Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi i am getting braced in 2 weeks and the other day someone asked me a question and i realised i dont know the answer-my teeth go in at the front so how do braces make them straight-i understand about the pressure that is applied so i can see how people with teeth that stick out would benefit but how will braces help me-thanks i know its probably a simple answer but i just dont know!!!

Welcome onboard, Ema27!

You may want to start by clicking on the "Braces basics" section in the home page of this website. It's exactly what it claims to be: an introduction to braces, how they work, etc. Then by browsing through this forum you will find loads and loads of information. If you have any unanswered question, feel free to come back and ask!

As far as I know, modern archwires are designed to always try to return to an arch shape. So, it shouldn't matter whether your teeth stick out or go in at the front; the archwire will apply light pressure to form an arch. Note: I am not an orthodontist...

wow I can't believe I never figured that out myself! Here I thought it's major science (was actually sitting here one night wondering how many different sophisticated ways that arch needs to be bent and how they figure out which way to bend it), and here its as simple as every tooth following one giant arch. That makes so much sense! Whoever came up with that archwire thing then, is brilliant IMHO

My uppers tilted in also. The way my ortho flaired them out was to put a twist into a rectangular wire and then shoved it into the slot in the brackets. The brackets pulled itself around so that the wire seated itself squarely into the slot (or actually so that the slot seated squarely around the wire). This all took a few months and hurt (for me) like crazy but it worked like a dream.

It is truly amazing what can be done with modern orthodontics.

And I'd like to add that it now makes sense to me why the arch always looks truly perfect when someone is done with treatment. No wonder since the teeth have no choice but to eventually look exactly like that arch that's put in the mouth? Amazing

well many thanks for your help and suggestions-i understand now!!this site has been wonderful to me reassuring and its great to know your not alone-12 days until i get braced and im feeling alot better about it now! when i feel down ill come here knowing that someone will have had the same experience.ALL THE BEST TO ALL OF YOU AND THANKS!