My braces treatment has gone TOTALLY OFF TRACK.

[mzachary]

I have been wearing braces for 26 months to close 3 gaps in my upper teeth - one between each canine and lateral incisor and one large diastema in the midline. I also had an overjet and flaring. But, my original treatment plan was for 18 months. My orthodontist saw me on February 28 and said that my central incisors needed to be tweaked because one tooth crowded the other and was starting to overlap. He changed my archwire to a heavier one and set me up for an appointment to be evaluated for DEBANDING, which was today. On March 1st, my mouth was sore and the midline gap reappeared. The midline gap is now 1mm and the other 2 appeared a couple of days later. I called him to set up an appointment and he had forgotten that my gaps were gone just a few days earlier. He said "Wow your teeth look great and that gap is looking much smaller than the last time we saw you. Let's change your power chain." His assistant reminded him that the power chain was just changed and I reminded him that he put in this wire to address a tooth that had overlapped the adjacent tooth. Then he said, "Oh yeah, I remember now. Well, it's too early to put in another chain because it will be too much force on your teeth. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that your spaces will go away before your next ADJUSTMENT." I'm extremely disappointed and frustrated by this set back. I understand that he might be busy, but this is not the first time that I had to remind him that something was not right about my progress. I feel so helpless and I really don't know what to do.

[isthistaken]

It's inexcusable, but basically exactly what I experience every time I see a medical "professional." They don't remember you from Adam. Ever read those stories that are always cropping up about doctors taking out the wrong kidney or the wrong organ out of the wrong patient? The standards in this country have gone down the toilet.

[oldfart]

This is what I am curious about. How hard would it be to take a digital photo of a patient at every apt, and then pull it up electronically on a tablet for the ortho to see at their next apt. I just can't see how an ortho can remember the exact location of a patients teeth when you only see them every 4-6 weeks.

[mzachary]

It really is sad that things are going this way. I was extremely excited about the possibility of getting my braces off. Now they look like they did in October. I take pictures and keep documentation of what's been done. My next appointment is April 11th and I feel like it's time to have a sit-down conversation with him about my expectations. I took a photo with a tape measure on my teeth as soon as I left his office, just to keep up with my progress.

[isthistaken]

Wow, if all patients were like you, maybe more doctors would be on their toes. I'm sure they don't forget their golf scores or their boarding time for their next trip to Hawaii.

[isthistaken]

...or when their baby BMW needs a widdle TLC...

[imtoothfull]

This can sometimes happen, the Dr. never knows how a tooth or teeth can react to a change. Good work taking pics!
Don't rush in getting your braces off, make sure your gaps have closed and are stable before you
have them take it off.

[klobird]

I don't know if it's a near the end thing or what....my teeth have gone kind of wacky too. I'm supposed to get them off in 32 days. I called the ortho's office and the assistant, who I like a lot, explained that the ortho can make changes happen even in just 2 days. hmmmm...curious....

Well, I go to my last adjustment on Tuesday-the 26th--and then I will find out what the "final" (?) verdict is....I want them off, but I want them perfect more. It seems that a lot of people go thru this weird stuff near the end of treatment...

Just remember--we ARE getting closer to the end!! (ALL OF US!)

[JillD]

My doctors take meticulous notes about what was done on which tooth, etc. I never had an impression that they don't remember about me or my teeth. This is why I feel like they know what they are doing even during the time I was seeing the younger sister doctor who had only about one year experience when she put the braces on my teeth.

[Avalon Rose]

I've had braces before and at the very end it's all about tweaking it to make sure everything is perfect!!!! In saying that, let me say that I went in for my *debracing date* and I refused to take them off cause I was not ready... My front teeth were not what I wanted and so they took them off and basically had to start over, the power chain had to come off and then it took another 3 months.... sorry that's just how it goes, you may think that its almost over but you gotta be patient....

But still there's no excuse for him forgetting.... there were always notes being taken of my progress what they did and who did it.... the dr was very thorough...

My ortho this time is the same way, he takes notes on a little recorder.... its' great. He even called me personally after my visit to tell me some stuff he'd throw in for free. hehe. He's awesome and Im' so glad I chose him.