Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi guys

I am close to the end of my time in braces (on my lower teeth) but having assessed I would like to be able to discuss some adjustments with my Ortho.

So that I can bring a specific query to my ortho -

I would appreciate it if you could please post opinions on whether you think it is possible to move my lower lateral incisor and canine both out and slightly rotated in such a way to increase the circumference of my smile on that side, I have attempted to illustrate what I mean by some arrows and circular guideline in the photos below.

All comments appreciated. Thanks

No replies - so I figured I would post one.

I think the big thing here is (as you said you are getting close to being done) is your midline. You can certainly focus on those teeth and accomplish what you want - but the question really is will this affect your bite, will this change your midline, etc etc. As you only have braces on the bottom teeth I am not quite sure how your ortho would handle it.

Definitely bring it up to him and see what he says. I think your bottom arch looks great, but do see the concern of those couple of teeth - although very minor and barely noticeable.

Thanks for your reply kreyFL.

kreyFL wrote:You can certainly focus on those teeth and accomplish what you want

In your opinion would this sort of movement be possible just with the simple current fixed brace that I have without any more exotic attachments like headgear?

I would welcome further comments and opinions, thanks guys.

Well, I have uppers and lowers and I think this is something that elastics would be able to fix in a heartbeat. My assumption is a couple bends/torque in the wire around those teeth would be able to accomplish moving those teeth in the direction you are describing. I just had a "torque bend" done to push a single tooth out toward my cheek - I dont know if that makes sense. But, I know it can be done and that he has a lot of control over how he can move the teeth without crazy headgear or anything like that.

Yes I think elastics can do this quite easily, although I'm sure you would need braces on your upper teeth also to ensure the bite still 'fits' when everything is moved? not sure though.

Thanks for your reply kreyFL, exactly the type of info I needed.

I would welcome further comments and opinions, thanks guys.

Thanks for your reply kennyandrew85.

I would welcome further comments and opinions, thanks guys.

My ortho did some finishing touches by bending the wires a few weeks before I had my braces off.

Thanks for your reply loradora.

The idea of a kink/bend in the wire looks good.

I would welcome further comments and opinions, thanks guys.

Hi Braced. I also have just bottom braces. As KreyFL pointed out, moving a tooth or teeth even slightly can adversely affect your bite. I know this from experience.

Also, you appear to have an open bite, but maybe you are just not biting all the way closed in your first photo. If you are closed, then to me it appears your bottom canine teeth hit pretty prominently on your uppers. Mine did this some too, in fact because they did, required me to stay in my braces 2 more months while it's fixed.

So question to you - Why do you have just bottom braces? What were you trying to accomplish from the braces in the first place?

For me I just wanted to rotate a lower incisor so it would stop hitting my upper incisor. My bite is so close, and ever so slightly still open, that getting the teeth to mesh just right has been extremely difficult. I was told 6-9 months in them and I just past the one year mark, scheduled for removal next month. My ortho has been tweaking and bending my wire all along. Also, for me, bite alignment is extremely important. I can't stand teeth that hit high.

So, long and short, yes your ortho can bend your wire to fine tune tooth placement. I'll advise you that it may take some time with multiple adjustments to get where you want to go.

Thanks for your reply Kipepeo.

Kipepeo wrote:Also, you appear to have an open bite, but maybe you are just not biting all the way closed in your first photo. If you are closed, then to me it appears your bottom canine teeth hit pretty prominently on your uppers.

My bite is slightly open but not as much as appears in that photo which is a bit misleading, eg it does look like my lower canines hit upper on the RHS of the photo but this is not the case (Note to self take a photo with proper bite showing next time )

Kipepeo wrote:So question to you - Why do you have just bottom braces? What were you trying to accomplish from the braces in the first place?

I had a gap which had opened up from removal of lower central incisor from first time in braces so just wanted the gap closed, I wasn't very fussy, just wanted the gap closed which was quite wide as you can see in this before photo.



But now that the gap is closed the overjet is quite apparent particularly on the side that I have queried in my after photos in the first picture on this thread. So I am just thinking to do some final work on that would be worth it before wrapping up proceedings.

Kipepeo wrote:So, long and short, yes your ortho can bend your wire to fine tune tooth placement. I'll advise you that it may take some time with multiple adjustments to get where you want to go.

Thanks for that just the kind of info that I needed.

I would welcome further comments and opinions, thanks guys

Thanks for all the help on this thread guys.

I had a quick appt with my Ortho today and he said that we will try to sort out those couple of teeth.
I am going back in 6 weeks for a longer appointment to have a wire with a bend/kink placed on.

Nothing like forum power to give the little man a fighting chance of making his/her point.