Metal Mouth Message Board

i don't know if anyone can answer me that, probably not, but i'm wondering, what can happen when your upper arch is wider than the lower one? is it actually dangerous/ unhealthy or it just looks weird and can feel uncomfortable and nothing more? i have a dental expander but only for my upper teeth, besides bite being a little "off," as in teeth not touching (/being positioned) properly (nothing drastic though), could i do some more serious damage by widening it some more? i noticed my lower jaw moving slightly forward in a past few months (pleased with that because i always had it retruded which i absolutely hated), can someone explain why that has happened? maybe it's a better idea to ask my orthodontist (ugh) for expander to use on my lower teeth so i can fix all that/ reduce the difference a little? wouldn't that make my lower jaw move back again though? what happens if lower arch is wider than than the upper one? i don't know how these things works at all but i'd rather have an underbite than overbite. sorry for all these weird questions and the way it's phrased (probably not easily understandable) but i don't speak much english. if someone could help i'd really appreciate that, i'd rather avoid orthodontists if i can that is why i decided to post here, i don't want to accidentally hurt myself, maybe someone had some similar experiences, i don't know, thanks in advance... if something needs clearing up i'll answer

Just re-read what you wrote...

Underbites are as bad as overbites. Teeth and sometimes jaws will shift during orthodontic treatment; things can look worse before getting better. If your lower teeth are tipped in to meet your uppers (where they were before the expander) they can be uprighted (more vertical position) or tipped out to meet your uppers with braces and wires. But there are lower expanders too.

At the end of treatment you're really looking for a solid stable bite that will have minimum shifting or movement of teeth and one that will allow the TMJ to be in the right position.

Aside from major surgery of last resort, there is no way to widen the lower jaw. The upper is made of two bones that meet in the middle and fuse around adulthood. The upper arch can be expanded in a child because of this natural joint. In an adult, usually they surgically break apart that suture. There is no such place to make the lower jaw wider.

You should turn your expander exactly as prescribed by your orthodontist. The ortho has a plan based on your skeletal and dental needs.