So true. What a scam.

Well, the first orthodontist I took by daughter to wanted to treat both upper and lower teeth. Then I took her to a recommended orthodontist and he said she had only a minor gap in the front teeth and really didn't need braces, that is, only if the gap really bothered her. It didn't and we didn't get braces. My son is now due and I'm sure he will need them.

I am 49. The orthodontist my parents took my brother to said braces were unnecessary for me. My teeth are NOT perfectly aligned, I have an overlapping canine but the dentist felt the cost/benefit was just not worth it. TODAY, that would not happen- though, again at 49 years old, my teeth are still in perfect condition- no decay, very few (3) cavities.
My dentist has been pushing me to send my youngest for a consult since he was 8 years old. He is 12 and still has many of his baby teeth! What b.s.! His teeth are a lot like mine without the overlap, I think I'll pass!

I sadly hear my friends talking of "phases", "extractions" and "appliances". My family goes to Children's Dentistry of So Fl and our dentist there says to wait and be patient the teeth are healthy and look fine. We will keep going there as long as the word "phases" is never used. I agree that a beautiful smile is a great gift we can give our children but not at the risk of having to get a another mortgage.

I didn't- but my teeth are crooked and I definitely stand out as someone who was too poor growing up to have braces- its just another way to separate the haves from the have nots

I've never had braces and I have perfectly straight teeth. My husband has never had braces - same goes for him. Dentists are snake oil salesmen - many people don't even bother to go and get a second or even third opinion. When a dentist told me I needed a root canal and other work requiring over $5k, I was skeptical, went to a different dentist - who told me my mouth was in perfect condition and produced x-rays to document his case. It required a little more leg-work, but it saved an invasive procedure and $5k.

No one in my mother's or father's family ever needed braces. We have pictures to show how everyone had perfect teeth. One of my children (out of three) had braces and all three of her children are in or just getting out of braces. I'm sure it must be how the jaw is formed and the size of teeth, etc. That would make heretity a big part of the equation.

Our oldest daughter who is 14 has been through it all, the applicance, extractions, oral surgery and now braces...when we took our son in for a consultation..we were told to wait and see..he did not need anything..I agree that it has alot to do with the structure of the jaw, size & position of teeth..I would have a second opinion (we did!) before doing anything

As an orthodontist there is a lot of conflicting information out there about the "need" for orthodontic treatment as well as "phased" treatment. I can assure you that it is a good idea to have a child "screened" for their jaw/bite development at an early age (I usually tell my family/friends/patients that I love to see the children when their upper/lower permanent incisors and first permanent molars are erupting..approximately age 7-8...because I can screen for jaw alignment/bite problems that, if left untreated, can lead to other problems or be more difficult to correct when the child is older and most growth is behind him/her. In addition there might be hidden problems that can be detected on a panoramic x-ray with respect to development and eruption of the permanent teeth underneath the baby teeth. IF the child is a candidate for interceptive treatment in my office (called phase 1 in some offices) I clearly explain that the reason is because there is some sort of foundational/growth problem that should be addressed early in the child's development vs. waiting until all the permanent teeth erupt.

FORTUNATELY the MAJORITY of children are developing within normal limits and I LOVE to tell their parents that treatment is not necessary at that time and we will just continue to follow them along as they develop (maybe complimentary check them 1-2 times a year until the rest of the permanent teeth have erupted) at which time treatment may or may not be necessary or elective. Many children are candidates for orthodontic treatment due to jaw/bite alignment/growth problems, and many children are optional candidates for orthodontics to optimize the esthetics and alignment of the teeth. I have many parents who ELECT treatment for their child to give him/her the best possible smile esthetics BUT I am always clear as to whether it is necessary or elective and I give them the choice.

If your children are seeing a pediatric dentist who is monitoring the development/position of the jaws as well as periodically taking a panoramic radiograph to check position,development and eruption of the permanent teeth then he/she will advise you if/when your child needs to see an orthodontist. If not then your child should be screened by an orthodontist at approximately age 7-8 (every child develops at a different pace).

I can assure you that most orthodontists DO NOT want to initiate treatment on patients who do not need it. It is always good to seek a second opinion if you are not sure....although sometimes you will get conflicting opinions which can also be confusing.

I ALWAYS think about my own children and what I would do on them when I am providing orthodontic evaluations and consults.

DEAR MS. SOLOMON,
AS AN ORTHODONTIST, I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO YOUR 2 QUESTIONS.
Q #1- YES, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO DID NOT HAVE ORTHODONTICS AND THEIR TEETH ARE "FINE". THEY MAY NOT HAVE AN ATTRACTIVE SMILE OR FACIAL APPEARANCE OR MAY NOT CHEW WELL, BUT MAY STILL HAVE "HEALTHY" TEETH, GUMS, AND JAW JOINTS/JAW MUSCLES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE CAN NOT ALWAYS PREDICT WHICH PATIENTS IN YOUTH WILL BE ABLE TO ADAPT TO BITE IMPERFECTIONS AS THEY AGE, AND WHICH PATIENTS WILL NOT ADAPT AND DEVELOP PROBLEMS LATER IN LIFE SUCH AS TOOTH WEAR, LOSS OF TEETH, DIFFICULTY CHEWING, OR TMJ AND MUSCLE DYSFUNCTION/PAIN. THEREFORE, MOST SIGNIFICANT ORTHODONTIC PROBLEMS IN YOUTH SHOULD BE TREATED, AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. (PLEASE SEE WWW.SINGERBRACES.COM)
Q #2-YES, I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT, AT LEAST PERSONALLY, I HAVE HAD PATIENTS THAT I HAVE TOLD DO NOT NEED TREATMENT OR SHOULD NOT HAVE TREATMENT FOR VARIOUS REASONS. IN THIS REGARD, THE WORD "NEED" IS RELATIVE. MOST PEOPLE CAN BENEFIT FROM ORTHODONTICS EVEN WHEN IT MAY NOT BE ESSENTIAL FOR DENTAL HEALTH IN THE STRICTEST SENSE. MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT ALMOST ALL PARENTS WANT WHAT IS OPTIMUM FOR THEIR CHILDREN, TO HAVE THE HEALTHIEST AND MOST ATTRACTIVE SMILE POSSIBLE, EVEN WHEN IT MAY NOT BE ABSOLUTELY "NECESSARY". THEREFORE, ALL PARENTS SHOULD NOT BE SHY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND TO FEEL FREE TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF ANY PROPOSED TREATMENT SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE THEIR OWN COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS. FORTUNATELY, DUE TO TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN THE SCIENCE OF ORTHODONTICS OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS, WHICH HAS REDUCED ITS COST, WHAT WAS ONCE A SERVICE FOR ONLY PRIVILEDGED CHILDREN, IS NOW AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE TO ALMOST ALL CHILDREN AND ADULTS. CONSIDERING ALL ITS HEALTH AND COSMETIC BENEFITS, ORTHODONTICS TRULY IS ONE OF THE BEST VALUES IN THE MARKETPLACE.

Everything can be so called "improved" on a person; but why pay $5000 plus for a child who doesn't need braces? Orthodontists should understand the difference between need and ideal. If the kid's teeth are straight and not causing a problem, why get braces? It seems like a waste of money and time. I don't want my child having anything done for cosmetic reasons. Someone's subjective opinion about how someone should look is silly. If the teeth are straight and cause no problems, I say leave em alone!