Not happy

Message

#1 Post by **missxceramic** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:26 pm

I am a 21 year old girl and I got my braces for the second time just over a year ago. My main concern was the large gap between my front teeth and my teeth in general were just not straight at all. (I don't know the technical terms to describe but will post a pic later if I can). My ortho had estimated my treatment time to be about a year which worked for me as I'm moving to a different city in a few weeks (500 miles away!). Her inital plan was to re-distibute the space in my mouth and to create enough space to give me an implant to minimise the chance of my teeth going back to their old position and keeping the gaps closed. Anyway, about a month ago she decided that this wasn't working and that there wasn't as much space as she had expected and I wouldn't need an implant after all. So she began trying to close up the gaps she had created (there's no gap in the front anymore) and yesterday she told me she was finished and she took moulds for my retainers. I was kind of speechless. I still have loads of gaps and I had my wisdom teeth removed today and the dentist said he thought my centreline was off. I am leaving in a few weeks so I appreciate that she's working to a tight schedule but I'd rather the job was done properly than rushed. I don't know what to do! My teeth are much better than they were no question about it but after paying all this money I was expecting more.

#2 Post by **QKate** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:13 pm

I sympathize completely with you. And I have to say, I was just coming on here to post my situation of being very unhappy after all this work.

For me, my ortho became very difficult to communicate with towards the end of my treatment. I told him while the braces were still on that
1. My centerline was too far off to the right and
2. My front two teeth were sticking out too far forward.

He said the centerline was barely off, and the front two teeth were perfectly back.
I have a lot of bone loss so things look extra difficult in my mouth. But that is why it felt so important for me to have the front top teeth look as right as they could.
So when I got the braces off (7 weeks ago) and to this day, I notice those things I mentioned, plus the front 2 teeth at a weird angle.

But I don't know how to communicate it to him. I think he won't do anything. We already had a huge drama over the retainer and he was rude at the end and seemed "done" with my case.
HJe was very expensive and I travelled far to see him once a month as I had a difficult case and he was recommended.
So I thought I would be happy with the results. Plus, now I have retianers to deal with.
Same as Misxceramic, it is better than before- and the bite works better ( except some minor adjustments still needed with upper retainer), but the front teeth are too off to the right and the front 2 stick out.

Sorry to write my story on your post, but I am as at a loss as you are. I am not sure what to do.
I think I am going to try to seek support from other dentists and see what they say, and if they agree maybe they can talk to him.
It would be a drag to have to go into braces again. But I would if I could get a prettier result.
Also, I would rather see a different ortho but I think this one should leave me with a satisfied result rather than me having to pay someone else more.
sigh.

#3 Post by **QKate** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:48 pm

One more thing- he seemed to say that it was only important to him that my bite lined up (which I guess it does now) but not how the front teeth looked. As if those were mutually exclusive. Was it his lack of skill that mad the teeth off centered and out too far in order to correct the bite? Or are some mouths only able to have one or the other?

#4 Post by **missxceramic** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:14 pm

hey QKate, so sorry you are unahppy with your results as well. It such a shame that your dentist is so difficult to communicate with. My ortho is really nice but I'm not convinced she has done the best job she could have, but I don't feel I can say anything to her because I'm she's the expert. It really is frustrating. I don't know what to do, the fact that the other dentist criticised her work worries me slightly. I wondered whether I should maybe get the opinion of another ortho before I have them removed but I feel as though I'm being disloyal to my ortho!

I'm seriously considering after I've had my braces removed to go and see a cosmetic dentist. It seems silly that 1 year and Â£2000 down the line I still hate my teeth.

#5 Post by **starzz** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:51 pm

Trust your instincts and get a second opinion before you get them removed. Since you are moving, that could be a good reason to transfer your case to a new ortho. This may increase your costs, but best to get them fixed as well as possible now so you don't need braces a 3rd time! Good luck to you.

#6 Post by **jenjen** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:13 am

I agree, I reckon you should take advantage of your upcoming move and stall your current ortho. Then when you get to your new town ask around for the best. You'll save money in the long run! I'm forever chatting to strangers with braces, to find out where they get them done.