My oldest daughter had a consult from her orthodontist. She had been complainning of pain when chewing. I had told my exhusband, her father, that I made an appointment with her new orthodontist to see if maybe she would need braces. The Orthodontist showed me x-rays and explainned to me the seriousness of her medical problems and in order to correct this problem, she would need braces and brackets to prevent major problems later in life. I spoke with my exhusband and explainned to him what the Orthodontist had said, regarding our daughter's problems, and that it needed to be taken care of as soon as posible. He replied, "it is not nescessary to have her go through such an experience". He is being very difficult and I am having a hard time getting him to agree to go ahead to do the work. He lives over 500 miles away, which makes it even more stressful. He says he would like a second opinion, but refuses to pay for it, but instead wants me to pull her from school for 3 or 4 days and drive her all the way to him, so that he can utilize his local Orthodontist. What should I do?? Please help! Thanks much...

... What should I do??? ...

For starters: start your own thread.

My oldest daughter had a consult from her orthodontist. She had been complainning of pain when chewing. I had told my exhusband, her father, that I made an appointment with her new orthodontist to see if maybe she would need braces. The Orthodontist showed me xrays and explainned to me the seriousness of her medical problems and in order to correct this problem, she would need braces and brackets to prevent major problems later in life. I spoke with my exhusband and explainned to him what the Orthodontist had said, regarding our daughter's problems, and that it needed to be taken care of as soon as posible. He replied, "it is not nescessary to have her go through such an experience". He is being very difficult and I am having a hard time getting him to agree to go ahead to do the work. He lives over 500 miles away, which makes it even more stressful. He says he would like a second opinion, but refuses to pay for it, but instead wants me to pull her from school for 3 or 4 days and drive her all the way to him, so that he can utilize his local Orthodontist. What should I do??? Please help! Thanks much....

First thing: please don't piggyback your question onto someone else's thread. It makes it harder for us to find and answer your question; this original question was from 2007. I've asked that your question be moved to its own thread :)

Get a second opinion from another orthodontist. Get both opinions in writing. If he absolutely refuses after multiple doctors state that the work is necessary, get the work done and go back to court over the bill.

If he wants to get a second opinion from "his" orthodontist, then do it before school starts. If it has already started by you, then arrange for her to spend the weekend with her father when he can take her in on a Saturday.

What this boils down to is what's best for your child. If she needs the work, then get it done. I assume you have joint legal custody, which is why it's an issue right now that he won't consent to her having the work done. However, if it is actually required, he's going to look pretty foolish in front of a judge by refusing to consent to required medical care for his child.

Tparsons' post has been moved to it's own thread.