Posted by writeradmin
I’m fourteen years old. I sucked my thumb until I was twelve. Now my teeth look weird. I know it is my own fault and my parents remind me of that all the time. I’m planning on getting a job so I can get my teeth fixed. I have to do this on my own because my parents said they won’t pay for it. I can get a work permit. They did try to get me to stop sucking my thumb for years, so I guess I understand but I don’t want to go all my life being embarrassed about my teeth. What do I need to do and how much will it cost?
Angie
Dear Angie,
You sound like a remarkably responsible young adult. Not many teenagers would take this on themselves. When it comes to crooked, misaligned teeth there are two options for getting them straight. The first is traditional braces. The second is Invisalign.
You are probably already familiar with braces. Those use metal wires and brackets to straighten your teeth. Invisalign uses clear aligners to straighten your teeth. Most people prefer Invisalign if it will work for their bite problems.
If your parents have dental insurance, that will help you. The insurance won’t pay for all of it, but it will cover a portion. Your parents should not mind you using the insurance.
I would start by talking to your pediatric dentist to see if he or she offers Invisalign. If they do, they can evaluate your bite to see if it will work in your situation. If your dentist doesn’t offer it, that is okay because he or she can give you a referral to a dentist who does.
You are old enough, and certainly mature enough, to go to a general dentist instead of a children’s dentist. But, even if you were younger, there are plenty of general dentists who treat children.
The cost varies from dentist to dentist as well as where you live. Some states are more expensive to live in the others. That makes it tricky for me to tell you what to expect with cost. Your local dentist should be able to help you out with that.
I’m quite impressed with you. Good luck with the job and getting the smile you want.
This blog is brought to you by a gentle dentist in Baton Rouge, Dr. John Theriot.