Root Resorption issues Damons vs. Ceramics

Message

#1 Post by **karamon** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 12:00 pm

Hi,
I've been lurking here for the past 6 weeks and am still in the air deciding which orthodontist to go with. This will be my second time with braces as the first time ortho only corrected cosmetic and did not fix bite problems. Now I am 43 and my front upper and lower teeth are tipping backwards probably because of extraction of premolars.

Being 43 I really did not want visible braces again. I was initially all gung ho and set up for impressions for Invisaligns but after I started reading messages on this site I went to 2 other dentists for consults. Well, they both said Invisalign is out of question in my case. 100% overbite, crowding, slight crossbite, tipping of teeth, small arches.

So now I'm left with 2 choices. Go with ceramics with the old, experienced orthodontist. Or go with Damon 3s with Dr. Beverly Hills as I call him (but I do like him alot) he just is a little too tanned and nipped and tucked for Northern NJ (also has practice in Manhattan).

Well my question is: When Invisalign dentist took x rays he told me I had root resorption from my old braces. I had never heard of this before but now I am stressed that a second go round with ceramics (high friction, cosmetic appeal) might be more damaging to my already shrinking roots then Damon 3s (high tech, but more visible and less friction or so I've been told). The difference in price is $200 so that's negligible.

Has anyone ever been told about root resorption and what could happen after 18-24 months more of braces. Would Damons cause less root resorption? I am confused and totally at a standstill until I feel satisfied with an answer. Don't feel like having both orthos take more xrays to get their opinion and feel funny asking guy I turned down to give me xrays for evaluation or should I do that?

Ahhhhhh!!!!!! Such decisions.

Thanks for any input you can give me.

Karin D

#2 Post by **Dr. Randall** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:08 pm

Bracket type should make little or no difference in root resorption (or overall outcome for that matter). Root resorption is most likely due to the length of treatment, the amount of force on the teeth during treatment (most modern treatments rely on lower forces) and the susceptibility of the patient. Some people are just more prone to having root resorption than others.

The short advice is the bracket type makes no diffference (except for marketing). All brackets, given doctors of comparable skill will get you to the same end result in about the same amount of time with the same risk of root resorption. Good luck.

Randall

#3 Post by **karamon** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:47 pm

Thanks a lot for your quick response Dr. Randall. I never heard of root resorption before 2 weeks ago. Shame if I go through braces and then my teeth fall out and I need implants! Maybe I'll just flip a coin to decide!

Karin D

#4 Post by **Dr. Randall** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 4:44 pm

If your root resorption was really severe, they wouldn't recommend treatment due to the risk. But a patient can lose several mm of root and still have decent root support.

Also, it should be pointed out that anytime that teeth are moved, the roots will shorten. Most of the time it is not measurable.

Randall

#5 Post by **karamon** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:12 pm

Again thanks for replying. Well the dentist that took the xrays was the doctor that recommended Invisalign (he's my regular dentist) and he didn't go into detail about the severity of the root resorption. He just showed me on the xrays and I remembered it because I had never heard of it before. But after I read a little about it, it sounded like something to be mindful of when considering treatment.

This whole consultation process has been something like buying a used car. It all boils down to your gut instincts and whose karma is meshing with yours. I am now leaning towards nice, older orthodontist and ceramic brackets with years of experience and right down the street. Thanks for your input!!

Karin D

#6 Post by **Dr. Randall** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 8:18 am

Yeah, you have to go with your gut sometimes. It can be hard to tell apart great from good. Things that I like to tell prospective patients (and that they should ask) are that I place all appliances (braces), bend all wires, adjust all retainers, basically I do all the major things in the treatment and my assistants do the rest. I some offices the assistants do a significant amount of work and I think that can affect the treatment result. Go with your gut instincts, it will usually be the right choice for you.

Randall