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Brace Yourself!
Helping Your Child Adjust to Orthodontic Braces
By Tamar Weiss
Thirteen-year-old Sara's transformation from a child into a preteenager could be best described as a whirlwind. At a time when this St. Louis preteen was venturing into the realm of adolescence, as most preteens adorn wrists with silver stackable bracelets and hang dangling earrings from their lobes, along came the dentist to add another set of silver to Sara's look – this one not nearly as "cool" and far more expensive.
Sara needed braces – and head gear – to straighten her teeth.
"I am not wearing that thing," she told her mother after a first meeting with the awkward head gear. "It looks like something a Martian would wear."
If you've not already experienced the struggle, you might soon be calming your child, selling the future benefits of a mouthful of metal. But after some amount of discussion between doctor, patient and parents, you and your preteen will see that orthodontic braces aren't so bad.
Dr. Michael Mahaffey, president of the South Florida Academy of Orthodontists and member of the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO), estimates that although prices may vary across the country, full orthodontic treatment falls into the range of $3,500 to $4,200, depending on the condition of the teeth. He says most orthodontists will offer a variety of payment plans, and for most families, braces will be affordable.
Upon learning the cost and possible inconveniences of braces, some parents may opt to have their kids go through life with crowded, crooked teeth. But what many don't realize is that orthodontic problems often go well beyond a patient's dissatisfaction with the way his teeth look.