understanding gaps closure

[bez]

I have a hard time understanding how the gaps get closed without messing up the bite. Is it the molars sliding forward on the arch or the front teeth sliding to the sides and back? I've had two bicuspids extracted in the upper arch and my bite is pretty good at this point but I'm not yet at the gap closing stage, so the gaps are fully open. If the upper molars need to slide forward 5mm in order to close the gap then they surely won't align with the bottom molars anymore. Can anyone explain how this works?

[Beckett]

It really all depends on your particular mouth and teeth. I would ask your orthodontist at your next appointment how your specific teeth are going to be moving so you ha some idea of how things are going to end up. I'm guessing that all of the teeth move a bit in both directions. It's not all the back teeth moving forward or all the front teeth moving back.

[FlyByNight]

I didn't have extractions, by I had a gap in my front teeth that they closed. When everything moved forward. My bite was slightly off so my ortho grinded a few spots on my teeth to improve my bite.

[Lovespain5]

Movements of both the front teeth and the molars can be done.
How is your profile? Does it become straight now?

[bez]

My profile is the same since the gaps are still open. I know my front teeth need to move back but I don't want them to move too far back.

[Lovespain5]

My profile is the same since the gaps are still open. I know my front teeth need to move back but I don't want them to move too far back.

So when you will be ok with your profile and if the gaps are not completly closed, ask your ortho to move the molars forward.