Getting Debanded in 8 days-11 months early-NOT-NEW PLAN PG 4

Message

#1 Post by **JoviFan** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:39 pm

went for my 4th adjustment the other day.... and since I have decided Not to do jaw surgery for my overbite (seems to extreme for my situation) and the ortho really doesn't recommend getting extractions since it *could* impact ones profile....I'm basically done! I have a debanding appt for end of August.. then 1 week later I pick up my retainer (which makes me nervous waiting a week......worried about movement, I asked a couple questions but didn't even think to ask why so long b4 I get the retainer).....I don't even need to get my lowers braced - he said that the lower arch is good already.....and as long as I'm ok with my bite which I'll have to live with my overbite (which got a little worse once the upper teeth were straightened) but will have my front teeth straight - which was my main goal anyway!!!!! and in a few months I'm hoping to get the gum contouring on my uppers done! What do you all think????

B4 braces:

Now:

[/img]

#2 Post by **Dark_angel** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:53 pm

You have very nice arches and really nice teeth but in my opinion your smile is still quite gummy and it looks like your teeth (mainly upper) are quite small and could perhaps be brought down a little.

Your teeth have been brought into well really well.

#3 Post by **JoviFan** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:59 pm

Dark_angel wrote:You have very nice arches and really nice teeth but in my opinion your smile is still quite gummy and it looks like your teeth (mainly upper) are quite small and could perhaps be brought down a little.

Your teeth have been brought into well really well.

hmm... I didn't know they could 'bring the teeth down'??? yea, I hate the gummy smile.....that's why I am gonna do the gum contouring prob in about 4-6 months -- only thing scary about that is the dentist said he may have to remove some bone if the gum overgrowth isn't as much as he hopes.......not sure I quite follow that...

#4 Post by **smile2006** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:30 pm

I had upper and lower sugery to correct an openbite. I had a back molar that was pulled down pretty dramatically after surgery. Also to get the position of the teeth as Meryaten described my ortho used bends in the wire to pull certain teeth a bit lower and into position. Has your ortho tried to create more variation in the length of the top teeth? I am frankly amazed at how large my teeth (especially front teeth) are since having braces. I think in the porcess of straightening and positioning these teeth were extruded a bit and the gums followed.

#5 Post by **JoviFan** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 7:26 pm

Meryaten wrote:I read (I believe from one of the docs here on AW) that the ideal for the front uppers is that the centrals should come very slightly lower than the laterals, and the canines slightly lower than the centrals. I hope so, as that's what I have

I've also read hereabouts that the gums usually remodel as the teeth are intruded or extruded, so even adjusting how the centrals are relative to the laterals would not address the gumminess - you're right that root contouring might be a good answer. I also wonder if your centrals are actually physically short, and maybe this is why your ortho has not brought them down further... (no clue, just guessing) In that pic, are your back teeth closed together? If so, the upper centrals should be making a small vertical overlap in front of the lower centrals.... of course, maybe it is just an illusion making it look like they do not, as there is also an overjet going on.

OK, sorry - I feel like I have just been really mean to you That was not my intent.

I didn't take anything as mean!!! I *think* my back molars are touching, prob not quite aligned as they would be if my bite were 'perfect'.....
not sure about the shortness of the centrals......(not real sure which tooth that is....lol) I keep second guessing about the extractions.....but really don't want to have that done, I just hope I'm happy with myself once their taken off..... hm...overjet --- is that when the front teeth protrude out at an angle??? If so, it looks pretty straight compared to what it was day 1 on the recent xrays....could be that my teeth are so small, the ceramic brackets make it hard to tell...

#6 Post by **JoviFan** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 8:17 am

Meryaten wrote:
I keep second guessing about the extractions.....but really don't want to have that done, I just hope I'm happy with myself once their taken off.....
Lots of soul searching. Wish I had answers for you. I certainly agree that extractions (or surgery) are a scary path to head down, and well understand your reluctance. I'll say (and I know this will come out wrong too ) that your teeth look a whole lot better than when you started - you do (as has been posted above) have lovely arches now. And, like I said, I bet you're right that some gum contouring would make a big difference too.

But if you're in any doubts as to being happy with the results, maybe you could sit down and have a chat with your ortho.

Thanks Karen for the pics - they do help!!!!
and you're right Meryaten, they do look much better than b4 !! I could make a job out of second guessing myself! I hate to make *important* decisions, I haven't learned the phrase 'you made the right decision for you at that given time" !!! Working on that as I get older tho!!!! LOL
I've talked with the ortho, basically it seems it's up to me....but he seems to be for the jaw surgery (but not necessarily in my case) as the 'best fix', and against the extractions for some reason.....so, that's where I am....trying to tell myself my main goal was to straighten my front teeth, which they've done! So, my bite isn't right, I seem to be able to eat and chew ok....(it's hard to tell, I do chew differently than b4, but that could just be I'm compensating for the braces).....I have about 5.5 weeks to change my mind, I guess.....but probably won't.....I'm more unhappy with the 'size' of my teeth than my bite I think, so the gum contouring *should* do wonders!

#7 Post by **jennielee81** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:01 am

I will be excited to see your final results after the gum contouring!

They did a segment on GMA last week on gum contouring and it was amazing.

the lady they did it on had a very gummy smile and she had it done to all of her upper front teeth. She said there wasn't even discomfort!

Let us know how things work out!

Jenn...also from Maryland.

#8 Post by **JoviFan** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:30 am

jennielee81 wrote:I will be excited to see your final results after the gum contouring!

They did a segment on GMA last week on gum contouring and it was amazing.

the lady they did it on had a very gummy smile and she had it done to all of her upper front teeth. She said there wasn't even discomfort!

Let us know how things work out!

Jenn...also from Maryland.

yea, me too!!! LOL
ok , whats GMA??? I would have loved to have seen that!!!!

#9 Post by **jennielee81** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:39 am

GMA = Good Morning America

I think it was a few weeks ago now that I think about it.

I'll go to their site and see if I can find it and then I'll link it here for you.

Jenn

#10 Post by **JoviFan** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:42 am

jennielee81 wrote:GMA = Good Morning America

I think it was a few weeks ago now that I think about it.

I'll go to their site and see if I can find it and then I'll link it here for you.

Jenn

Thanks Jenn -- that'd be great!!!! Edited to say, I just found it

Diane

#11 Post by **jennielee81** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:55 am

Glad you found it! I was putting together this reply for you and go distracted by incoming email...it took me longer than I thought.

to get my act back together.

I will post this even though you found it on your own in the event someone else would like to see it.

It's the GMA page with the video listing. Should be in the center of the page. Looks like there are two videos here to see:

http://abcnews.go.com/search?searchtext ... ring&type=

disclaimer: all additional videos that this search displayed on the above page have nothing to do with me or any of my interrests! They are purely unrelated and random.

#12 Post by **sashamax** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 4:19 am

I think you have great results with a beautiful arch.

For me the best thing about having a proper rounded arch [ well I have one on the bottom only at this stage] is that it is so much easier to clean my teeth and flossing is an absolute breeze - even with the braces still on, so it can only get better when they comeoff.

I'm not sure what the surgery entails, good luck if you decide to go ahead.

In the meantime, enjoy your straight teeth and rounded arch.

#13 Post by **iBorg** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 7:38 pm

I have thought about your post several times over the past few days and feel the need to make a few comments. I have extended my treatment from 16-24 months to somewhere from 24-48 months. The extension is because I have decided to have the surgery. I could have stopped without surgery but have learned to accept if not embrace the idea. It seems strange that one of my initial fears was I wouldn't have my braces off for my fiftieth birthday. The initial treatment plan would have barely allowed that if all things went well. My ortho asked me to consider surgery when I expressed concern for how visible my teeth would be. This was six months into treatment. Surgery was discussed and I proceeded to research it. My first thought was NO WAY!!! Too much pain and swelling for me to consider. After I researched it further, I was less strong in my unwillingness to consider it. I talked with a mid twenties daycare worker about it. She is scheduled to have the surgery in September. She asked me one question that you need to answer for yourself. "Will you be happy accepting a compromise and not getting the best result possible just to have them off? You have already committed to the braces. Do you want to stop before you get the best possible result?â€

#14 Post by **JoviFan** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 8:40 am

[quote="iBorg"] "Will you be happy accepting a compromise and not getting the best result possible just to have them off? You have already committed to the braces. Do you want to stop before you get the best possible result?â€

#15 Post by **Filip** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:40 am

I think you are right in not wanting to extract healthy teeth. Beware of facial changes. If you're happy, then IMO you have reached your destination. It is also a safer choice as you can always decide to start over with braces/surgery later if you so decide. Not the other way around though.