Damon Braces: Why aren't my extraction gaps closing?!

[dreamin2day]

I have been in metal Damon braces for 26 months and I'm kind of frustrated. my extraction gaps are not fully closed yet and my orthodontist won't move forward into treatment until they're closed. He's put power chains, bite pads, and now even closing loops for the past 4 months yet the gaps are still not closing ! IDK what to do but I know I really want to get these off. Has anyone had gaps this long into their treatment? (they're like .5 mm)

[djspeece]

I did, and it caused my treatment to go from 2 years to 3; wish I had better news for you. In addition to powerchains and closing loops, my ortho offered Propel treatments, which were frankly quite painful and I'm not sure they really sped things up. He didn't charge me for it, so I really can't complain. You can look it up for more details, or perhaps search this forum for others' experiences with Propel. Hang in there and best of luck to you.

[dreamin2day]

Ah okay, at least yours are off! I really wanted them to be off before senior year but guess not :/ Idk how to post pictures on this yet but I'd share them

[djspeece]

Ah okay, at least yours are off! I really wanted them to be off before senior year but guess not :/ Idk how to post pictures on this yet but I'd share them

You can't post pictures until you have 7 posts -- there is a sticky on the issue at the top of the board. I think some people use a hosting platform and provide a link until they hit 7 posts.

[dreamin2day]

Ah okay, I just joined but I've been reading this board for two years lol

[dreamin2day]

Photo on 8-13-18 at 5.07 PM.jpg

These are my teeth as of today (excuse the stained powerchain )

[djspeece]

Very nice, you will be very happy with the final result! Hang in there, it will be worth it!

[dreamin2day]

braces.jpg

the red arrows are where the gaps are

[Lovespain5]

Don't worry. I see that your four first bicuspids have been extracted as it was for me.
Did you suffer from bimax protrusion? Because when it is the case, it takes a long time for the gaps to close.
I personnally wore my braces for 32 months with double powerchains and retraction loops during nearly all the treatment, without forgetting the elastics for 18 months and my gaps having been closed completely more than 2 years after the start.
Keep it up, it's nearly the end!

[dreamin2day]

yep I had bimax protrusion and my top teeth mostly covered my bottoms (plus my jaw was very round) You're right, I had an orthodontist appointment this Wed and he told me my braces are going off in 6 weeks! Super excited about it but my teeth are very sore, he put a lot of bends and put the thickest wire on top

[SCeles33]

I know this sounds like absolute quackery but I had protrusion in my lower jaw I spent a lot of time daily literally pushing my teeth in with clean fingers on my gums near where the roots should be. I ended up having my gaps nearly fully closed several months ahead of schedule and the ortho was stunned by the results. I didn't tell him though in order to not sound like a freak but I'm very happy with my progress thus far. In the end the straightening and tilting will be done by them. But the anxiety over gap closing was gone once I was happy with my progress. I'll post a skeletal picture of my results when I can.