oh dear, braces off soon, STILL not happy.. what should I do

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#1 Post by **kitty** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:52 pm

sigh

I've had my braces on for 46 months. june 04?

It's all a little tedius.. and still after the last six months practically most adjustments crying at my orthodontist, nothing much has changed, the issues I have with my teeth are still there.. and he's decided they're ready to come off in two weeks.

I have no idea what to do. On one hand Im absolutely exhausted with the process.. and the cost (right now its up to around 8,000.. not including the 750 for a retainer, and 1,000 vaneers he says I will need in a fortnight to 'finish' the job.

It feels as though it has just been drawn out, lazily done.. and that now its just time to hop off and take the easy way out.

It has me in tears just thinking about it and I have no idea what to do. I've though about making another appointment with another orthodontist, but for the most part Im just so fed up with it all that half of me wants to just have it over with. Yet I know if I still have them on.. it would be somewhat easier to go from here than have them put back on later and vaneers removed etc.

My midline does not line up... My teeth do not even touch in MOST places. One of my front teeth constantly taps and hits first on to one of my lower teeth, which is not only frustrating but sometimes hurts and Im sure this is not good long term for my teeth. Its kind of a wonky bite if that makes sense? if my left side touches, it shifts so that the top front tooth doesnt touch the bottom one.. a gap has opened up I believe because of this.. and if my right side touches.. its only really one or two teeth, and the front tooth hits on the bottom, and NONE of my teeth on the left touch each other. There is also far larger spacing in my upper left side than on my right.

anyone?

sigh.

#2 Post by **kitty** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 7:47 pm

I think a letter might be a good idea, at least that way there is no uncertainty of what my opinion is.

I dont even know where to start about seeing another ortho. Have looked up my boyfriends old orthodontist, and thinking about seeing him for an 'opinion' on the matter. Though Im not sure if it will be easy to see him before next fortnight.

#3 Post by **kitty** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 7:57 pm

just for reference...

and it almost makes me cry even looking at this, when I think about how long its been and how much has been spent!!!

apparently he has left my left (aha) incisor rotated "on purpose" because it is easier to vaneer this way. In reality it doesnt bother me that he wanted to vaneer to acheive a nice level across my front teeth, it is more a bite and that tooth rotation (and the front same side tooth hitting on my lower when I bite) issue.

He and I were both fully aware that to acheive a great result I would have needed jaw surgury. But, TBH I can't help but think that this is not the best that could have been done, esp when to me, my right side is a lot more evened out?

#4 Post by **mmh** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:43 am

Oh dear, you poor thing, this does sound difficult. If it was me, I would definitely get another opinion as soon as possible. If you've got some before pics (from the ortho perhaps?) or even xrays, take these with you. Good luck, it would be very unfair for you to be unhappy with the result after this long. mmh x

#5 Post by **diande** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:41 am

Sheesh...I think a letter is a really good idea.

If you can come up with the cash I would also try another ortho...I considered this once also but the other ortho (not only couldnt give me a near enough appt date) but also requested i ask my present ortho for my file records...that made me chicken out a bit as i didnt want it to be known i was considering this and didnt want to suffer any 'repercussions'...

Please at least start with a letter. You shouldnt be so unhappy after so long and so much expense.

#6 Post by **diande** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:44 am

double post - oops

#7 Post by **Mmmmuuaa** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:51 pm

I agree that you should get a second opinion, after all that time and money, and you're not even close to happy with it, it would be a shame to just give up.

#8 Post by **kitty** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 1:45 am

an update!

After making an appointment with my partner's old orthodontist, and visiting him just to get a second opinion on my treatment, I ended up finding out that the person I was seeing was not actually an orthodontist but a dentist practicing as such!

The second ortho hasnt given a treatment estimation but has said he definately feels a better result can be achieved. Around another 12 months of treatment or so, and finishing off in a very different way to what I had been told was necessary. He was honest and quite nice.

After going back then to the current dentist I was seeing, there was heated discussion, and I do think we will make a complaint to the regulatory authorities. At the moment he has offered to refund my treatment costs, though until such time as I have a cheque in my hand this is just verbal promise and to me doesnt hold a lot of weight as to whether he actually will.

I feel at least Im on the road to getting it sorted out though.

I really recommend anyone having doubts to get a second opinion sooner rather than later. Four years!! and another 12 months. But at least hopefully then I will have a result I am more happy with.

#9 Post by **diande** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:00 pm

Like Meryaten, I wondered about that whole thing with the Veneer as well. Sounds like someone wanting to make as much money as possible by drawing things out and adding unecessary treatments (veneer)...As well as he probably isnt trained enough in this area for ever orthodontic case. I hope the dentist didnt market himself as an "orthodontist". I would report this, however, only after my cash is in hand.

You should follow up with a letter demanding refund with reasons and make sure its dated, just in case. He may refund to keep you quiet. But if you're too quiet he may not take you seriously about the refund...I'm glad you got that 2nd opinion.

#10 Post by **Elspeth** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:59 pm

Oh my! You and I are in the EXACT same boat.

I had braces for 3 years, and when I finally got them off I was horribly disappointed. Like you, my bite was wonky, my midline did not meet up, I still had teeth sticking out at odd angles. I tried to tell my orthodontist but he assured me "all was well". I was about 17/18 at the time and trusted his opinion.

Now, I'm 19, and I'm getting awful TMJ pains, and my jaw is starting to slide to the left. I found out from my parents that the man who treated me was also a dentist practicing as an orthodontist!! I was absolutely infuriated with my parents for letting me be treated by someone totally unqualified for the amount of work my jaw/teeth needed.

Now, I have to undergo the long process of orthognathic surgery (by someone properly qualified this time!). Its really upsetting and feels like such a waste of time and money to have braces for so long, with so much hope, only to have to undergo it again because of poor treatment!