Andrew Thurin probably doesn't realize what straight teeth might do for him
in life.
For now, the high school freshman is just happy that the brackets and wires
are off his teeth. He can drink Coke and eat popcorn again, two of the many
formerly forbidden items.
In the long run, though, Andrew's sacrifices could pay off in a big way.
"We live in a society that judges on appearance," said Andrew's
orthodontist, E. Jan Davidian. "People who don't have straight teeth can
be limited in the careers they choose and their choice of a spouse."
Betty Thurin-Forster, Andrew's mother, remembers the days before he wore
braces. In addition to causing chewing problems, crooked, large teeth were
beginning to affect his self-esteem.
Thurin-Forster said he didn't like to smile. In family photographs, Andrew
didn't show his teeth.
After nearly two years in treatment, a large, metal-free smile crossed
Andrew's face. The braces were finally removed and he got to see his perfect
smile in a mirror for the first time.
"They look so nice," his mother beamed.
Thurin-Forster and her husband, Carl Forster, have four boys in their
blended family. Andrew is the first to get his braces off. The others are
either in treatment or will soon experience the orthodontist's chair.
Paying for four sets of braces has sidelined family vacations and luxuries,
even with insurance that covers half the costs and payment plans offered by
their orthodontist.
"I had to pay $2,000 for Andrew's and $2,800 for his younger brother,
Zack. It was almost $2,000 for Joey and I am waiting for the final amount for
the youngest son, Bill," said Thurin-Forster. She works as a manicurist
and Carl as a heavy equipment mechanic.
"Even the boys have given up things like being on the hockey team
because it costs money," said Thurin-Forster. "But they know how
important this is. It's their future."
A 2000 Harris Interactive study commissioned by Align Technology, the makers
of Invisalign braces, asked 1,000 adults how smiles affect self-esteem.
Ninety-four percent responded that when meeting someone for the first time,
they noticed the person's smile before eyes, height or figure. Three out of
four felt that having an attractive smile was important for getting an ideal
job and succeeding at work. Almost half said that bad teeth were a sign of bad
personal hygiene.
Pam Paladin, a spokeswoman for the American Association of Orthodontists,
said she knows of no scientific studies on the relationship between even teeth
and self-esteem. However, it's clear that straight teeth are healthier teeth,
she said.
"Orthodontic treatment helps people keep their teeth longer. When they
are aligned properly they won't collect as much debris and plaque. You can
floss better and you have healthier gums," Paladin said.
Text of fax box follows:
Opting for braces
In 35 years of practice, orthodontist E. Jan Davidian has seen many changes.
There are more options in types of braces available, treatment time can be
shorter and procedures less painful.
Newer wires cause little discomfort -- nothing that over-the-counter pain
medication can't handle, said Davidian.
"When I got into practice, the bands went around the tooth and made
spaces between the teeth," he says. "It was more painful. Now the
bracket is glued onto the front of a tooth."
Brackets can be made of metal, tooth-colored ceramic or clear plastic.
Wires are placed in the brackets to move the teeth into place. The wires are
held in place by ties, small rubber bands, which can be multi-colored for fun
and fashion.
There are gold-colored brackets and wires. And one company offers brackets
shaped like footballs, stars and hearts, according to Pam Paladin with the
American Association of Orthodontists.
In Davidian's office, gold braces are $250 more and white braces are $500
more than traditional braces for top and bottom teeth. Find out more by going this invisalign cost link.
Invisalign braces, another option, look like clear retainers. The Invisalign
device covers the teeth only, not the gums, and can be removed by the patient
at will. Patients need to remove them to eat and brush their teeth.
A series of clear plastic trays are made from molds of the teeth. Each tray
will slightly change the alignment of the teeth as it is used.
Once the teeth adjust to a new tray, usually in about two weeks, the patient
changes to the next one. Treatment averages 24 months, according to Paladin.
