retracting bottom teeth in order to close upper diastema

[Dee17]

My orthodontist said he is going to be retracting my bottom teeth in order to be able to pull my upper teeth back and close my upper diastema. I am starting to get some movement in my bottom teeth because I am now wearing powerchains -- actually have powerchains on both uppers and lowers now. I'm starting to get a little bit nervous that this is going to make my face look wonky or will cause me further problems down the line. Does anyone have any thoughts about this? I'd be interested in hearing about anyone else's experience with something like this. Thanks!

[Tobilei]

I'm only guessing, but judging from what he said, it sounds to me like your diastema won't close and still allow your upper teeth to sit over your bottom teeth (so if he closed it without retracting the bottom teeth you'd possibly end up with an underbite-does that make sense?). I think you'll look fine

[Ciara]

I'm only guessing, but judging from what he said, it sounds to me like your diastema won't close and still allow your upper teeth to sit over your bottom teeth (so if he closed it without retracting the bottom teeth you'd possibly end up with an underbite-does that make sense?). I think you'll look fine

That's what it sounds like to me too. I'm sure you will look fine. Maybe your ortho has some photos of other patients who had similar treatment or he can point you to some photos on the Internet.

[beckyboo0205]

Hey Dee,

My ortho has the same plan for me. Plan is to wear some elastics to pull my bottom teeth back a little, then close the top gap. I guess to close the gap, they will sorta push back slightly and since I already have a pretty tight bite, my bite will be all weird if they don't do that I guess.

I'm guessing that with pulling the bottom teeth back some, it'll just end up feeling and looking the same as before, just without the upper gap. I never thought of it looking weird.

[Dee17]

Thanks for your comments.
My orthodontist has mentioned to me several times that I will need to wear elastics but none of my brackets have elastic hooks on them so, I'm not sure how that's going to work. Jem (on this forum) once said that they can just add the hooks whenever he decides I need them.
Yes, so that's the problem. I have a bit of a deep bite already to begin with and he can't close the space all the way unless he does this. I have only begun to worry about how this is going to affect the way I'll look. I guess it's another one of those things I will have to leave up to him and just trust that he knows what he's doing. I will ask him about photos of other patients, though. That is a very good suggestion and not anything I had thought of myself.
My bottom teeth are definitely starting to move, though. I can feel that they are "loose" whenever I push my tongue against them. It's a very weird feeling and I must say that I don't like it very much. Lately I've been having dreams that all my teeth fall out! Yikes. Scares the devil out me!!

[Tobilei]

I've had a few of those! They're awful!

[Dee17]

Yes, I had another one last night. But I suspect that this is tied more to my anxiety than anything else. Still, yuck!

[junglejulie]

My diastema is closed and I now have an underbite. My ortho will begin to retract the bottom teeth at my May appointment. I hope it doesn't lead to negative facial changes, although I doubt it will... the retraction won't be that extreme as in the case where people get premolars removed... at least I don't think it will.

[Dee17]

Well, keep me posted on how that goes for you. I've been a bit nervous about the whole process, to tell you the truth. But he said it was the only way he'd be able to actually close my diastema all the way because there isn't much room between my top teeth and my bottom teeth, if you know what I mean.
Glad to know your diastema is closed now! Must make you very happy. This morning, for the very first time, when I looked in the mirror I could see a difference in the size of mine. Made me happy!!!! I've been in these braces for six months now and haven't seen many changes until today. Finally!

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

It sounds about right to get both arches in correct relation to each other the top is going to need to be pulled back a LOT to close that so he needs to retract the lowers a bit to match it when the top diastema is closed.

[Dee17]

I just hope that when I'm all finished that I don't look strange! That's my biggest worry.

[MrsCharisma]

Same here. I don't have much in the way of bite issues, just had the 5 mm diastema (which is now under 4 mm!) So he's got a powerchain on the front 4 which is creating space between the incisors and canines. When the space is closed, the lowers will be pulled back to allow the uppers to be pulled down/back and close all space (hopefully). I also have very little space between top and bottom.

And, it's not uncommon to switch things up during treatment. He can always remove a bracket and add a different one (with hooks for example) or change the position of the bracket on the tooth, etc.

Good luck

[Dee17]

Thanks for your message. I am starting to see some space between my canines and my incisors so I guess that's progress. He told me that he didn't think he would be able to close the space completely but I'm still hopeful.

[junglejulie]

I'm only guessing, but judging from what he said, it sounds to me like your diastema won't close and still allow your upper teeth to sit over your bottom teeth (so if he closed it without retracting the bottom teeth you'd possibly end up with an underbite-does that make sense?). I think you'll look fine

That's what it sounds like to me too. I'm sure you will look fine. Maybe your ortho has some photos of other patients who had similar treatment or he can point you to some photos on the Internet.

Yeah, the gap will close however you would be left with a prominent underbite, which is what happened to me. I don't mind it all the much, being as I told my ortho that I could no longer bear living with that terrible gap. My gap is closed. We are going to start retracting the bottom on Saturday.

[Dee17]

Hi Jungle Julie,
Well, my orthodontist is concentrating on retracting the bottom teeth before he really starts attacking the problem of the gap. I am much more resigned to it now and not nearly as worried as I was when I made this posting. I have told myself repeatedly that I just have to trust that he knows what he's doing. I did choose him, after all!