Before it gets better it might get worse?

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Epurica
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:02 pm

Before it gets better it might get worse?

#1 Post by Epurica »

Ok, I have read this in several places, that before things get better they might get worse.
I have an ortho's appointment on friday and thought of taking a few pics to see progres and I was shocked. My teeth are more crooked than on day one :( I am now 2 months into treatment.
I'll post a few pics (excuse the yellow ligs :cry: ).
Before:
Image
First day:
Image
2 months into treatment:
Image
My upper arch before braces (no idea why it looks so yellow):
Image
After 2 months:
Image
I'm getting a little bummed. Does my ortho know what she's doing?
Thanks for any advice.

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TumbleDryLow
Posts: 999
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 12:19 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Before it gets better it might get worse?

#2 Post by TumbleDryLow »

Orthodontics is a game of push and pull. Push one thing into alignment, pull another out. Have faith it will come together in the end. When I look at your pics I see that the majority of your teeth are coming into a good arch formation (you can really see this in photos taken of your upper palate). Unfortunately, room needs to be created temporarily in order to achieve this arch and that room is coming at the expense of your upper left central. Don't worry. Your ortho know what s/he's doing. That central will be given it's place. Give it time.

thmmom
Posts: 56
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 2:16 pm

Re: Before it gets better it might get worse?

#3 Post by thmmom »

Unfortunately, it is true. I have a bottom front tooth that is rotated. My ortho did not bracket that tooth when I first got my braces. As the teeth on either side of that tooth straightened they pushed the crooked tooth even more crooked. Once those teeth were straightened, they put a spring on to create room for the crooked tooth. The spring created ugly gaps on either side. Now that tooth has been bracketed and tied on to the archwire. It is quite the sight. I have a big gap and a very crooked tooth. I know that these are all steps to correcting the problem, but sort of embarassing to live through. I know that before too much longer my teeth will look great. Hang in there, you'll soon see some progress in the right direction.
Ceramic braces top & bottom on 6/24/10

Epurica
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:02 pm

Re: Before it gets better it might get worse?

#4 Post by Epurica »

Thank you for your insight, it's comforting to know other people have gone through this. I do see improvement on other teeth so I guess it's not all bad :) Hopefully they'll be at least somewhat straight until the wedding :)

DrJasonKTam
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Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:50 pm
Location: Toronto and Markham
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Re: Before it gets better it might get worse?

#5 Post by DrJasonKTam »

The discrepancy between the palatal upper incisor and the other teeth looks bigger because it is not attached to the wire. The other teeth are actually lining up more, making things look worse because the incisor hasn't moved. Was there an elastic ligature on the displaced tooth?

In any case, attaching this tooth to the wire will move it into alignment relatively quickly. Speak to your orthodontist if you have any questions.
Dr. Jason Tam
Toronto Invisalign, Scarborough braces, and Markham Orthodontist
Diamond Plus Invisalign Provider
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http://www.mcosmiles.com

Learn all about Toronto Invisalign at http://www.torontobraces.ca.

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Epurica
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:02 pm

Re: Before it gets better it might get worse?

#6 Post by Epurica »

Nope, no ligs on that tooth. I was freaking out a bit because my ortho said that she'll attach it to the wire in 1-2 months when I got braces, she's just waithing for it to have room. But it seems to me that the right frontal incisor is moving to the left over the left one instead of moving to the right. She said she won't attach it yet because I'll be in pain and the tooth won't have any space to move anyway...

NY1583
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 10:23 am

Re: Before it gets better it might get worse?

#7 Post by NY1583 »

Mine looked the worst about a month or two into treatment but eventually everything straightens out and aligns properly. Once your tooth is attached to the archwire, you will see good progress,

Epurica
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:02 pm

Re: Before it gets better it might get worse?

#8 Post by Epurica »

Thank you everyone for your support :)
I went to my ortho's yesterday and I feel so much better! She activated the upper left incisor and it moved quite a lot. I posted pictures on my braces topic here

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