Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi, I'm new here. I just got my braces off. I should be excited right? I’ll admit I didn't want to commit to wearing braces for a long time as an adult, I'm 28. I decided to do short-term ortho, which is a 6 month deal to only visually correct a smile, but not change much with the bite. This seemed like a good idea at the time since I was not a candidate for Invisalign. I now think that this may have been a bad idea. It cost me $4500 and I’m not happy with the results at all. At first I thought I just had to get used to it, but I've been up all night thinking about it. When my new smile was revealed for the first time, I wasn't happy like I should have been.

I’m freaking out now, I haven't slept thinking about this. I feel like my facial structure has changed with my new teeth. I noticed this over the course of my treatment, but I attributed it to weight loss. I think my smile looks really fake now and sticks out. It looks like I have an overjet, which was not there before. Granted my teeth were crooked and crowded in the front before, I considered the general aesthetics of it to be very nice, with the way my lips covered my teeth and how my face looked. In flash photography I couldn't even tell, my teeth looked fine. My hope was to have the same smile only straighter. I had no idea that the esthetics of my face be compromised so much. I think I look like a horse and I don’t feel pretty at all when I smile now. My teeth seem too long or something and really big. They aren't even perfectly straight, my lateral incisors seem to be angled out instead of being turned inward. My entire face looks more caved in.

I’ve been driving myself crazy taking photos and comparing them with old ones. I need advice from anyone that can help, please. If money was no object I’d be willing to undergo the full two year treatment with regular braces, teeth pulling and all if I have to, but this was something I had ready struggled to finance, because I wanted so badly to have a nice smile to go with my pretty face. I cut expenses and made sacrifices in order to pay for it. I feel like it wasn’t worth it. I didn’t like my crooked teeth, but I don’t like my new smile either. I feel really stupid now and mad at myself. If I want this fixed, can it be done? Is it possible to achieve this expectation of “my old smile, but better?” I don’t know what to do at this point. I considered the option of getting my retainers off and let my teeth move back into their original position, would that even work?Please look at my before and after photos. I appreciate any feedback, good or bad. I want an honest opinion. Thank for reading my long post.

Here is
BEFORE:




AFTER:




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To me you look great. It does appear that you have lost some weight which would cause your cheeks to look a little more sunken. In the before pics it does seem that your cheeks are fuller. As for your teeth. It looks like they were moved to match the front tooth that had a more forward projection.

Overall, I wouldn't worry about it. You look beautiful and now that your braces are off, you will probably be able to pick up the little bit of weight you lost (if you want) and your cheeks will fill out again. Otherwise if the weight loss was intentional, your face is usually the first to show it and it will eventually fill back out.

Don't worry, your smile is marvelous.

You are so sweet, bless you. I'm still very much upset, but I certainly feel a little better. I will try to be more positive about this. Thank you.

CuteSmile, u had a nice smile before but now you have a really cute smile. I'm sure it will take time to get used to it but straighter teeth are always gonna be worth it in my opinion. I hope I'm as lucky as you were in losing weight (I don't know if it was intentional but I know mine will be!)

Now start smiling like you mean it!

Do you know if you cannot bite down as much as you could have before you had braces or is it the same.

I think your new smile looks great, however It would be better to see your teeth close up. Do you have any pictures of just your teeth before and after and maybe during?
I still think your smile looks great from a distance though, maybe you just need your overbite corrected? post some more pictures, and maybe we can tell a bit better.

Your after pictures look better.