Is my canine tooth....shrinking?

[john123]

I got braces and an RPE on last friday to correct an underbite/open bite/crossbite and I've already started to notice some changes. My concern right now is that it looks like my left canine (your right) appears to have shrunken. This couldn't possibly be the case, right? What's going on here?

[Tobilei]

It's only a guess but sometimes as teeth straighten they appear shorter but really they're just straighter (up and down straighter I mean-probably making zero sense). I've had a couple where I've been worried there's 2mm or so difference in their height and as they've straightened up they've become level with each other. Try not to worry, I'm sure it will be fine. If you're really worried though you could ask your ortho next visit

[Kipepeo]

Are you referring to the tooth directly to the right of your central incisor in the photo? Is that a canine? Do you not have a lateral there? If that is the tooth your are referring to, I can see what you're saying, but I think there may be a bit of an illusion here. The bracket makes the tooth look smaller. Plus the angle of the photos may be slightly different, adding to the illusion.

But, if it truly is different, it could be being pulled up, or the ones next to it pulled down some. Something to address with your ortho.

[isthistaken]

My two upper front teeth looked almost level until I got braces, and very quickly, the one I thought was a bit shorter turned out to be quite a bit longer! Which I was chuffed about because it is chipped and will probably need to be reshaped. It's all relative....

[bmueller]

The doctor may be pulling it upward (into the gums) to make it line up better with the surrounding teeth. I think it looks better. More harmonious.

[john123]

Thanks everyone. I am just extremely self conscious about my teeth so I examine every minute detail of them. I always get worked up over little things and expect the worst. I need to stop that haha

[oldfart]

I know your feeling. In my last Pm to my ortho i finished it with. "Yes, I agree, I need to trust more and worry less."

[isthistaken]

What's really weird is how assymetrical my upper front teeth are and I didn't even notice until I got braces. I was showing my husband my non-matching teeth--one is much longer and a different shape--and so, of course since this is our new hobby, I had to look at his teeth. Um, yeah, it's come to this. So, anyway, lo and behold, his don't match either. And neither of us ever noticed, although the assymetry is quite pronounced, one being quite a bit longer.

[john123]

What's really weird is how assymetrical my upper front teeth are and I didn't even notice until I got braces. I was showing my husband my non-matching teeth--one is much longer and a different shape--and so, of course since this is our new hobby, I had to look at his teeth. Um, yeah, it's come to this. So, anyway, lo and behold, his don't match either. And neither of us ever noticed, although the assymetry is quite pronounced, one being quite a bit longer.

I hate worrying but I can't control it. I know that feeling though. It's like I notice something very small and then it just drives me insane

[isthistaken]

Well, sometimes I will focus on one aspect, as a kind of synechdoche of the whole thing I'm worried about. Your teeth already look great, though, mine will never look that good no matter how many orthos I employ. LOL

[john123]

I'm legitimately getting scared now...looking at these two pictures you can just tell much shorter it's gotten. The one without my face was taken about an hour after the braces. Not a good start....

[peppy]

I have had similar worries. My front teeth were out of line (one had almost dipped down below the other) and then they straightened out. In the last week, of them has moved back further than the other so they feel like they cross over. It's really weird to see them fluctuate so much!

I'm trusting that everything is happening as it should.