Some advice please

[Lizzy]

Hi all,

My story is a bit long winded but here goes. I am 28 and I had my brace on when I was 24. Everything went fairly smooth - 5 extractions, no mention of jaw surgery etc.. In Aug last year, braces came off, hawley retainer went on. Unfortunately my teeth slanted to the right even with retainer wear 24 hours. I have had the top brace back on but now my ortho has said that my upper jaw isnt right. The right hand side doesnt meet the bottom jaw. The jaw was fine 6 months ago - bite was perfect. My ortho is useless and said he doesnt know why this happened.
Does anyone know why this has happened and if it can be fixed with braces. My ortho is trying to fix it but Im not seeing a difference.

Thanks alot for your help... I would appreciate any comments !!!

[Sunny]

Hi Lizzy and welcome to this forum.

If you are having any doubts about the ability of your orthodontist, please seek further consults. You are not doing yourself or your current ortho any good, by feeling this way. Be active in making sure you get the best care from a person you feel comfortable with.

I would not risk commenting on what has happened, as this is something that would require the studying of x-rays.

Good luck seeking further advice!

[Lizzy]

I am going to get a second opinion I think...
Thank you very much replying sunny

[Sunny]

That's great Lizzy, as you sound like you're not confident with your current treatment. Hopefully hearing what another couple of orthodontist's consider best to sort your bite, will help you make a decision about what to do next.

Good luck!

[Janesays]

Here is my theory: Your orthodontist (probabably an assistant) did not make the molds very well.. Sometimes when they put that clay in your mouth and dont do a good job plucking it out, it may shift... and just enough will cause your retainers to be screwed up...

Hawly retainers are used because you can adjust them.. but if they are too tight to begin with, they may cause the teeth to move..just like Invisalign does...

That is just my experience and theory...

Teeth always move though and wile MOST do not wear there retainers 24/7,...

[Lizzy]

Thank you very much... that makes sense. I noticed when I first got the retainer it didnt fit very well. My orthodontist really doesnt care.
Do you have any theorys on why my jaw has shifted ?
Thanks for your help.... long live these forums, they are so helpful.

[Janesays]

did the braces correct a jaw issue?

Sometimes the braces are taken off too early also.. they could of left them on a few more months as a holding point..

When they come off they are less likely to move...

Also in cases where there are alot of elastics used, a sling shot effect may take place..

Again this is all just my observations from when I worked for an ortho...

[Janesays]

and BTW if you decided to get them on for a second time to get thing back.. dont worry.. many have had to do so!!

[Sunny]

Do you have any theorys on why my jaw has shifted ?

Lizzy the adult jaw does not change unless it is damaged in an accident or moved due to surgery.

Teeth can move in the jaw, and this may affect how you bite. If an open bite has developed, it's usually as the result of a tongue thrust, as the teeth require pressure to move so an open bite results. There are other causes ... and I recommend you seek further consults to get the opinions of other orthodontists.

Good luck!

[Zoso]

Tongue thrust is hardly the only reason that an open bite might develop!

I do wonder if what might be going on here is that your orthodontist tried to treat with orthodontia alone what should perhaps have been a surgical case from the outset. This can sometimes happen, and what might sometimes result is that though the original issue is corrected, a new problem arises as a result - you can't push both ends of a see-saw (a teeter-totter) down without snapping it at the middle! Sorry for the rather crude analogy! In orthodontia, it's sometimes simply impossible to get everything right without making changes to the underlying jaw bones, and in adults that will mean surgical intervention.

Anyway, maybe that's the scenario here, and maybe it's not. I certainly agree that your best recourse at this point is to seek one or more second opinions. It might help too were you able to get hold of your original records. You don't say where you are located, but certainly if you live in the UK or the USA you are legally entitled to get copies of your records. Especially since your OD seems to be alluding to a possible need for surgery, he ought not think it unreasonable for you to seek a second opinion.