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Yesterday Liam and I had our final consultation appointment for his braces. $6500. Yeah. Not covered. Yeah. I'm speechless too. So including what I've already paid the grand total will come to $6935.
I was told to think about it and decide if I wanted to go ahead.
I love my son. He's a good looking kid with a 100% overbite and 2 fang like teeth. Which makes him not so cute. One day I would like him to have a girlfriend. Maybe get married. Provide me with grandchildren. I'd like him to be able to smile in pictures. To not be called vampire.
Of course I'm going ahead. I have no other choice. Shitty teeth run on his father's side of the family. While his dad's are okay, his aunt and uncle have the teeth from hell. Both of them probably would have required jaw surgery to get their teeth fixed, which is maybe why their parents did not even bother with braces.
Or it could be because they are cheap fuckers, but that's a whole other post.
So on April 2 Liam will be fitted for the top row of braces and eventually the bottom will go on. Due to his upper jaw growing faster he will also have to wear headgear at home. He will probably have to have one of his four remaining baby teeth pulled.
He also needs to see his regular dentist twice a year for cleanings. This was a grrrrr moment for me, because of course he is only covered for one cleaning per year. So there's another $250 per year.
When we got home he got the lecture of his lifetime about brushing his teeth, something he and Taylor both seem to feel is not one of life's necessities. Brushing teeth with braces is on after every meal is apparently essential. Liam knew he was going to the orthodontist yesterday and still did not bother to brush his teeth that morning. I could have killed him when I picked him up at school and saw his unbrushed hair and unbrushed teeth and the traces of whatever snack he had at recess around his mouth. Ah, the joys of boys.
Back to the cost, because I am absolutely in awe over the amount. I have to pay an inital fee of $900, which I am allowed to spread over 3 months. After that, I pay $175 a month. I guess this means I will have to back to work when my mat leave is up, even if William has received his residency. Which is something I was totally hoping to avoid. I talked to his dad, and he thinks he is able to pay half of the $175, but isn't really sure since his sister now takes $750 of the $1000 he receives in disability payments every month. And did that not start a whole other spiel for me. I told him he had to move out of there, she is supposed to be helping to take care of him, not completely fucking him over taking advantage of his situation. Apparently he is on the waiting list for assisted living. So at least he will be out of a bad situation, but I'm pretty sure they will take most of his income. Although I would gladly pay the entire orthodontist bill myself to have him out of his sister's house.
Anyway, I totally digressed and this post should have been done ages ago.
07 March, 2007
Boys and braces
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17 comments:
i'm a teeth fanatic. good teeth are a necessity. it'll be worth it. i spent over $7500 to get braces a second time... just hope Liam wears his stupid retainer!
I went through this with all three of my kids. Stupid big over-crowded teeth gene. But as much as it hurt the pocketbook, I look at their smiles now and it was well worth it. Your son is lucky, I had to wait til I was out on my own to get my own braces.
sounds like you're a great mom. some day your kids will realize the sacrifices you made so they could have straight teeth, nice clothes, whatever. they'll really appreciate it!
Oh gosh..this is where I give a silent prayer to the teeth God that Kyle was blessed with VERY little overbite and decent enough teeth that per the orthodontist "anything you would need to do would simply be cosmetic"
So yeah, we avoided that...and thankfully so because limp dick I was once married to can't even be bothered to tell me if he mailed my child support check LATE so trying to squeeze $85 a month EXTRA from him...wouldn't happen.
My "expense" for Kyle. Contacts. His Dad's insurance will pay for 3 months worth or a new pair of glasses. We take the glasses so he has something to put on his face at night and then I just pay out of pocket for his contacts.
Kids are freaking expensive.
Oh..and the teeth brushing..show him pictures of what will happen and how they'll rot right out of his mouth if he neglects them and THEN he'll owe you the $7,000 back that you paid to straighten them out.
Shock treatment worked for Kyle at 10.
You do realize God makes them cute so we don't kill them right?
add that to the cost of those concert tickets and we are talking some serious debt! :)
just thought I'd try to add some humor to a rough situation money wise.
Braces are SO worth it. I can't imagine how different my life would be if I hadn't had them. Self-confidence was definitely boosted. Your son will thank you...one day!
My boys hate brushing their teeth also, why is that?
Sorry you have to worry about the expense of braces. We seem to be getting by fine with no need on the boys but Kenzie is starting to make me wonder. She is only 8 but her teeth are comming in so slowly and I can't really tell if they may be comming in kinda off.
i never had to have braces. I had perfect teeth when i was a kid, now not so much... but only the bottom teeth are messed up, so it's not worth it to me to get braces.
I wanted to thank you for your comment on my blog. I am trying not to give up hope...But I hope to find out good news on Friday.
Sooo glad that you are willing to get him braces! My husband and I both had parents who did not get us braces and we both HATE our teeth! I am absolutely obsessed with Wesley's teeth now because of that! Michael (hubby) has "fang" teeth and little kids always ask him if he is a vampire! He is worse about his teeth than I am! He refuses to smile in pictures! Just those lovely closed mouth smiles! We are already saving up for Wesley and Lani's braces:)
I got braces at the age of 17 and it was one of the best things that ever happened to my self-esteem. I imagine that both of my children will need them (the boy at least) and I'll sell plasma or whatever...he needs them.
Dillon had braces fitted but couldn't wear the retainer. So now thw braces are putting the teeth back into their original place. Luckily for us we didn't have to pay or I think I would have gone ballistic!!!
As for brushing teeth, I still have to tell all of them to do it, Dillon will be 14 soon!
My son has this overbite thing as well. He's 8 now, and will need braces when he's around 11 (or whatever age). My daughter is 6 and while her adult teeth aren't in yet they can see by the x-rays that the 2 front ones will be crooked. AND since girls' mouths stop growing sooner than boys (or so the ortho guy said) they will most likely need braces at the same time!! If I'm still blogging in 3 years you'll be reading about...wait a minute. What am I saying? I probably won't be able to afford the internet in order to be blogging!
I feel your pain. I'm glad you made the decision to get him braces. He'll thank you...one day.
Oh yeah. I can relate to the teeth brushing thing. My son brushes but he seems to think 10 secs is enough time. I've put out a timer but unless I'm in there watching he still just rushes through.
My son has this overbite thing as well. He's 8 now, and will need braces when he's around 11 (or whatever age). My daughter is 6 and while her adult teeth aren't in yet they can see by the x-rays that the 2 front ones will be crooked. AND since girls' mouths stop growing sooner than boys (or so the ortho guy said) they will most likely need braces at the same time!! If I'm still blogging in 3 years you'll be reading about...wait a minute. What am I saying? I probably won't be able to afford the internet in order to be blogging!
I feel your pain. I'm glad you made the decision to get him braces. He'll thank you...one day.
Oh yeah. I can relate to the teeth brushing thing. My son brushes but he seems to think 10 secs is enough time. I've put out a timer but unless I'm in there watching he still just rushes through.
Yikes Emma, that's outrageous! I agree with the showing him a picture of what could happen his teeth if he doesn't brush them idea. Pity he's not old enough to care about girls 'cos a 'Girls won't want to kiss a skanky mouth' talk would work if he was.
Your ex sounds like he is in a nasty situation, poor him and poor you for the aftereffects.
Gah, kids, I only have 1 and 1/2 and we had a big chat about money last night, head is wrecked.
Like someone else said, good job they're cute :c)
You are such a good mom Emma. I think most people in your situation would think "screw it, we don't have the money, it's not a life-saving procedure." And I applaud you for being willing to make so many sacrifices for your kids.
And hurray for Sophie sitting up all by herself!
Here's me complaining that we cannot find an NHS Dentist here in Scotland - it seems it's an up and coming career - financially that is!!
Wonder if I can take up a new career - although with my eyesight - it may be a problem now!!
Great story - sorry to read that the cost is really excessive - but one can see that you have your son's welfare at heart.
Ahh... Been there, done that. Fond memories.
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