Extraction gaps - how long did they take to close?

[cata]

Hello all! I've been lurking for a while and finally decided to register. :) I'm 32 and recently got braces to correct severe crowding, a canted lower incisal plane (I think that's what my ortho called it), a crossbite, and an anterior open bite (4mm, I believe), which my ortho says he may not be able to fix completely. I was told that without surgery I might always have an open bite and an off midline. I had 4 premolars extracted, and my braces have been on my 7 weeks now. I've seen a lot of movement so far. In fact, my top extraction gaps are 80% closed. On the other hand, the bottom ones look like they've barely moved at all. As my teeth have gotten straighter, my open bite has gotten worse. Hopefully, it's just one of those instances where it's worse before it gets better. I hope!

Just curious about everyone's experience. How long did it take for your extraction gaps to close?

[jdixon0815]

I had tooth #19 (bottom molar) pulled before I had braces put on. I had my braces on since 4/5 and we are pulling my teeth back to close the gap and make room to straighten out the teeth. I feel like my gap isn't closing at all :( My dentist is using power chains to pull them back. Is that what's used on yours? I hope I will see some progress soon.

[cata]

^Yep, they're using power chains to close the gaps. Maybe the bottom naturally moves slower than the top? Hope you start seeing some progress soon!

[Ciara]

I had 2 extraction gaps (one 1st and one 2nd premolar) to close. One tooth had been pulled by my dentist as a child. The tooth next to it (1st molar) had tipped and rotated as a result.
The "simple" closure took about 3-4 months, the space with the rotated molar next to it has taken almost a year - the molar had to uprighted and rotated before the space could be closed - and there is still a small amount of closure to go. I have had power chains for 6 months to close this gap.

[oldfart]

10mm gap from an extracted molar. After one year its down to about 6 to 6.5 mm. Most of that is by moving an overbite back. Now the slow part of moving the back molar forward is occuring.

[oimysizex]

I've still got extraction gaps from 2 years ago!! I don't know if it's intentional or the ortho is having troubles closing them I've had two power chains now in the past no movement

[Anna5]

I don't know about the extractions gaps, but I just want to welcome you here on this forum, Cata! We are happy to have you here and encourage you on your journey.
And it seems like we are in the same boat, I am also in treatment for crowding, a canted jaw, a crossbite, an off midline and an anterior open bite. I have been in braces for one year now. I was also recommended surgery, but declined at first, and now my ortho has fixed most of my issues with braces alone, so I don't need surgery anymore according to my ortho.
What is the cause of your open bite? Mine is from thumbsucking.
Have you already decided about getting surgery or is your ortho first trying to fix your teeth without surgery? I think there are many here on this forum who had success in closing an open bite (also open bites of more than 4 mm) without surgery, which is great. Others went through surgery, and were very happy with the results. I hope you will have a very succesful treatment and I wish you very good luck with it!

[cata]

Thanks for the welcome, Anna! :) It's nice to have found such an awesome resource. Everyone's posts have been so helpful.

I have no idea what caused my open bite. I wasn't a thumbsucker, didn't chew on anything with my front teeth. My ortho didn't mention anything about using a tongue crib, so as of now I just have the braces. Because I don't want to have surgery, he's going to try to try to fix my bite without surgery. Surgery terrifies me, but I might change my mind depending on how things go. Reading everyone's success stories gives me hope.

[Anna5]

Hello Cata!

Once again: good luck with your treatment! I hope your ortho can fix your open bite without surgery. And if not, you can always change your mind. But I agree that surgery is scary, so if your teeth can be fixed without surgery that would be so great. Maybe you can post a picture of your teeth? (but only if you feel comfortable doing this of course).

[cata]

Perhaps I'll post some progress pics soon.