Conference moira::parenting

    PS  The approximate cost for this will be right around $1,000.  That
    doesn't include the $175 I shelled out yesterday for x-rays.  Is a
    reasonable rate?

    My little sister had one of those - Every night or every
    other night (I can't remember - it was a few years ago) mom
    had widen it with a key ------ They told mom the same thing -
    they don't like to pull teeth anymore.... 
    
    My sister ended up having braces anyway - but her teeth
    are beautiful now...
    
    Don't know about the cost - Depending on how many teeth
    your son needs pulled it could end up costing you around
    the same amount anyway...
    
    
                                                                

    My daughter just recently had her pallet expander removed and is being
    fitted for a retainer.  She had a very narrow pallet resulting in a
    cross-bite.  The ortho showed me before the appliance was put in how
    if you looked from the top of her forehead down her nose, center of top
    teeth and center of bottom teeth should line up straight.  Hers didn't.
    When she bit down, on one side her top teeth over-lapped the bottom
    teeth, but on the other side they didn't.  So we went ahead and had
    the appliance put in.
    
    This is funny I thought because Brittany has an identical twin sister
    who doesn't have this problem.  However, Brittany's face was narrower
    than her sisters, and the ortho told me that as her pallet expands her
    face will become wider.  (now she looks exactly like her sister! it's
    scary..  I sometimes have to study them for a few minutes before I know
    who's who and I'm there mother!!  anyway that's a whole other topic on
    it's own!!)
    
    I started taking Brittany to the orthodontist when she was 7 years old,
    but the orto wanted to wait until she was 8 before actually getting
    the appliance.  So, we started with the x-rays and the moldings.
    Once the appliance was ready they cemented in (it had two bands on
    either side that are cemented to the back teeth an a bar in the middle
    with a key whole)  I thought she would be uncomfortable afterward and
    I was concerned that she would have trouble talking ie talking with
    a sever lisp.  But she was fine,  no discomfort that a couple of 
    Tylenol couldn't handle and she was talking fine within a couple of
    days.  We had to get a water pick to clean it real good everyday and
    I had to turn the bar 1/2 turn per day for about 6 months.
    
    The ortho said it would be most likely 9 mo. - 1yr of stretching the
    pallet before it would be in position, but after 6 mo it was stretched
    to where it needed to be and the ortho took a plastic cement and
    cemented the bar so it couldn't move.  Britt had to wear the appliance
    like that for another 5 months or so for her pallet to set.
    Now she's going into a retainer for 1 year.  With the proper amount
    of space in her mouth now, her teeth have all straightened themselves
    out now and they look beautiful.  I'm hoping she woln't need braces
    but the ortho says it's too soon to tell.
    
    As for the cost, it's cost $1500 with JH paying $750 of it.  If
    she needs braces after this I don't know what I'll do since JH has a
    $1000 lifetime ortho benefit per person.  Which means they would only
    cover $250 of it if she needs braces.
    
    I'ld say, if he needs it now is the time to do it.  What my ortho
    told me was that if we waited until all her adult teeth came in she
    would have to have surgery to have her top pallet and jaw broken and
    reset, and I definately didn't want her to go thru that!
    
    Wow, I can really ramble on!  Sorry about that...
    
    Sharon
    

    Kat had it starting when she was about your son's age, then had
    braces.  She had to have a couple of teeth pulled anyway, but all
    her teeth came in normally, not crowded the way mine are.  And
    crowding is not strictly an aesthetic issue -- because of the lack
    of space, I sometimes have aching in my jaw when the weather
    changes or when I'm having a sinus attack.  Like today.  
    
    --bonnie 

I had one of these gadgets myself when I was a teenager.
A good 15-17 years ago, so the gadget has been around
for some time.  It would've been great to have at an
earlier age as it was not the best thing for a teenage
girl to have in her mouth.

My jaw was very narrow and did not have enough room for
all of my permanent teeth.
As it was so late, I did still need braces and had a few
teeth pulled, but the difference in appearance and wear on
the teeth is well worth it.

I did get an occassional ear ache from it, usually if I
forgot to turn the key one morning and did it double the
next day.

I wore it for about 6 months if I remember right and the
cost, well times are very different...I had 4 years of
brace work (including the gadget) for around $1100!

I had one of those gadgets also, but as an adult (~ 5 years ago).  This
was part of my other orthodontic treatment, so was included in the cost
of the braces. If I remember corectly, it was about 2K.

Once I got used to the bar in my mouth, it wasn't bad. I learned (this sounds
gross) how to get the food unstuck without having to use my fingers.  I
will second the use of a water pik.  This helped greatly to make sure that
all the food got out between the bar, attachment and teeth.

I also got severe headaches right after turning the key, but Tylenol helped
with this.

Barbara

    Thanks for all the input, I think we are going ahead with it.  My
    problem now is trying to explain to a 6 year old why this is necessary. 
    He could care less if he has "pretty" teeth.  Any suggestions?
    
    Belinda

    It's not just beauty -- scrunched-up teeth get more cavities, are
    harder to brush, and sometimes just plain hurt.
    
    --bonnie

    When you go to your consult with the Orthodontist, your child should
    be there.  The Orthodontist has had plenty of experience explaining
    the need for the appliance, what's going to happen and how to
    take care of the appliance, etc. to children.  Usually they will have
    and easy-to-follow booklet for both parent and child to go over as
    well.  Believe me, before the appliance is installed your child
    will have a pretty good idea of what's happening and why it's
    happening.  Good luck!
    
    

    Thanks for all your input!  Brian had the RPE put in yesterday.  Man,
    what an ordeal.  At first he just flatly said NO I don't want it, even
    though we had discussed everything at home and he was fine with it
    then.  The Dr. left us alone to discuss it in private, and finally I
    convinced him to cooperate. After he made up his mind to do everything
    went fine, although we were there form 3:00 to 5:15.  He definately got
    hiper over supper and with food getting stuck between the appliance and
    the roof of his mouth.  I guess that's just something he'll have to get
    used to.  Fortunatly, school doesn't start until September here so
    hopefully by then he'll be used to it.  Right now he's just sworn to
    starve to death.  Although he says he has no problem with ice cream. 
    Imagine that!!!
    
    Thanks again for all the input!
    
    Belinda

    Oh, he'll get used to it!!!  Brittany would make the most discusting
    sucking/slurping kinda sound to get the food unstuck.  Didn't bother
    her half as much as it grossed me out!  
    
    The tough part it over, it should be smooth sailing from here on in!!!
    Good luck!
    
    

    My 8 year old daughter has been fitted with a removable appliance to 
    keep her teeth in place as 2nd teeth grow in.  (The dentist insists 
    they're not called retainers anymore, but ya got me what else to call 
    it :-)  

    The dentist told her to wrap it in a wet paper towel when she eats. 
    The problem is that she keeps forgetting to put it back in and then it
    gets thrown out with the trash at the end of the meal.  Yesterday my
    husband had to return to the "Y", where the kids go for after school
    care, and go through 6 bags of trash looking for the thing.  

    She has a little green plastic case, but doesn't always have it with
    her.  Today I bought some little zip pouches which are shaped like hip
    bags but designed to be worn like a bracelet.  These bags are big
    enough to hold either the appliance or the case.  I am hoping this will
    be easier for her to have available.  

    But, I thought I would ask this community if any one else has any nifty
    tricks for not losing dental appliances that are removed when eating.

One trick that I use to remind me of something is to leave
something very obviously out of place.  For instance, maybe
your daughter could use one wet paper towel to wrap her
dental appliance in, and a dry paper towel to set by her
chair where she will step on it when she leaves the
table.  The theory goes something like this:  as she
leaves the table, she steps on the dry paper towel.  She
things to herself "What the heck is this doing here?" and
then she remembers that this is the reminder to put her
dental appliance back in.

This works for me (except when my husband sees something
out of place and returns it without my knowing it! :-)

Another suggestion:  how important is it for the appliance
to be kept moist??  I used to wear something called a
"spacer" but I just left it out on the table while I
ate.  Since it was staring at me throughout the meal,
I usually remembered to put it back in.  And it never got
thrown out in the trash since it was always sitting naked
on the table.  

- Deb B.

    Instead of a wet paper towel, use a wet handiwipe.  Something that
    you would not automatically throw away.  They can be laundered and used
    for a long time. 
    
    				Mary

    Well - she was thrilled with her little pouches, so hopefully that will
    work at least for a while.  She was happy enough with the pouches that
    she was upset when I told her she had to give one of the four to her
    brother :-)
    
    I asked about the moisture.  The dentist said that the plastic in the
    appliance would dry and warp if it got dry.  
    
    The handiwipe sounds like a good idea when she's at home.  But it's
    less of an issue at home since we are on the look-out.  It's when she's
    away from home that is the larger problem.  Counting on an 8 year old
    to be responsible is if-y at best.  
    
    I don't think she's aware enough of things being out of place for that
    trick to work.  Although I must admit to doing something similar
    myself.  ex:  if I need to remember to bring something to work I'll
    attach my car keys to it.

how about a fanny pack to put it in?  Then she still has it
after she cleans up...

Pat

Oh, boy!  This orthodontics stuff is fun!!  (not!)

Evan has just turned 8.  Little did I know that orthodontics started so early.

I had noticed that some of his teeth weren't coming in after the baby teeth
had fallen out.  I made an appointment with a friend's orthodontist a couple
of weeks after Evan's regularly scheduled dentist appt.  I figured if the
dentist said that he didn't need to go, I could cancel the appt (which the
orthodontist agreed to).  The dentist wasn't too worried, but said that it
wouldn't hurt to talk to the orthodontist, either.  We kept the appt, and I
anticipated reassurance ("Oh, no, Ms. duBois, Evan's teeth are perfectly 
normal.  I can't guarantee that they'll be that way when he's a teenager,
but they look fine now.")  WRONG.  

As I feared, a few of his permanent teeth are having trouble finding space to
come in, and the baby teeth in the way aren't going anywhere.  In addition,
he has a crossbite (back top molars on one side are *inside* of the bite so
that the bottom ones stick out farther). 

The orthodontist recommends pulling 4 baby teeth now.  She wants to see Evan
again in 6 months and expects to install a palatial expander in his mouth
(device to widen his top jaw slowly, left in for several months).  It is 
*possible* that we might have to pull permanent teeth and likely, I believe,
that he will be in braces when he is 12-13.

Ai yi yi yi yi.

Isn't there a way to fix a kid's mouth without pulling or shaving teeth???

And how common *is* it to need orthodontic care?  I read on the web that 
70% of kids need braces.  Is that true?

      Carol

    
    Just in comment to your "how common is this". My mother had braces and
    all four of her kids (me and 3 sisters) had braces. My eldest will be
    5 soon and has been to the dentist twice now. Both times he's mentioned
    the lack of space between her baby teeth (there is no space whatsoever
    between her teeth) and that hopefully we will start seeing some spaces
    soon or we're definitely talking about the need for orthodontic work
    in her future and she hasn't even lost a tooth yet.
    
    Good luck with Evan. Braces are no fun, but the final outcome is worth
    it.
    
    Patty (I had a nickname of "Walrus" from a couple of guys in school
    cause of the way my eye teeth came in).

    Carol,
    
    We just went through some of this with Sally, now 10, and plan on doing
    the rest later, when more teeth are in.
    
    You could see that there was not enough room for all the teeth.  Two
    (incisors?  next to the two front teeth) were pushed out and looked
    pretty bad.  She had two baby teeth removed and partial braces (4
    teeth) for part of the year.  Her teeth look great now, but that wasn't
    the primary reason - it was part of a larger plan for when it will
    matter more. 
    
    The idea is that more teeth will need to be removed and that she'll
    need full braces later.  There just plain isn't enough room in that
    little jaw!
    
    Now that you are braces-aware, you'll see them everywhere, and everyone
    you know will have a kid with braces, or at least a plan!
    
    My theory is that the standard has gone up since we were kids.  You
    will also notice people now, everywhere you go, who would have had
    braces if their parents could have affored them AND if the same
    standards were in place then that are assumed now.  We have some in our
    extended family.  In many circles, braces were reserved for the really
    bad cases, but I think the bar has been lowered.
    
    It makes it all easier if you have an orthodontist that you really
    really trust.  This guy is showing us all these xrays and measurements
    and I'm thinking "how do I know if he's just making this up???".  I
    don't.  And you can be sure that I'm not going to pay all this money
    twice for a second opinion!  So we went to someone highly recommended
    and trusted him.  It's working so far!
              
    Good luck!
    
    Jane

    
    I guess I'm from "the old school" on this ... and a basic mistrust of a
    dentist's true intentions doesn't help (Hmmmm, do I REALLY need to have
    all my fillings replaced, or is he trying to make another payment?!?).
    
    I had braces, on when I was about 14, off at 16 1/2.  Not a big deal. 
    1st appt was ~13, and they wanted me to wait.
    
    I look at my kids - Jason's 8, and has only very recently started
    losing a few baby teeth.  All his baby teeth are *CRAMMED* together in
    his mouth, so clearly there's not going to be room for adult teeth. 
    I'm hoping that his jaw will grow quickly, to help accomodate all his
    teeth.  Either way, I'd *REALLY* hesitate to make any decision about
    it, until he'd had a good chunk of "growing" over with.  Pulling out
    adult teeth - it just doesn't sit well with me.
    
    His father and I both had our wisdom teeth removed, but only because
    they weren't really coming through all the way (I have VERY short
    teeth - they just weren't tall enough to break all the way through the
    gums).  Both of us have enough ROOM for the teeth. 
    
    My dad's mouth is crowded, and he probably would have benefitted from
    having his lower wisdom teeth pulled.  The rest of them are okay.
    
    So anyway, I don't have any real strong feelings that there's no way
    all his teeth would FIT.
    
    Again, I had braces in high school, and it wasn't a huge deal.  No, I
    didn't have a ton of dates, but hey, was that such a bad thing,
    really?? (probably kept me out of a lot of boy trouble! (-;). But it
    wasn't the kind of thing I was shunned for either.
    
    Out of 5 kids, 1 of my sisters also had braces, everyone else was fine. 
    I can *ALSO* say that, I decided way before, that (okay, I'm weird!) I
    wanted braces.  I remember a conversation at a slumber party, and all
    the girls who wanted braces would sit around and intentionally push
    their front teeth out .... maybe it worked, maybe not.  I know I'm the
    ONLY one on either side of the family who ever had buck teeth.  You
    decide.
    
    So anyway, by the time I was 17, I was all done with everything, and my
    teeth were supposedly "perfectly straight".  Over time they've pretty
    much shifted/turned back to the way they were before.  I have a gap
    between the top of my 2 front teeth again.  My bottom front teeth are
    twisted, and 1 overlaps the other, again.  But you certainly wouldn't
    look at my teeth and gasp, and probably wouldn't even think "Gee, she
    could use braces!".  My orthodontist was pleased, and so was I.  Then
    about 8 years ago, I go to a dentist and he says "You know, with some
    braces or a retainer, we could really straighten your teeth out!".  No
    thanks!
    
    So, I think that the standards have changed quite a bit ... and I have
    no IDEA why they're starting so young, but it sure seems TOO young to
    me.  I KNOW that one of the biggest things they wanted before they'd
    consider doing ANYTHING with my mouth, was to be sure that my 12yr
    molars were in and "settled" before they touched a thing.
    
    Please explain why this is starting so young ... it seems to me, akin
    of giving a 13 year old breast implants .... shouldn't we let them
    finish growing, first, before we try to change what they look like?!?
    
    Confused....

    
    As someone who had 10 teeth pulled... I would really think
    twice before allowing that to be done to my child.
    
    I had to baby teeth pulled when I was around 12 so that the
    adult teeth could come in prior to getting braces.  My teeth
    were VERY crooked with my eyeteeth coming in like fangs and
    everything else just coming in at funny angles.
    
    Then I had 4 adult teeth pulled when I was around 13 because
    my jaw was small.  I think they were the ones right after my
    eye teeth but I'm not sure.  By the time I got my braces off, I had
    TMJ disfunction.  It wasn't bad but my jaw was clicking.
    
    Later, at 18, I had 4 wisdom teeth removed surgically because
    they were impacted and would mess up my nice straight teeth
    if allowed to come in.
    
    When I was 24, I got braces again to correct the TMJ disfunction.
    It was really starting to bother me, to the point of neck and
    head pain.  The braces didn't correct the problem and at 32
    I still have TMJ disfunction and pain is a daily part of my life.
    I ALWAYS wake up with a headache and have a slight one throughout
    the day.  My joints ache and my back hurts all the time.  Its not
    excrutiating pain, but frustrating because it is always there.
    I'm really quite used to it and only notice it if I'm really tired
    or I focus on it (like now).
    
    Anyhow, TMJ disfunction has been linked to the removal of adult
    teeth.  Having suffered it for so many years, I'd really reconsider
    having a childs teeth removed.  Get second opinions and please
    find an orthodontist who specializes in TMJ disfunction before
    you have your childs teeth yanked.
    
    Karen   

THANKS, Karen!!!!

Thanks everyone for the information.  I'll check the web, but does anyone
know anymore about the TMJ link?

What about pulling baby teeth?  Has that ever caused anyone troubles?

      Carol

    
    We never DID it, but we discussed it with Jason's dentist since he's so
    old and still has most of his front baby teeth (I think he's lost 2-3
    teeth total, and he's 8).  Our dentist's feeling was that if he pulled
    them now, it would allow his adult teeth to come in sooner than they
    otherwise might.  That it would leave a gap in his mouth, that may
    cause the other teeth to move around enough to "space out" and leave
    more room for food to stick between the teeth.  That there was no real
    benefit to do it.
    
    If his adult teeth were already all the way in, then I think it might
    be a different story.  For the few teeth that he HAS lost, I know that
    on one of his bottom teeth (and the same for Chris), the adult tooth
    was there, in back of the baby tooth, until it was about 1/2 way
    through.  Then the baby tooth eventually loosened up and fell out (in
    about a day!).  He didn't have a hole for long at all.
    
    Our dentist PREFERS him to be slow getting adult teeth, because his
    expertise states that it gives a longer time for the teeth the develop
    and harden, and that teeth that sprout through later, are stronger and
    more durable than those that pop through younger.
    
    We do have "slow" teeth - but they're hard as nails!  (-:
    
    Remember - people have lived for hundreds - thousands of years, without
    intrusive dentistry.  Some of the changes are great - you don't have to
    suffer through toothaches, and you don't even have to have cavities any
    more, if you're careful.  But it makes me ask a lot of questions when
    they want to take a small child and start removing parts of their
    bodies because "they don't fit" ... I suppose I'd be less hesitant if
    they could guarantee me that they WOULDN'T fit once the child was done
    growing.  We only have 3 molars (per section, not including wisdom
    teeth).  To take out 1, is a pretty high percentage.  If you had very
    small hands and large fingers, would you have a finger removed?!?!
    
    Follow it one step further ... if they're wrong, then what?
    
    I have a molar now that needs to be removed.  I'm looking at spending
    (AFTER 'insurance') about $1,500.00 just to keep that "space" in my
    mouth so the rest of my teeth don't go haywire.  But you know - if I
    didn't have that tooth or a replacement there, it'd leave me so LITTLE
    to chew on - just 2 molars, and that just doesn't feel like enough!!
    
    Sorry to ramble .... back to the baby teeth though - the dentist's
    other point, was that it is painful, and why do that for something
    that's going to fall out anyway (and be much less painful when it does)?!?!
    

    I wore braces twice (first time at about 14, second time at 30).  
    The second time was for TMJ problems, which were likely related to 
    my first time in braces...  Keep in mind that this is just one 
    orthodontist's opinion, but it made sense enough to me to get braces 
    a second time...  Here's a stab...
    
    When I had braces the first time, my top teeth were very crowded, 
    and my bottem teeth were somewhat crowded.  At the time (70's) the idea 
    around getting braces was primarily to give you straight teeth.  So, two 
    teeth were pulled on top (the ones just past the wisdom teeth), but none 
    were pulled on the bottom.
    
    Now... imagine this...  two teeth are now gone from the top of my 
    mouth.  To straighten the remaining teeth, and fill the gap, the teeth
    in front are pulled back, and the teeth in back are pulled a bit forward.  
    In the end, both my top and bottom teeth were perfectly straight.
    
    Now... for the problem...  As a child's teeth come in, they will 
    tend to align in whatever way is required for the jaw to close properly.  
    However, since my top teeth were now pulled back, I had to pull my lower 
    jaw inward for the top and bottom teeth to meet when I chewed.  As a 
    result, the TMJ joint used to pop as my jaw went up and down.  This not 
    only made a "clicking" sound, but can lead to soreness and headaches.
    
    Fortunately, I didn't get to the point of migranes, but, it did 
    get irritating enough to put up with another two years of braces.  
    The second time, most of the effort was put into finding an ideal
    alignment for my jaw, and moving my teeth to match it.

    I expect my son will need braces at some point, since his teeth 
    are really tight, even at 4.  But, I'll be sure to make sure that 
    whoever does them is well aware of not just giving him straight 
    teeth, but also doing it in such a way that his jaw fits well, too.

    Peggy

    Carol,
    
    I am also from the old school around orthodontics.  The max coverage by
    JH also encourages waiting until the kids are older IMHO.  I saw my
    dentist about Carrie, who has inherited my teeth (yippee! they don't
    rot), but unfortunately also my big teeth and small mouth (inside ;-))
    
    She said she saw no bite problem,  but just a crowded mouth, which
    should be addressed when her adult teeth are in.  There isn't really
    anthing to "hang" the bnraces on at this point.  
    
    Lolita had a cross bite and we started braces at 14, including the
    palate expander.  Her mouth is very pretty.  
    
    meg

    I have TMJ now too after having 4 teeth removed and wearing braces
    for two years.  But I don't think it was the removal of the teeth
    that caused the problem.  
    
    I used to wear 2 tiny elastics connecting the top teeth to 
    the lower teeth.  This is what created the pressure to pull the
    top teeth back.  I think _this_ is what did damage to my jaw 
    alignment, especially while sleeping because as the muscles would 
    relax, my jaw would pop out and stay that way for long periods of 
    time.  Wish my orthodontist used a head brace instead.
    
    I still don't ever regret having had the braces.  What my poor parents
    put up with!  If your child complains, remember he'll thank you one
    day.
    
    BTW - Two of the teeth they removed were impacted (cut out from under
    the gums), and every time they take x-rays they insist I have 2 more
    impacted teeth that should be removed or they may throw the others
    out of alignment.  I've ignored that advice, and 20 years later these
    teeth still haven't budged.  Glad I didn't go through the pain and
    expense of having them removed.

    
    One note on impacted teeth .... if they're truly impacted, they should
    be removed younger than later.  Apparantly the longer they stay in, the
    more likely they are to twist and turn, eventually wrapping the root
    around the nerves in the jaw.  This can lead to facial paralysis.  The
    risks are dramatically increased when you try to remove one of this
    twisted and impacted teeth, because there's a very good chance of
    paralysis then.
    
    So, as was explained to me by an oral surgeon, if impacted teeth aren't
    removed by the time you're about 20, you're better off leaving them
    there usually, because removing them can cause a lot more, permanent
    damage.  YMMV.  Of my 4 wisdom teeth, 2 were impacted, 2 were just "not
    quite" all the way through, but they were visible.  
    
    

    Well, I have TMJ and I have all of my permanent teeth except my wisdom
    teeth. In my case it's a skeletal deformity. Both of my jaws had/have
    plenty of room for my teeth without having too much. My bite is not
    aligned properly.
    
    I had mostly straight teeth before the braces. I have mostly straight
    teeth now. [Yes, I _did_ need the braces when they needed to bring one
    set of permanent eyeteeth in from the roof of my mouth. The other set
    was removed and discarded] I had surgery to correct the TMJ problem;
    but I'm a great little healer and my joint/jaw reverted to it's natural
    state after about two years. [I elected not to repeated the surgery]
    
    I wear a night guard. It works beautifully.
    
      Annie

    I never had braces and didn't think much about them until my son needed
    them at about 14-15, so I thought braces were something you went
    through so you could live happily ever after.  I didn't realize that
    retainers would be a nightly ritual if you want to preserve that
    hard-fought alignment.  I see this as another incentive to not start
    with orthodontia too early unless there is a compelling reason.
    
    Tony

    
    Yup, 15 years after I got my braces off, I still wear my 
    retainer to bed.  Not every night, but still a lot.  It
    hurts somewhat since my teeth have sifted, but when I get
    a TMJ headached, it is a lifesaver.
    
    Pam

Well, we've had 2 opinions from orthodontists so far.  One said that Evan's
teeth were probably going to need a *lot* of work, and we should immediately
pull 4 baby teeth to allow the existing permanent teeth to straighten out.
I'm not 100% certain, but I think the ones pulled are the ones on either side
of the middle four, top and bottom.  The other orthodontist said that his mouth
will need work, but doesn't need anything right now.  Both want to reevaluate
in 6 months. 

One piece of info that we got from them seems to contradict.  I believe that
the one who said to pull the teeth also told me that the other (existing)
teeth will not move when the teeth are pulled.  The other doctor said
that if you pull baby teeth then the molars will move forward.  

Which is true???

      Carol

I think it depends whether there are adult teeth coming up below the
baby teeth.
I had 2 baby teeth and 2 permanent molars removed, one from each quadrant. 
No teeth were coming up below the baby teeth.
The rest of my teeth moved forward to fill in the gaps.

Lucy

    My daughter got expanders for her top and bottom jaws last Friday.  
    She has been terribly uncomfortable and refuses to eat much of
    anything.  She is afraid to eat!   The most we've been able to get her
    to eat has been:  pudding, yogurt, carnation instant breakfast drink, 
    and  popsicles. She tried chocolate chip ice cream, but didn't like the
    way the chocolatae pieces stuck in the expanders, so now she won't eat
    that either.  We tried pancakes with syrup.  She couldn't eat it.  We
    tried soup, but she would only eat the broth.  As far as tylenol for
    pain, I'm having to crush the pills to a powder because it hurts for
    her to bite them. (She hasn't had much success swallowing tylenol
    whole).   
    
    How long before she gets used to these things?  How do I know if the
    discomfort she is feeling isn't typical. I called her orthodontist and
    he said to make sure that there isn't something cutting into her
    tongue. I don't believe it is, but I will definitely make sure today.
    
    Any recommendations of other soft things to eat that would be more
    nutritious?
    
    Thanks,
    Sarah

    When I've had oral surgery and first got my braces I ate  scrambled
    eggs and baby food.  The baby food fruits are actually quite good.
    For soups, try sticking with things like tomato soup.  Also, ice creams
    that don't have solid bits in them (vanilla, chocolate, etc.).
    
    Oatmeal may work, but the texture may bother her.  
    
    Good luck,
    
    Irene

    I will send mail to Lolita and ask her what else she ate when she was
    messing with the expanders.  I do remember her blending up a dinner,
    and not being pleased.  However chicken soup with veggies pureed wasn't
    too bad.  She only had the palate expander and I think we went to advil
    as tylenol was a waste of energy for her.  
    
    Cream of wheat or rice or cereal soaked in something wet until it is
    mushy also worked for her.  
    
    Lolita was 14 when we started braces, so YMMV, she was getting pretty
    independant at that point, and our work/school/sports schedules didn't
    always match up.  I think the worst part for her was the first two
    weeks of the expader, and again when all the bands were put on.  
    
    meg