How are the front teeth pulled back and gaps eliminated?

[secretsmile]

I've had braces for 3 months and had my first pre molars extracted on top and 2nd pre molars on the bottom. The bottom gaps are already half closed and with the lower jaw being over developed and all teeth being wired, I understand how my teeth are all sliding together and that it's just a matter of time before the gaps are gone. On the top however, I am now confuddled as to how it's all going to work.

My 2nd back molars on top are not bracketed and will only be bracketed if they have to be according to my ortho. Yesterday he wrapped silver metal ties around my front 4 teeth to stop them splitting apart. He then put power chains on from canine to first molar and said he's going to start pulling my canines back. He said later the front teeth will come back too, but that he can't move them all at once. It made sense at the time but now a day on, the gaps between my canines and the four front teeth are getting bigger, my side profile is creepy and i'm now a little paniced at the thought of my extraction gaps moving forward (and switching places with the canines). I'm getting a forsus appliance in 2 apts and later class 2 elastics. Will these fix my over bite and the gaps? How do they get the front four teeth to go back without creating a huge gap between my front two teeth?

[ambraced]

Hi secretsmile! I can't understand how it happens either. I have a similar situation to yours on my upper jaw, an overbite and a premolar on either side extracted to correct it. My question is are the teeth only pulled backwards or is the gum somewhat pushed backwards too? At the moment I have developed a small gap between the left lateral and central incisor and it seems a gap is developing between the central incisors. Someone wrote that for every 3mm the teeth move the soft tissue moves 1mm. But still I can't figure out how it happens. My ortho doesn't explain anything so I don't know what he plans on doing. I'm 3 months 2weeks (on upper jaw) but so far no power chain. I intend to ask how it happens during my next appointment which is in 4 weeks time. I hope someone supplies an explanation in the meantime! He doesn't seem to appreciate all my questions.....

[secretsmile]

Thanks am braced - I totally agree with you over wondering if it's just the teeth that move back or the gums. My ortho is super nice but always super busy multitasking between patients... I guess with a lot of ortho patients being kids they probably don't think about us adults who over think things/want to know exactly how it works.

[DrJasonKTam]

It seems like your orthodontist is trying to maximally retract the anterior teeth to get as big a profile change as possible.

By bringing the canines back first, he is pulling only one tooth back, supported by a few posterior teeth. Therefore, the canine is going to move back more than the back two teeth, allowing more room for retraction. Think of it like a see saw and the amount of "weight" or teeth on either side of the space. If the anterior teeth were brought back at the same time as the canine, the anchor or weight at the back wouldn't be as great, and the size of the extraction gap would have the back teeth and front teeth move about the same distance, yielding less space to close the gap.

The goal of moving the canine back first will also then allow the canine, premolar, and molar to be anchored up against retracting only two anterior teeth on each side. The FORSUS appliance will help keep continue to push the upper teeth back, serving as an increased anchor, as well as push the lower jaw forward.

Hope this clears it up .

[secretsmile]

Thank you so much! That was interesting & informative.