kids and braces

[peggyfromwastate]

Kate had some braces-- they cost us about $1500 for our half of the amount. Now her ortho wants her to come in for yearly *retainer checks* which we have to pay $25 each time. She used to come in for these, and they were included in the overall fee we paid-- that's how it was explained to us way back when (that it would remain free). The *retainer checks* take like 5 minutes, tops. I really despise the ortho-- a total money mill, and he's really an egomaniac-- he puts out tables full of 3" binders filled with thank you notes from his patients to him, and full of thank yous from teams he sponsors (at $25 each, usually)... But I digress...

Any opinions on this whole thing? These *retainer checks*??? Are they normal? Worth it? I don't want to pay a stupid $25 fee each year. The whole thing just tees me off...

[MrsK]

I never had retainer checks -- but I never wore my retainers either. If you really don't like this guy, perhaps she can have her retainers checked elsewhere? Have you asked your regular dentist?

[Meenah]

OUr Dentist did the retainer checks.

[peggyfromwastate]

Excellent! I do like our dentist. I will ask her-- and if she can't, I'll go with whomever she recommends. Yes, I really dislike the orthodontist that much. He's a prick.

[oceanchild]

All I have to add is that she should keep wearing the retainer... forever... A small gap in my front teeth has returned, and it annoys me SO MUCH.

[DCJenn]

Any chance you're seeing Dr. Irv Davis in the Montgomery Village Medical Center?

Jenn

[GrayMatterWife]

All I have to add is that she should keep wearing the retainer... forever... A small gap in my front teeth has returned, and it annoys me SO MUCH.

Lauren Hutton has a gap. And she's really beautiful! Maybe you should look at it as a type of distinctive beauty mark!

[Flynn]

Any chance you're seeing Dr. Irv Davis in the Montgomery Village Medical Center?

Jenn

Montgomery Village as in Gathersburg Maryland?

[HouseofWool]

I still wear my upper retainer (took a long time before I would let MrHoW see that when we started dating... )

I do not do any retainer checks.

[moonlight]

Go to the dentist or have it out with the 'prick.' The retainer should be checked by someone. I think it's so important to provide healthy and attractive teeth to your child, if you can indeed afford it.

[scarlett09]

ITA w/ Julia - make sure she wears the retainer for a very long time. I didn't and my bottom teeth are overlapping and have shifted quite a bit.

And I would definitely find someone else to see if makes both of you more comfortable.

[DCJenn]

Flynn-

The one and the same Montgomery Village, formerly known as Gaithersburg but they decided they wanted their own zipcode.

Whatevah.

J.

[peggyfromwastate]

Any chance you're seeing Dr. Irv Davis in the Montgomery Village Medical Center?

Jenn

No-- I'm guessing we should avoid this one?

[peggyfromwastate]

Flynn-

The one and the same Montgomery Village, formerly known as Gaithersburg but they decided they wanted their own zipcode.

Whatevah.

J.

Yes, and they have special taxes just for being part of *the village*... I consider myself lucky we didn't end up with a house over there.

[DCJenn]

Dr. Davis was a complete jerk. He's probably retired by now. I was in orthodontics for so long that my teeth are actually at risk as I age. ALL of the nerves of my teeth have shrunk and they're all just about as crooked as they were before braces.

Jenn