6 month or 2 year treatment? WITH PICS... serously

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#1 Post by **gerbilburp** » Mon May 21, 2007 10:57 pm

Alrighty, badly written because im a little confused and jumbled =/

Well I'm stuck in a predicament
The two year and 6 month treatment are roughly the same price except the 6 month treatment costs $200 more.

I went to another orthodontist consul today but he only does 6 month treatment and would only need to take out one bottom tooth (from picture view; the tooth at bottom left...one thats floating away)

Even though hes taking out one tooth and it'll be uneven he said its not noticeable.
Also he told me his only goal is not to align the jaw or face its just to close the gaps.

Now my regular orthodontist said he'll need to take out 4 bicuspids for the treatment. Two on top, two on bottom and treatment would take 2 years.
Also with this he wont be adding brackets to the front teeth for the top or bottom and would have the brackets on the sides with the wire coming across the front teeth for a few months. Also he'll add a screw near my missing tooth since he needs an anchor to pull everything back. (is he doing this to make my curvature larger? waiting two months before putting brackets on front teeth???)

Im not sure about the screw in my jaw with the 6 month treatment, think hes gonna do the same??

With the 6 month program he'll be taking out that one tooth on the bottom and none on the top because he'll "polish the teeth" so he can make more room on my top row of teeth. (sounds a little creepy, will i have tiny thin little teeth on the top?)

Im worried about the 2 year program since they'll be taking about 4 healthy teeth, also wont have anything being done on my front teeth for quite some time, also ill have a screw in my jaw bone.

With the 6 month program is nice since ill have my teeth being aligned immediatly and itl be done in half a year, also theyll only pull one healthy tooth, but itl be off centered.

So 2 year or half year which way?

uh and heres my smile

*breaks glass*

#2 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Tue May 22, 2007 1:22 am

maybe you can get more consults... You seem to have 2 totally different treatment plans.

#3 Post by **DirtyMartini** » Tue May 22, 2007 1:59 am

i'd go along with the suggestion to get another consult - and don't be afraid to discuss with the next orthodontist the other 2 dr's recommended treatment (but don't name their names to the ortho)

also, ring the 6 month treatment guy and find out why he is recommending that treatment and not the longer term one...he may have picked up that you just want a quick fix and so suggested the shorterm treatment but grill him on the long term health effects of the shorter treatment (receeding gums, cracking teeth due to poor alignment, jaw pain issues, headaches etc)

#4 Post by **idolfan4** » Tue May 22, 2007 5:12 am

Hey, good luck with your treatment. Two years and six months, huh? That seems like a long time, but I'm sure you'll make it through. Just looking at your smile, it seems like yesterday those were my teeth. I had my braces on for almost two years and I got them off April 19th, 2007. I'm soooo happy. Anyway, I hope all goes well with your treatment and stay positive even if something goes bad.

Braces Came On: August 2nd, 2005
Braces Came OFF: April 19th, 2007

#5 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Tue May 22, 2007 9:10 am

Oh yeah, like Kiwi, I was wondering why you had spacers too. Odd to have spacers without a definite tx plan with a doctor.

#6 Post by **Rickysa** » Tue May 22, 2007 11:33 am

taking one tooth out on the bottom will leave you with excessive overjet (overbite)...

Not knowing how much crowding you have on the upper arch, or the degree of protrusion of your teeth (doesn't seem extreme), you may be able to find a doc to treat you non-extraction.

I've never really been a fan of quick fixes...

Dr. S

#7 Post by **knownothing** » Tue May 22, 2007 11:34 am

I would go with the 2 comprehensive if I were you. There is very little long term research to back up the 6 month ortho thing. At least with the comprehensive you know that you will get all your teeth in the right place for a lifetime not just the front ones put in the right place and the back ones left crooked!

Tue May 22, 2007 12:54 pm

Looks like alot of work for 2 months. Im worse and its taking me 18 months

#9 Post by **kirjax** » Tue May 22, 2007 5:00 pm

I have to say when I visited my ortho (this was my 2nd consult) I told him right off, I'm not looking for perfection, I know I won't get perfection, but please just give me a straight pretty smile. But even with that my treatment plan will still be 2 years. So obviously my ortho isn't looking for a quick fix even though that's how I had come off as saying I wanted

He knows that even with crowding that a corrected bite is highly important. He even stated that he doesn't think my bite will be 100% but that he will get it to where it needs to be the best he can. I hate braces and I hate the fact that I will have them for 2 years but I know in the end it will all be worth it. I figure if I'm spending the money I mind as well let the the ortho's do what they feel is best.

good luck.

and I agree it won't hurt to get another opinion. Maybe 3rd times the charm!

#10 Post by **kirjax** » Tue May 22, 2007 5:01 pm

also I'm no ortho so obviously I don't know what I'm talking about. But by the looks of your mouth it looks like you have plenty of room to move your teeth, so I am not understanding why all the extractions?

did your wisdom teeth come in yet?

#11 Post by **Boolajoojoo** » Tue May 22, 2007 6:10 pm

I think it really comes down to your personal preference. These are really interesting and different treatment plans though.... Maybe you could at least be asking a lot more questions about the 6-month plan? I can see how teeth would be aesthetically pleasing and straight in just 6 months and how tempting the 6 month plan must be... and with fewer extractions for the 6 month plan too, the same plan would be very tempting to me as well...but you want your bite to be as good as possible when all is said and done. I would tend to agree with the suggestion to get another consult... and maybe ask more questions about what kinds of results you can expect from each type of treatment. I dunno. If you've already got spacers in, you look like you're already committed to an office....

#12 Post by Al » Tue May 22, 2007 6:18 pm

Keep in mind that old adage "If it's too good to be true..."

I would definitely consider a third (and fourth, fifth, etc.) opinion and pursue a solution which is more widely recognised as best long term. Best of luck.

Tue May 22, 2007 8:32 pm

It seems to me that some Otho's (especially older ones) will do the standard 4 extractions in every case. The younger Otho's tend to avoid pulling teeth if at all possible. I had 4 consults, 1 wanted 4 teeth, 1 wanted 2 and 2 wanted none. Both of the two that wanted to pull none said there could be a chance extractions would be needed depending on how things progressed.

I went with one of the no-extractions doctors and I'm into this around seven months now. Everything is in place except one tooth. I had missing molars on top and bottom. The gaps on my top arch are nearly completely closed (one side is completely already). The bottom teeth on one side have moved back approx 4mm. Both of the older Otho's told me there was no way those teeth would move back where the missing molars were. I was told I would have to get bridges or implants - it is not possible to move the premolars into those positions!

My point is... go to a bunch of consultations. you'll know when you've found the right one. It helps to spend months reading this forum, seeing photos and studying similar cases. When you meet the doctors, you can quickly determine which ones are keeping up with current trends and which ones do it the way that's always worked for THEM. Either will get you to decent results, but for someone missing teeth, those results should preserve as many healthy teeth as possible!

steve

#14 Post by **Genie** » Wed May 23, 2007 12:30 am

Hi! I'm not sure about it but your arch looks like it can be "rounded". Is there any way they can move your teeth within the arch without extractions? Maybe you can ask the ortho this?

Just to share with you my experience. I consulted 3 orthos. I just compared the three, decide which one is the one I would more prefer to work with for 2 years and which of them are more forthcoming about my treatment with me. This is just a personal experience. You have to decide which ortho you think is most reliable. Good luck!