction with CPS.
However, the same tooth on the other side? It has no intention of falling out because there is no adult tooth to push it the fuck out. The bonus part is the baby tooth has cavities-so something has to be done. Here is where the situation requires actual thoughts of thinking. Which of the following options shall I choose? I still have to talk to the dentist, but this is where I am tonight:
1) Pull the baby tooth, put a spacer in for the adult tooth, braces $3750, implant tooth when he is finished growing (early twenties), unknown cost
2) Crown on baby tooth (don’t know if this is possible without talking to dentist), braces $3750, deal with potential falling out of baby tooth down the road or needing implant when baby tooth fails, unknown cost
3) Pull the baby tooth, close gap with molars via braces $4950
The cost of pulling the baby tooth and other dental non-orthodontic work is currently unknown. Out of TWO different dental insurance policies currently covering Chicken there is a remaining benefit of $375. HAHAHA. The amount of traditional dental work that will be covered is unknown. If there are any dentists in the house (I’m looking at you, dentist friend!) feel free to put in your two cents. I have no idea what the fuck I am doing. Parenting! I win at this!!
A funny aside? I told Egg today that Coop had no teeth at all. He stuck his finger in Coop’s mouth, felt around, and tripped the fuck out.
As someone with a vast amount of orthodontic experience (as a patient, not a dental professional) from age 7 through 18 I can tell you that I was another one of those with slow teeth, an overbite, and major amounts of overcrowding. When I was 14.5 he ended up pulling 4 of my 5 remaining baby teeth as well as 2 permanent teeth on either side of my upper jaw, then applying and adjusting my braces faithfully for the next 3.5 years, assigning me headgear and elastics and who knows what else until the spaces were gone, my overbite was corrected and all my teeth could fit in my mouth. I had my 2 wisdom teeth removed when I was 21, before they had a chance to move any of that hard work around (the bottom 2 never even existed).
I have no idea what my parents paid or what the other options were but the slow process of moving them all into place worked pretty well. It looks like my daughter’s headed in the same direction; she just discovered her 1st loose tooth today and she’s 7.5, though 2 of her adult teeth have come in on the bottom behind her baby teeth that aren’t loose at all. I’m already padding my bank account.
I am not a dentist, but I will weigh in anyway.
Does he need this mystery tooth? Like, is it one of the front ones, and he’d look odd without it? Or is it a molar, and a little extra space might help with the straightening of the other teeth? I’m missing my 4 first molars, due to the lack of space for my giant teeth in my small jaw. Check with the orthodontist, and see what he/she thinks? I mean, if it’s a free consultation…
No idea. Myself, I’d likely choose to skip the dentist for the next couple of years out of fear of dealing with stuff I hate dealing with. This is sort of actually what I did and I’m now looking at a whole bunch of dental work shit and hence even though this would be my procrastination method I sure as hell don’t recommend it. I hope you get some good answers from someone though. It all sounds painful any way you look at it.
It’s in the back? Yoink it out and push them together. I had one pulled in. The front and no one notices. Hubs has a fake tooth that is very noticeable. If he already had issues with not enough room, who cares?
Yikes!! Hmm, I’d go for option #3.. more for Chicken’s sake than for you though ;P
Just easier to deal with.. instead of implants later or the unknown later.. but that is a lot!! I’m glad kids are cheaper than adults with braces, but man.. those orthodontists make the big bucks!! I choose the wrong occupation.