Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi there,

It's been forever since my last post, but I have started a new phase in my treatment, and I wondered if anyone is going through/has been through a similar situation.

In an effort to start closing my open bite, I now have to wear elastics in the front of my teeth as often as I can. This is proving to be an "interesting thing" here at work, LOL...

I am starting to see closure, which is encouraging, but I was wondering how long it might take for my bite to meet up completely.

If anyone else has had to do this, I would appreciate any input!

Thanx!
IceBlonde

IceBlonde, I,m on elastics now to help close my bite and correct a slight underbite. It' s been a month, so far, and I have to say these little suckers are working. The open bite was created by straightening out my upper teeth and palatal expansion combined. I started with a gap about the size of 3 quarters stacked on top of each other. Now, It's thinner that a dime between my top and bottom teeth. My teeth actually meet now front to back also, so the underbite is going through a slight correction! I wear mine 24/7 only to be removed for eating and brushing. I would imagine I'm going to have to wear them for some time. Reason being, when I wake in the mornings my teeth actually meet top to bottom, but throughout the day in opens up a little, although this is getting less and less! Hope that helps! GOOD LUCK!

JOHN

Hi John,

I started out with an open bite, and the quad helix expander I have had in for the past 10 months did make it slightly worse, but I have only had the elastics in for a couple of weeks, and I do see improvement!
In the morning is when it looks the best (when I have been sleeping with them in all night), and it's funny how it does open up slightly during the day (I do wear them all day, too). I am also trying to correct a slight "tongue thrust" I have had my whole life that has contributed to my open bite situation. Having to learn to swallow all over again at 36 is weird!

It sounds like you are having great luck with this, and I am hoping for the same!

Thanks for the reply!
IceBlonde