Metal Mouth Message Board

My braces have been off for a year and 9 months now and I am not happy. Don't get me wrong, the braces closed my gap and fixed my overbite and underjet, but my face has changed. I've a permanent retainer behind my upper and lower teeth and a removable plastic retainer I wear to bed nightly. It looks like I'm wearing an angry look most of the time now and it's affecting my interactions with people because this is how they look and treat me in return. This's something I've been experiencing since my braces came off. At first I didn't think much of it; I didn't even know why I was getting those reactions and being treated with disdain, but I started paying more attention to my interactions and how people respond to me, I can only conclude it is because of the angry expression I've been wearing on my face. Even when I walk into a room, I get looked at with disdain, with the last time being last night. It's hard for me to explain without people thinking I'm crazy or I'm cuckoo. I'm perfectly sane. This's not something I'm not imagining, but what has been my reality for a while now. I've actually never told anyone about this, but I'm saying it here for the first time because I'm hoping people can at least understand where I'm coming from here. At the same time, unless you've had a similar problem after getting your braces off, you might not get it. I was hoping my braces would change my face for the better when they came out, but this was not the case; it made it worse. My face wasn't terrible before, even with my teeth gap I still thought I had an attractive face, now I do not. What I've been experiencing with people is something I didn't experience before I had my braces and I know something is definitely not right. I regret my decision to get braces because closing my gap wasn't worth my unhappiness now. On top of this, I do not even have a big smile. When I smile I've to open my mouth wide for my teeth to show and this wasn't the case before getting my braces. I didn't get any extractions or anything, but somehow my smile is now smaller than before. Before getting my braces, I had narrowed my choice of Orthodontists down to two and the second Ortho I went to had told me I would have a big smile when my braces were out. I ended up going with the other Ortho, which I now regret and my smile is definitely not big. But that's not even the main issue here. I just want my face back! I'm considering a few options:

I'm in another city now and will not be going back to the same Ortho who did my braces. Even if I was in the same city, I DEFINITELY would not go back to him.

-Visit another Orthodontist and tell him or her my concern, see if there's anything that can be done about correcting my facial expression? I will likely have to spend a little bit more money, but I will at least go and see how much, then look at saving up.

-Visit another Orthodontist and have them remove the two permanent retainers on my teeth and stop wearing my removable retainer at night? This way, my teeth will go back to the way it was before and hopefully my face will too (?). I spent about $6,000 on my braces and I don't feel good at all about having to waste money or reversing the work I had gotten done, but I don't want to continue like this. What to do.

Do you have before and after photos?

First off I am very sorry that your braces had unfortunate consequences. That is not what you expected when you started the journey and I feel very bad for you. I was watching a young lady on You Tube who believes that her braces ruined her face and health. She is going through a lengthy and expensive process to correct her issues. Her name is Carrie and she has sleep apnea and sunken cheeks due to her original braces. I admire her perseverence in getting her issues corrected. She contacted many orthodontists and it was not easy for her to find one who truly understood what she wanted to accomplish. She needed them not to focus on how straight her teeth were, but how her teeth affected her health and facial harmony. She is now rebraced, and I hope all goes well for her.

I think you have valid concerns if your straight teeth do not improve your life, but instead hinders it. It may take alot of research to find an orthodontist who will give you exactly what you want- a smile that is in harmony with the rest of you. But it is well worth the time and effort to find one. Good luck and keep us posted.

Hey Greenbug!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who regrets my braces decision. My braces didn't change my face much BUT now, I have an open lips rest posture. Meaning, my mouth stays open and my lips do not meet in rest posture. Before, I had a closed-lips rest posture which made me look much more attractive in my eyes. I'm always depressed and sad, and it's only been 3 weeks since braces came off. I also have some neck pain and I have to kind of put some effort to close my mouth in rest position so my poor chin... I am depressed and it ain't good :(
I'm thinking of going with option 2 for myself and as crazy as it may sound, throwing money away, but what does it matter if you are left unsatisfied. I think option 2 would be better for you too.

Also, do you think teeth will sort of relapse even if you don't remove the bottom permanent retainers?

Yusra wrote:Hey Greenbug!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who regrets my braces decision. My braces didn't change my face much BUT now, I have an open lips rest posture. Meaning, my mouth stays open and my lips do not meet in rest posture. Before, I had a closed-lips rest posture which made me look much more attractive in my eyes. I'm always depressed and sad, and it's only been 3 weeks since braces came off. I also have some neck pain and I have to kind of put some effort to close my mouth in rest position so my poor chin... I am depressed and it ain't good
I'm thinking of going with option 2 for myself and as crazy as it may sound, throwing money away, but what does it matter if you are left unsatisfied. I think option 2 would be better for you too.

Also, do you think teeth will sort of relapse even if you don't remove the bottom permanent retainers?

Hey Yusra! . Messaged you.

I've my appointment with the Orthodontist tomorrow. They're going to charge me over $70 for the consultation because "I've had braces before". I'll go and hear what the Ortho has to say. I'll see a few other Orthos next month for consultations to get their opinions. I heard invisalign can give you a bigger smile, so I will ask about that too, along with what can be done about my face.

Now I'm scared I just got my braces put in after getting 4 teeth removed and spacers. I never liked my side profile and was hoping it will improve with treatment. Good luck everyone who didn't have a positive brace experience. Hopefully everything will work out for you guys

Curiosity gets me...How did the consult go?