Still Unhappy With My Teeth...

[EnglishEm]

I am 27 and for as long as I can remember I have hated my teeth. I was offered braces when I was 12/13 but chickened out when I was advised that I would need to have four teeth pulled. I went back again at aged 19 but I could not afford the fees. Finally, by late 2012 I had managed to save up enough money and I went back to my original Orthodontist and this time was told that it would be possible to straighten my teeth and give me the result I wanted without pulling any teeth.

I had my braces fitted in early March 2013 (ceramic on the top and metal on the bottom) and went back for my check ups and alterations religiously. In April 2014 my braces were removed and I was given clear retainers to wear all day every day for two weeks and then after that just at night for the next two years.

The reason I am posting here is that I have never been completely happy with the outcome, I feel like my teeth stick out quite a way at the front and I have never managed to achieve that truly straight perfect smile I was aiming for. I have included some photos below to better explain what I mean.

[URL=https://imageshack.com/i/p4xLWN9Xj][IMG]http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/904/xLWN9X.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

As well as not being totally happy with the cosmetic outcome I have also been experiencing pressure across the roof of my mouth (primarily at the back) and occasionally through my gums and teeth. This all started shortly after I had my braces fitted, I have been to see two ENTs and the three separate GP’s who all say there is nothing medically wrong. I have also seen a Chiropractor who has been unable to help. I am now starting to wonder if it is as a result of me having ‘too many teeth’ that have been pushed back and whether I really should have had some teeth removed before starting treatment.

I realise that this message is a bit rambling and if you have made it this far I appreciate it. I am due to go back in for another follow up appointment at the beginning of February and I am thinking about bringing this up with my orthodontist then. I guess what I am asking for is other opinions and advice. Do you think I have a right to be unhappy with the results so far? Do you think this is the best I could hope for having braces at such a late stage? Is it possible that not having the teeth pulled before my braces were fitted could have caused this pressure throughout my mouth?

Thanks so much for any helpful advice.

[phasesofbeauty]

We all have a right to our feelings. If you feel that your teeth stick out a bit much, maybe your orthodontist can give you a Hawley retainer or a spring retainer? I know that minor adjustments to the teeth can be made with Hawley retainers and maybe that is what can be done for you.

Also, did your teeth look exactly like this when you got your braces off? If not, then they might have shifted and you can shift things back with 24/7 wear of your Essix retainers (instead of just at night).

Good luck.

[plugnickel69]

I hate to say this, but I certainly would be unhappy with this result as your front upper teeth protrude substantially. That said, when you went for your consult what did your ortho say could be accomplished? Did he recommend extractions, but you didn't want to get them? That would certainly compromise the outcome.

I think you need to have a serious discussion with your ortho and let him know how unhappy you are. Bring someone with you if you need added support.

Good luck!

[EnglishEm]

[quote="phasesofbeauty"][color=#800040][b]We all have a right to our feelings. If you feel that your teeth stick out a bit much, maybe your orthodontist can give you a Hawley retainer or a spring retainer? I know that minor adjustments to the teeth can be made with Hawley retainers and maybe that is what can be done for you.

Also, did your teeth look [i]exactly[/i] like this when you got your braces off? If not, then they might have shifted and you can shift things back with 24/7 wear of your Essix retainers (instead of just at night).

Good luck.[/b][/color][/quote]

My teeth have looked like this since I had my braces taken off almost a year ago. I have a permanent retainer behind my top front six teeth and the same behind my bottom front six too. I will definitely discuss the possibility of both the Hawley and Spring retainers with my Orthodontist when I go in for my next check up.
Thanks for the advice and help.

[EnglishEm]

[quote="plugnickel69"]I hate to say this, but I certainly would be unhappy with this result as your front upper teeth protrude substantially. That said, when you went for your consult what did your ortho say could be accomplished? Did he recommend extractions, but you didn't want to get them? That would certainly compromise the outcome.

I think you need to have a serious discussion with your ortho and let him know how unhappy you are. Bring someone with you if you need added support.

Good luck![/quote]


Thanks for this. I'm glad someone else can see what I do. I've been unhappy with the results since I had my braces removed but I've just never found the courage to speak to my Orthodontist about the matter.
In the initial consultation I had there was some mention about having four teeth removed but my Orthodontist told me he thought he could get a good result without the extractions.
Do you think it's possible I'm going to need to have the teeth pulled anyway and then braces again to close the gaps?

[plugnickel69]

[quote=]Thanks for this. I'm glad someone else can see what I do. I've been unhappy with the results since I had my braces removed but I've just never found the courage to speak to my Orthodontist about the matter.
In the initial consultation I had there was some mention about having four teeth removed but my Orthodontist told me he thought he could get a good result without the extractions.
Do you think it's possible I'm going to need to have the teeth pulled anyway and then braces again to close the gaps?[/quote]

It's a good sign that you had the original conversation with your ortho about the possible need for extractions. It's probable that you don't have enough room in your arches for all your teeth and will have to undergo extractions and braces again to get an acceptable result.

In my opinion, your ortho did not do what he should have done. He should have been discussing the situation throughout your treatment and made sure the results were acceptable to you. It is not unusual for patients to settle for imperfect results to avoid surgery or extractions, but in your case I don't believe your ortho did his due diligence.

Please go back and have a discussion. Don't attack him, but make it clear that you are extremely unhappy with the results and are willing to continue your treatment. We all feel for you and wish you the best.

[EnglishEm]

[quote=]
It's a good sign that you had the original conversation with your ortho about the possible need for extractions. It's probable that you don't have enough room in your arches for all your teeth and will have to undergo extractions and braces again to get an acceptable result.

In my opinion, your ortho did not do what he should have done. He should have been discussing the situation throughout your treatment and made sure the results were acceptable to you. It is not unusual for patients to settle for imperfect results to avoid surgery or extractions, but in your case I don't believe your ortho did his due diligence.

Please go back and have a discussion. Don't attack him, but make it clear that you are extremely unhappy with the results and are willing to continue your treatment. We all feel for you and wish you the best.[/quote]

Thanks again for the good advice.
I had a check up with my dentist earlier in the week and he honestly couldn't find a problem with the work my Orthodontist had done. He said from his point of view my bite lines up perfectly and that my Orthodontist did the best job he could whilst avoiding extractions. He also said that it's becoming more common now for Orthodontists to avoid extractions where possible, especially in adult patients, as it can risk changing the bite and the shape of the face.
I'm more concerned now than I was before, my next appointment for a check up with my Orthodontist is at the beginning of Feb, should I still be looking at talking to him about extractions or is there another option that I've overlooked?

[plugnickel69]

Obviously we are not experts here, but it seems that you would need quite a bit of room in your arches to move your teeth back. Extractions probably are your only option. Most likely your dentist doesn't want to say anything negative about another professional in the business, especially if he recommended the ortho. (Don't know if that was the case.)

If you have an understanding ortho he may be willing to continue your case, have you get the extractions, and re-brace you.
You have to leave yourself open to the possibility that you'll have to start all over again with a different ortho and again incur the large expense for your treatment.

Of course there is the option to live with what you have now. We don't have a picture from the front, so don't know what you look like head on.

[Bengals1418]

Yeah I understand. Im mad for to wearing my retainers