Comments on: Do I Need Braces for My Kid? http://wealthpilgrim.com/weekly-review-and-commentary-dental-hygiene-edition/ WealthPilgrim.com - A Journey To Self, Health and Wealth Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:42:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: chuck wintner http://wealthpilgrim.com/weekly-review-and-commentary-dental-hygiene-edition/#comment-673 chuck wintner Tue, 19 May 2009 14:05:53 +0000 http://wealthpilgrim.com/?p=1890#comment-673 When I was a kid, only Jewish kids had braces. I thought they were a religious symbol. I thought since every Bar Mitzvah kid had to say the prayers through them, that made us more religious. They hurt like hell, the dentist kept tightening them, and you had to wear rubber bands to old your uppers & lowers together. Two years of hell. In the end, I don't think they did anything for me, but I'm sure they help put the orthodontist's kid through college! On the other hand, my cousin is an orthodontist, doing very well, and putting his own kid thru college. chuck When I was a kid, only Jewish kids had braces. I thought they were a religious symbol. I thought since every Bar Mitzvah kid had to say the prayers through them, that made us more religious. They hurt like hell, the dentist kept tightening them, and you had to wear rubber bands to old your uppers & lowers together. Two years of hell. In the end, I don’t think they did anything for me, but I’m sure they help put the orthodontist’s kid through college!

On the other hand, my cousin is an orthodontist, doing very well, and putting his own kid thru college.

chuck

]]> By: MLR http://wealthpilgrim.com/weekly-review-and-commentary-dental-hygiene-edition/#comment-663 MLR Mon, 18 May 2009 20:29:35 +0000 http://wealthpilgrim.com/?p=1890#comment-663 Thanks for linking back to the carnival AND linking to my dental insurance post. I have always thought the same thing about braces... the reason they are so predominant is because we have allowed it, unfortunately! Everyone should oppose them and save their money! :) MLR Thanks for linking back to the carnival AND linking to my dental insurance post.

I have always thought the same thing about braces… the reason they are so predominant is because we have allowed it, unfortunately!

Everyone should oppose them and save their money! :)

MLR

]]> By: MoneyEnergy http://wealthpilgrim.com/weekly-review-and-commentary-dental-hygiene-edition/#comment-658 MoneyEnergy Mon, 18 May 2009 04:03:20 +0000 http://wealthpilgrim.com/?p=1890#comment-658 Glad you liked my article! Thanks for sharing it here. I never needed braces growing up, so maybe your theory is right:) My sister did, though. And I had another close friend who did. I guess it's better to have them on earlier than later - whenever I see someone with braces now it makes them look a heck of a lot younger:) maybe there's a strategy there.... as a Canadian, I can say that we care about white teeth too:)! But I've never filled out any questionnaire all about teeth whitening like ERE did. Interesting. Should compare with the coffee-consuming nations like Finland. Glad you liked my article! Thanks for sharing it here. I never needed braces growing up, so maybe your theory is right:) My sister did, though. And I had another close friend who did. I guess it’s better to have them on earlier than later – whenever I see someone with braces now it makes them look a heck of a lot younger:) maybe there’s a strategy there…. as a Canadian, I can say that we care about white teeth too:)! But I’ve never filled out any questionnaire all about teeth whitening like ERE did. Interesting. Should compare with the coffee-consuming nations like Finland.

]]> By: Neal http://wealthpilgrim.com/weekly-review-and-commentary-dental-hygiene-edition/#comment-635 Neal Fri, 15 May 2009 23:02:19 +0000 http://wealthpilgrim.com/?p=1890#comment-635 Nancy, That makes me sad and angry. Maybe I won't be asking your dentist for a second opinion after all. Neal Nancy,

That makes me sad and angry. Maybe I won’t be asking your dentist for a second opinion after all.

Neal

]]> By: Neal http://wealthpilgrim.com/weekly-review-and-commentary-dental-hygiene-edition/#comment-633 Neal Fri, 15 May 2009 20:57:47 +0000 http://wealthpilgrim.com/?p=1890#comment-633 Thanks Early Retirement. Would it be safe to assume that your country of origin has a lower incidence of braces? If so....I'm moving! Thanks Early Retirement.

Would it be safe to assume that your country of origin has a lower incidence of braces? If so….I’m moving!

]]> By: Early Retirement Extreme http://wealthpilgrim.com/weekly-review-and-commentary-dental-hygiene-edition/#comment-626 Early Retirement Extreme Fri, 15 May 2009 16:56:48 +0000 http://wealthpilgrim.com/?p=1890#comment-626 American's have this fetish about straight blue/white teeth for some reason that nobody else shares. I remember the first time I signed up with a US dentist and I was puzzled why one quarter of the questionnaire was dedicated to teeth whitening. I have never seen that before. In the rest of the world, teeth are cream colored (their natural color) and you only get braces if your teeth are so out of order (or whatever it's called) that you have problems chewing properly (and that is rare). I think orthodontics is one of the top five highest paid professions; it's like plastic surgery for your teeth in many cases ... not needed. American’s have this fetish about straight blue/white teeth for some reason that nobody else shares. I remember the first time I signed up with a US dentist and I was puzzled why one quarter of the questionnaire was dedicated to teeth whitening. I have never seen that before. In the rest of the world, teeth are cream colored (their natural color) and you only get braces if your teeth are so out of order (or whatever it’s called) that you have problems chewing properly (and that is rare). I think orthodontics is one of the top five highest paid professions; it’s like plastic surgery for your teeth in many cases … not needed.

]]> By: Nancy from Massachusetts http://wealthpilgrim.com/weekly-review-and-commentary-dental-hygiene-edition/#comment-625 Nancy from Massachusetts Fri, 15 May 2009 14:26:04 +0000 http://wealthpilgrim.com/?p=1890#comment-625 Yes, but when I explained to them that my husband was laid off and we couldn't afford the spacers at this time, they replied: "well, since your insurance would cover half the spacer cost, you can pay us monthly on the balance and then you'll only have to worry about paying for the braces later." (would cost us monthly for about 2 years!) Apparently, they've never had a spouse laid off and trying to keep expenses at a minimum. Yes, but when I explained to them that my husband was laid off and we couldn’t afford the spacers at this time, they replied: “well, since your insurance would cover half the spacer cost, you can pay us monthly on the balance and then you’ll only have to worry about paying for the braces later.” (would cost us monthly for about 2 years!) Apparently, they’ve never had a spouse laid off and trying to keep expenses at a minimum.

]]> By: Neal http://wealthpilgrim.com/weekly-review-and-commentary-dental-hygiene-edition/#comment-624 Neal Fri, 15 May 2009 13:14:11 +0000 http://wealthpilgrim.com/?p=1890#comment-624 Seems like your son has a real need for this. I wish I had your dentist.... Seems like your son has a real need for this. I wish I had your dentist….

]]> By: Nancy from Massachusetts http://wealthpilgrim.com/weekly-review-and-commentary-dental-hygiene-edition/#comment-623 Nancy from Massachusetts Fri, 15 May 2009 13:07:28 +0000 http://wealthpilgrim.com/?p=1890#comment-623 I'm in the same boat. My son is turning 10 this August and his teeth are coming in crooked. hardly anyone I knew growing up (in the 70's and 80's) had braces. actually only the kids whose parents had money, had braces. We have been told that my son needs spacers put in for a year or two prior to the braces even being put on. my dental plan only covers $2k in orthodontia for LIFETIME, and the spacers alone cost 4k, with the braces coming in at another 5k. if the insurance covers half the spacers, that means we will have to pay full cost on the braces. He will need them though, his are just like mine on the bottom which are crowded and hard to floss. I think insurance should be re-written to help cover more ortho costs...I'm willing to pay more for dental insurance for them to cover more! I’m in the same boat. My son is turning 10 this August and his teeth are coming in crooked. hardly anyone I knew growing up (in the 70′s and 80′s) had braces. actually only the kids whose parents had money, had braces. We have been told that my son needs spacers put in for a year or two prior to the braces even being put on. my dental plan only covers $2k in orthodontia for LIFETIME, and the spacers alone cost 4k, with the braces coming in at another 5k. if the insurance covers half the spacers, that means we will have to pay full cost on the braces. He will need them though, his are just like mine on the bottom which are crowded and hard to floss. I think insurance should be re-written to help cover more ortho costs…I’m willing to pay more for dental insurance for them to cover more!

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