Should I get braces? Slight overbite...

Message

#1 Post by **Unsure** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 8:46 pm

Hey guys,

I'm in a world of a dilemma and hoping for some insight.

I'm 26 and I have a slight overbite (I think). Some of my friends say that it's barely noticable and fixing it won't change much, while some others say I would look much better if I fix it.

I've been saving money to go traveling and it would all go if I choose to get braces. More importantly, I don't know if I want to have braces until I'm 28...

I thought the people who are going \ have gone through this might be able to tell me if my overbite is worth it and how much of a difference 2 years in braces will make.

So here are some pics, I don't know if cropped pics is helpful so if you think you can help, please PM me and I'll send full pics. I really appreciate any feedback.

http://lookpic.com/i/556/eJZ4nKe4.jpeg

http://lookpic.com/i/838/J4vBR43F.jpeg

http://lookpic.com/i/44/FLTB9QyB.jpeg

http://lookpic.com/i/672/kgOAg8DC.jpeg

http://lookpic.com/i/556/eJZ4nKe4.jpeg

http://lookpic.com/i/34/XiOEASgS.jpeg

Thanks in advance!

#2 Post by **starzz** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 9:23 pm

You have a nice smile and great looking teeth. What I notice is can't see your bottom teeth. Hard to tell how much the top teeth are covering the bottom ones and how much your lip is covering them. Can you pull you bottom lip down and take a pic with closed bite?

#3 Post by **JayC** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 10:05 pm

it looks like your "slight overbite" is more due to a recessed lower jaw.. braces wont change yoru profile. Don't quote me, but I think you will be required to get a lower jaw advancement to fix the recessed lower jaw (from a function and esthetic standpoint)

#4 Post by **Unsure** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 12:18 am

Hey guys,

Thanks for the replies so far.

Starzz, thanks for the compliment and I'll try and take the pic when I get back home.

JayC, I'll look into what that means... that sounds worse then braces.

The feedback I'm looking for though is whether or not it's impacting on my profile enough to bother? In other words, does it look bad?

Thanks again

#5 Post by **yj207** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:55 pm

I think you should go seek a consult from an ortho instead of asking people on this forum. Consults are usually free and they are professionals that know more about this stuff than the rest of us braced people. You don't want to be told the wrong thing and have a wrong idea about your case, do you know what I mean?

#6 Post by **almost50** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:46 pm

I agree with the other posters. You need to get a professional opinion.

It's really hard to make any kind of diagnosis from these pictures.
I can see that you have a slight overbite. I also see that your lower lip in profile sticks out pretty far. From these profile pictures I wonder if you are looking more at a chin augmentation rather than jaw surgery. Jaw surgery brings your entire jaw forward so maybe that's not what you want, but, again, no one can really make a diagnosis based on these pictures. It's hard to know how you are holding your jaw in regards to your teeth just from the pictures.

There are so many variables, and if you've gone to the trouble of placing this post here, it's worth at least one or two consultations with an ortho. Just pick a good one.

#7 Post by **WiredIzzy** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 8:41 pm

I think a professional opinion is a good idea for health/functional reasons, but your teeth look great! Cosmetic wise I don't think you need to change your teeth!

#8 Post by **marycotter5678** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:22 pm

I think that braces alone won't make a big difference (but would help) because as someone already mentioned it looks like your lower jaw is retrusive. If you go to an orthodontist, they may very well suggest orthognathic surgery. I have an underbite and I will be having double jaw surgery in a few months. Either way, you have to wear braces...
In your case, it would probably just be the lower jaw, which is the least complicated of the orthognathic surgeries...