Hi Folks
Got cermaic braces on my top teeth last april to close a gap in my front teeth. The Gap at the front closed more or less after 2/3 months but once a gap closes an other space opens. all the teeth have to align.
There does not seem to have been much movement of late. Last trip to Ortho he told me that he will now have to put braces on my bottom thought that he would not need to but back teeth at top slow to align.
When i initially started he advised me to go with metal but i wanted ceramic......kinda sorry now did not go with the metal as the results might have been quicker. Initally he said i would have the braces 8/10 months now in Nov getting bottom braces. Will this push my time with braces out further or will top braces come off before bottom. Anyone with info please let me know.
Thanks
Jo

Hi Jo!

Sorry to read that things are going quite to plan. It's important to remember that brackets don't close gaps, or open them or move teeth for that matter, they're attached to your teeth, so that the archwires (and other ortho equipment) and skill of your ortho can do the work. If your ortho is trained in the use of ceramic and metal brackets and he's using quality brackets, then there should be no difference in the time taken for the the archwires and his skill to do this job.

The slow alignment of teeth can be due to many things including genetics and sometimes they're just not in any speed to go places. Also their movement is dependant on what is happening elsewhere in your mouth. My ortho used powerchains to close my gaps, but of course then had to use more powerchains to move the gaps along ... as they have to go somewhere ... they don't just magically disappear! With my teeth moving back and along, my upper and lower gaps are now gone, but I've also had to wear elastics from top to bottom to help bring my lower jaw back ... but my ortho always told me I'd need both upper and lower brackets to align my bite.

Getting lower braces in November may push your time back, but remember this has nothing to do with the type of brackets ... and everything to do with your teeth moving and aligning. The braces can be removed from one arch before another, just like they can be put on one one arch before another. You need to check with your ortho about this, as he may need both arches bracketed so he can use elastics to work on your bite.

Good luck ... and hopefully your teeth will soon get into gear and move where they need to be!

Jo ... I'm not an ortho, but a very interested ortho patient with a great orthodontist who's happy to answer all my questions!