Can't decide which orth to choose

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#1 Post by **symphonix** » Thu May 20, 2010 8:10 am

I went to four different orthodontists and I narrowed it down to 2, but I can't decide which one to choose.

Orthodontist 1# is an Indian woman who has been in practice for 20 years. She is only 3 minutes from my residence and 10 minutes from my work so it very convenient. Her office is not impressive. Old furniture and old magazines laying around. The doctor is very personable and likable.

Anyways, back on topic. She does not like to use Herbs Appliance or metal springs. When I asked her why, she said that she wouldn't want to put this in her kids mouths due to the inconvenience and pain associated to it. I would only be wearing elastics with her. I got the impression that she wasn't to confident on correcting my facial profile, but she was confident that she can correct my deep bite and make it look great. To correct my profile she offered the option of tooth extraction, but recommended to make the decision only after 6 months into the treatment to see how the progress is going. I looked at her "before and after" book and some of the adults there had some great changes. I've also gotten the impression that she does not have a dental assistant and does all the adjustments herself.

Orthodontist #2 is located one block away from my work and I can make it there within a minute when needed. His office is more neat and has newer furniture and X-ray machine than #1. Surprisingly, his price is within the same range as #1. He offered me the option of using Herbst Appliance to correct my profile and never discussed extractions. He believes that the Herbst can help adults as well, but of course not as significantly as children. This doctor also seemed like a nice guy, but to be honesty I wasn't impressed with his own smile. Seemed like he had "short" teeth and are very flat. I am not sure if that's a factor to go by, but I look at that. Ortho #1 had great teeth and her children's teeth were phenomenal too. This ortho doesn't have "before and after" album, but he did show one correction he had made out of clay and the progress. It was some kid's teeth and it was a really messed up case of overjet where he was able to correct it without surgery.

Both have similar payment plans and the price range is only a couple of hundred dollars difference between the two. Depending if I want to go with Herbst or ceramics. PLEASE HELP ME DECIDE!!!

#2 Post by **Jen8626** » Thu May 20, 2010 8:17 am

maybe get a 3rd opinion? haha

I'd say go with #1 you appear happier with her in your description. Having a book of 'before and afters' is always something to look for when visiting an ortho. I'd say go with your gut instinct.

Jen

#3 Post by **symphonix** » Thu May 20, 2010 8:20 am

Jen8626 wrote:maybe get a 3rd opinion? haha

I'd say go with #1 you appear happier with her in your description. Having a book of 'before and afters' is always something to look for when visiting an ortho. I'd say go with your gut instinct.

Jen

Well, I've visited 4 different Orthodontists so I don't think I should go to a 5th one. She does worry me with her not being to confident on fixing my profile without extraction...I'm not to enthused about extracting teeth.

I've tried to look up before and after pics of people with extractions but I couldnt fine any.

#4 Post by **classII** » Thu May 20, 2010 8:27 am

Weigh the technical details between all 4. In other words which way were the other 2 leaning to solve the problem i.e. if the other two suggest extractions and no appliences, there you go, or if they both said no extractions needed and yes an applience will help etc. Unless all 4 have different solutions. Key is to know what the problem is and how it can be solved. What's the open bite and profile connection?

#5 Post by **classII** » Thu May 20, 2010 8:28 am

classII wrote:Weigh the technical details between all 4. In other words which way were the other 2 leaning to solve the problem i.e. if the other two suggest extractions and no appliences, there you go, or if they both said no extractions needed and yes an applience will help etc. Unless all 4 have different solutions. Key is to know what the problem is and how it can be solved. What's the deep bite and profile connection?

#6 Post by **tdawg7669** » Thu May 20, 2010 8:33 am

I would go with the first one.

#7 Post by **Jen8626** » Thu May 20, 2010 8:34 am

Hmmm well I've had two teeth extracted and its been absolutely fine! My face hasn't sunken in, if anything its helped shaped my lips better and I don't feel so full in the mouth. Maybe ring her or visit again and probe her for more information and your profile? Most orthos will say they can't give you a definitive answer on what your teeth will look like, there are no guarantees, depends on compliance and retention.

I think its fair to say if you don't have extractions you'll be limited to how far your teeth can move, an option is filing them down. Perhaps extracting teeth is a quicker method?.. I don't know I'm not a professional. Did any of the other orthos offer treatment without extraction? The pics my ortho had of before and after most had extractions.

Jen

#8 Post by **symphonix** » Thu May 20, 2010 8:36 am

classII wrote:
classII wrote:Weigh the technical details between all 4. In other words which way were the other 2 leaning to solve the problem i.e. if the other two suggest extractions and no appliences, there you go, or if they both said no extractions needed and yes an applience will help etc. Unless all 4 have different solutions. Key is to know what the problem is and how it can be solved. What's the deep bite and profile connection?

I honestly don't know the deep and profile connection type.

I would go with the first one.

I think I'm going to have to do a coin toss. I really don't know if she outweighs the other doctor.

#9 Post by **symphonix** » Thu May 20, 2010 8:39 am

Jen8626 wrote:Hmmm well I've had two teeth extracted and its been absolutely fine! My face hasn't sunken in, if anything its helped shaped my lips better and I don't feel so full in the mouth. Maybe ring her or visit again and probe her for more information and your profile? Most orthos will say they can't give you a definitive answer on what your teeth will look like, there are no guarantees, depends on compliance and retention.

I think its fair to say if you don't have extractions you'll be limited to how far your teeth can move, an option is filing them down. Perhaps extracting teeth is a quicker method?.. I don't know I'm not a professional. Did any of the other orthos offer treatment without extraction? The pics my ortho had of before and after most had extractions.

Jen

Some people have their face sunken in?! Now I am even more scared.
Other orthodontists didn't even bring up the tooth extractions and simply offered elastics; and one of them also wanted to use Carriere Distalizer, but his price was over a $1500 difference from all the other 3 orthodontists.

#10 Post by **classII** » Thu May 20, 2010 8:40 am

My suggestion, you need to understand what the problem is and the available solutions are before deciding, rather than focusing on the furniture and teeth

What's the actual diagonosis? Class I II III Open Bite etc etc. What does the report any of them gave you say exactly?

#11 Post by **Jen8626** » Thu May 20, 2010 8:49 am

classII wrote:My suggestion, you need to understand what the problem is and the available solutions are before deciding, rather than focusing on the furniture and teeth What's the actual diagonosis? Class I II III Open Bite etc etc. What does the report any of them gave you say exactly?

Precisely! Sorry didn't mean to scare you just that I've read on here that some people are worried about extractions cos a friend of a friend have had extractions and their mouths appear a little sunken... chances are this is very rare.

.. lol why are u worried about extractions?

#12 Post by **symphonix** » Thu May 20, 2010 9:06 am

classII wrote:My suggestion, you need to understand what the problem is and the available solutions are before deciding, rather than focusing on the furniture and teeth What's the actual diagonosis? Class I II III Open Bite etc etc. What does the report any of them gave you say exactly?

I have all the papers from all of the orthodotists, but I don't remember it specifying what I have. I haven't looked at them in a while though. All I know is that I have a Class II overbite. With just a minimal gap between my upper teeth and lower teeth, but it's not overjet.

Precisely! Sorry didn't mean to scare you just that I've read on here that some people are worried about extractions cos a friend of a friend have had extractions and their mouths appear a little sunken... chances are this is very rare.

.. lol why are u worried about extractions?

I just can't comprehend how extracting the back teeth can correct someones profile. I was always under the impression that an overbite happens due to the lower jaw and I tried to visualize how the profile maybe corrected by removing the upper 2 teeth. According to the doctor it would align the lower jaw with the upper, but without moving the lower. This makes absolutely no sense.

#13 Post by **Jen8626** » Thu May 20, 2010 9:16 am

Well the gaps on the upper will be filled with another tooth. Your brace will push teeth back to fill the gap. So it will improve your overbite and maloclussion i.e both your arches will align and you will bite properly, your teeth will fit together. if you had an underbite the opposite would happen and more work would be done on the bottom jaw.

#14 Post by **classII** » Thu May 20, 2010 9:20 am

symphonix wrote:
I have all the papers from all of the orthodotists, but I don't remember it specifying what I have. I haven't looked at them in a while though. All I know is that I have a Class II overbite. With just a minimal gap between my upper teeth and lower teeth, but it's not overjet.

That's encouraging. Minimal gap between the uppers and lowers, which suggests you won't need extractions. I think if you can take a look again at what each of the say and clarify it will help. There's a bit of a termanology mix up just Class II overbite and minimal gap but no overjet. Look for in any of th reports if there is a Div 1 or Div 2 mentioned and most importantly if there is a mm (milimeter) number associated with the gap between the top and bottom teeth. Any gap is an overjet. Depending how big it is (and other factorys) where extractions come in. Key is even if you know off hand it is minimal that is good news. Recheck the files and cull the technical data and terms being used for everyone to get a better idea. Still not sure where the correct the profile comes from. Did one of the orthos say this? Minimal gap + correcting profile doesn't compute.

#15 Post by **tdawg7669** » Thu May 20, 2010 9:27 am

Im guessing, the deep bite is shortening her face. I have the opposite problem, my open bite is lengthening my face. My ortho plans to correct this by intruding my posterior teeth so that my lower jaw rotates up.

So maybe your ortho wants to extrude your posterior teeth? I dont know.