Metal Mouth Message Board

So far, I've seen cases where the ortho treatment moves the teeth perpendicular to the gum line, meaning the teeth move in or out of the mouth.
I was wondering if the teeth can be moved along the gum line. My center line is off a lot, like 10 degrees off the vertical. I just started the treatment 3 weeks ago, so it's still early days.
Does anyone need to correct their center line as part of the treatment? What add-ons have been put on your braces to correct your center line?

Thanks,

Bob[/img]

Hi Bobby, there are various means to correct a midline discrepancy, whether it be one that exists at the start of treatment or one that appears later during treatment.

Sometimes the off-centre teeth are gang-tied together with wire ties or powerchains and pulled round as a group using powerchains or elastics. See bracedagain's blog in the Braces Stories forum for pics of that.

Sometimes midline elastics are used that go diagonally across the front of the mouth from top to bottom, to pull the arches into line using each other as anchors.

Bobby, I have a slight midline issue with my bottom teeth. people may not notice but I definitely notice it and i don't like it either. i know my ortho will work to fix it but I am just starting out so I don't know the details just yet. I know that there are tons of ways to fix this problem but it all depends on what you are presenting. From what you are saying, it seems like you are taken care of tho. hang in there

Thanks for all the replies.

My mid-lines are definitely off. I'm just curious what will be used to straighten it. I'm interested in the mechanics of it.
Three more weeks to the next appointment, when I'll check with the dentist on this.

Bob

KK,

Thanks for the responses.
The top front incisors are clearly off the vertical, thus highlighting the off-center issue.
When I see a pic of myself smiling, it was quite a shock lol !
It wasn't like this 3 years ago. I guess teeth move all the time.


Bob

My center line is way off. My Orthro is trying to bring down my canine and in that process my teeth are pulling in the opposite direction. I'm very concerned about this too, but he said that he can fix it and that it does happen a lot.

My upper midline has gone off, too, since I've started treatment. I haven't adressed this issue to my orto, though. But I'm worried since it's going to my right side of the mouth, where I miss a tooth in the back. I fear it's going to stay like this, and it's getting worse, until that gap is closed.

Meryaten,

Thanks for the advice.
I hope the mid-line alignment issue is as important to the ortho as other issues.
The highlight of the smile is more on the misalignment than overcrowding/protrusion. If misalignment is still there, the job is just 50% done.
I think most posters who said they have this issue even after treatment is nowhere as bad as mine.


Bob

Meryaten,

I'd be more than satisfied if the front incisors are like ||
At the moment it's \\ which throws the midline way off.
It's ok if the tops dont exactly line up with the bottoms, lol!


Bob