Getting very discouraged and almost wanting to take them off

[ITALIANNYC]

... and not bother anymore...

I am 27 and have been in braces for 6 and a half months. I still do not have my bottoms on.

My two top canines grew in a little bit above my two top baby teeth I never got removed. I removed them before we started.

I have traditional braces, and had an underbite. The only thing that has changed has been that I no longer have an underbite. From Day 1 he put on coils to make space for both of the canines to come down, and attacted power chains to each tooth. The teeth have slowly started making there way down. Mind you, this is the main reason I wanted braces because it looks horrible smiling and having two teeth above the rest. I take pix once a month and you can deff see them coming down. Just super slow and not 1mm a month.

So now I went in for my 6th adjustment and he removed the power chains because he said its taking to long and space is not being given. He said that he believes the fact that the powerchains and the coils are doing work at the same time is causing maybe a counteractive approach. He left the coils to try and move the teeth a little more apart so there is room to bring the canines down.

This is very discouraging to me because now the work the powerchains have been doing the past 6 months is essentially wasted. They are already starting to slighting move back to their original positions. I told him that I was concerned about that and he said that it did not matter if they went back because until there is enough room to bring them completely in its space, there is no point.

I guess the fact that we did not try it this way from day 1 is what upsets me. I feel I wasted 6 months now.

You ever feel like things will never get better? Thats how I feel about those canines. I feel they will never come down fully. Not to mention that I know for a fact I will be in braces longer now. I was told 2 years.

The fact that my bottoms have not been put on also makes me know its going to take much longer. He told me he wants the top to be straight first, because he has to move my bottoms forward etc etc. He also said my bottoms are not to bad and it would not take as long as the top.

Now I just want to say that my guy is really good. He answers all my questions and has helped me on many occasions. Been a great dentist of mine for years. Gave me a great price on the braces also.

I guess I just had to vent because I dont know what to do anymore

[Donna]

I'm sorry your treatment isn't going as well as you hoped.

What struck me was the last part of your post where you said your DENTIST is treating you. Dentists simply do not have the training or expertise to be doing orthodontic work. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but it doesn't sound like he has a clue what he's doing.

I would recommend you seek a few other opinions from reputable orthodontists. It may mean you have to start all over again, but it will likely be well worth it.

Best of luck to you!

[ITALIANNYC]

I'm sorry your treatment isn't going as well as you hoped.

What struck me was the last part of your post where you said your DENTIST is treating you. Dentists simply do not have the training or expertise to be doing orthodontic work. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but it doesn't sound like he has a clue what he's doing.

I would recommend you seek a few other opinions from reputable orthodontists. It may mean you have to start all over again, but it will likely be well worth it.

Best of luck to you!

My dentist does plenty of orthrodontic cases. I have seen results from them and have talked to people who still have them on from him and are almost off. I dont believe its his fault. I am just very discouraged not seeing the results I thought I would see by now. I just want those 2 canines down. He told me they are not moving at 1mm a month. They are moving slower. Maybe half a MM a month, if that. I am just upset because now the power chains are off, hoping it helps makes more room to get the teeth in the space. =[

[emmazzy]

Hi there! what is the update on your braces? Has anything changed? hopefully it has :)

[ITALIANNYC]

Hi there! what is the update on your braces? Has anything changed? hopefully it has

Yeah I went in for my adjustment today. I had a cleaning before hand which I needed. Love getting those. Only negative was I have some decalcification on one tooth, so I need to be for vigilant and use the fluoride rinse twice a day instead of once.

He told me its making space and that the right canine probably needs about a month or two before there is enough space to bring them down again. The left side probably another 3. Which in reality, it would take a total of 10 to 11 months of those coils to make enough space which sounds insane, but I am 27 and my teeth are moving slow so who knows.

Heres the annoying part about today. He had a new assistant in there today who apparently use to work at another orthro. She was putting the little bands around the brackets AND KNOCKED IT OFF MY FRONT TOOTH. I have never lost a bracket once during the 7 months I have had braces, and this new person hits it off with the little plyers or what while turning the band. Thing flew across the room

So the orthro guy comes in and has to re cement the bracket which kept me in the chair longer then I wanted. The girl was telling him how she did things differently at the old place. He legit had to tell her how he wanted to have the cement put on the bracket etc etc. How to put the right size coil. In my head I am thinking " This girl should not be doing adjustments if she does not know how to do things the right way right now "

Now just as I was about to speak out and say to this new girl " Listen, dont take this personally, but I do NOT want you to be the one trying to adjust my braces again right now ".. The ortho did it. Thank God he did. Its usually always the assistants, which is never a problem, but this woman obv had no idea what she was doing.

I was expecting him to get more mad at her for hitting my bracket off, but I cant scream at the girl. He did say " Sometimes accidents happen "

It is what it is. I was expecting maybe getting this adjustment for free without me making a payment cause of that. Of course not lol.

Till next time!

[fosterp]

Braces aren't really an exact science...everyone's teeth are different and required slightly different approaches to the same issue. Trial and error is often a part of orthodontics, which is why they give estimates and not exact time frames.

It's unfortunate that you had to be the new assistant's guinea pig, but everyone has to start somewhere and mistakes are made - a competent orthodontist should be overseeing the work of new assistants to make sure things are being done correctly. As long as she didn't make any mistakes that cause permanent damage - no harm no foul then right?

[BracedInNOLA]

I was expecting him to get more mad at her for hitting my bracket off, but I cant scream at the girl. He did say " Sometimes accidents happen "

First, I don't see a bracket coming off as a huge deal -- it wasn't permanent damage - and maybe it would have come off when you were brushing or eating something (or like one of mine did, in my sleep) -- which would mean ANOTHER trip to the office to get a new one attached. So at least, if it was going to happen, it happened while you were there!

Second, I would NOT expect an orthodontist (or any medical professional) be be visibly more mad at an assistant (or nurse, etc) in my presence. Reprimands of any staff should not be done in front of patients or customers at any time.