Metal Mouth Message Board

I just got my upper Hawley retainer today, but am a bit concerned about how it's fitting. Is the wire that goes across your teeth supposed to be pressed up against the teeth? Because mine isn't really...not on the four front teeth at least, just on my canines. Also, the plastic behind the teeth does...

I posted a similar question in the "Life after braces" forum, but thought I'd get a better response here... I had my molds taken last appointment and am currently waiting for my retainer to come in. However, since then a few small spaces have opened up (one is actually quite large, about 1...

I'm in the same position as you. I'm waiting for my retainer to come in, but in the meantime have noticed that a gap of about 1 mm has opened up where I had an extraction gap closed. I'm not sure my retainer would be able to close it... If you're that concerned, drop by your ortho's office to let hi...

ETA: I will be getting Hawley retainers, if that makes a difference.

I had impressions taken for my retainer, but despite my braces still being on...I noticed a small space opened up where I had an extraction. I think my should have powerchained it, but he didn't. It's a very small space, probably half of a millimeter...but I'm afraid the retainer won't fit when I ge...

Just wondering, but how long does it usually take for a retainer to be built and sent to the ortho's office?

I'm supposed to have impressions done next week...and just curious as to how long I'd have to wait after that!

My ortho replaced a molar band with a regular bracket last appointment, and immediately attached a class II elastic to the newly placed bracket. A couple of hours later, the bracket broke off (I'm guessing because of the pressure of the elastic?) How long should one wait to use elastics after gluing...

Don't know if this has been asked before, but...can a TAD be placed to try and upright a molar WITHOUT a full set of braces? My ortho has been trying to close a first molar extraction gap by pulling the second molar forward, however, I'm not very pleased with how it's progressing. The crown has tipp...

In a few months I will be moving to to Europe for a year, and will have to discontinue my treatment, which I'm about 90% done with. My question is...would I be given a retainer despite not completing treatment? I wouldn't want to lose the progress I've made...(my upper arch in particular is about wh...

That's great progress for 2 months in elastics. How big was your overjet before you started wearing them?

Well I asked my ortho about a possible debanding date, and he said things were looking good and I should have them off sometime in the early spring. Some photos: http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/9735/fronteeths.jpg My bite from the front. Looking pretty good, although my midline is slightly off. A...

I know orthodontists usually leave a bit of an overbite because it's how teeth should naturally look -- but how big is this overbite, usually? I've heard it's about 1 mm, but I've seen some final result pics where the overbite looked even a big larger (2-3 mm). Is there a standard?

That is something that could be either the teeth being uneven, or a jaw alignment issue. Mine was a little of both, but I opted away from surgery to correct my bite. I'd recommend talking to your ortho :) Hmm, I don't think it's a bite problem, but the teeth themselves that are uneven. I'm not sure...

My overbite was similar if not a bit worse than yours (thumb sucker as a kid!) and it has been 110% corrected. I say 110% because now I have an underbite because it was over corrected and im wearing elastics to drag it back the other way :) How many months in elastics did it take for your overbite ...

My bottom arch seems to be asymmetrical...one side is clearly shorter than the other. I've always noticed this, but last adjustment my ortho. put in a thicker wire and I feel it's gotten worse. http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/8216/194440.jpg I placed a red line to show how it's uneven... What can...