Tops and bottoms

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#1 Post by **ame_malia** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 7:12 pm

I've noticed (reading other peoples questions) that some people get either top or bottom braces put on first, and then the others are put on later. I was curious as to why this is done?

#2 Post by **ssfw** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 7:30 pm

In my case, my orthodontist thought there was a possibility he could get my bite corrected without the lower braces. My lower teeth are well aligned so he felt if my bite was able to be corrected without the lower braces, then great, if not,then I would require braces on my lower teeth. The expander corrected my crossbite and in May 2006 my upper braces were placed. At my last appt., he told me to get the maximum correction for my overjet, I would need to get the lower braces. I was fine with that as I already had in mind that I would probably need full braces. I will be getting my lower braces placed this Thursday.

I have read the reason others have had them placed at different times is because more time was needed to make the correction in the upper teeth so the lower braces were placed a few months later.

Good luck with your ortho treatment.

ssfw

#3 Post by **ame_malia** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 8:37 pm

Thanks for the info. I will be getting my braces on in 11 days, and since my ortho hasn't mentioned anything about one or the other being put on first, I assume it will be both at one time. Good luck to you too.

#4 Post by **lionfish** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 9:40 pm

My lowers went on 8 weeks after my uppers. I think it may be because there was more work to be done upstairs.

#5 Post by **jcdamon3** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:56 pm

Alot of people don't have the lower put on right away because, if they did, their uppers would bite the lower brackets off. My daughter had her lowers put on later but still had to have the buildups on her molars to keep the uppers from hitting. She recently got the buildups removed.

#6 Post by **lemonlyme** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 2:05 pm

I'm getting an expander so my tops are going on, but without a wire, he said it was optional but most people opt for this because then people would realize why you're getting a gap in your front teeth. So i'll have clear tops with no wire and metal on the bottom. btw i decided i'm getting pink on the bottom

D:D:D:D:D:D

#7 Post by **Kodius Champion** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 4:46 pm

A lot of people don't have the lower put on right away because, if they did, their uppers would bite the lower brackets off.

That was my issue. I got my top teeth braced April 26th, but the bottoms couldn't follow until August 23rd.

Now I have a nice, straight wire on my top teeth (after only 4 months, yay!) -- and a wonky up-and-down one on my bottoms!

Oh well, what can ya do, eh?

#8 Post by **ame_malia** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 5:45 pm

Having my uppers bite my lowers off is also a problem for me, but my ortho is going to put a bite plate (I believe he called it) behind my top teeth on the roof of my mouth. I'm sure that although that part won't be painful it will probably feel weird.

#9 Post by **36nBraced** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:37 pm

i would have gotten both at the same time but i had to get my gums grafted. so i didn't get my bottoms until 8 weeks later. it was quite an adjustment. i'm still getting used to them.

#10 Post by **ame_malia** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:40 pm

Umm... what does it mean to get your gums grafted? It sounds painful.

#11 Post by **Lisa65** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:44 pm

I got my bottoms on 6 weeks ago, but I can't have the top ones yet because I had to have mini-implants put in my palate to help move my top molars backwards. they are in now but I'm waiting for them to settle before my ortho uses them.

#12 Post by **Eleni** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 9:39 pm

Umm... what does it mean to get your gums grafted? It sounds painful.

Gum grafting is where a thin piece of gum tissue is removed from the patient's mouth, transplanted and stitched to another area in order to replace missing and/or receded gum tissue.

Gum can recede for any number of reasons:
a. periodontal disease
b. prominent roots
c. aggressive tooth brushing
d. muscle attachments, etc.

All recessions do not need to be treated. However if a gum graft is performed it is mostly done to protect the root, prevent further recession and tooth decay.

I hear it stings a bit the first day or so especially if the tissue was taken from the roof of the mouth. But pain meds, milk shakes and naps make it more of an annoying procedure rather than a very painful one.

I have to have it done once my braces are off to protect the root of a tooth whose gum was worn away from crowding.

#13 Post by **MS1** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:25 am

I thought I was getting fully braced on my brace day, but once the doctor put my uppers on, he realized that I could possibly bite the lower brackets off, so he delayed putting my lowers on until last week. It is not supposed to alter my treatment time. Just looking forward to lovely straight teeth.