The first thing the orthodontist noted was that their mouths were too small for all the teeth that have to come in. Back in the day (meaning my day), that was done by taking out teeth. I had like 8 teeth removed, with at least 4 of them permanent. So when the dr. said "We need to make their mouths bigger to accommodate their teeth", I thought she was joking and waited for her to hand me an oral surgeon's card. But no, no punchline came. They can really make their mouths bigger. She had plaster of paris models to prove it.
Apparently, both Paris and Athena will be fitted with an expander in their top jaw. It looks something like this:
There's a key that fits into a hole in the middle of the device that I'll have to turn once a day, and it slowly spreads the roof of their mouth apart (hence the name, expander). I have to say it sounds only one step above putting rings around your neck to make your neck longer, or breaking your feet to make your feet smaller. But the kids have already picked out their colors: purple for Paris, purple with sparkles for Athena, and they'll start their fittings next week.
Unfortunately, our dental insurance doesn't cover orthodontics and Brian almost ran off the road when I told him the combined price of treatment. It'll be worth it, though, when they get done and are proud to flash their pearly whites. Right?
Ack- wouldn't pulling teeth be cheaper and less painful in the end than the "racks" for their mouths? Good golly sounds horrible and horribly expensive. Are you sure they didn't come up with this procedure to make orthodontics even more expensive than it currently is? But you're right, they will love their smiles when all is said and done.
ReplyDeleteJust make sure they wear their retainers for as long as prescribed!!