Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi folks,

The main reason I got braces was to widen my arch. When I smiled, you could only see the front 4 and bottom 4 teeth - the rest comes out as "black space" in photos - because you can't see the rest of my teeth. I was told this is because my arch was narrow.

My orthodontist told me that Damon 3 braces would widen my arch (or is this widening the palate - is there a difference?) and make my smile broader. He said it would be a "10-12 tooth smile".

However, some have told me this is not possible with Damon 3. A friend told me they literally have to break your jaw to widen your arch as an adult, and another told me I need "head gear".

I'm worried. You Damon 3 folks out there - does this system give you an appreciably wider smile that allows more teeth to be shown?

Thanks!

To actually widen your arch I believe you need to use a palatal expander

Ya, a pallet expander is needed to actually widen the pallet...as well as surgery if you're over 25 or something like that.

You can use braces (of any type I believe) to widen the arch a bit by just pushing the teeth to the outer edges of the jaw bone. You will not develop new bone so this does not really widen anything significantly.

My ortho is doing this on me and it looks real good at this point. Don't get too hung up on the bracket brands. It is the wire used with the ortho's skill that move teeth; brackets just connect that wire to your tooth.

If your ortho says he will widen your smile, he will, but don't expect your pallet to be wider.

Best of luck to you!!

Hi, I'm not a damon3 wearer, but I have had some widening of the upper arch with braces only and am quite satisfied with the outcome.

I expect it's the degree to which the arch needs to be widened that determines whether you go the surgical route.

Hi,

I have a narrow arch and would not do the surgery to widen the arch and decided to go with the damon 3 on top & damon 2 on bottom. They said it would widen my arch. It's been about 5 months and I think it looks better but can't really tell myself if the arch is widening. These are the pics after 3 months. I can't wait to go in for the 5 month pics because I can tell things really changed again.

3month pics

It looks like it is widening to me! Thanks! That is very encouraging. Your progress so far looks amazing. Congratulations! How do you post pics on here? I'd love to as well. Did your ortho take those pics?

Hi kitsae - I have Damon's and they have done a tremendous job widening my arch on both the top and the bottom. Without any expanders. I had a very narrow upper arch to begin with and my smile looks much more full (or wide) now. I couldn't be happier with the results from the Damon system. And as a disclaimer, that's not to say that the same thing isn't possible with other braces, I have no idea. But to answer your question: for some people it is possible with braces, without breaking your jaw or wearing any other special gear. I think you should trust your ortho.

However, some have told me this is not possible with Damon 3. A friend told me they literally have to break your jaw to widen your arch as an adult, and another told me I need "head gear".