Treatment advice - New and 1st consultation tomorrow

Message

#1 Post by **carlie039** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:04 am

Hi there everybody!

I'm 21 years old and am just about to begin my first foray into orthodontics. About a month ago, I started to have some clicking/popping in my lower jaw and went to a dentist to get it checked out. Although I've always had pretty straight teeth, the dentist told me that I, in fact, had a deep overbite in the front and that I should see an orthodontist.

Which brings me to today. I have consultation appointments set up for tomorrow and Friday. I will post some preliminary pictures to get advice from you guys. Opinions would be great! Do you think treatment is advisable/will be worth it? Just for fun, you be the orthodontist - what kind do you think I would need?

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/7619/dsc02981e.jpg

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/7451/dsc02977b.jpg

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/1816/dsc02975j.jpg

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/8361/dsc02870wy.jpg

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/1953/dsc02964cu.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6097/dsc02970h.jpg

Thanks and I look forward to spending more time on here!
Carlie

#2 Post by **carlie039** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 11:04 am

Just back from the consultation and wondering if any of you can advise me. I was told I have a Class II malocclusion and deep bite. Apparently, my back teeth bite in such a way that they are "off" by 1/2 tooth.

The ortho said I would need fixed braces for 18-24 months. Is that a standard length of time? He also said I would need to wear a headgear appliance for the first year of my treatment, which I am not too happy about, especially as a college student. As for the type of braces, apparently Invisalign will not fix my bite issues. He only uses the metal braces on the bottom and I can have either metal or ceramic on top.

Thoughts/advice?

#3 Post by **drrick** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 11:59 am

There are other ways to correct this besides headgear.

#4 Post by **carlie039** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:33 pm

Dr. Rick - what are the other ways?

#5 Post by **drrick** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 3:42 pm

There are many different appliances that can be used to distilize (push back) teeth.
Pendulum, mem-rx, MDA and probably hundreds of others.
ALL of these are more esthetic than headgear.

I am not saying headgear doesnt work becaue it can but most is not all would agree it is not esthetic.

#6 Post by **drrick** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 3:43 pm

forgot to mention elastics too.

You may need any of those appliances.

#7 Post by **DrJasonKTam** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:06 pm

Dr. Rick is right that there are many options to correct a class 2 malocclusion. While headgears are not required as often as they once were, there are still some situations where they may be the most beneficial appliance. Particularly, in some cases, a high pull headgear may help with a vertical discrepancy such as an excessively gummy smile.

Good luck!

#8 Post by **rolo** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 5:36 am

Get more opinions, I went to an ortho who thought lots of things weren't possible, that are part of my current treatment plan (extracting two pre-molar instead of four on the bottom, using cosmetic or teflon coated wire to reduce allergy to nickle on my bottom teeth). I think people work a bit differently whatever profession they are in. Get recommendations too, when I booked one of the receptionists had braces, I asked who did her teeth - she had a choice of five orthos who worked at the practice. Another friend of mine had gone for several consultations, and there were some orthos that were just not what I was looking for, so I didn't bother with those ones.

#9 Post by **felicia** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 12:50 pm

If I had such good looking teeth like yours it would not even cross my mind to get braces...especially for 24 months...
But I do not know the complications you could have in the future if you don't fix the malocclusion...

#10 Post by **sunsmile** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 3:37 am

I think my case is quite similar to yours. I also have straight teeth, but I have a overbite problem indeed, which I want to fix it for many years.

I consulted my dentist and he gave me 2 options:
(1) do the surgery to pull my upper jaw backwards
(2) extract 2 upper pre-molars and 2 lower pre-molars and get fully braced

Finally, i chose the 2nd option as I didn't want to do any surgery.
I've been braced for 6 months till now and I'm wearing elastics for 24 hours. I was told that it 'll take 2 years (conservative guess) to finish the treatment.

Actually, whether it's worthwhile to have the treatment depends on your standard to beauty. Personally, I think it is worthwhile.

Good luck!

#11 Post by **carlie039** » Thu May 20, 2010 2:52 pm

hi again everyone!

im going through a bit of a scared/nervous period. ive had a couple of consults but dont know if i should go through with getting braces or not.

if someone could help talk me into it, that would be great. based on my pictures, will my teeth/bite improve? should i go for it?

#12 Post by **classII** » Thu May 20, 2010 4:14 pm

carlie039 wrote:hi again everyone!

im going through a bit of a scared/nervous period. ive had a couple of consults but dont know if i should go through with getting braces or not.

if someone could help talk me into it, that would be great. based on my pictures, will my teeth/bite improve? should i go for it?

ABSOLUTELY!

You must do it! I've fot ( almost had

Class II Div 2).

I can see from your pics, you over bite, tipped centrals, etc. essentiall the arches have collapsed. It's a matter of straighten everything up and positioning the teeth into place.

I'm in a rush and will be happy to explain it in detail what how it does (you can search my posts before which outlines same/similar).

But yes without question it must be done and it is easier than you think / expect and the results are -- and it's nothing to do with it looks like -- correct bite = normal smile, is what it is all about.

#13 Post by **tonyavicci** » Thu May 20, 2010 6:35 pm

hey, i would go with braces too, they're not so bad, and it's better than having more probs later. maybe go to another ortho to see if you can get out of the headgear, lucky i don't have to go with that. see what your reg dentist suggests, maybe they know a good ortho that can help. good luck!

#14 Post by **carlie039** » Sat May 22, 2010 4:31 pm

thanks for the advice guys! keep it coming!!!

#15 Post by **carlie039** » Sat May 22, 2010 4:33 pm

thanks for the advice guys! keep it coming!!!