Braces are making front teeth 'flare' need advise

[kayleesmom]

I need some help…

My 17 yr old daughter got her top braces on 2 months ago….(for over crowding purposes)

In the two months, we have watched her front two teeth literally fall down (lengthen) and now seem to be flaring outward…….her teeth (pre braces) were only crowded starting at the canines & back…with her front two teeth perfectly straight and even….but now she looks like she has buck teeth (rabbit teeth, long and flared)

We asked the dentist this morning at her 2nd check up…and he said it is because she is not wearing her bands…..even though she assured him that she was, (and I know she really is) he didn’t believe us. He said if she doesn’t wear them and the problem does not correct itself by her next appt (in 4 weeks) that it will cause a big problem.

Now she is SCARED to death….She was happy with her teeth before…and now is scared that she will end up with bucked teeth…..she really is doing EVERYTHING she is supposed to be doing (cleaning VERY well…not eating chewy stuff AND is wearing her bands changing them daily)

So she put on 2 rubber bands on each side this morning…thinking that maybe that would help….I told her she shouldn’t if her dentist didn’t suggest it…but she is really terrified that her front teeth will forever be bucked.

What is happening with her teeth? Should I take her to someone else to get a second opinion?
(also, both the front teeth are ‘loose’ and very tender)

[Sunny]

If you're really unsure ... please seek a second opinion. I also recommend that you try talking to your ortho about his treatment of your daughter. orthodontists need to communicate well with their patients, as this treatment involves two people and they need to trust and understand each other. I have no idea why the ortho would make a statement that at three months the problem should be corrected. Often at three months, teeth are barely starting to move, so that statement has confused me.

Teeth often flare at the front, as alignment happens. This is due to the alignment phase moving tooth into the arch where they should be, and therefore the teeth that were there before, now have to move to make room.

This should be corrected by the archwires rounding the arch and therefore the arch is able to take more teeth. This will not happen in two months, in fact it may take many months to happen, as teeth move on average 1 mm a month.

The elastics will definitely help to draw the front teeth back, but again using the 1 mm average a month ... it takes time, and some peoples teeth move faster and some slower.

You are right about the doubling up of elastics. This can actually slow progress, as too much pressure is exerted and the teeth may respond by moving in the wrong way, more like a bow, than in a straight line. Please tell your daughter this is not good for progress, and may also be not good for the roots of her teeth.

Teeth need to be loose to move, so loose is good!

Please remind your daughter that she's only two months into her treatment, and for many people, movement hasn't even been detected at this stage, so her teeth are probably progressing well. Also usually the alignment of teeth (especially when crowded) gets worse before it gets better.

I hope your daughter finds in the months that follow that her bite developes beautifully.

[karebear]

How did her teeth do and did they continue to flare. Have same problem with my daughter's teeth.

[Sunny]

Sometimes teeth will flare and not a lot can be done about it, unless surgery is recommended. My teeth are being adjusted with many bends in the archwire. My bite has become open, so my ortho is working hard to fix that. I still have a little flaring, but I suspect that will need to stay to keep my bite in the best position.

Talk to your daughter's ortho about any and all concerns. If you don't feel you're getting anywhere ... seek out another ortho for a second opinion.

Good luck!

[Candymomof3]

Around the 2 month mark for me was when my bite became really bad. My ortho had told me to expect this as my upper teeth were crowded, I had high canines and he said there is no way they can be all brought down without the teeth compensating in some way. For mine, they moved out, giving me an overbite that was way worse than what I started out with. (I have 2 months pics in my blog and the results after using bands to fix this). I hated this time period, but just as soon as I was ready, he began using the bands to help reposition my bite. After 6 weeks, my bite had improved tremendously...and now after 3 months with elastics, my teeth look so much better!!!!
Your daughters situations sounds much like mine, but she has to hang in there!!! Realize that your teeth are going to go through stages of looking worse, and then amazingly, things turn around! In my case I am avoiding extractions all together and that's why I wore my bands around the clock...it really helped...the xrays he took before and after 6 weeks of bands were just jaw dropping....I do not want surgery either, and so we are sticking with the plan and he also wants to do a lilttle bit of shaving to give me more room to bring the teeth back.
Talk with the ortho about your concerns...mine was quick to give me peace of mind, and it all worked out!