5 weeks in and teeth look way worse! Is this normal?!

[Handsdown]

So I had my braces fitted 5 weeks ago. After 4 premolar extractions. Now my teeth were obviously not great to start with (one very high canine, lots of twisted and overlapping teeth) but they are way worse now... To the point where I'm actually getting quite worried

I've heard that teeth can get worse before they get better, but is it normal for some teeth to flare forward, out of place? There's now a big gap between my top and bottom front teeth on my right side because 2 of my top teeth are flaring forwards (my teeth closed together fine before braces)... It's making my lip look a bit strange... Nothing that I expect anyone else notices to be honest, but I do!

I know I should talk to my orthodontist, and I will, I just don't want to be the patient that's constantly calling her! I've already had to see her twice because of poking wires and my bottom wire popped out last week too I just had an adjustment and I didn't mention it, but she had a good look at my teeth and didn't mention it either so I figured it was ok, but now I'm stressing again!! So thought I'd get some advice on here first... Has anyone experienced this? Did it get better? Should I be worried? Advice much appreciated!!

[30yearoldbraceface]

Exact same thing happened to me, I thought to myself at the time that things were waaaaay worse and what had I done to myself LOL - for about a month my teeth looked awful while they made space for a few of my teeth to slot into the correct places, but now I couldn't be happier! My teeth are starting to resemble a lovely smile and I have 1 more tooth to join the archwire (have a big gap where they making space for it to be pulled forward) and then my smile is going to be perfect! hang in there, it is most definitely worth it!!

[ljms]

It's not unusual at all.

I started with a push coil on the bottom to make room for one of my incisors. After about six weeks I went from having crowded teeth to looking like a hillbilly. it only took two or three weeks on the second wire to sort most of it out.

If you're really worried about, talk to your ortho. I'm sure he/she can reassure you.

[onwardsandupwards]

Don't worry, you are definitely not alone. I am 6 weeks in and starting to feel exactly the same. After 3 or 4 weeks I was very excited to see some movement and noticed small positive changes happening but fast forward another 3 or 4 and I have noticed gaps of varying degrees appearing, especially amongst my top front incisors as I had two premolars removed, my bite feels (and looks) different & not in a good way, plus my bottom teeth which I didn't consider to be that bad to begin with, look worse than they did when I got my braces. So yeah I know exactly how you feel - I really wouldn't worry about it as it's totally normal. It is very early days and things will shift about a lot more as time progresses. Soon enough you will see things slotting into place and you'll have a smile you will be proud of! Hang in there!

[stephcsun]

Yes unfortunately it happens. I had a gap that bothered me a lot, and within the first 5 weeks it got bigger and it didn't make sense to me but after the 1st adjustment it got better. So just hang in there! You'll get past this initial phase in no time at all

[metalliKa]

Please, do understand that in order for teeth to move into their correct position, the arches have to make room. You will have big gaps, small gaps...having gaps is better than no gaps. These gaps allow the teeth to easily move and rotate. Once the teeth are in their correction position, the ortho will start to close those gaps off with power chains or elastics. Just think. If we had gaps then, we wouldn't need braces now.

[Handsdown]

Thanks guys! I don't think I explained very well. What I mean by gap is that some of my top teeth don't go over my bottom teeth anymore... My two right top teeth stick out over my bottom teeth really far. Almost like an open/overbite... I don't actually have any gaps between my individual teeth. I really hope this makes sense!!! Gaps I could handle as that would allow my teeth the room to straighten out, it's this flaring of my two right top teeth that has me worried!

[sirwired]

The initial archwires are round. That means there is no archwire control over them tipping inwards or outwards. Later wires will be rectangular and this will tilt the teeth to the correct in/out angle. (They are round because the initial stages usually require teeth to slide along the archwire, which is not easy with the rectangular ones; the bracket wings "dig" into the wire.)

[teeebeee]

I had to go to my dentist several times with the early wire problems (popping out, jabbing me to the point of death!) and felt a right wally but they were always really good about it and, as the wires get thicker, it gets a lot better!

T xx

[Handsdown]

Thank you for all your advice everyone things aren't so bad now in terms of flaring and I'm actually starting to see some positive progress so yaaaaay!!!

I'm thrilled. It seems to have happened since my last adjustment 2 weeks or so ago, my teeth are starting to straighten out and it's awesome. I can't imagine how I'll feel when they're done! So exciting

[NapalmKitty]

As my orthodontist would say, "Gaps are a good thing. It means your teeth are moving." I had overcrowding as an issue but even I developed gaps. Your teeth are merely moving and making room for the other teeth. Don't worry because a powerchain will close all of those gaps just you wait and see.