Metal Mouth Message Board

Has anyone required panoramic X-rays in the middle of their treatment? During my last ortho visit, I was told this was going to be necessary. It appears that I'm going to need more intrusion on my lower front teeth and my left side molars aren't growing out the way they should.

When I went to my dentist a week ago, he also noted this was going to be needed and that he was going to get the X-rays from my ortho instead of the usual bitewing shots. This is the first time my dentist has ever mentioned need a panoramic view during the 20 years I have been going to him.

I'm curious if anyone else has required mid-treatment X-rays of any kind?

We may take a panorex annually for various reasons to monitor progress. At times, it is not necessary until the end of treatment, but looking for root positioning and/or resportion is one of the biggest reasons to take one mid-treatment.

Dr. Tam,

Thanks for your comments. Up until about 2 months ago, I thought I was very near the end of treatment. I had finished my last trays and the parts over my molars were cut off so they could grow out as was part of my treatment plan.

Initial problems showed up about 2 months ago when my molars were extruding on the right side, but very little on the left. At that time, my orthodontist said I would probably need elastics on my rear teeth to pull them in. My understanding from some research is that is is hard to get older patients' rear teeth to extrude naturally - I'm 60.

At the last visit, when orthodontist was checking my teeth, he said I needed more work on my lower teeth and at that time noted he needed to take the panoramic X-rays. I was expecting in this case to have moulds and refinements. Apparently, he wants more vertical correction. It looks like I have about 3 mm so far.

Originally, I was told I might have to finish in regular braces if adequate results can't be achieved with Invisalign. I was also told that due to my jaw structure, it was going to be hard to hold correction and not have another relapse. Since I thought I was nearly finished, I felt like I had gotten past the issue of alternate treatments.

I'm really not looking forward to my next ortho visit next week!! The really big thing here is going to be sure in the end the problem will be corrected so I won't relapse again. It appears I'm a ways from this goal for now.

I went in to my last ortho visit for panoramic x-rays with a lower aligner that no longer fitted properly and concerns that my only options would be either regular braces on my lowers or refinements with the associated six to eight week delay.

Instead of doing refinements for the poorly fitting lower tray, my orthodontist made a retainer that kept my lowers in place while still allowing space for my molars to continue growing out. Since then, I've noticed slow but steady progress in closing my bite. It now looks like I have three to four months left to go.

From my experience, it is definitely worthwhile to find a good orthodontist for complex cases.