Metal Mouth Message Board

My first post!

I just had metal braces put on about a month ago on my top teeth. I previously had braces on my top teeth as a teenager for only 6 months to fix some minor crowding. After that, my teeth and bite were good for a year or so. Then my wisdom teeth started to grow and my bottom jaw started to move forwards, pushing my teeth into what is now an edge-to-edge position. I had my top 2 wisdom teeth removed as they were growing out but my dentist at the time thought removing the bottom 2 would be too much effort. I think had my dentist removed all my wisdom teeth I might not have bite issues now, but I can't be certain as my jaw seems to have moved too.

Since the teenage braces came off my top teeth have also shifted slightly towards their old position so I took the plunge and got braces on the top teeth again. I was told it would only take a few months to straighten up. When I got the top braces I was thinking I might be able to ignore my bite issues, as I was afraid of having to get braces on both top and bottom teeth. But after getting the top braces I've increasingly felt I should get them on the bottom too as it's now or never. My ortho has quoted me a min. of 18 months to correct my bite... I feel like this is a bit long so I'm still deliberating.

Is anyone else in a similar situation?

Bite alignment takes longer than teeth straightening. Making things look straight and pretty can be quick, hence the trend of fast braces. But realigning teeth and shifting everything back and forth so they line up properly takes much longer. My teeth look pretty great after 9 months, they looked pretty great after just 6. But my bite is still very much a work in progress.

You might want to consult with an oral surgeon about your remaining wisdom teeth. Just because they'd be difficult to get out doesn't mean they should stay in.

Yeah, that totally makes sense. I was just wondering as my bite was fine before my wisdom teeth fully grew out, so I thought it might be a simpler procedure to fix the bite in my case than if I had started out with a more complicated bite issue. I was hoping to hear from people with similar experiences. I'm starting to warm to the 18 months idea though...