Justification is NOT Sweet

I took the boys to the orthodontist on Wednesday. It was a second check for #2 and a first for #1. #2 is missing several adult teeth, you will remember, and he has to wait to lose some more baby teeth before they will do anything to help him with orthodontia.
Well, he lost 3 teeth in the last 6 months! That is major since he hadn't lost any for the last 3 YEARS! However, it wasn't enough aand he will continue to "Waitin' to Straighten". The orthodontist thought it would probably be another year unless he loses a lot of teeth in this next 6 month period. It also looks like what was supposed to be a peg tooth is actually just a sliver of a tooth and may have to be extracted.
#1 was told that it is time to go ahead and brace him up. The cost was $5800! Yes, for the price of a good used car you can put metal on your kid's teeth. I decided we would go to another guy and get a price and recommendation. #1 was happy- sort of- to get another opinion, but his opinion is that he doesn't need braces. He thinks he looks just fine. (And given the rate of female followers he has I suppose he is correct.)
Anyway we headed out today for another opinion. This time to a dentist that was recommended by a couple families as being gentle and less expensive. He also does orthodontics and does it faster and less expensive than most. Can't say as I agree.
The dentist did a thorough exam with lots of Xrays, but didn't actually do anything to help #1. #1 has a lot of plaque under his gumline. The dentist pulled out a bunch of it to show us and told #1 that he isn't brushing well enough. This is something I have said thousands of times, literally.
So #1 has 4 cavities. Yes, FOUR! Though I have warned him for years that that could happen, he has refused to change his brushing technique. Now that I can say, "I told you so" it falls a little flat. The four cavities cost? $970! Doesn't taste sweet at all.
The good news is that this dentist said there isn't any real problem with #1's dental/skeletal frame and he does not need braces. Well thank goodness, 'cause all my money just went to filling cavities!