Metal Mouth Message Board

Just a couple of questions...

1) What kind of experiences have you all had with movement of your lower incisors (ie, bottom front teeth)? Have you found that movement tends to come more easily when compared to your upper teeth, or that they took longer to move in comparison?

2) Is it common practice to have a wire cemented onto the inside of your incisors once braces are removed (sort of a permanent retainer)?

My bottom teeth tended to move a little slower but I have heard people say that their bottom teeth moved faster.

Your retention will depend on your ortho and your case

My lowers moved quite a bit slower than my uppers. I even remember the assistant asking me why they were so slow (she was being silly of course).

My ortho cements the wire on the lingual side of the lower incisors as a permanent retainer.

I don't know why he does this instead of a removable Hawley on the bottom, maybe better compliance by the patient?

Good luck to you!

Interesting ...

I'm curious because I just had my lower teeth braced a couple of weeks ago, and have yet to notice a sliver of movement. Of course, I've got some pretty serious crowding happening down there, but still.

My brother has a permanent retainer behind his bottom front teeth, so I guess its something that they do for some people.

My ortho told me that I'll have a permanent retainer behind my bottom teeth, but not the top. When I asked why, he said because I have crowding on the bottom (not so on top) and if he doesn't put one in after my braces are removed, my teeth will eventually shift back to being crowded again.

My lower incisor are moving along so well in the last twelve weeks. It must be the spring that I have in the front and a very thick wire.
Next appointment, I hope they work on turning my front incisor.

Same with me, My lowers moved so fast it was insane... I'm still waiting for my tops to follow!

My lowers moved a lot slower but maybe because they were closing lots of gaps. Anyway, I will be getting a bonded retainer on the bottom just as you have described.

Hmm, so my chances of my bottom teeth moving faster then the uppers seems about 50/50 -- maybe they will, and maybe they won't!