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The cost of braces:tips for parents of braces

Do you already have a teenager at home? There is a good chance that the dentist will start talking about braces. We now have experience with it and share this with the readers of mamsatwork. From the cost of braces to practical tips. Are you reading along?

“That is going to be very tight in that mouth. Just go and check how you are insured for orthodontics.” I am startled. My oldest daughter is 10, isn't that still too young for braces? My dentist explains to me that some supplementary insurance policies have a waiting period of one year. She also tells me more about the cost of braces. They are somewhere between 2000 and 3000 euros. Handy to know before your child needs braces!

Table of contents

The cost of braces and insurance

I decide to follow her advice and scour the internet for information about supplementary insurance. There are quite a few differences in the cost of braces! Independer is a great website. There the various insurance policies are listed in a handy overview.

I choose an insurance policy that has a waiting period of one year. The dentist expects my teenager to be changing for another year. Then we can go straight to the orthodontist.

Read also: I have braces

Everyone on hold

My daughter is happily changing and is starting to feel like having braces herself. She is the youngest in her class, and hears the coolest stories from other children. About rubber bands that really hurt. Locks from brackets that break. Making plaster that is really dirty. One braced beak after another appears around her. What a difference with my childhood, in my class there was only 1 child with braces.

Also in high school it was more the exception than the rule that you wear braces. That is different today. How could that be? Parents may be better insured and can more easily afford the cost of braces. The requirements we place on teeth may also be higher. Anyway, my daughter is going to be a braces!

Read also: beautiful white teeth with Charwhite

The first consultation

The waiting year is now flying by. “When can I go to the orthodontist?” She's still excited about it. I make an appointment and we walk happily into the modern practice. I received an information brochure at home beforehand, so I know what to expect now that my child needs braces. First, pictures are taken. Earrings have to be removed, just like hair bows with metal. We can wait again until the orthodontist has time.

She looks at the photo with us. My oldest daughter is allowed to sit in the chair and after an expert look in her mouth, she is allowed to sit with me again. There are various braces and dentures on the table in front of us.

“There are several options for making extra space. That is really necessary with you. Fortunately, we caught it early and we can do this in an easy way.” She grabs a brace with a striking pink band on it. I feel my daughter stiffen next to me. “This is a brace that you fasten from the back of your neck with a strap. So you can see that on the outside. As a result, the molars also pull back and there is extra space.” I put a hand on the knee of my startled girl.

An outboard bracket

I didn't see this coming either. An outboard bracket. The orthodontist explains that she wants to start this as soon as possible so that my daughter only has to wear the braces at night once she starts high school. “During the day you still have a lock brace.” I also receive a package of papers with more information about the treatment plan and the costs of braces.

We get time to get used to the idea. Of course my daughter is concerned about what she will look like in the future. She is also sad about it. I get that too. You go to the orthodontist for braces like everyone else has and come out with a piece of ironwork for your face. That's something to swallow.

At home I dive behind the computer again. I want to know everything about the different braces. Maybe there is another option after all. I found out that there are many different types of braces. The outboard bracket seems to me to be the most common for the specific abnormality my daughter has.

"What are you doing mom?" I show what I'm looking for. Together we look at pictures of girls with braces. We also come across a nice video of young girls vlogging about their braces. With practical tips that my daughter can use. Slowly we get used to the idea. My tough lady with an outboard bracket. In order to eventually have cool teeth!

And let's face it, this doesn't look crazy at all, does it?

Different braces

Do you think your child should have braces? There are many different braces. There are inner and outer brackets. There are also removable and fixed braces. Mamsatwork lists all the different braces for you:

Examples of inner brackets:

  • A picture. This is a synthetic resin plate that fits against the palate, with resilient wires moving teeth.
  • A block bracket. This is usually used to influence the growth of the lower jaw.
  • Headgear or also called the outboard bracket. This brace inhibits the growth of the upper jaw and moves the molars backwards. Part of the headgear is in the mouth and part outside the mouth.

Fixed stirrups:

  • The most famous bracket:the lock bracket. This fixed brace, also called plate brace, cannot be taken out of the mouth by the wearer. The fixed braces consist of locks (brackets) that are glued to the teeth. There are sometimes metal rings (bands) around the molars.
  • Splints. These are thin braided wires, which are glued to each tooth with a small drop of glue. This is usually used towards the end of a treatment.

https://youtu.be/CKpGDz6txGQ

Practical tips for you and your braces mouth

  • It may be that your child, like my daughter, does not like her braces at all at first. Then look for information together and tap a bracket or outboard bracket on youtube. Above is the video that made my daughter realize that it is not strange at all to have to wear an outboard bracket. What a nice and cool girls!
  • Make sure you are there on time! Ask your dentist to take a good look at your child's teeth. Also find out well in advance about your insurance. Sometimes it is necessary to place braces in a set of dentures. The cost of braces varies and depends on the type of braces your child needs and the duration of the treatment process.
  • Time is gold. The longer your child wears the removable braces, the faster the treatment will go.
  • Choose your pillow. It may be more pleasant if your child sleeps with braces on a softer or harder pillow. For my daughter I have selected an extra thick and soft pillow that her outboard bow sinks into a bit. She sleeps wonderfully and those are all extra hours. So get braces off faster 🙂 .

Does your child already have braces? What are your experiences, we are curious!