Metal Mouth Message Board

I've read several posts where people mention that molds were taken before being braced. Here's what happened with me....
I went to a cosmetic dentist who recommended braces and he recommended an ortho. But first, the cosmetic dentist filled two teeth and gave me a crown on one bottom tooth. Then I went to the ortho. He took X-rays.... looked in my mouth and rambled off some numbers to the assistant..... told me I have great gum structure..... said I was a great candidate for braces..... went over with me what he hopes to acheive...how long the treatment would take....and price. I made an appointment to be braced on January 20. But no molds were taken. What are the molds for and should I be worried that I didn't have molds taken ?

Hi StacyJo,

Molds/impressions are usually taken at the records appt.in addition to panoramic and cephalometric x-rays and photos of your teeth.

Panoramic x-ray: a view of the entire upper and lower jaw and is taken to view the teeth, roots, nerve positions, jaw structures, joints, and locate missing or misplaced teeth. This x-ray is used for determining large feature problems, not to look for cavities.

Cephalometric x-ray: a full side view of the face used to determine the growth direction of the face, to measure the angulations of the teeth, and to see how the upper and lower jaw relate to the face.


Did you get the x-rays or photos done?

The molds are plaster-like impressions made of your upper and lower teeth. The orthodontist uses it during evaluation, consultation and to see the progress after ortho treatment has begun.

If you didn't get any of this done, you may want to ask your ortho about it. Of course, every ortho does things differently but I would think he would have at least had x-rays done.

ssfw

Thank you for your reqponse. He took panoramic and cephalometric x-rays but no molds. He did this funky thing with mirrors in my mouth to get shots of my upper and lower teeth. I kept breathing and fogging up the mirror.

He may do the molds on the day you get your braces.

They took some photographs of my mouth, too.

My ortho never had molds taken for me. I jhad the pictures, and the xrays, as well as this additional 3d view of my entire skull which was like a 3d, full color xray.

I just asked this question the other day because my ortho did not take a mold of my mouth either and as far as I know there is no plan to. I have a nephew in braces who goes to the same doctor so I asked him if he had a mold taken. He did not have one either. My SIL said the ortho periodically takes more x-rays to check the progress. I plan to ask my ortho on Thursday when I go to have my braces put on. I am still curious as to why some need a mold taken and some don't.