Metal Mouth Message Board

Hello, I am new to this forum so please excuse me if this subject has been posted before.
My 9, almost 10 year old son just had his follow up consult with ortho who recommended the RPHT for his class Iii underbite. It's very slight which he's had since birth. I have 2 concerns.
1. The Doctor didn't address the fact that my sons bone age is actually 11.5 (as per hand xray for his endocrinologist). I've read some papers indicating the bone age is more important than actual age in predicting success.
2. Doctor did not take panaramic X-rays which I've read were standard practice to get a proper diagnosis and make the correct treatment plan.

Anyone have experience with these or feedback as to how to tell if it's a good doctor? We have a second opinion scheduled.

Thanks

I don't have any particular experience with this subject, but I can suggest in general that it would be in your best interest to have multiple consultations. It looks like you have another one so that's good! I had 3 consultations just for my standard braces and every treatment plan was different in one way or another. I do also find it very fishy that they didn't perform a panoramic x-ray before devising a treatment plan. This seems to be standard practice. At your next consultation I would be sure to have a written list of questions so you can address these concerns up front. Maybe they will have a logical explanation for everything? Best wishes to you!

At my daughters (age 10) consult, they never did a panoramic. We were offered headgear for he if we wanted to get started with her. We decided to wait another year or two.

thanks for your replies! I was initially suspicious of the doctor not getting xrays but I perhaps for the headgear alone, and no braces for now, the treatment plan is not dependent on what the films show. We'll see what the second opinion says in 2 weeks.

oldfart- did your 10 year old experience much pain or problems with the headgear?

Thanks!

I've seen a few that don't do full xrays for an initial free consult. They do them once a treatment plan is finalized.

No, we didn't do the braces on her. She was kid #3 and could only afford the first two. She's probably next year.