Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi Snowglobe32, thanks for your reply. The reason I find wearing elastics uncomfortable is because they put my lower jaw in such a position that the side of my right tongue is between my molar teeth and makes it sore, so it has nothing to do with pain of moving teeth that makes the bands uncomfortab...

I have a new formation now and wondering what it's supposed to be correcting. Before, I had elastics running from my lower back molars to my top incisors to bring the upper teeth back (or lower teeth forward?) Now they're in a triangle shape, top incisors to lower incisors & premolar. They're r...

amanda6, you really give me hope. I'm curious though, is the ALF appliance also used on your lower jaw? and can molars also move forward thanks to the ALF? do you notice any changes in your face, chin, profile? and did your current functional ortho tell you how much time you'll be spending wearing ...

sirwired, By narrower I meant that my face is not as full as it was before my extractions (I was 15), and I also used to have a wider smile. All my teeth used to fit in my mouth, so I don't see why the ortho advised to extract my 4 premolars. Now I have inadequate tongue space and it takes me ages ...

If it we me I wouldn't do either of those options and search for an orthodontist who can expand the upper arch instead and keep all the teeth. I had 4 premolars extracted as a child, and I wish it hadn't been done as it has caused TMJ dysfunction due to the fact that extracting 4 premolars narrows t...

Jaw locking or clicking is usually caused by displaced discs within the TMJ. I am having orthodontics to treat jaw clicking. My lower jaw was positioned too far back which caused my TMJ discs to displace due to insufficient space within the joint, so my orthodontics is to correct the position of my ...

Hi Ali, You don't look like you need any extractions to me. You have no crowding in your top arch, so why remove any teeth. It sounds like they intend to remove upper teeth and pull back your upper front teeth to reduce your overjet, but you will still have a retruded lower jaw. It would be better t...

Some doctors feel that extractions are a way to make room in the mouth. A while back, it was the standard first step to orthodontic treatment. Other orthodontists feel that extractions are never necessary, and that extractions can lead to changes in the way that the face looks and dental problems d...

I'm not sure how it works in Australia but in England if the dentist did not inform you of all the alternative treatment options with the risks then they failed to obtain informed consent. If you type in 'orthodontic informed consent' into google it might give you some ideas. You could try speaking ...

Hi Amanda6, See my message to kreyFL regarding the receding gum line. I trust my dentist and believe he is capable of recognizing periodontal disease and would refer me to a periodontist if he thought it might be even a remote possibility. However the gum above the one tooth is still a concern and ...

What does you general dentist think is causing your receding gum? The receding gum looks to me like it's caused by periodontitis. I agree with some of others here who suggest seeking an opinion from a Periodontist. I suffer with periodontis myself, so decided to visit a Periodontist for an opinion a...

Musy wrote:hi Amanda, is it in London?

It's in Surrey, the dentist is Andre Hedger

As you had only 3 premolars removed as a child, I assume you still have the forth premolar as an odd tooth. That would make the bite uneven and out of line I would think, and make it hard to get the midline correct with an odd tooth. I had 4 premolars removed with orthodontics as a child, and am now...

Musy wrote:bump
Anyone getting it done in UK?

Hi Musy,
I have been having orthodontic treatment with an ALF appliance, with a dentist in England. My orthodontic treatment has been for the purpose of treating my TMJ dysfunction.

Hi Sharp, Have you tried seeking an opinion from a Functional Orthodontist? I believe they would be able to correct the overbite without jaw surgery. They expand the upper arch using orthodontic appliances, and they are of the opinion that it is possible to expand the upper arch in adults, whereas m...