Serious difficulties: time, results, etc.

Message

#1 Post by **Marguerite** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 5:02 pm

A little background: I started treatment September 2004. My braces were not placed until February 2005, because my orthodontist was trying to expand my arches. He is a functional orthodontist. I was 19 years old at the time and I understand from my limited research that many orthodontists will not attempt expansion in patients over 16.

In any case... the years rolled by, as they tend to do, braced or no. In the spring of 2007 I was getting ready to graduate from college and move to start my first job. My orthodontist said he'd have me finished up in a few months, but instead he ending up referring me to one of his colleagues in the new city where I'm currently working.

I went to see my new orthodontist in the summer of 2007. He said I'd be finished up by March 2008.

Months passed.

Present Day, 2008. My orthodontist just installed two wire springs called "bite adjusters." I searched the boards here for them and couldn't find anything similar. He said they needed to be in for three months to bring my lower jaw forward. Basically they feel awful, scrape my other teeth, make my face look weird, and hurt my joints/ear canal.

Here are my questions:
I haven't lost confidence in my doctor, and I'm sure he's trying to do the right thing for me. But I don't think he realizes how difficult it is for me to be in braces! Seriously, I want this garbage out of my mouth yesterday. I'm not terribly interested in fine-tuning, etc., all I ever wanted was a reasonably attractive smile I wouldn't be ashamed to flash at other humans. Why can't he just stop the torture and trauma already???

My other issue: I don't particularly WANT to bring my jaw forward. I understand that orthodontists are artists, and all about achieving the perfect bite in their patients. But I don't think there's anything wrong with a little overbite. Other people in my family have it; I want to look like my family. Also: I like my face the way it is. I think it's pretty. So do a lot of other people! Why do have to change the way I look to get a "Perfect Bite?"

And: Isn't 3 years in braces enough? If modern orthodontics can't crank out some half-way decent results in 36 months, then maybe I made a big huge mistake! (now I'm just venting) Why do my doctors have to tell me one thing and then keep stringing me along for months (now almost a year) at a time? I feel like one of those women with a married lover who keeps promising he'll leave his wife... he just has to wait for the right moment to tell her...

Has anyone else had any similar experiences??

Mon Feb 18, 2008 5:24 pm

There are people that have taken longer than 3 years to finish up their treatment. Be optimistic. You can make it! You will have that smile that you have been dreaming of. Thankfully, I don't need much time in braces. I hope your treatment will finish soon!
- mariah

#3 Post by **TEXLADY** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:45 pm

It is important to fix your bite when you are young - otherwise, you'll wind up grinding and wearing your teeth down and as you age need crowns, veneers etc. that you might also wear down. Or you'll wind up like me - getting braces at age 50

. If you can tolerate it to finish, I would. Or talk to your ortho honestly and ask - what would happen to my teeth if I were to stop now and see what kind of response you get.

#4 Post by **missfashionista** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:34 pm

I don't have any advice to add but all I wanna say is hang in there!

Oh yah, is it possible for you to seek a second opinion?

#5 Post by **dubnobass** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 5:24 am

I was told it'd be 2 years all-in, but it's now getting very close to 3. I feel somewhat as you do, in wanting these things off ASAP, but at the same time, having gone through so much already, I'm not settling for anything less than as-close-to-perfect-as-they-can-get

I think the orthodontist view is that a perfect bite is more likely to be a stable bite - and ideally they want the changes they have made to be stable. I certainly don't want to be going through this again 10 years down the line, when I'll be in my mid-forties and probably depressed about the loss of youth and a bum that's gone south for the winter.

Hang in there!