DEBRACED! but not 100% satisfied. [w/ pics]

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#1 Post by **jess214** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 10:23 am

After 23 months and 1 week (according to my ticking progress bar in my signature), my teeth are finally straight and free! I went from having a problematic cross-bitten tooth, extreme crowding, and a slight flare to.. ah, just see for yourself.

I guess I should be happy (AND I REALLY AM! WEE!) but I'm sure I'm not the only one who nit-picks at minor flaws.. especially when you/I/we pay so much for treatment. However, I also know that I have a tendency for OCPD/anal-retentiveness so I'm hoping that other fellow board members can let me know if I'm overdoing it/if my worries are justified.

Here we go:

#1: the bracket on this tooth came off about 3 months ago, which I had replaced immediately the next day, but the tooth moved down by quite a bit overnight. it went back up after a new bracket was put back on, but the angle of positioning has changed and now I can feel it pressing against the inside of my mouth. I'm not sure if anything can be done at this point, but I'm tempted to have them put braces back on just to fix the angle. is that too much to ask?

#2: black triangles. I've asked my ortho to IPR it but he said any more would make the teeth too small. not THAT obvious to others, but it is to me. hmpf.

#3: tooth flaring out. honestly, not a big deal. I didn't even realize until I saw it on the 'view' mode on the camera, but still a peeve, I guess.

#4: imperfect alignment. I realize that teeth are not supposed to be ruler-straight, especially since this has been pulled straight from craaazy overcrowding (see pre-braces picture above) but should I ask to have it shaved a bit so it looks less like a rollercoaster train track?

pictures for visuals:

#2 Post by bb » Sun Nov 09, 2008 3:31 pm

I would find problem #3 a big deal but the others, not so much.

#3 Post by **KARESS** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 4:19 pm

I would be worried about # 3.

#4 Post by **DireWire** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 7:36 pm

I think a perfect smile always lacks in looking natural. It is the slight imperfection that makes it charming.

Your teeth are beautiful. Don't even think of shaving them. It will make things worse.

DW

#5 Post by **jess214** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 9:06 pm

First off, thank you, thank you, thank you for all the responses!

But I'm surprised no one commented about #1 - really?! I'm actually most annoyed about that semi-snaggletooth, if you could call it that. I wonder if it's actually possible to have anything done about it at this point, hm.

And #3 really isn't even that obvious. That tooth was brought back forward from a crossbite and I'm sure it's not standing completely straight, but you can't really tell that it's slanted, not even in the mirror. Probably just camera + lighting..

I've come to terms with the black triangles after months of begging my ortho to do something about them (and months of being refused) so I'm just hoping that somehow my gums would start moving and I'll wake up one day to find the gaps miraculously filled. Well, a girl could dream..

#6 Post by **jess214** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:04 am

I knooow, but it bugs me when I can feel it poking against the inside of my mouth (and it does)

I guess I should try and be less picky, huh?

#7 Post by bb » Mon Nov 10, 2008 9:58 am

You didn't mention it but I'd even out my incisor if I were you...it looks a bit chipped or something.
You smile is really beautiful now. You must be thrilled despite the details you mentioned.

#8 Post by **badbite** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:35 am

I think the only one that would bother me is #3. I noticed it right away.

#9 Post by **lionfish** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 11:59 am

I knooow, but it bugs me when I can feel it poking against the inside of my mouth (and it does) I guess I should try and be less picky, huh?

Might be a good idea.

I think your teeth look great.

#10 Post by **mayday** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 4:27 pm

That's my worry now. It's hard to believe that I could have forgotten about all the issues that were going on when I first started treatment. Now that those are out of the way, I am noticing the small things. Given the shape of my teeth beforehand, I don't know if I will see the exact results I had hoped for.

Have you asked your ortho about any of this? For me, I don't like when teeth are all the same length and then filed, but I think that they should be at least rounded out. Perhaps you could go back and ask them to do that--it only takes a few seconds if they have free time.

#11 Post by **jennicakes** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 3:40 pm

your teeth are uneven on the bottom because as my ortho told me, "crooked teeth wear unevenly." when they are actually straight, you see those differences in length.

As far as number three and one, they don't look bad, but you did pay alot for treatment, and the ortho should not have removed the braces before everything was perfect.

You have a right to be picky when you are paying for your treatment. Especially since you went with traditional braces that do not have the limitations of invisalign (which I went with) you are within reason to want perfection. I had to except imperfection and be realistic about my results because of the invisalign, but if I did get regular braces later on I would definately want EVERYTHING fixed properly.

#12 Post by **jess214** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:39 am

Thanks for agreeing with me, jennicakes!

No offence to everyone else, and I wholeheartedly appreciate all the feedback/compliments, but I'm getting sick of hearing "oh no one else is gonna notice, nobody's teeth are perfect, yours are fine, stop being so picky, blah blah blah". I know some of my issues are the way they are due to my before-bite but if there are some that can be fixed (I've given up on #2 and #4) I should at least try, no?

The only thing holding me back is that I don't want to appear overdemanding, but after talking to my parents, they had a point: I AM a paying customer, and I have the right to demand for perfection (or at least as close to it as I can get). I think I'm going to schedule an appointment for next week.

And cawphee, I know what you mean. Throughout my treatment, I pretty much focused on whether my teeth were coming together into alignment vertically that I failed to notice the little things until my braces came off. I guess when your teeth are bad to begin with (like mine!) you don't pay attention to all the minor stuff. But I wish you luck with yours!

#13 Post by **jess214** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:46 am

Oh, and for fear of appearing ungrateful/stubborn,

THANK YOU THANK YOU for all the nice comments about my new smile. Really, you guys give the best reassurance and advice, even when we may not agree.