Braces for My 7 Almost 8 Year Old with Very Crooked Huge Front Two Teeth

Updated on April 30, 2015
A.H. asks from Ripley, WV
20 answers

Anyone have experience with a child who is almost 8 needing braces already? My daughter refuses to smile because her two front teeth are very large and crooked, with a pretty large gap. She still has missing teeth and still losing teeth at this time. Can an orthodontist do braces on just two teeth to pull them together?? Any suggestions or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

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So What Happened?

Just to clarify, I have four daughters ages 20/18/7/5 and they all go to the dentist every six months. However he seems to think its to soon to worry. My daughter will be 8 in two months. I just hate it that she is becoming self conscious about her teeth.

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O.H.

answers from Phoenix on

My daughters were like this. We paid $1800 for braces on her 4 top front teeth for only 5 months. She is 15 now and that was about 5 years ago. They are straight and no problems. So yes, if she is self conscious about it then get them fixed. Good luck.

7 moms found this helpful

C.C.

answers from San Francisco on

If her adult teeth are very large, she may need her palate expanded. They can still do that at age 7-8, and then when they're older, the child won't need (as many) teeth extracted to make room to have them straightened. My younger daughter has HUGE adult teeth (seriously, she is a tiny child with these big adult-sized teeth, it's kind of alarming). When she was 7, we had a palate expander put on, and after a year, the orthodontist had expanded her mouth enough that she has a lot more room now for her teeth. And yes, as a result, her front teeth are actually quite straight now, although it's very likely that she will need Round 2 of orthodontics when she's a teenager and has lost all her baby teeth. Definitely go to a good orthodontist to have them take a look.

ETA: To address the "double the cost" comment below, it's actually the same cost total whether you straighten the teeth in two go-arounds or one.

5 moms found this helpful

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J.K.

answers from Wausau on

My niece had her first round of braces around age 8, and a second round when she had all her adult teeth.

My son had crazy front teeth when he was little but they straightened out perfectly without intervention by the time he was in 6th grade.

An orthodontist should evaluate your daughter for the overall picture. It is usually best to see two orthos in unrelated offices to make sure they have the same advice. Since this impacts how your daughter feels about herself, it will help a lot for her to get some answers.

7 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

I'd say to get 2 opinions from different orthodontists who are not in the same practice. But yes, I've seen kids with braces on just a few teeth to get a jump on things when there is a problem early on. If your daughter is so self-conscious, I'd look into it.

6 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

The Orthodontist will be able to evaluate if these permanent teeth are going to move apart as her body grows, or whether she will need assistance to straighten them.

If you are searching for one, ask your dentist or ask for recommendations from other parents in the area.

6 moms found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I do not know what an orthodontist can do because we did not have to go that route with our daughter.

However, I am a frequent substitute teacher in the elementary school and I see children as young as 2nd grade with orthodontic appliances.

I would suggest visiting an orthodontist and getting information as to what you can do now.

I do admire you for taking a proactive approach right now especially since you have picked up on your daughter's low self esteem with her smile and teeth. If she is refusing to smile, it is bothering her and kids have enough stress without adding to it with something like this if it can be improved upon.

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R..

answers from San Antonio on

My daughter got her braces at 6. Our dentist sent us over to an orthodontist because she had a cross bite. (upper teeth inside lower teeth).

When I saw the panoramic of where her teeth were going to come in (some through the roof of her mouth) without intervention we started treatment immediately.

Now they are just straightening her front teeth until we need to have further work done in a few years.

Had them check my son and his teeth are just fine.

Find a reputable orthodontist and take her for a consultation.

4 moms found this helpful
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L.O.

answers from Detroit on

yes.. they can get braces at 8.but because all of her teeth aren't grown in yet.. she might need a second round of braces when she is older..

and as the teeth next to the front teeth come in.. and the eye teeth (pointy ones) come in.. they are likely to push the front teeth towards each other and get rid of the space..

it doesn't hurt to ask.. take her for an ortho consult..

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Absolutely get them. Yes I have seen it. My niece and nephew had braces on the front 4 teeth at a young age then had them off. They will be getting a full set of braces in a few years when the rest of their teeth fall out/come in.

My daughter just turned 12 and will be getting a retainer in 4 weeks when she is done with her aligners/braces (She had Invisalign)

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S.H.

answers from Santa Barbara on

I have seen first graders (age 7) with braces. I know of second graders with them. The Ortho should be able to advise you if she is a good candidate for this at her age. Several kids get phase 1 and phase 2 of braces.

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S.T.

answers from New York on

I have two kdis and both kids had an entirely different orthodontic plan based on what was happening in their mouths. (Same orthodontist)

My daughter began wearing an appliance in 2nd grade that helpeds her teeth grow in straight as they began to grow in. Then at some point she got a palate expander which widened her mouth to accomodate her teeth (when I was a kid they pulled 4 teeth!). Then finally around 5th or 5th grade she got braces. They changed a few times too. She's in college now and still has a "permanent" retainer in (on the inside, not visible fromt he outside) - which will come off one day - the orthodontist says there's not rush - the longer it stays in the straighter her teeth will stay.

My son's mouth was different - every year I took him for an evaluation - and it wasn't until 6th grade that he got a palate expander - and then got braces in 7th grade. He's finishing up 10th grade and there's no sign of them coming off becuase he never wears his rubber bands!

So take your daughter to an orthodontist and have her evaluated. You never know what the plan will be. FYi - our orthodontist doesn't charge twice - there's one global fee whether it takes 3 years or, like my daughter 10 years!

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

These are questions for the dentist. Your kids should be getting exams every 6 - 12 months. my grandchildren have been seeing a pediatric dentist since they were 3. The dentist told us that both kids will need braces at first appointment. There are a couple of factors to consider when to get the braces installed. My granddaughter has been released to Get braces from an orthodontist at 14. My grandson, 11, is still not ready for braces. They have an underbelly and an overbite.

Only ex rays and a dentist will know what your children need.

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R.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Yes, one of mine got braces at 8.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.G.

answers from Portland on

I can't answer the part on orthodontists (best to ask your dentist for a referral) but I had a huge gap between my front teeth and very large teeth as a kid.

My teeth looked proportioned and my gap grew together by middle school. My father had same teeth, and 1/2 my kids have same teeth.

My teen's gap has closed now, and his teeth look more proportioned now that his molars are coming in. He has somewhat crooked teeth but his bite is fine.

If we need to correct the crookedness, we were told to wait until more teeth come in.

Not sure if that helps, but we had a few school pictures with my kids smiling with mouths closed - so been there. If it's really bothering her though (my kids saw all our teeth were like that so weren't as worried) I would go see someone. If it's more involved, you'll want to know now.

Good luck :)

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R.A.

answers from Boston on

Yes they can. I had a huge gap between my two front teeth. I'm talking a gap big enoug to fit my pinky finger! They closed it and also put on a permanent retainer on the back that would keep them closed together.

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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

A lot of kids get braces at young ages. It isn't something I agree with, unless there is a reason, such as what you described. Why don't you look up the best orthodontist in your area who is on your insurance plan and make an appointment. He will determine what to do from there.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Yes. The dentist needs to be working on her bone structure and helping her teeth to come in right so they will grow in pretty and have no issues.

I know a lot of kids that have bionaters/devices that push the teeth certain ways to encourage the bones to grow longer or they wear the device in the roof of their mouth to make the roof grow wider.

It's not uncommon to see kids this age wearing all sorts of things to get a head start on their teeth.

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P.K.

answers from New York on

This is the latest fad. Phase 1and phase 2. Double the costs but ortho will try to convince you it's necessary now.

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K.O.

answers from Atlanta on

You can get them straightened now, but then you'll be paying twice to have a full set put on when all her teeth come in.

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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I feel like its the latest way to get more money....to always recommend getting braces at an early age.
Then when they are older & a have continued to grow....they need then again.
I'd go see an Orthodontist for an eval then go see a 2nd ortho for a 2n opinion.

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