I noticed that Zaky had little teeth that were closely packed when he was a toddler, while Nana’s little teeth were widely spaced at the same age. I suspected that Zaky would have overcrowding issue and mummy knows best.
Fast forward 10 years later, some of Zaky’s teeth were overlapping while Nana’s pearly whites are standing fairly orderly. The kid are not foreign to braces and they see their friends donning braces very now and then. I had asked Zaky last year if he wanted braces and he turned me down.
Of course I wouldn’t insist. It is his responsibility to take care of his oral health, especially as he grows older. If he realises that he does need braces in the future, he can even pay for them on his own. Good deal for me. Hoho.
Then, earlier this year, he changed his mind. I don’t know if it is bcos he has started to pay attention to his appearance but one day, he said that he is keen to consider braces. Ok lor. Then a couple of months ago, he said that he wanted braces after his NSG. Orh.
I asked around but there didnt seem like a systematic way to decide on when dentist for the service. We decided on Advaced Dental bcos we were seeing the dentist at the clinic when we were staying in LV. While they have a branch in Bukit Panjang, the braces consultation had to be done at the Novena branch.
The Novena branch is atas can, at Novena Medical Center. At least it is very accessible by MRT and Zaky can come on his own for future follow-ups. I am told that the follow-up takes place monthly after donning the braces.
Zaky had to 1st take a couple of X-rays before the consultation. The special vest for the X-ray.
The dentist said that she would try to “create space” to ease the overcrowding and not resort to extractions as the 1st option. Braces would to an extent alter the appearances and if Zaky doesn’t like how he looks like a few months into the journey, we can consider extractions then. Bcos extractions need to be balanced, 4 teeth, 2 upper and 2 lower, would be needed to be extracted. Of course the dentist’s preference is to keep all the teeth if possible. Mine too, especially when extraction costs extra $$. Haha.
So how to create extra space when it is already so crowded? The dentist explained filing of the teeth by a little each. It sounded painful to me, which the dentist assured not, bcos only a tiny is filed per tooth and when needed. To me, all dental procedures sound painful.
After we confirmed to proceed with the procedure, the dentist proceeded with some scanning. How much would the braces cost? It would be a 1 to 1.5 year journey and the student package (excluding extractions) would cost $4.5k. I was still living in the times that braces cost $2 or $3k. Auntie S assured that this is the market price now. Darn the medical inflation and GST.
Zaky will have the brackets and wire all done up the next appointment. We had decided that this would be done after our short vacation in JB when the school holiday starts, so that he can still continue to enjoy the good food then. Hahahaha. He is taking the eating very seriously, and kept telling me that he still has a few more weeks to enjoy good food.
#爱美
Mummy Lim
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