Metal Mouth Message Board

I've had my braces on for over 2 years, I am 21 years old and just am totally over my braces.

My bite is pretty decent & my top teeth are straight which is what I cared about mostly.

I was told I would be in braces for roughly 24 months. It's been 25 and about 4 months ago when I asked my Ortho (who is awful btw) how much longer it would roughly be she didn't have an answer for me which was frustrating.

I have an appointment in a week or so and plan on asking her again. If she doesn't give me a decent answer, I am going to tell her I want them off within the next few appointments. She can't refuse if I finish paying my bill which has only like $400 left on it.

Has anyone here gotten them off early before the Ortho wanted?

Yes you could demand to have your braces off, I don't know why you would want to though.

Its not like your dr. is intentionally trying to torture you, or she loves you so much as a patient that she wants to keep you around as long as possible. The 24 months term you were given is just a(educated) guess. But everybody is different and its not an exact science.

UGHBRACES wrote:Yes you could demand to have your braces off, I don't know why you would want to though.

Its not like your dr. is intentionally trying to torture you, or she loves you so much as a patient that she wants to keep you around as long as possible. The 24 months term you were given is just a(educated) guess. But everybody is different and its not an exact science.

It's not even that though. It's just that she is absolutely horrible and in 25 months has said like less than 30 words to me. I asked her for a rough guesstimate and she couldn't even give one.

I am just over the experience. My teeth look fairly decent.

You probably weren't at a point where she could accurately tell you how much longer though, so she would rather not speculate. This is typical, my ortho was the same way.

If I were you I would just wait it out. I had my braces as a kid taken off a couple of months early because we were moving and my parents didn't want to deal with transferring. I am back in braces 15 years later for another 2 years.

Off early, big mistake. Hold your nose and carry on.

You've spent all that money and gone to all that effort, seems a shame to end early. Only you know how you feel though, so if you really can't stand them any more then discuss this with your ortho. If you do decide to stop now make sure you go through whatever retainer phase your ortho recommends so that you keep what progress you have made.

Maybe next time you go in instead of asking how long you have left, maybe try and ask what is left to do.

You have paid all that money, may as well get them as perfect as they can be.

I would think this is typical. My ortho avoids answering every time I ask "How much longer?" I think it's a skill they learn in school.

I got mine off about 6 months early. It means I have to wear my retainer every day as much as possible for 12 months (would have been 6 mths and then every night indefintitely) but for me it was worth it.

I would be totally upfront w/your ortho. Ask her if she can take them off early and if it'll jeopardize anything about your teeth. If your bite isn't right, for example, you might create a whole slew of other problems. I'm not sure you want to have to visit her or somebody else again in another year or two do you?

Otherwise, you have to understand that orthos just don't know how long your teeth will take. They can make an educated guess based on how they have been moving, but other than that, until you get towards the end they cannot tell you. So, ask her "what is your BEST EDUCATED GUESS" for how much longer i'll be in braces. And then tell her you are sick of it, and what the consequences would be if you just got them off right now.