Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi everyone! I just wanted to introduce myself – I am 30 years old and just started my 2.5 year ortho treatment about 3 months ago. I have a Class III malocclusion (underbite) and found out at my consultation that only two teeth in my entire mouth actually touched when I closed my jaw – obviously I wasn’t a very efficient chewer (or digester). The other issues we are hoping to correct during this time are: an elevated canine tooth, a rotated upper front tooth, a lower wisdom tooth that will need to be uprighted and moved into the empty molar socket next to it and then just some general crowding (upper and lower).

I’m so excited to finally be getting this work done now that I can afford it. Unfortunately, I had virtually no dental care until my 20’s – I grew up with a single mom and money was very tight. It took me several years to finally find a dentist I was comfortable with and who didn’t make me cry or feel terrible for the condition my teeth and gums were in for my age. I actually had one dentist tell me that it looked like a bomb went off on one side of my mouth because I had a broken wisdom tooth and some cavities. Who talks to an adult like that, seriously? Thankfully, I found a very understanding dentist (who just happens to be my husband’s lifelong dentist), and we have now fixed nearly all of these issues. I’m so ready to have that confidence-boosting smile at the end of all this.

So far, I’ve had a bonded/fixed rapid palatal expander and 6 upper ceramic brackets since 9/11 (the wire was added a month later). It was definitely an adjustment period, and sometimes it still annoys the heck out of me. I’d be happy to answer any questions about this experience – I know there isn’t all that much information out there for adults who have RPEs because it seems to be a somewhat controversial topic. I chose this route to see what progress we can make without having to resort to surgery. My ortho has been very happy with the results so far. This Thursday I will finally get my RPE removed (yea! and ouch!) and then I’ll have 4 spacers put in (I’ve heard these are really annoying), and then I will get the rest of my upper brackets and a new wire on 12/12.

I’m really looking forward to sharing my journey and seeing everyone else’s progress too over the next couple of years!

Hi MrsRJ Welcome to the board! I look forward to reading about your progress.

Thanks for the welcome!

Hi!!
Welcome to the board. You have found a great place to come during your braces journey!!!

Apparently, my underbite is not the typical kind in that I don't have what my ortho calls a "Jay Leno Jaw" (i.e., my upper jaw is just a little undergrown, and my lower jaw is not very pronounced). We were able to get my top arch 6mm wider with the palatal expander, and my ortho seems pleased with this progress. I think we're also going to try to tip my front few teeth forward a little. I just had the rest of my upper brackets placed this morning, which included two molar bands on top and two on the bottom for later. Once we get as much movement from the top as we can get, we have to re-evaluate whether I will need two teeth pulled on the bottom to make everything fit.

I'm in a similar boat as you. I've had my upper fixed acrylic expander in since last March, upper braces since April and lower fixed acrylic expander and bottom braces since August. The upper expander will be in for another six months or so, at which time I'll still have to wear it 24/7, but it will at least be removable. My crossbite is now mostly corrected and my underbite is correction is making progress. My open bite will take a lot longer though, and I'm just starting on it (elastics went in a couple of days ago). I have about three years (the best rough guesstimate possible) left in my treatment.

I've noticed a fair bit of expansion, although "rapid" is the last word I'd use to describe it....glacial is more like it. It's to the point now where I have a hard time remembering what it was like not to have all this stuff in my mouth, so one does eventually adapt.

*waves*

welcome

Hello and congratulations on taking the big step. it's an interesting journey with ups and downs but well worth it.

Badbites: I have an open bite too. Just got elastics. Not sure whether it will help though as mixed feedback on fixing open bites without surgery. Any thought?

Congrats on taking the big step! I'm still debating it since Im closer to 40 now.