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So I've been in my braces for less than a month and I am already looking forward to the day when these suckers can come off! Thankfully, I am fairly used to the braces now and my gums and cheeks are holding up. My first adjustment is 1/30/12 as a few brackets needs to be adjusted that weren't placed exactly right on the first day.
I guess I have a question for the world...Is it appropriate for me to ask the orthodontist to take a more aggressive approach with my teeth? My estimated treatment time is 18-24 months. But in talking with my boyfriend, I think an engagment might be around the corner...and hopefully a wedding at around my 20 month treatment time (Sept 2013).
You're paying the money - I don't think there is anything out of the question about what you are asking. The answer might be no, of course....
I just asked the same thing to my ortho the other day. My treatment is 20 months and i have to do a lot of rubber band work due to my crossbite- and since I worked from home, I asked her if I had my bands on ALL the time if the treatment would go faster. I bet you will get the same answer I got....
I am the same way, I don't feel that I am treated as aggressive as I would like to be. I am always asking about heavier wires, elastics etc but always get an answer that gentle forces are better for moving teeth. So I am assuming he is already taking the most aggressive approach that is applicable in my situation.
Of course you can always ask, but don't be upset if the answer will be no
Had full mouth metal braces for 21 months. Debonded April 2013. Now wearing clear plastic retainers every other night.
I have no formal dental or orthodontic education. Hence, all opinions expressed by me on this forum are those of an "informed consumer" and by no means intended as an expert advice.
You can always ask, but in my research I came across stuff about gum fibers etc (it was all over my head) that indicated why these things take time. It's about more than just getting the teeth lined up, it's also about getting the hidden structures to shift and settle too.
You can ask, but even if you can handle the pain increase forces would cause, it is highly likely it would accomplish nothing besides hurt.
Remember that the way orthodontics work is not by manhandling the teeth into position; if this were the case, all you'd have to do would be to go to an oral surgeon, have him knock you out, and then wrench everything into position (or at least get things started.)
What you are instead doing is applying gentle forces to the teeth so the bone "ahead" of it dissolves, and the bone "behind" it fills in the gaps. The teeth can't safely move any faster than the bone can break down and be rebuilt, no matter how stiff that wire is, and no matter how strong the elastics.
Before I got my braces I spoke to my regular dentist who advised me to make sure I have an ortho who does NOT want to go too fast. He said it would be disaster for my gums (especially as I am older). Maybe it's not so important if you are younger (i.e. in your 20's not 60's!), but I would definitely go with what your ortho advises - there's usually a valid reason for how they are proceeding. Good Luck!
Mazly007 wrote:So I've been in my braces for less than a month and I am already looking forward to the day when these suckers can come off! Thankfully, I am fairly used to the braces now and my gums and cheeks are holding up. My first adjustment is 1/30/12 as a few brackets needs to be adjusted that weren't placed exactly right on the first day.
I guess I have a question for the world...Is it appropriate for me to ask the orthodontist to take a more aggressive approach with my teeth? My estimated treatment time is 18-24 months. But in talking with my boyfriend, I think an engagment might be around the corner...and hopefully a wedding at around my 20 month treatment time (Sept 2013).
Thanks!
Something to think about...
There was a lady on the board who got married while in the middle of treatment and her ortho suggested that she could have 6 upper teeth naked and he would remove the glue ect. For her wedding day, she said it went well then she had them put back on a few days later.
I think the theory behind it was she can have them off for the wedding and the photos but had to put them back on asasp before the honeymoon, and not to leave them off too long.
But if thats something to give you piece of mind you can always talk to your ortho about it.
I think the best way to propose this is to let the orthodontist know that you would be very grateful if your treatment could be finished in 20 months, as you are going to be getting married. Let him/her know that you understand that the treatment is supposed to take 18-24 months but you will do everything possible to try to help keep the treatment moving on time, and you would appreciate the same. Requests like this happen all the time, as braces patients have real life things going on just as everyone else does .
Dr. Jason Tam
Toronto Invisalign, Scarborough braces, and Markham Orthodontist
Diamond Plus Invisalign Provider
Thrice Published in the Invisalign Case Gallery
I dont know the severity of your case but I am sure that you could finish your treatment in 20 months...I think if you are crazy about keeping your teeth clean and wearing your elastics(if you have them) like your supposed to, then I think it is very possible for your to finish quicker....I think most orthos say 24 months because its a generic time frame, and not everyones teeth move as quickly as others do....
Marie45 wrote:Before I got my braces I spoke to my regular dentist who advised me to make sure I have an ortho who does NOT want to go too fast.
You should see my ortho I am not even 30 but my ortho is definitely NOT in any rush with my treatment. He emphasizes that gentle forces are better in the majority of cases. I think we will have to go overtime the initial upper limit of 21 months... Unless he has a trick to have everything fixed REALLY fast in the end Which is not impossible by the way. It just upsets me that I don't know about it NOW
Had full mouth metal braces for 21 months. Debonded April 2013. Now wearing clear plastic retainers every other night.
I have no formal dental or orthodontic education. Hence, all opinions expressed by me on this forum are those of an "informed consumer" and by no means intended as an expert advice.
I am kind of working under the assumption that my orthodontist is being as aggressive in treatment as he sees fit. @DrJasonKTam, I especially like your response as I don't want to be making demands and I know I play a role in all of this too.
And yes, I am brushing and flossing my teeth like a mad woman. The blessed elastics have yet to be given to me, but I hope to be able to wear them as often as told, if not more.
You should never be afraid to have a discussion with your dental or medical provider. In your case, you certainly have a legitimate concern and I'm sure your ortho has dealt with this situation before and should be sympathetic. Don't worry about the discussion. I'll bet he'll tell you something positive. Good luck!
It was Rusty'sMom that hade her top brackets and wires removed for her son's wedding back in September. She wanted them removed for photos and becasue she was worried about eating at the reception, getting food stuck in her braces. I think they may have been off for around 10 days to 2 weeks.
After the wedding, Rusty'sMom had the braces reinstalled and life went on! She was very glad that she did it, one less thing to worry about being the Mom of the Groom!
So, there is the option of having them removed for a short period of time.
Also, are you locked into a September date for the wedding?
Went in for my adjustment yesterday and good news is, the orthodontist thinks that my treatment time will be closer to 18 months than 24. I have a bit of a crossbite on one side that he had previously thought I would need an expander for. Wonder of wonders, the braces are doing the trick and taking care of that little problem for me so no expander for now.
And while it's not like we have set a wedding date since the poor man hasn't proposed, I have always wanted a fall wedding. Something about the colors and trees and outdoors.
Mazly007 wrote:Went in for my adjustment yesterday and good news is, the orthodontist thinks that my treatment time will be closer to 18 months than 24. ... And while it's not like we have set a wedding date since the poor man hasn't proposed....
I hope he can keep up with your shorter treatment
Had full mouth metal braces for 21 months. Debonded April 2013. Now wearing clear plastic retainers every other night.
I have no formal dental or orthodontic education. Hence, all opinions expressed by me on this forum are those of an "informed consumer" and by no means intended as an expert advice.
Thankfully, I am fairly used to the braces now and my gums and cheeks are holding up. My first adjustment is 1/30/12 as a few brackets needs to be adjusted that weren't placed exactly right on the first day.
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