Overbite Question

[Rusty'sMom]

I have been wearing braces on my top teeth since May and I have noticed MUCH improvement with the overcrowding that I had! This is great! But...it seems like the slight overbite I had is actually now worse. Is that possible? Will it lessen when the bottom braces go on in another month or so? At this point is not easy to fully close my lips over the braces and I am dreading going back to school (as a teacher) with these stick out teeth!

[ArchWired28]

I am wearing the top braces for a month and I already see increased overbite and overjet. Not good news for me since I have started with a 80% overbite and 3mm overjet.
This is what I was told by the ortho: the purpose of having top braces first is to open the bite to make room for the bottom brakets, so that you don't knock them out with top teeth. I would imagine that "opening the bite" actually means increasing overbite and overjet. He told me not to worry about that, as it will get fixed when I get the bottom brackets.

[believer1964]

I had a 100 percent overbite when I started braces. During my first few months of treatment he had to bring my top teeth way out. When I look at pics during that time you can see I was looking kinda like Howdy Doody. As I got further into my treatment, he brought those top teeh back in, and the Howdy Doody look went away. It is very normal.

As I can attest to, you may go thru several "looks" that your teeth will perform as they go thru treatment. Some scared me but then things got better. Its all part of the treatment. I trust my ortho.

I remember in about my 8th month of treatment, I started wearing elastics which caused all these gaps in my top teeth that I never had before and I was so scared this was going to be a "permanent look". But after I went back for another adjustment in 2 months, he put a power chain on and all the gaps closed. I remember he was funny he goes "I forgot to tell you about those gaps that you were going to get". But it worked out .

So far so good.

[Rusty'sMom]

Thanks for the helpful info! I am going for an adjustment tomorrow and I am looking forward to continued progress. Glad to hear about the spaces warning! I am already really noticing the "black triangle" situation that my ortho forewarned me about...due to the shape of my teeth. I was told I will at some point in treatment be wearing elastics, but I have no idea about powerchains (what the heck is that anyway?) All this new vocabulary to learn!!!

[bracesat29]

A lot of times, this will occur because they need to make space to correct other problems. As time passes, it will put them back together in the proper place, much like others have mentioned. I know that it seems a little weird, but there is only so much space!

[klobird]

As far as my ortho, I got good reviews from 2 other dentists. They both told me that he was brilliant, even though he's 32 and looks like Doogie Houser. EVERYONE agrees! Of course, his website is biased but he has had some amazing education and awards. One thing though---he is REALLY a dork--and his staff is kind of self-absorbed. But I just want good looking teeth.

I had a 6mm overjet and at my 1st adjustment after 3 months (last week), I still hadn't seen any change at all--he said he had been working on my bite the whole time and that now, with the new wire, I will start seeing change in my overjet, overbite, and crooked teeth...cant' wait!

[ArchWired28]

klobird
good for you! Sometimes though, it is better not to see any changes rather than see increased overjet Knowing that it will get better eventually, puts my mind at ease ))
Speaking seriously, I see what he means. The 1st wire is usually very narrow, it applies only small forces. The whole idea is to make your teeth "movable" enough for the next, stronger wire. Good luck with your treatment and I hope you see positive changes soon!