Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi All!

I've been wanting to post for a while because I recently got my braces on late April and my teeth are moving to their correct position. I have a crossbite on my left side, minor crooked teeth and my back molars were outside of my top arch. Anyways the dentist placed a wire through the back teeth on the top arch along with a TPA bridge and the top molars are moving in. My only regret is that now that the top molars are in their correct position, it makes my cheeks look sunken in! I am very unhappy about this because it makes me look very thin. When my friend saw me after this change, she said I looked like I had lost so much weight when in fact i way the same. She said I looked like "this" and proceeded to make a fish face with sucked in cheeks. I laughed it off but inside it bothered (hurt) me. The sunken in cheeks also make me look older. I look like I aged 10 years.

So my question is...should i tell my dentist about this vanity concern and ask him politely to move my molars back so i can have my old full face again? or just wait it out...sort of regretting ever getting braces.

Please i need your advice! my check up is this sat!

Maybe if your friend a bit envious of your treatment? Positive changes in yourself can bring out the mean from others.

I'd have to agree. Especially if you're younger. Your friend may not even be aware of it but she may be projecting her own insecurities onto you. Also it could be the case that your friend didn't mean any ill will at all. Innocent comments can seem harsh when we are sensitive. And believe me, if you feel your appearance has changed drasticly you have every right to be sensitive.
Also, with regards to your sunken in appearance, it may be a combination of things. I noticed than since my teeth dont rest the way they used to my mouth doesn't completely close so my face looks longer wich makes it look less full. Talk to your ortho and see what he thinks could be contributing. And remember to stay hydrated. Being dehydrated surely wouldnt help. Best of luck.

Hi Unabraces!..I can relate to how you are feeling and looking. I don't know your age, but I am 54, and have always had a thin face. I got my braces on in April, and just recently I have noticed a sunken look to my face. Being older, I am wondering if I am doing myself harm by moving my teeth. I am planning on speaking to my Ortho when I return from vacation ASAP. Hopefully. the way I look is only temporary. Don't know how I will handle it if its not temporary. Sometimes I think I should not have started with braces. My upper teeth looked fine, but they were not perfect. My lower teeth were very crooked though. More times than not, I wish I didn't have braces. Please let me know what your Ortho says about your situation. We can compare notes.

best,
LN

i will def. talk to my ortho. after all there needs to be open communication and i am paying a lot for his service. i'm hoping he will be receptive and not be "i'm the dentist. i know what's best. don't undermine me..blah blah blah."

thanks for all your feedback. will update.

I've thought the same thing. I've always had a thin face and I did lose 10 lbs after getting braces in Dec/07 - so that made my face even thinner. I'm 51 and worry about how my face will look once they come off. And like you LN - I sometimes doubt my decision to do this (my 2nd go round as an adult). But I did it and I'm committed to staying the course.

Here is a link about a reply from someone who sounds like they know what they're talking about. My orthodontist just seems to shake his head and say I don't know what's going on when I ask him.

The person asking the question is not me, I just googled "jutting cheekbones due to braces."

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Dentistry-96 ... oblems.htm