crooked bracket = crooked teeth = crooked ortho? need advice

Message

#1 Post by **CheekyMonkey** » Thu May 03, 2007 9:50 pm

I have braces to fix a baby tooth problem - meaning I have a baby tooth still in my head so we're making space to bring the adult tooth forward. I'm in the "making space" stage and I've been braced for 2 months now.

For my last adjustment, I told my ortho one of my front teeth were hurting and it was more uncomfortable than it should be. He examined it and "couldn't find the issue".

Well. I found "the issue" tonight. The bracket is on crooked, so my front tooth has now shifted into a crooked position, which explains the pain.

Now - is it acceptable to call my ortho and complain or wait until my next adjustment, which is in 3 weeks? Look, I know we're human and we make mistakes but I'm paying out of my poopchute for these things and I expect perfection. I'm also concerned he didn't discover this when I complained of pain.

Please advise on how to deal with this. I'm nervous that I just trusted a quack with tons of my money and my precious smile.

Call? Wait? My instinct is to call and give holy heck, but I'm Sicilian.

#2 Post by **Clo** » Fri May 04, 2007 12:09 am

Ok,

of course there is a possibility that your ortho made a mistake.
But when he looked, there is a great chance he should have seen that a bracket
is placed wrongly. I mean, this is not so hard to see. I think there is another
reason. You did not tell for what tooth this space is required. But if it is for a canine,
or a lateral, then when space is made, it is very natural that the teeth that have
to shift become a bit crooked. Once there is enough space, the adult tooth can be
brought into place and only then your ortho will be able to line up everything well.
So, I think nothing may be wrong and this is just a phase you are experiencing.
Just talk to your ortho. Communication can resolve and avoid so many issues,
you know. Good luck !

#3 Post by **iBorg** » Fri May 04, 2007 5:07 am

I agree with the other advice you've been given, from two people who have almost completed their treatments (Side note to CLO: I'm hopeful). You're at a stage where a lot of movement has to take place. Once the major movement is made, the tweaking will straighten things out. As for the pain, on a scale of 1-10 is it above the 6 level of pain? If so, make a call. If not take some over the counter meds and wait a couple of days. One thing I've learned to live with is a sensitive tooth after an adjustment. Then in a couple of days the tooth moves a bit and the pain is gone.

Hope this helps a little.

Mike

#4 Post by **Delag** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:53 am

They do have their reasons for what they do, we might not understand them. He is an example from my treatment....One day my ortho says, 'I don't like the way this tooth is moving so I am going to reposition the bracket'. The bracket looked just fine to me. Next appointment I pointed out a tooth that was moving funny - he said, 'I had to put it on crooked because of the starting position on the tooth, I can fix it by bending the wire as we near the end of treatment.' Go figure. Ask when you go in next time, but don't sweat the small stuff.

#5 Post by **pegasus** » Fri May 04, 2007 2:44 pm

I think he needs to take more time to listen to your concerns and fix the problem! Either that or he is just out for money and wanting to expand your treatment time.

#6 Post by **LynnHowell** » Sun May 06, 2007 6:46 pm

I just want to say...you've only had your braces on for 2 months and you're going to have a very lengthy relationship with this ortho and his staff. Telling him he did something wrong when you're really not sure is going to make you seem like a hard***. I had 2 brackets which were cemented crookedly on purpose. This may be the case with you.

And I'm sorry you're having pain, but I've yet to hear of anyone with braces whizzing through it without pain and discomfort along the way.