Ok, so I've had Damon braces for about 13 months and I had a severe overbite or over jet. My orthodontist started me on rubber bands 24/7 as soon as treatment began in order to correct it. I have worn them 24/7 everyday since I began and my ortho and I both have noticed a phenomenal difference and my over jet is almost completely gone. I believe I've been wearing the strongest rubber bands they offer at my orthodontist for about 9 months. My treatment has been pretty flawless so far, no broken brackets or anything.
Now, my problem right now is my bite is really uneven on my lower right side. The teeth on the left side of my bite meet perfectly and comfortably. My lower right side, however, is very off and sunken lower than my left. When I look in a mirror straight on smiling, I can see that my bottom row are slanting lower to the right and not touching the top, if that makes sense. My orthodontist is trying to bring the lower right side up, by moving a couple of brackets. He was a little confused as to why the bite has been slanting so much.
I was wondering if its a bad idea to wear two rubber bands on my right side to help even it out. I've had friends tell me they've doubled rubber bands before, but that was just because they were lazy at wearing them and so they could get them off earlier. I am NOT lazy about wearing my rubber bands though. I have worn them for 13 months straight and now I feel weird without them actually. I didn't ask my orthodontist if doubling on one side would help because I figure every ortho would say no to doubling rubber bands.
I'm not impatient. Its just my bite is really uncomfortable and its awkward to chew. If it wasn't for my bite slanting I would feel totally fine in braces.
Any opinions would be appreciated.
Uneven Bite?
Moderator: bbsadmin
Re: Uneven Bite?
I'm pretty sure its really bad to double rubber bands, you should let your ortho know that you are having trouble chewing and see what he says
Re: Uneven Bite?
I agree with Leesa. Please check with your ortho before changing the way you wear your bands.
I, too, am dealing with an uneven bite. I think my right side is perfect; but my left side is definitely higher than my right and slopes upward. I was wearing triangle configurations to bring the bite down. That worked really well, and it was almost even; however, he just changed the configuration to Class II (upper canine back to lower back molar), so now my teeth are moving back... My overjet is decreasing...but the left teeth are rising again. AARGH!! It's never ending.
I, too, am dealing with an uneven bite. I think my right side is perfect; but my left side is definitely higher than my right and slopes upward. I was wearing triangle configurations to bring the bite down. That worked really well, and it was almost even; however, he just changed the configuration to Class II (upper canine back to lower back molar), so now my teeth are moving back... My overjet is decreasing...but the left teeth are rising again. AARGH!! It's never ending.
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Snowglobe32
- Posts: 1224
- Joined: Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:05 pm
Re: Uneven Bite?
I would not double up on your bands. I know you have heard this before but your ortho knows what he/she is doing. We are in no position to make our own decisions. I would suggest bringing it up with your ortho. It can be hard to ask questions sometimes but just say something similiar to, "I have noticed that this side is off, how can we fix this?"
I just started wearing cross elastics today. Previously, I wore class 3 elastics, twice. While wearing the elastics the first time, my bite was really off. It seemes as though my entire right side was lopsided. My ortho stopped the elastics because one side was over correcting.
Doubling up may cause your teeth to overcorrect.
With my second round of elastics, it was to prevent two teeth from hitting each other...during this time (the last 6 weeks) everything evened out. I don't know why or how, I didn't question it.
Tonight, I noticed my bite is off again. And this is just after having the new elastic configuration in for about 6 hours. I am okay with it because I know the cross elastics are to get rid of the cross bite on the right side.
You stated that you have had your braces for about 13 months, how much longer do you have? Your teeth will change many times during your treatment. If you are getting to the end, I would definitely be asking a lot of questions.
I just started wearing cross elastics today. Previously, I wore class 3 elastics, twice. While wearing the elastics the first time, my bite was really off. It seemes as though my entire right side was lopsided. My ortho stopped the elastics because one side was over correcting.
Doubling up may cause your teeth to overcorrect.
With my second round of elastics, it was to prevent two teeth from hitting each other...during this time (the last 6 weeks) everything evened out. I don't know why or how, I didn't question it.
Tonight, I noticed my bite is off again. And this is just after having the new elastic configuration in for about 6 hours. I am okay with it because I know the cross elastics are to get rid of the cross bite on the right side.
You stated that you have had your braces for about 13 months, how much longer do you have? Your teeth will change many times during your treatment. If you are getting to the end, I would definitely be asking a lot of questions.
Re: Uneven Bite?
[quote="Snowglobe32"]I would not double up on your bands. I know you have heard this before but your ortho knows what he/she is doing. We are in no position to make our own decisions. I would suggest bringing it up with your ortho. It can be hard to ask questions sometimes but just say something similiar to, "I have noticed that this side is off, how can we fix this?"
I just started wearing cross elastics today. Previously, I wore class 3 elastics, twice. While wearing the elastics the first time, my bite was really off. It seemes as though my entire right side was lopsided. My ortho stopped the elastics because one side was over correcting.
Doubling up may cause your teeth to overcorrect.
With my second round of elastics, it was to prevent two teeth from hitting each other...during this time (the last 6 weeks) everything evened out. I don't know why or how, I didn't question it.
Tonight, I noticed my bite is off again. And this is just after having the new elastic configuration in for about 6 hours. I am okay with it because I know the cross elastics are to get rid of the cross bite on the right side.
You stated that you have had your braces for about 13 months, how much longer do you have? Your teeth will change many times during your treatment. If you are getting to the end, I would definitely be asking a lot of questions.[/quote]
I've decided I'm not going to double up because I don't want to over correct like you said. I asked my orthodontist last month how much longer he thinks I will be in braces and he just said the average time is 18-24 months. He said my alignment is straight and now hes trying to tilt my teeth inward because they are tilting outward because of using rubber bands for so long. He called this stage the "cooking" phase. I'm not sure if that's common orthodontic lingo, but if someone could explain what that means that would be great.
I just started wearing cross elastics today. Previously, I wore class 3 elastics, twice. While wearing the elastics the first time, my bite was really off. It seemes as though my entire right side was lopsided. My ortho stopped the elastics because one side was over correcting.
Doubling up may cause your teeth to overcorrect.
With my second round of elastics, it was to prevent two teeth from hitting each other...during this time (the last 6 weeks) everything evened out. I don't know why or how, I didn't question it.
Tonight, I noticed my bite is off again. And this is just after having the new elastic configuration in for about 6 hours. I am okay with it because I know the cross elastics are to get rid of the cross bite on the right side.
You stated that you have had your braces for about 13 months, how much longer do you have? Your teeth will change many times during your treatment. If you are getting to the end, I would definitely be asking a lot of questions.[/quote]
I've decided I'm not going to double up because I don't want to over correct like you said. I asked my orthodontist last month how much longer he thinks I will be in braces and he just said the average time is 18-24 months. He said my alignment is straight and now hes trying to tilt my teeth inward because they are tilting outward because of using rubber bands for so long. He called this stage the "cooking" phase. I'm not sure if that's common orthodontic lingo, but if someone could explain what that means that would be great.
Re: Uneven Bite?
^^ Sorry about the messy quote, here's what I said:
I've decided I'm not going to double up because I don't want to over correct like you said. I asked my orthodontist last month how much longer he thinks I will be in braces and he just said the average time is 18-24 months. He said my alignment is straight and now hes trying to tilt my teeth inward because they are tilting outward because of using rubber bands for so long. He called this stage the "cooking" phase. I'm not sure if that's common orthodontic lingo, but if someone could explain what that means that would be great.
I've decided I'm not going to double up because I don't want to over correct like you said. I asked my orthodontist last month how much longer he thinks I will be in braces and he just said the average time is 18-24 months. He said my alignment is straight and now hes trying to tilt my teeth inward because they are tilting outward because of using rubber bands for so long. He called this stage the "cooking" phase. I'm not sure if that's common orthodontic lingo, but if someone could explain what that means that would be great.