Photos finally and they're horrible!

[Beth85]

So I finally got around to buying a c***py digital camera to upload some photos, so you can get a rough idea of the state of my teeth/jaw.
Haven't got any photos to compare to though.

First photo is a profile view, biting down as normal.....






Second photo is a front view. I don't normally have wonky lips!!!




So there you have my huge underbite which now has about an 8mm gap.

You can also see where I wore away some of my left front tooth with my tongue bar

My lower teeth tilt forward a fair bit & I still have a tooth way out of line but I had it bracketed a week ago. Very happy about that as I've been braced a while now.


Uploaded a couple more to give you a better look:

This is with my mouth closed as normal, my lower lip is so much further forward due to the brace & amount of movement in my lower jaw.









Thanks,
Beth xx

[Von]

Beth,your bite is excactly like mine.Although i don't have any tmj problems or when i eat.Sometimes i wonder how people with minor underbite/overbite have problems eating and with tmj...maybe because i am young(22) i havent suffered them.Anyway,You will have only lower jaw?And how much time you will be wearing braces?

[BallPointPen]

Hey those could have been photos of me! Apart from the blonde hair.

I used to hate having photos taken as I though they were horrible too, but since my op I don't mind at all, the surgery has massively improved my confidence.

[Rach]

Beth,
I agree with the above, your pictures are very much how I used to look before the surgery:


The bite picture doesn't really give a clear extent of the underbite I had but you can definately see it.

And now my bite is like this:


Mine was moved back about 8mm on either side, so I hope that gives you an indication of the results to expect,

Rach xx

[Beth85]

Von, I don't have tmj problems or pain of any kind either. I have a fair amount of difficulty eating because I can't bite into a sandwich without the contents falling out haha!
I'm also 22, so maybe if I hadn't opted for surgery I may have ended up with more complications later on in life.
I'm actually having upper & lower done & possibly genio to reduce my chin. What surgery are you having done??

Not really sure how long I will have braces, my ortho hasn't given me a timescale. But I'd like to have them off by the summer next year...


BallPointPen, I'm hoping surgery will up my confidence I hate having photos taken & have for many years. What surgery did you have? I guess things are much better for you now?



Hi Rach, yes I've seen your before & after photos & the difference is incredible!
If my surgery turns out anything like yours I will be more than happy
Getting a bit impatient again though, I have had no indication as to whether surgery could be late this summer, this year or next!
And as you see from the photos 1 tooth needs to be brought into line with the rest plus my lower teeth tilt forward...

Thanks for all your replies, it's good to get feedback & I was so worried about posting pics.

Beth xx

[Rach]

Beth, I asume your on the NHS? I know what you mean about waiting, my original timeline was that surgery would be summer of 2006, so thats 1 and a half year off. Though to be fair I think I was still growing at that point. But still, they like to keep us on our toes!

[Beth85]

Yeh I'm on NHS. They're quite good to me & I never miss an app because I wouldn't want to delay my treatment in any way.
But I was given a rough estimate before I started of about 30 months & that included retainers! So I think I may end up quite a bit off track...
Anyhow, every app I have is another milestone passed as far as I'm concerned so I try to be positive. Once my tooth is in place it's really only a case of a few teeth lining up along with the roots & then hopefully I'll be ready for surgery.

Fingers crossed!!!!

[OverJetSet]

Beth, what an AMAZING difference. good for you. Be sure you let us let of your 1st successful sandwich endeavor!

[allisonh]

I have about a similar distance between my front and back teeth, but an overbite not underbite. I do have major TMJ issues, so I am wondering if the fact that it is an overbite has something to do with it. I am going to the surgeon on tuesday to schedule surgery and figure out everything they are doing, surgically. I will not eat in public, unless it is pasta that I can shovel to the rear of my mouth, and with braces, it is still embarassing. And with TMJ issues, I am mostly on a soft diet anyways. Yum... oodles of protein shakes.

[Beth85]

If you look at the start of this post you'll see my pics from 3rd march after having my tooth bracketed on 26th feb.

I had an app on 8th april & had the bracket attached to the archwire.
Here's the progress in a month:

Upper Teeth:





Lower Teeth:








The lower canine that was out of place is almost in line now which I thought was pretty quick

Anyhow I spoke to my ortho to get some idea of when surgery might be.
Kinda wish I hadn't now

He was a bit vague, to be expected I guess but he said this summer is unlikely. It's more likely to be autumn/winter or it could even be as far as early part of next year!
So I'm a bit disappointed but I guess there is always a chance my teeth might actually do me a favour & move??? Quickly!!!

[loulou123]

hey beth

your teeth are looking great. I know its anoying waiting for surgery, my time frame wasnt too bad, originally they quoted me 18 month before surgery and i think it was about 21 months, so i thought that was a pretty good guess.

It is frustarting tho, as at one point it looked like my surgery would be about 3 months earlier than it was, but one stubborn tooth refused to move so it was postponed the only good thing is that the more perfect your teeth are going into surgery, the less time your need braces afterwards. Good luck.

[Andantae]

Hi Beth!

Your teeth look so good already, so I can understand why you are impatient, wow did that tooth move quick! Fingers crossed that your treatment continuesto progress so quickly

I agree, if your results are like Rach, your smile/profile will be stunning!

[Beth85]

Loulou, thank you it's nice to hear people say my teeth look good. I'm always picking out faults with them
Yes it is frustrating waiting as I haven't had any rough date at all from the ortho, up until I asked him the other day!
I understand that all the roots etc have to be in place before the surgery can go ahead but I can't see it! It drives me insane, teeth move please
How are things with you now, I gather you had your wisdom out is that right? And has the swelling subsided from the infection you had? Sorry haven't been able to keep up, computer is unwell at the mo! [/color]

Andantae, thank you for your kind words, if I end up with a result half as good as Rach then I would be happy.
Beth xx

[badbyte]

i have a similar underbite to yours approx 8-10mm, so do you think i would qualify for braces on the NHS?

[Beth85]

Hi, I couldn't really say if the NHS would agree to treat you but if yours is similar to mine, which I think is quite a significant underbite, then I would have thought so.
I also had overcrowding and had 6 teeth removed, which is another thing I think they look for. Basically if your bite/teeth could cause you problems in the future you have more of a chance.

I'd go and see your dentist, if you haven't already, and ask for their opinion. He/she may say they will refer you to an NHS clinic, although waiting lists are a bit insane...

Can I ask how old you are & where in the UK you are?
If you have any photos you could post them on here & people could maybe give you some advice?
Beth