How is the shape of your arch determined?

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#1 Post by **tara329** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 10:46 pm

Hi all. I was wondering if you knew how the ortho decides what shape your arch should be. I know he has a variety of archwire shapes he can use.

I'm asking because I'm an adult female with a crossbite/overbite. I have a somewhat square-shaped face with a strong jaw, so I'm wondering if correcting the overbite will actually make my face look even more square.

My ortho is considering In-Ovation C brackets on top and Damon 3's on the bottom. I'm just concerned that some of the Damon 3 female models seemed to have extra-square faces post-treatment (though that might just be the angle of the photo/the fact that they're trying to show off all their beautiful teeth). http://www.damonbraces.com/gallery02.php

It just feels like I'm picking someone who will change the shape of my face, and I want to understand how much of it is science and how much art--should I base it on the arch shapes of his patient, seek out the orthos of people whose teeth I like, or just trust the ortho?

Thanks so much for this *amazing* site!!!

#2 Post by **jennielee81** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:44 am

I had damon treatment for a deep bite, overbite and crowding and you can see from my pictures (linked below) that my face did not become square.

before:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y102/j ... ithout.jpg

after:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y102/j ... esults.jpg

Hopefully, this helps ease your concern a little.

Best wishes to you !!

#3 Post by **mjbusch** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:09 am

I would like to know about archwire shape, also. I wasn't able to find any information on why they use standard or natural shape archwires. It would be nice to hear the answer from a professional orthodontist on this one. I guess I'll have to look at my next wire and see what shape I am getting.