Question...Anybody's Ortho Did this????

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#1 Post by **TechChick** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 11:29 am

Ok, Next month marks my 2ed anniversary since being braced. My original sentence is for 30 months. Now that being said, my last adjustment was last week, my bite on the left side started getting worse from about 6 months in to the braces process. Basically, I feel like Iâ€™m not even biting on my left side.

This is the part that confuses me. He told the assistant to remove the top wire and clip it after my left canine, so most of my top left arch has no wire. His reasoning is that the wire is keeping the top left arch to flared out. His goal is to let the teeth settle some. Then he decided to make me wear an elastic from my left side, attaches to my top canine to some wire hooks that the assistant made, basically it looks line an inverted V pattern. I can see where this would bring the canine down into place, but what about the rest of the teeth????? I mentioned this to him and he dismissed me and said he might have to use elastics on the rest if they donâ€™t move into place.

Iâ€™m really getting frustrated; I have gaps that are getting bigger. Plus, when he changed my bottom wire, my bottom teeth moved and arenâ€™t straight anymore. When I got home, I looked at my teeth and my bottom fronts have move back and sideways, they were straight before I went to the ortho that morning.

Sorry for such a long post, it seems like were not getting anywhere. I would think that at this point in my treatment, they would be closing some spaces and trying to get things finished up. Uggg!!!!!

#2 Post by **Chris** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 11:36 am

If he has the elastic in a "V" pattern from top to bottom, perhaps it will bring the teeth together. As for the gaps, they can close quickly enough with a powerchain, however, not all gaps can be closed depending on the shape of the teeth and perhaps not wanting to change the bite or alignment in the current situation. I have a few gaps that I was told would not be able to close so I will have bonding afterwards.

Keep pressing for answers.

#3 Post by **TechChick** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:18 pm

Thanks for responding Chris,

They did tell me I might have some spaces and have to have some bonding, but one of my front spaces keeps getting bigger.

That elastic has brought my canine down some, but I just don't understand why part of my top wire was removed, my top arch is so flaired out I beleive that I'll end up with more elastics to bring them in.

My biggest gripe is they are so indecisive. I'll just be glad when its all over

#4 Post by **Wyo_Stacy** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:19 pm

I have had no archwire on the top for almost a year now. I had surgery last August and the dentist took the wire and a band off to do it. My ortho never put the band back on or the wire. I have a small "pencil" wire wrapped around the brackets to act as a "retainer". It hasn't really helped because my top teeth have moved. It has also made many cuts in my mouth and on my tounge. As a result I have a crossbite (that I never had before). When I asked the ortho to put the wire back on the top he refused and said it is ok without it.

#5 Post by **TechChick** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:58 pm

Stacy, Thanks for responding

Thats really strange. How long have you had braces? I feel your frustation, I hope for you sake that they fix your cross bite.

Thanks and Take Care

#6 Post by **Wyo_Stacy** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:17 pm

I have had my braces since 3-04. I have been very frustrated with my ortho since the surgery. The other Doc tried to call my ortho before he did the procedure and my ortho would never call him back. The day of the procedure I went to the ortho's office to have the wire taken off and they didn't belive me. They called the other Doc's office. They were told that if they didn't take the wire off the other Doc would do it. When the other Doc took the packing off he put the same wire around the brackets until my ortho put the wire back on. I had an adjustment the same day that the other Doc released me to have the band put back on. Then at the ortho's office he said "Who put this wire on here like this?" I explained that the other Doc tried to call him and then I explained what he did. My ortho then said "Well I'll have to give him a call and I'm not going to put the band on until I talk to him." Needless to say it has been a very long year with this ortho.

#7 Post by **Clo** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 6:06 am

Hi,

I really understand how frustrating it is when you pass the date when
normally your braces could be removed or at least when finishing could
start but things don't work and you feel nothing has been achieved yet.
I posted several times lately about my case that after 2 years in braces is
now getting really complex. I started a bit before you with gaps between
lowers and crowded uppers and a class 2 bite. Now I still have a class 2
bite and got very badly aligned molars and a very tough open bite.

Some months ago, my bite was so bad that it really scared me. When I
closed my mouth, there was still a gap of about 5 mm between uppers and
lowers. I expressed several times my concerns about this. My ortho told
she would do like what you have now. Removing the upper arch and let the
teeth settle. I thought this was very wrong. I think normally the ortho tries
to get to a situation where it is safe to remove the braces, when maybe 95
pct of the job is done, and the last 5 pct is settling. Like a golfplayer who
gets the ball right in front of the hole, and the last job needing done is
that little push to get it in the hole. I think my ortho had the ball about
a mile away from that hole and would try with one swing to score. 2
possibilities here. Or this ortho is really really good or just is clueless
about how to go on. I didn't want to try her luck, and went to another
ortho. Of course, my fears were justified. My first ortho created a
complete mess. After 5 months of treatment by my second ortho, things
still look very badly. I mean my bite is still very bad. My second ortho
told me he was really scared when he saw my occlusion, or should I say
the absence of an occlusion. So I learned that there are bad orthos out
there, just like there are bad TV shows and lousy singers ...

Sorry about my rather negative vibes here, but this is just what I
experienced. Now, what I would do is wait a bit and see what your new
braces configuration does. When you feel after this that you are getting
nowhere, then you should try to have a serious talk to your ortho. Or
see another one just to have a second opinion. I know this is not easy.
I postponed this decision even several months. But eventually I felt I
did the right thing.

I really hope it works out for you !
BTW, is there any possibility to share a pic of your issues ?

#8 Post by **TechChick** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 8:49 pm

Thanks for responding!!!!

Its getting late tonight, I'll try to post some pictures. I've been following your posts Clo and I'm seeing some similiarties between your case and mine. I'm just hoping that this works. I still think I will have to have elastics to fix my bite on my left side, I just wish he would poking around and get the show on the road (I don't know if hes afraid that since I'm an adult he may not want to put me through a buch of elastics or whatever else, all I want is pretty smile and a good bite. I'll do what ever it takes to get it done.)

I'm going to keep after them, I'd like some answers. I'll try to get some pics up. Good Luck with your treatments.

#9 Post by **eurydice** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:26 am

Hi

dont despair! I have had lots of frustrations on my own braces journey, sometimes I felt my teeth looked worse than before, then half way through treatment, although my front teeth looked lovely, all my molars had rotated in funny directions because of the wire pulling on them to bring my front teeth back. I had to have 4 healthy pre-molars removed before the braces went on, leaving massive gaps, and I honestly thought they would never close, now I only have one small gap left after 6 months with the teeth not moving AT ALL! - suddenly they've all gone really crazy and moved loads, and I'm scheduled for debanding in 7 weeks time! I do think that sometimes they look worse before they look better but there is usually method in the ortho's madness.... good luck!
Eury

#10 Post by **fins** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:27 am

I have a similar situation, but I am thinking my ortho will get things together with more elastics, different configuration. I am bringing the canines down and the bite on the left is not where it should be but lo and behold, feels like the right side has finally gotten comfy and is probably lined up properly. My left side has almost ALWAYS been slower in getting to the right place so try to be patient. I have a few small new gaps but I think my ortho knows exactly how to close them so I'm not even thinking about bonding since he never mentioned that to me.

Is your midline in the proper place? Sounds like you have triangle elastics which I have and they will move your teeth down and together so your bite is correct. It takes a while for those to work, even though those are tough, heavy elastics.