Bite reopens within an hour of removing elastics

[sara2280]

I have worn vertical elastics for 8 months now. My bite has come a long way which is great! I wear my elastics as much as I can full time. I take them out to eat and brush. Each morning I wake up my bite feels tight and almost closed. I can feel my bottom teeth against the back of my top teeth. Then I take out my elastics to eat breakfast and brush. When I look at my bite it has already opened back and doesn't seem to go back to where it was even with wearing my elastics throughout the day/evening. This is getting frustrating and I thought my bite would be closed now and my cross bite hasn't moved out yet either. I was originally told I would have these for 12 months. Shouldn't I be coming into the home stretch? After the bite closes, cross bite move out, and everything is lined up, how long does it take for things to settle before debanding? Just getting a little discouraged and don't see how it's possible to be finished by 12 months. I have an appointment Tuesday.

[sirwired]

You'll have to ask your ortho this one... you may have reached the limits of what your skeletal structure will allow.

[hukillmommy]

Thank you for asking this question!! I have the same problem...my bite is perfect in the morning. I wear my elastics pretty much 24/7, taking them out only to eat. (I have box elastics and I cant open my mouth wide enough to bite if I dont take them out.) But within an hour, my bottom teeth are again edge to edge with the top teeth. When I put the e lastics back on, the bite is perfect again. I was thinking these braces will have to stay on forever because of this!

[sara2280]

Hukillmommy,
My bite is not perfect in the morning yet but, very close. And when I put my elastics back in and wear them throughout the day my bite never goes back to the way it was in the morning. I can't figure it out. I have an ortho appointment this afternoon so I will ask then. When I get some sort of answer I will let you know what he said.
-sara2280

[sara2280]

Had my appointment this afternoon. I mentioned that in the morning that my bottom teeth hit the back of my top teeth but after taking my elastics out to eat and brush they never go back to that position again even with replacing my elastics. He said that I am gradually training my tongue to stay back while sleeping due to the elastics keep my mouth closed but then when I take them out to eat and brush my tongue is pushing it back open. He said it's just something we'll have to keep plugging away at. Although he also said that my bite might always remain a little open. I posted a little rant about this. I also emailed my ortho to get a little more clarity. I don my feel like I really get to talk much with him when I come in for an appointment. Hope this helps.

[hukillmommy]

Thanks Sara. I guess this is a marathon and not a sprint! Good luck with your ortho, I hope you get answers.

[cs2thecox]

I'm in much the same situation. I get frustrated by my bite closing overnight but not staying put...

But I was warned at the beginning of my treatment that sometimes it simply isn't possible to fully close open bites without surgery, and since I opted to go for a non-surgical route then there was a risk mine would never be perfect. But compared to how it was when I started 9 months ago, I really can't complain too much! As long as I can bite through a bacon sandwich again, I'll be happy...

[sara2280]

I'm in much the same situation. I get frustrated by my bite closing overnight but not staying put...

But I was warned at the beginning of my treatment that sometimes it simply isn't possible to fully close open bites without surgery, and since I opted to go for a non-surgical route then there was a risk mine would never be perfect. But compared to how it was when I started 9 months ago, I really can't complain too much! As long as I can bite through a bacon sandwich again, I'll be happy...

cs2thecox,
When I had my initial consult, surgery was never discussed and my ortho said he felt more confident using traditional braces and elastics. He said I could do Invisalign if I wanted and could finish with braces, if need be. I figured if I was going to end up in regular braces anyway, might as well do them from the beginning. Never once did my ortho mention not being able to close my bite. It wasn't until recently that he has made comments of my bite always being a little open and always having a tongue thrust habit. Has been a little frustrating and has me concerned. The only thing he has mentioned about dealing with the tongue thrust habit is giving me a special retainer to wear at night that has a tongue crib built into it. The whole reason I did all of this was to fix my bite issues and save my back teeth. I just want to make sure everything gets fixed as it should and for good.

Good luck!