I don't trust my Orthodontist.

Message

Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:39 pm

I feel like he really is not paying enough attention to my treatment. It's SO frustrating, because I don't want to step on any toes and make him mad, but seriously... sometimes I just want to look him in the eyes and ask, "Can you do a better job during my appointments please?"

I feel so insecure now about this whole process and I just want the braces off now. I feel like my teeth look worse than when we started (in December).

Advice? Anyone relate?

Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:40 pm

Just wanted to add that I have Damon Braces, if that makes any difference.

#3 Post by **ReneG** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:21 am

The movements generally mean that they look worse before looking better. But the more important question is: WHY don't you trust him? If you feel that he's not paying enough attention, ask him a few questions and gauge from his response. Mostly, they just do their jobs and don't hold conversations... i guess because mostly they work on children who don't ask? I suggest that at your next appointment, start off by asking him more about your treatment plan, or any other questions that you have.

Removing the braces now would only result in waste of time, effort and money.

#4 Post by **TumbleDryLow** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:32 am

I guess don't know what you mean when you say that you wish your doctor would "do a better job during your appointment". Personally, my doctor does not usually talk to me about my treatment unless I ask a direct question. I'm OK with this though. If you are expecting your ortho to explain exactly what is going on and why he is doing it, then you will need to make it clear that these are your wishes. The doctor should be able to comply (within reason) and should not "get mad" at someone who just wants a little more info. I agree that, in some cases, things can definitely look worse before better. Unfortunately there is no cure for this except patience. If you really feel the need, schedule an appointment with your orthodontist to talk about your treatment progress. Sometimes doctors are not able to talk with you at length during an adjustment, but are happy to speak with you at a less busy time.

Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:45 am

The thing is, the placement of my brackets are off because apparently they were "slipping" when they were put on. I have braces for aesthetic reasons, and my teeth are fairly straight to begin with... except my midline is off, and my teeth are on semi-different levels, thus creating a slanted effect. Anyway, with the braces brackets having "slipped" and not being corrected right away, some teeth are longer than the others, and I'm concerned the Orthodontist isn't paying enough attention and this will happen to MORE teeth. I hate having "long" looking teeth, and they are looking a lot longer than when i started... but not in a way I find aesthetically pleasing..

I have had this space for almost a month now.. Pretty sure because the bracket was placed wrong again, but my Ortho doesn't pay enough attention to fix it! That's what I mean by he doesn't do a good enough job during my appointments. He's in for 5 seconds, then his ladies do everything.

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Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:46 am

By the way, I am 20 and have been in braces for 3 months.

Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:54 am

#8 Post by **PfectPitch** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:30 am

Just three months in you really won't be able to tell much at all how the final result will look. I had spaces, crooked stuff, weird bite, etc. sometimes all at once during the course of my treatment. But now that I'm ready for retainers, the result is great. Remember one of the main ingredients in orthodontics is TIME. You're not going to see perfection right away.

#9 Post by **rolo** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 12:18 pm

I have one tooth a fraction longer than the others on the bottom, due to slight misplacement of the bracket - but my teeth were so crowded, I'm hardly surprised. My ortho told me this is very common, the options are, if it was a bad misplacement for example if teeth overlapped the bracket couldn't be placed where they wanted it, they could bond the bracket, later in treatment. Alternatively, as is usually the case, they can put a bend in the wire, so teeth end up the same length, this is routinely done in the finishing stages. Although they could do it sooner, once in stainless steel rather than flexible wires, if I was very self concious about it. I hope this helps.

#10 Post by **CactusZAF** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:32 pm

I agree totally with rolo about the bends in the wire to get the teeth all on the same level, I have a upper lateral incisor that is really noticeably shorter than the centrals next to it that has subconsciously been bothering me for months (although I never said anything to my ortho yet as I was going to wait and see) that now got a bend in the wire to accommodate the differences. I only moved from the NiTi wire to whatever I now have this morning, so I assume it has to do with the ability of the wire to "hold" the bent shape as I assume a NiTi wire would want to return to its "factory" shape once it gets hot in someones mouth and therefore not hold the "bent" shape. In fact the assistant who worked on my teeth this morning told me this wire that they put in on top will most likely be the last new wire I get for the top (I spent almost an hour being worked on this morning hence the time to discuss such details).

Best of luck, I hope you sort your issue with your Ortho out.