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Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:52 pm
by mytch
My bottom teeth are perfectly straight and there's only a tiny gap between my top left canine and the tooth to the right of it. I've had braces for 10 months and my teeth were baaaadly overcrowded top and bottom when I got them on. Come to think of it, my bottom teeth were all in line after about 6 months. Top teeth still need a few months.
Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 10:10 pm
by ItsGavinC
jcdamon3 wrote:
I would still love to know - once they are straight how much more work has to be done and how much longer does it take?
The goal is not just to straighten the teeth, but to straighten them and hold them (hence retainers) so that the periodontal fibers can regenerate and keep the teeth straight. Circular fibers that run around teeth don't fully mature for 12-14 months, which is why it's very important to wear retainers.
The work that remains is dependent on your bite and how the teeth meet each other. It does no good to have straight teeth if they aren't functional, right?