Hi all!
I'll try to be as short as I can!
I am not new to the world of braces, in fact I got my braces first in the summer of 2011 for an anterior/posterior open bite (from sucking my thumb until I was 14 years old).
Most doctors wanted to break my jaw (as most of you with an anterior/posterior open bite I'm sure have heard enough times) which was just never an option for me but fortunately I found one who was willing to try with braces.
The gap (I'm sorry I don't have the original measurements) was fairly wide but my teeth always appeared to be straighter rather than the type that jutted out.
I'm nearing the end of my journey (a long 4 years it will have been) with Damon Braces & elastics (I never had a habit prior to my braces being put on as my tongue thrust wasn't severe at all), at the end of this summer and in my final elastics window, I'm starting to notice a few things that alarm me;
My anterior has closed up wonderfully, but I am experiencing massive retention issues with the posterior on both left and right sides of my mouth. It almost feels like my tongue is to big and that may be a problem but that may be my paranoia and obsession with teeth as well.
I go to my orthodontist on Tuesday afternoon so I'll be sure to discuss this and show him the photos from my experiences as well, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this issue.
Once I take my elastics off it only takes a few hours before some of my teeth have "raised" themselves again and no longer connect with the bottom teeth (See photo links for visuals- first 2 links are from April 2014 with elastics/ then a few hours without/ last 2 photo links are from this month without elastics throughout the day)
http://24.media.tumblr.com/91c9ccf36c48 ... 1_1280.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/cc551c1581c8 ... 2_1280.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/5285142254e3 ... 3_1280.jpg
http://37.media.tumblr.com/19779a63d982 ... 4_1280.jpg
I've heard of teeth settling once braces are debanded and removed so I'm wondering if I will experience this as well later on in the future depending on the type of retainer I am given!
If anyone could let me know their past with open bites and retention please let me know!
Open Bite- Retention and Elastics
Moderator: bbsadmin
Re: Open Bite- Retention and Elastics
I'm worried about it, too. My orthodontist hasn't talked to me about what he's planning on doing with retention, but I hope I can trust him. Right now, I'm nowhere near the end of my treatment, so I have to keep an eye on progress and regress as well. I hope it doesn't end up in surgery.
Good luck with your treatment! Hope it works out. Four years is a hell of a long time!
Good luck with your treatment! Hope it works out. Four years is a hell of a long time!
The story of my bite: http://openbite.blogspot.com
And my thread here: http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... 17&t=46938
And my thread here: http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... 17&t=46938
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BraceFaceBunny
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 5:42 pm
Re: Open Bite- Retention and Elastics
[quote="parapian"]I'm worried about it, too. My orthodontist hasn't talked to me about what he's planning on doing with retention, but I hope I can trust him. Right now, I'm nowhere near the end of my treatment, so I have to keep an eye on progress and regress as well. I hope it doesn't end up in surgery.
Good luck with your treatment! Hope it works out. Four years is a hell of a long time! :shock:[/quote]
Hi Parapian!
From the looks of your blog your teeth are absolutely stellar you look like you're moving along well. You should probably discuss retention and any concerns with your orthodontist I mean that's what they are there for right!
I went to my orthodontist on Tuesday and showed him pictures of the progression and retention issues I was having, it's like he knew what I was about to say because he confidently answered that bringing those teeth down permanently would be a breeze I was just in need of a stronger wire , I received two new wires for my uppers and lowers which were much heavier than my last, to bring down the bicuspids & K9's as well as to align my teeth.
My orthodontist is confident my bite will be fully aligned and closed, and from his years of experience I do trust him, he's the type of orthodontist who can make changes just by eye (no xrays or molds necessary) and has done a great job so far! My open bite was massive when I first came to him and the fact that my teeth now basically all touch and aren't reverting makes me think I owe him that trust to get the job done as best as he can.
As frustrating as it is not to see results immediately I realize that it is all a work in progress, I do worry that box elastics won't be strong enough to close the bite but only time will tell.
I'm back in 3 weeks so hopefully something has changed there! I will come back in 2 weeks with updated photos of my progress.
Thanks for the wishes! & Trust me 4 years is an eternity with these things on.
Good luck with your treatment! Hope it works out. Four years is a hell of a long time! :shock:[/quote]
Hi Parapian!
From the looks of your blog your teeth are absolutely stellar you look like you're moving along well. You should probably discuss retention and any concerns with your orthodontist I mean that's what they are there for right!
I went to my orthodontist on Tuesday and showed him pictures of the progression and retention issues I was having, it's like he knew what I was about to say because he confidently answered that bringing those teeth down permanently would be a breeze I was just in need of a stronger wire , I received two new wires for my uppers and lowers which were much heavier than my last, to bring down the bicuspids & K9's as well as to align my teeth.
My orthodontist is confident my bite will be fully aligned and closed, and from his years of experience I do trust him, he's the type of orthodontist who can make changes just by eye (no xrays or molds necessary) and has done a great job so far! My open bite was massive when I first came to him and the fact that my teeth now basically all touch and aren't reverting makes me think I owe him that trust to get the job done as best as he can.
As frustrating as it is not to see results immediately I realize that it is all a work in progress, I do worry that box elastics won't be strong enough to close the bite but only time will tell.
I'm back in 3 weeks so hopefully something has changed there! I will come back in 2 weeks with updated photos of my progress.
Thanks for the wishes! & Trust me 4 years is an eternity with these things on.
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BraceFaceBunny
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 5:42 pm
Re: Open Bite- Retention and Elastics
Also I should mention my orthodontist actually said even as big as my bite was going for surgery would have not been the best option for myself we've gotten so much done just with elastics (and sometimes a lot of people) there is still a massive issue with retention when it comes to surgery for open bites and the risk of losing feeling in your jaw is a big no for me! Surgery was never an option for me. I really hope it doesn't have to be for yourself!