Girl with a gap (pics)

Message

#1 Post by **SandyCheeks** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 2:26 pm

Hi There,

I've spent a lot of time searching for similar posts but have found none.
Here goes:

I'm 35 years old and I have a 6mm gap between my two front teeth. I would like braces but I'm sure if the archwire would cause difficulty.
My dentist would like to use invisalign- I would be his first patient to do so after his certification.

For either senario, an orthodontic surgeon will be pulling my wisdom teeth on Sept 8th. (I thank all you guys on this site for helping me prepare for that moment.)

Any advice would be great!
Thanks,
Sandy

#2 Post by **sunflr77** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 2:32 pm

I don't know about you but I would not feel comfortable being a doc's first Invisalign case. Seems like you have some other bite issues aside from just the gap that the doc may or may not be able to address with invisalgn.

I hope the doc is better able to answer your question and I wish you the best of luck with your treatment.

Oh I would also suggest that you read the Invisalign thread to get a better idea as to what is involved and it's limitations.

#3 Post by **invisagirl** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 2:49 pm

I'd be really leary about being the first Invisalign patient of this particular doctor. I mean even though Invisalign sends the dr what they think treatment should be, the doctor always needs to look at it and really assess if that's what he wants to happen. If you don't have anything against going the traditional route I'd suggest that since it would be faster and can deal with almost anything (I think??)

#4 Post by **Bluerain** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 4:41 pm

From looking at your pics I wouldn't

Blue

#5 Post by **Dr. Randall** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 4:55 pm

You appear to have some bite issues that would not, in my opinion, make you a good Invisalign case. For one thing you have an open bite, which is something that Invisialign will struggle with. Secondly you do not have enought overbite (overjet actually) to have room to close the space without messing up the way the front teeth should fit together. Also, you are what is called bi-maxillary protrusive. That means that both the upper and lower front teeth are tipped out too far forward and need to be moved back. Believe it or not that would make you a possible extraction case to get the result you are looking for. And just one more thing, you have what is called a Bolton discrepency which for you means that the lower front teeth are too wide relative to the upper front teeth to actually fit together once the spaces are closed.

My informal disagnosis for you is that I would lean towards removing a single lower incisor. That would allow for the lower front teeth to move back and become more upright. The upper front teeth will become upright as the space closes and by removing the tooth on the lower, the front teeth will more properly fit together once the spaces are closed up. Hope that helps, though I sure did throw a lot of information at you. Let me know if you have any questions.

Randall

#6 Post by **smilezofmetal2** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 5:29 pm

Not that im a doc or anything but my teeth looked similar to yours...except my bite was fine...ne ways my point is that in my case my ortho told me invisalign wouldn't help me and that braces would be better...so i think that Dr.Randall's advice is golden.

#7 Post by **bbsadmin** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 6:02 pm

SandyCheeks,

Considering what Dr. Randall said, I think it might be wise for you to get a second opinion before proceeding. Also, please go to the Lingual and Invisalign forum and read some of the threads, it may be eye-opening for you.

I understand that you don't like the idea of arch wires. I mean, who really wants braces on their teeth when it really comes down to it?! But seriously after a few weeks you'd get used to it.

Please don't be hasty about this. It's always better to err on the side of caution. Oh...and being this doc's first Invisalign patient with open bite issues....personally I would be very nervous about that....

Just my 2cents.

#8 Post by **SandyCheeks** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 9:43 pm

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your responses!! It's really helping me make a better decision about this. I've been doing ALOT of reading on the archwire website and I'm now leaning torward to choosing rainbow ligatures. My concern was that a wire across the gap would catch pasta like towels on a clothesline.

I 've booked an appointment for a second opinion for this Thursday. Has anyone out there been their dentist's/ortho's first Invisalign patient?

Dr. Randall wrote:My informal disagnosis for you is that I would lean towards removing a single lower incisor... you have what is called a Bolton discrepency which for you means that the lower front teeth are too wide relative to the upper front teeth to actually fit together once the spaces are closed.

Dr Randall, I'm most grateful to you for replying to my post. You really had me going there with another tooth extraction.

I know you're serious but I'm already nervous about going under for these first 4!!! I'll look more into your Bolton theory.
Thanks again everybody!:-1
Sandy
PUN: Chicken of the Sea

#9 Post by **Dr. Randall** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 5:13 am

Not 4+1 extractions, just 1 extraction and you will be fine. Just making sure you understand what I mean.

Randall