What is best to do???

[katarinarano]

Hi,
My Ortho extracted four teeth unnecessary, moving everything back too far inward, leaving no support for my muscles around my mouth. I ask him to move my teeth back outward so that I can fill the gaps somehow with dental work, and he is telling me that he can not do it. What can I do that he helps me? I paid so much money to him. He is telling me that he wants to consult with my family’s opinion. The funny part is that I’m 34 years old. He wants to call my family. I told him that this is a decision between me an him, that he is not allowed to contact my family in any way. He treats me like a child because I still do not look like my age and do no come across as my age. Would it be the best to find a new orthodontist who can restore what my Ortho messed up? How about the money that I paid to him? I’m still in braces so far. Can I sue him? I’m with my nerves on my end. My lower face has not support for my muscles. Please can someone give me some advice.


Katy

[ohmyjaw]

That's ridiculous; you should definitely get a second opinion!

I had to deal with a similar situation - I had two teeth extracted unnecessarily as a child . It is possible to correct it, but as Meryaten said, it can be difficult.

If your current ortho can not offer a satisfactory solution, you need to find a new ne.

[iBorg]

Another four on the floor victim. I truly understand the situation as Meryaten said I also experienced it. When I had ortho work in the early 80s, my premolars were pulled out and my teeth pulled back and reclined back to make them sort of meet. The end result was my teeth all disappeared and my lower jaw looked like my dentures were left at home. I was never happy with my teeth and only have been since this summer when my ortho started reversing this poor work from my previous ortho.

There is little excuse for this type of treatment today, nor is there any reason for him to want to talk to your family. You are 34, and his talking to your family, without your explicit permission is a violation of the federal Hippa law.

You need other expert opinions. Be honest that your current ortho wants to pursue this treatment and you want to explore another practice. Even if you must switch practices and start over, you're too young to be disappointed in your appearance due to his decisions. Is this person an orthodontist or a general dentist?

Was surgery suggested and you refused? If so, this may be a result of that decision.

For myself, my lower arch did not have room for the premolars. At the time, the technology for expansion did not exist or it was not in common practice. My top arch has more than enough room for all my teeth. Currently my ortho is trying to expand space for implants for the top while moving the molars forward. Once that's achieved, I’ll have surgery to move my lower jaw forward to match. My upper arch may also be moved forward. The plus side to all this, is that while I'm far off from being brace free, I'm actually happy with my teeth.

Good luck. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk.

Mike

[Clo]

Hi,

I remember you posting this :

viewtopic.php?t=23412&highlight=

Most replied it is really time to have a second or third opinion. Of course, without
pics, it is not easy for us to judge. But I think your ortho made indeed an error.
More than one even. Extracting is probably one error. But the way he is now
dealing with it is another one. Hmmm, that family opinion sounds so bizarre. But
he is right about 1 thing : he can't move forward your teeth. Not because it is
impossible, but because of his lack of skill. So, see other orthos and do ask what
they would do about this. In the first place just to learn more and know what
possibilities you really still have.

[metalfangs]

I sorta have the same problem. This guy not only screwed my teeth, he was lazy and sometimes didn't even show up!!!.

I didn't sue him because that's not our style. What's already done can't be undone, I changed orthos and I'm quite happy with my treatment.
Good luck, and sorry to hear you've been through the same.

[Neva]

Get the second opinion, ASAP. I really should have done that with mine, I might have saved myself a couple years if I'd gone to talk to someone else when it became evident that things were not going as my first ortho had indicated they would.

Switching in the middle is a pain, but not nearly so much a pain as it would have been to finish with my original treatment and then discover that I had to go back and start over with someone new.