Braces to correct an open bite

[Anna5]

Thanks!

[Anna5]

Hello,

Just an update: I went to the oral surgeon again because I am still concerned about my mouth breathing and lip incompetence.
He still thinks jaw surgery is not needed, but he referred me to an orofacial myologist to help training my facial muscles and to an ENT doctor to evaluate my nose for my breathing isssues. I am going to visit the ENT doctor on Thursday and next week I will have my first appointment at the orafacial myologist.
If the orofacial myology doesn't help enough with my lip incompetence, the surgeon said I may consider some chin surgery (not sure whether this is the same as genioplasty)?
For my bite, I am still in box elastics to close my open bite. The space is almost closed now which is great!

[Anna5]

Here are some pictures of my latest progress. I am 14 months in treatment now.
I do see progress and I am happy about this, but I am still worried about my midline that is very much off center, my canted smile and my narrow upper jaw, although the crossbite has been corrected well.
Even though the ortho and surgeon think I don't surgery, I still often think, would I not need surgery to get my bite good enough? Or do you think the cant and off midline can be fixed with braces? Or is it not that bad that I should just live with it? I hope it can be fixed, because I admit I am still not so happy about my teeth, my teeth still makes me insecure which I am sad about. Or am I obessing too much????
Your honest opinions are very welcome!

[SunshineRay]

Your midline has already moved alot. I looked at your pics on page 1 and thats a big difference.

[Anna5]

Thank you, Sunshineray. You are always so kind and encouraging towards me! And you are right that my midline improved a lot already. My ortho says it is very hard to improve it further even with surgery, I think I must be happy with this result. My teeth will never get perfect, but in my ortho's opinion my teeth and bite are definitely 'good' now.

[Anna5]

Hello,

I am a bit sad, because my ortho thinks there is nothing he can do anymore to fix my midline. And he doesn't see the cant in my smile. I will get some composite and shaving to make my teeth look a bit better after the braces. My ortho thinks I am nearly done, whereas I feel I am not ready yet.
I went to another ortho for a second opinion and he told me the same. He agreed with my own ortho.
Both don't recommend surgery.

I am sorry because I am surely the most stubborn and insecure member of Archwired, but what do you think of my teeth? What would you do if you were me? Settling for this result or asking for more opinions with ortho's or jaw surgeons?
I so much wish I could just let it go, be happy with myself and continue with my life without having these self esteem issues....

[Anna5]

Here is the latest picture of my smile (one of the best pictures):

I went to my ortho yesterday and he was ok with my teeth. He did some tweaking of my lower teeth, but that's it.
He is satisfied and thinks the maximum that could be reached has been reached now.
I am still very confused whether I should be happy and leave it as it is, or whether I should ask for more second opinions to get these things fixed that still bother me. Ortho said jaw surgery is too extreme for me, he doesn't recommend it and thinks it will be hard for me to find a surgeon willing to operate my jaw. Surgery also scares me. I just wish I could accept my imperfect me and not perfect teeth.....
What would you do if you were me?

[cata]

Your teeth look beautiful, Anna. If my teeth looked like yours, I'd be happy. I do understand how you're feeling though. I started my braces journey hoping to at least fix my bite and straighten my very crowded, crooked teeth. My ortho was upfront with me though; he told me that without surgery, he might not be able to close my bite and fix my midline. I told him I was ok with that as long as there was some improvement. I've spent over half my life feeling like I couldn't be myself because of my teeth, so at the time of my consultation, I believed any improvement would make me feel more confident and I agreed to treatment without surgery. Now that I'm 3 months in, and my teeth are straightening, I'm second-guessing if I'll be ok with having a slightly open bite and off midline in the end.

I truly think your teeth look great; they're nice and straight, your bite has improved A LOT. We're always our worst critics. Many people have beautiful teeth, but no one's perfect.

[SpottedPickle]

My upper midline is right on, unfortunately I was told that in order for there to be room for my left lateral incisor it will need to be moved. I am fine with it as of now. I keep telling myself only I will notice. Your smile is beautiful hun.

[Anna5]

Thanks for your kind words. I am happy that you think my teeth are not that bad. Maybe I should just settle for these results, because surgery is such a big deal. But I think I will ask for a second opinion from another surgeon and just see what he/she says.

I hope you will get a great result without surgery, cata. And who knows, your ortho will close your bite completely and fix your midline without surgery, they just cannot promise it will happen. I have seen many people here on this board with big open bite treated non surgically who got all complete closure. And if you are unhappy after your treatment, you may always still opt for surgery?

[Anna5]

Hello!

I had a second opinion with another surgeon today and he also strongly recommends me not to go through surgery. Shifting my midline (which is only slightly off center in his opinion) would require double jaw surgery with all it risks (nerve damage ed) and I should not go through this just for a cosmetic purpose. He says many people have a bit an off center midline and live completely fine with this. He also doesn't think my palate is too narrow. Again, no reason to warrant surgery in his opinion. My bite is almost good now, just a few small thinks needs to be adjusted (he will write my ortho a letter about this). Regarding the cant, he doesn't think my jaws are canted, so it must be more of a dental issue.
He thinks my ortho did a very great job!
I am seeing an orofacial myologist for my lip incompetence now. I get all kind of exercises. If this might not work, than I may consider a genioplasty. But that will be after the braces are off.

I hope I can get peace with this. My teeth will never get textbook perfect, but definitely 'good enough', or at least not too bad that I need surgery. I have now asked 3 ortho's, 2 surgeons and my own dentist and, seeing my teeth now, they all advise against surgery, so I think I should trust their advise.

I think I am defnitetely my own worst critic, I am even more critical than the specialists!

[Bikerchick85]

Hello!

I had a second opinion with another surgeon today and he also strongly recommends me not to go through surgery. Shifting my midline (which is only slightly off center in his opinion) would require double jaw surgery with all it risks (nerve damage ed) and I should not go through this just for a cosmetic purpose. He says many people have a bit an off center midline and live completely fine with this. He also doesn't think my palate is too narrow. Again, no reason to warrant surgery in his opinion. My bite is almost good now, just a few small thinks needs to be adjusted (he will write my ortho a letter about this). Regarding the cant, he doesn't think my jaws are canted, so it must be more of a dental issue.
He thinks my ortho did a very great job!
I am seeing an orofacial myologist for my lip incompetence now. I get all kind of exercises. If this might not work, than I may consider a genioplasty. But that will be after the braces are off.

I hope I can get peace with this. My teeth will never get textbook perfect, but definitely 'good enough', or at least not too bad that I need surgery. I have now asked 3 ortho's, 2 surgeons and my own dentist and, seeing my teeth now, they all advise against surgery, so I think I should trust their advise.

I think I am defnitetely my own worst critic, I am even more critical than the specialists!

You know I agree with all the specialists who are advising against surgery for you! I really think your teeth look beautiful!! I think my cant is dental too. Like I said, hopefully it'll be undetectable after they level the teeth I can't wait to see your finished result!!

[SpottedPickle]

I hope you feel a bit better after your second opinion

[SunshineRay]

Oh my sweet Anna! Honey, your teeth look great and even the specialists say no surgery. You are going to have to find a way to accept this and realize how far you have already came.

[Anna5]

Thank you so much for your very kind comments. I love you so much, my dear braces friends!
You are right, sunshineray, I have have to find a way to accept this and realize how far you have already came and I am sure I will in time....