The Road to Orthodontia

Jersey #2 had an appointment with an Orthodontist this afternoon.

That was an adventure.

Everything is an adventure with Jersey #2.  You would think that I would be used to it by now.

From the time that Jersey #1 was two years old, I have been told that she will need Orthodontic treatment.  No surprise there.  My sisters and I all had braces.  We have big teeth and small jaws.  It happens.  Jersey #1 also has a couple gum issues that are suppose to be addressed by the Orthodontist as well.  All these years, I have been waiting for the visit when the dentist would announce that it was time for Jersey #1 to go for an Orthodontic consultation.  Much to my surprise, our new pediatric dentist announced that Jersey #2 needs an Orthodontic consultation immediately, and Jersey #1 will most likely be able to wait until around age 12, when all of her permanent teeth have emerged.  I did not see that coming!

In addition to very large adult teeth, and a very small jawbone structure, Jersey #2 has a crossbite.  On one side of her mouth, her top teeth fit over her bottom teeth.  By the time we look at the other side of her mouth, her bottom teeth fit over her top teeth.  

The problem that suggested to the dentist that it was time to meet an Orthodontist, was her severe overcrowding.  On Easter, Jersey #2 lost a tooth that was not suppose to fall out for another couple years.  Her adult teeth are so crowded that they are now pushing baby teeth out of their way.  

Our pediatric dentist gave us a recommendation for an Orthodontist.  I had not taken the time to research Orthodontists yet, so I made a point to inquire with my friends on Facebook.  In the past few years, I have paid attention to Orthodontist threads and conversations, to prepare myself for what to expect.  When I was a young teenager, my Orthodontist pulled the first four molars in my mouth, to make room for my incisors that were growing in front like fangs.  Nowadays, I hear from other parents that pulling teeth is not the preferred method, and expanding the upper jaw is more common, to make room for the teeth.  I have also heard rumors that some Orthodontists push for treatment on young kids, which is twice as expensive because they often also need treatment during the usual young teen time frame, after the permanent teeth are in.  I have observed more 10-12 year olds in braces these days.  I was pleased when my friends assured me that the Orthodontist we were referred to was really good, and quite conservative in his treatments.  A nice guy who doesn't push for treatment, and doesn't charge until treatment actually begins!  When his office staff were extremely sweet on the phone, I was even more encouraged.

The Orthodontist and Jersey #2 hit it off right away.  She said he was "very friendly."  He commented that she was "funny."  When a provider enjoys a visit with Jersey #2, then I know that they really enjoy their work.  Jersey #2 never follows the textbook.  She is always a challenge, that doesn't always make sense.  When the Orthodontist made a point to bring up her need for antibiotics prior to treatment....and to explain which treatments would need the pre-med....I knew we had found the right Orthodontist!  

I almost forgot what it was like to take Jersey #2 somewhere by herself.  She has so much energy, and just climbs the walls.  She explored every detail of the office, from the big couch in the waiting room to the electrical socket in the floor near the chair.  She was up and down and all around the place.  It is amusing to me that she is still this energetic and curious at 8 years old.  

She was this way as a toddler, and it was exhausting.  I was reminded of the time I took her to the urgent care when she was 2 years old, because he was sick and not acting herself.  I told the Doctor that Jersey #2 had much lower energy than usual.  The Doctor had such a puzzled expression on her face as she watched Jersey #2 climb all over the exam table, and jump off it.  She just could not believe me when I said her energy level was much lower than usual.  (Jersey #2 did have an ear infection and a sinus infection at the time, so she was treated anyway, in spite of her "energy" level).

I was internally amused when this "conservative" Orthodontist, who has a reputation for not pushing treatments, especially at younger ages, recommended some pretty heavy-duty treatment for Jersey #2.  I was not surprised (because this is just the way things go for Jersey #2), but I was amused.  There are going to be 2 phases of treatment for her.  By the time she is grown, she will have an 8 thousand dollar smile to go with her multi-million dollar heart!  Praise God for Health Savings Accounts and interest-free payment plans!

Phase 1 pertains to the treatment while she still has baby teeth in her mouth.  Phase 2 will be the normal braces process after all of the adult teeth are in.  The goal of Phase 1 is to expand her upper jaw, and make some room for those big teeth.  Thankfully, her crossbite is not a true crossbite.  It turns out that her teeth do align midline, but she compensates by adjusting her jaw into a crossbite to get her teeth to touch and be more comfortable.  The Orthodontist was able to get her to hold her teeth in proper alignment.  Jersey #2 thought that made her mouth and facial expression look "mad."  So, we started calling it her "growl" face.

    

Even with the expander treatment, there is a big chance that Jersey #2 may need to have some teeth pulled anyway.  The crowding on the bottom jaw is so bad that her permanent incisors are starting to turn sideways under the gums.  It would be a mess if those become impacted.  So, the Orthodontist hopes to monitor them for the next 6 months and see if they will make attempts to come upward.  If not, she may need to have some baby teeth pulled, spacers put in to keep permanent teeth from taking up the space, just to encourage those incisors to come up.  

Jersey #2 is taking it all in stride.  She was excited to hear that she will get braces put on 6 of her top front teeth.  There are many colors of bands that can go on those braces.  Jersey #2 wants to get a band in each color of the rainbow, so 6 braces is a perfect number for her plan!  

I wish I had her spirit to find the rainbow in my life's abnormalities.  

What a heavenly gift she is!