Interproximal Reduction

[Juliebrynn1]

Does anyone know what interproximal reduction is??? I did not know this, but due to various factors, including my age (43), the teeth that have now straightened developed a gap, almost the size of a tiny triangle, right where ur tooth meets the gums. So, it looks like there is no gum tissue in this area. There are various ways to correct this, one of them being interproximal reduction. I did not know that trying to fix two small issues would create about 5 or 6 teeth that now need this done cuz of the gaps. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[FlyByNight]

I had ipr done on my lower 4 front teeth. After the crowding straightened out. I had some black triangles. The ortho used a piece to grind in between my teeth and it closed the gaps up nicely.

[Beckett]

It's like taking a nail file or a Dremel to the sides of your teeth to slim them down a bit. Totally weird feeling, cool results.

[Juliebrynn1]

Thanks so much for your replies. I am just annoyed I guess, cuz i did not expect to get more gaps just for straightening out teeth. And, I was never told, and I just want these braces off ASAP. Braces=torture devices, lol

[calvinknight]

Have had IPR twice now with Invisalign - once when I got my first trays & attachments, then right before I started tray 11/20. The trays had done a pretty good job of creating a gap between my top two front teeth, but more space must have been needed as I had IPR between these teeth as well as a few other places. The IPR didn't really hurt, but I'm hoping the sizable gap fills soon - good place for food to get stuck and feeling self-conscious about the gap (thankfully only visible when the trays are out when I'm eating)