Poll: Braces type/preference for boys/guys???

Message

#1 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:37 pm

My son and I are getting braces put on together on Feb 13th. We both want self ligating and we were planning to go with the Damon 3s. I'm thinking now that I might go with the OPALS instead. I like that you can barely see them. My son wants self ligating braces, but do you think OPALS are weird for a boy?

Guys if cost was not an option what color/type would you prefer? Do you think the Damon 3's would be better for him or the OPALS? He is 14 years old.

Thanks for your input.

Brandy

#2 Post by **Kevin** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 7:54 am

Lots of topics on which kind of braces you prefer, but that doesn't seem to be your question.

The best kind of braces for your son are the kind he wants to have. If you have the choice between Damon 3s and OPALS and he wants Damon 3s, I don't see the problem. Kids want their braces to show most of the time.

I get the feeling you want you and your son to have matching braces. If you want OPALS, go for it and go through the braces experience together. They don't have to be an exact matching pair. Each of you get what you're happy with and enjoy the experience.

Kevin

#3 Post by **Betty Bat** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 8:44 am

It might be more appropriate (and more helpful) to move this discussion to the "Parents of Kids in Braces" discussion. If your son was asking for himself (and there are people in his age range posting on this site), then I'd leave it here. But, you're clearly asking as a parent on this one.

#4 Post by **chrisd** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 10:44 am

as long as the orthodontist is comfortable with all they different bracket types, and cost isnt a big issue i would let him choose. he'll be waring them for a while, and a happy patient is a complient and motivated patient.
good luck
chris

#5 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:00 pm

I asked also on that forum, but I wanted to hear from older guys too, not just teens. My son is really rather apathetic about them. He truly doesn't care. They are not a fashion statment to him, just a means to an end of all this teeth work and he is not thrilled that he has to have them. I tried to show him the different kinds and he was like "Whatever mom" I don't care! And he things the whole color thing is stupid. He likes the idea of Damons because he thinks they are faster, and less irritating, other than that he is truly uninvolved in the whole selection process.
I'm asking for myself for myself as I don't want them to put something on him that other boys are going to be like "those are what girls wear" or something like that. I just want to know what guys prefer, in general. Do most get Damons, metal, lingual? and are they as vain as women....meaning is the goal for men also to have them be the least noticeable?

Brandy

#6 Post by **Kevin** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:19 pm

I had all metal braces (traditional) and I loved them. Then again, I wanted braces in the first place.

If your son really doesn't want braces (being apathetic is the same thing) would it hurt to hold off on braces? He might be more willing to have them in 2-3 more years.

If he truely doesn't care, I'd go for traditional metal for him. Maybe he sees braces as a 'non-issue' so just go the cheaper way and save some money. If he decided to get colors later on, he can.

That's my 2 cents worth.

Kevin

#7 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:29 pm

Thanks Kevin,
That is what I wanted to hear. Perhaps the way you put it is better. The braces are just a "non issue" for him. He is a very easy going kid, truly just really doesn't care. Braces are braces as far as he is concerened.

I'm not trying to make us twins at all...we will already be twins both being in braces as the same time. I"m trying to make the whole braces thing as pain free as possible. Both aesthetically and sore mouth wise. That is why I was considering the Damon 3's for him. He is very responsible, and vigilent about taking care of his teeth. So I know he will not damage them. He will follow the rules and do what he is supposed to do, he is just that kind of kid.

I'm strictly looking for info on what guys prefer, and why?

thanks!

Brandy

#8 Post by **missing_tooth** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 3:33 pm

He likes the idea of Damons because he thinks they are faster, and less irritating,

My ortho told me the damon braces, are mostly hype. They can be faster for certain people, but that doesn't happen too often. Ask your otho about times.

I myself went with metal. The tooth colored one are thicker, and I believe they would be more irritating. I did see a girl wearing those today. Let me tell you, when I saw her profile sideways, the thick white plastic looked a bit odd. imo, they hide nothing. If anything, people may ask, what the heck are those.

Also keep in mind, although he may not care about color now, he may in the future.

// 32, went with metal, would do it again.

- Missing Tooth -

#9 Post by **chrisd** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 4:22 pm

from what the several orthodontists i have talked to said there really is no difference in treatment times between different types of brackets. a lot of this idea is perpetuated by good marketing by the different manufacturers.

most teens get metal. i am a 28 year old male and went with ceramics, because i am a young doctor and did not want to look even younger. dont want patients to think i am doogie howser.

i agree with kevin, if he does not care i would just get the metal brackets.

hope my 2 cents help
chris

#10 Post by **DaneSJ** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 5:10 pm

I am 15 and i really wanted to get clear braces. It is NOT true that younger people want to show off their braces. Most of the time they are embarrassed of them. I highly reccommend that you allow him to get the Opals. I am extremely happy with mine.

#11 Post by **jennielee81** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 5:44 pm

As someone with Opals, let me tell you that my ortho doesn't even put them on kids at all.

They may be less noticeable, but they are NOT even close to INVISIBLE. They are thicker (stand out from the tooth more) than even regular ceramics so they do tend to make people want to know what's up with my mouth...once they see the braces, they stop looking. Because they are bulkier, in most interior lighting, they cast harsh shadows on my teeth. My son thinks they're aweful.

One other note, if my son (or my 2 daughters for that matter) got braces like mine if they had the option, I think that a little while down the road he (they) would resent the fact that we got "the same thing".

Your son will probably be 16 when he gets them off you may want to consider that also. Could his apathy be that he doesn't want to hurt your feelings by saying he doesn't want Opals?

Go with the metal for him. It's cheaper and (take it from the mom of 3 teenagers and I work in a middle school)it's NOT kool to look like your mom at any age...even if they say they "don't care", his friends will give him heck for it since Opals are not at all common brackets it may not be fun for him in the long run.

Best of luck to you two on the 13th. That happens to be my son's birthday (he'll be 20).

#12 Post by **missing_tooth** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 9:13 pm

Let's just sum this up here.

1: your son says he doesn't care.

2: Metal is generally cheaper.

3: Metal is less bulky.

4: Most likely won't affect treatment time.

5: Metal is not a girl thing.

Ask your otho's advice, if possible, just go metal.

- Missing Tooth -

#13 Post by **Tin Man** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 9:54 pm

I'm a 23 year old male with 3M smartclips (metal self ligating braces). When I finally decided to get braces I knew from the beginning I would get metal because I found the look of the clear to be somewhat feminine (not knocking any males out there with the clear braces, it's just my personal opinion). Also, might as well make my mouth look kinda Mad Max. Now I've had some second thoughts now and then, but it mostly stems from being uncomfortable with having braces as an adult, not necessarily have metal braces as an adult.

#14 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 10:29 pm

Ok...Thanks for everyones imput. I talked to him today and asked him which he would prefer. I too work with kids all the time. I've been an elementary school counselor for 13 years now. My son attends a school that is different from the norm. It is all about self responsibilty and having a say in your education. He has absolutely no problems stating his views, or talking with adults. Braces just really aren't that big of a deal to him. He is very well adjusted, and quite frankly has just not gone through the whole (hanging with Mom is uncool thing.) Now mind you I also don't put my son in situations that would make him uncomfortable or have to save face in front of his friends. His job at this time in his life is to start individuating and I'm very happy he is doing that. I'm also glad that we have a wonderful bond and he feels he can talk to me about his feelings. He is always involved in decisions that impact him, especially something like choosing his own braces. I would never tell him what to wear! I want him to be as comfortable with them as is possible. Cost is not an issue, Our Ortho offers all the different types as the same cost. It is strictly which ones you prefer.

I went through the list on the Arch Wired site showing him the different types. I told him they are going to be on his teeth for awhile and I want him to be comfortable. The ones he says he wants are the Damon 3's. He said he defintely did not want clear braces, ceramic, or any other see through kind, and that he would prefer Damon 3's first. If not those then just plain metal is fine with him. I was not aware that the Opals are quite a bit thicker, so I think I'm just going to go with the Damon 3's also. Our ortho already said that we both could have those so I think that is the way we are going to go.

I just wanted to hear from some other guys as to their preferences, but it seems braces are like anything else, and each persons choice is individual. What appeals to one may not appeal to others. So....thank you all for your imput, and we will just proceed with the Damons or metal as planned. Hopefully he will be happy with those.

Brandy

#15 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 11:56 pm

Thanks Karen,
Yes I'm glad we got things figured out too!

My sons school is awesome...I love their philosophy. It is basically run very much like a college. Kids choose their classes every quarter. They have many choices. Rather than like 8th grade history they have the choice of like U.S. History, Western Civilization, etc. My son has taken an architecture class, did a snowboarding intensive for 2 weeks, screenprinting, photograpy, ecology, etc. plus of couse Algebra, writing, short stories, yearbook, seminar classes, and psychology, and he is only 1/2 way through 8th grade. His school only has 350 students and it is 7-12th grades. They basically treat kids with respect and encourage kids to "Own their own education" They are a project based school and all the kids have a counselor. If they are having a problem, rather than parents stepping in to fix things kids meet with their counselor, then set up a meeting with the teacher they are having problems with. They talk to the teacher and together they come up with a plan to resolve the issue. The kids feel empowered because the adults at the school respect them and listen to them, and the kids behave responsibily because the assumption of the school is that kids know how to make good choices and behave if they just believe they will and treat them as such. They are allowed to wear ipods in class while they are working because they are responsible with them. It really is a wonderful school, and I love that my son is getting exposure to so many different things, choices, and topics, while his brain is like a sponge and can just drink it all up.

Brandy