Q's regarding class II treatments

[lilone]

I'm hoping that one of the professionals will chime in but I'd also like to hear from anyone else who is being treated for class II due to an underdeveloped/receeded lower jaw who isn't going the surgery route. I'm wondering what options exist for reducing the overjet. I realize that the non surgery option may not end up with a perfect bite but is it possible to at least reduce the overjet with some sort of appliance or elastics? It is currently approx 6mm (this ortho said 6, the last one said 4. Neither measured-they both went by looking- but one side has more overjet then the other IMO) with about 3mm deep bite.

[braceface2b]

I am! Surgery wasn't even suggested for me though. I'll have class II elastics at some point, but I'm not sure when. Just got my uppers on last month and I get my lowers later this month.

[lilone]

Thanks....did you have extraction on upper and lower?

[braceface2b]

Nope! My dentist wants me to have my wisdom teeth removed, but my ortho has never mentioned it.

[peaches]

I have a carriere distalizer to correct my bite. If it is successful I'll avoid extractions, otherwise I'll need some premolars pulled.

[nessness]

I'm getting Class II treated.

But I had a 8mm Overjet and got 4 premolars pulled. But so far everything looks muuuuuch better than it did, and the overjet is miles less noticeable

[smilelikeyoumeanit]

I have an overjet and deep bite (I'm not sure of the measurements). My ortho said that only surgery would correct the problem 100%. I decided against it, so we're hoping for about a 75-80% correction. I'm happy with that.

I will have elastics at some point, and a very loopy looking wire to pull my front teeth back. At first, I was going to have two top teeth extracted, but my ortho said that my facial muscles are so strong, thus making my bones very dense. This would make closing the extraction gaps a slow process. I have Damon braces and am happy with the improvements that I've seen in only two months time.

[Ellebraced]

I too have deep bite and overjet. I think like 9mm or so but not sure, must ask again next visit. They said my lower jaw is smaller than upper, that I grew up and that's why my teeth moved and overbite came back after treatment at 13.

I decided against surgery ( I don't have an extra $3,000, I don't really agree with surgery unless really,really needed, I don't want another 6 months added to my treatment time, the thought of removing or adding bone is beyond nasty and my husband didn't agree with it at all)

I will be treated with braces for 2.5 years and will have forsus springs (instead of elastics, though probably elastics too) for much of the treatment.

No extractions, I have all my teeth (though all 4 wisdom out years ago, about 5 years after last braces)

Here is a picture of the forsus spring.......and YES it does look really scary!

I will be happy with straighter teeth and a small overbite. I don't need it to be perfect just better.

[catgyrl]

I'm also being treated for a 6mm overjet and moderate crowding. He actually measured mine, and didn't eyeball it. Surgery was never mentioned for me, and like you, my overjet was more severe on the right side of my mouth than the left because my teeth were all pushed towards the righ. Therefore, I had one premolar extracted on my upper left side to make room to move the upper teeth over to the left and back, reducing the overjet. He said he didn't need to extract one on the right (thankfully). You can see my horseteeth... uh, I mean my picture... on the first page of my story thread.

So far, 9 months later, my overjet is about half it's original size, and I haven't even started with elastics yet. We're still working on closing my extraction gap. The overjet already looks WAY better than it did before. My teeth actually stay in my mouth when I smile now, as opposed to having one poke out beyond my lower lip.

Good luck in your treatment!!!
-Cathy

[lilone]

Thanks everyone. It's nice to think that there may be options. In a minute I'm goign to go look up a carriere distalizer to see if it looks like a pendulum. I can't remember who said they had the distalizer but I'm wondering if you find it very difficult to speak? How long has it taken for you to adjust to it and is it visible?

Ellebraced, I am unable to view your photos. I noticed this when I read your thread one day...it says I don't have permission to view the files. For the ones you added to this thread it just won't let me click the links. I'd love to see them if we can find a way because you sound similar to me and I'm curious about the forsus springs!

Catgyrl, I looked at your thread and from the front under view, we look fairly similar. My teeth are much more crowded though. You are luck to have started with straight teeth so that room doesn't need to be made for crowding on top of fixing the overjet!

Thanks all! Please let me know if you are aware of any other options for moving back molars to create room up front or dealing with class II and mod crowding combined without surgery:)

[drgnchsr36]

I also have a deep bite and no surgery was recommended.

One ortho suggested two teeth be pulled, but advised me to not go that route as it would change my facial profile.

So no extractions or surgeries. I have my top braces on, won't get my bottom braces for awhile. I'll be stuck with elastics as I don't wish to go the forsus springs route. My ortho stated that would be fine as long as I'm disciplined with the elastics.

[alissataylor0214]

Hey Lilone,
You are not alone, and I am glad to know that I am not alone because I had some of the same worries as you are having right now. I chose not to go the route of surgery too, and mine is a class II as well. I just got my braces on just about a month ago now, and in another week I am getting what is called a Jones Jig installed (looks like a torture device!) It is going to move my molars back to create more space in my mouth. If you go to google and type in Jones Jig you will see some pretty good pictures. I will also have the Nance button (I think this is what its called) in the roof of my mouth like most of the pictures show. I however cant find much information about this device from people who have had them, so I know I will post a lot about it on here for anyone in the future who may have to get one. I just know it is supposed to move my molars back. So this device is another option to help fix the problem. I can answer more questions about it after the 25th once I get them on. I admit im more than a little scared Wish me luck! Oh I get spacers next week for a week to allow some space for the molar bands, so I'm sure I will see a lot of changes over the next month and I will probably be eating all soft food again for atleast the next two weeks . Oh and no extractions.

[peaches]

[quote="lilone"]Thanks everyone. It's nice to think that there may be options. In a minute I'm goign to go look up a carriere distalizer to see if it looks like a pendulum. I can't remember who said they had the distalizer but I'm wondering if you find it very difficult to speak? How long has it taken for you to adjust to it and is it visible?
[/quote]

It's not a pendulum, its a bar connected from the canine to first molar on the top, and an attachment point (I have what I think is called a lingual arch) on the bottom with a hook on the molar band to connect a rubber band to the hook on the canine. I can speak fine, and I just got it in yesterday. It is visible, but not as much as braces since the 4 central teeth don't have anything on them. The most obvious part of it to me is the lingual wire, but its not bad, I just feel it more since its on the inside of my mouth. I also had the option of a removable clear plastic attachment on the bottom, but I didn't want to deal with having to take that out every time I eat.

My teeth are a bit sore, but not even to the point where I need to take ibuprofen or anything. I'd say it was designed pretty well from a comfort point of view, there is nothing pokey to irritate the inside of the mouth. I'm supposed to have it for around 4 months and then have it removed and get braces. If you do a search on the forum, you'll fine another member's detailed account of her experience with it...that's actually how I found this forum. I don't think it's very commonly used though so it may not be offered by anyone you see.

[appleSf]

Hi There! I too, opted to not have surgery to correct class II. My journey started in 2007, I'm a second timer. had braces when I was in high school but as I got older my teeth started to move and it became way worse now than it did when I first had braces. I was really determined to have my teeth fixed, I didnt want to get stuck with crooked teeth forever. I literally shopped for the perfect orthodontist. I interviewed 8! And I would say 6 of those 8 suggested surgery. One of them didnt even want to treat me if I didnt get jaw surgery. As much as I wanted that perfect smile, I wasnt ready to go that route. I knew I had an overbite, (dont know actual measurements) but it wasnt that horrible that I would put myself into something that invasive. So I chose the orthodontist that gave me a treatment plan without surgery, may not be 100% perfect but will still yield really good results, the draw back was longer treatment. I was on the distal jet for 9 months to move my molars back before he installed braces on my upper and lower teeth. The hardest part of the whole treatment was really those 9 months, everything was smooth sailing after that. I am 2 months away from getting my braces taken off and I am happy with the results that I see.

[sarz]

Can someone answer a couple of my questions. I had a class 11 subdivision 1 malocclusion when I started treatment. I had a 4.5 mm to six mm malocclusion before second surgery. Do elastics actually correct the jaw position or guide the bite into its new position?
I had a maxillary osteotomy impaction.
I really did not know that you could correct this malocclusion with elastics and orthodontics alone.
Also what other options are available for closing an open bite?