Need some input about edge to edge bite

[hsuanstr]

hi everyone im new to this input and would like some input from others on how to go about dealing with my edge to edge bite. i have consulted professional advice already and want to hear what form of treatment others recommend

the deal is that my teeth are perfectly straight already, however i have developed an edge to edge bite, that forms multiple gaps between my teeth when i smile or bit down.

now the doctors i have talked to suggest that the only treatment would be surgery , but seeing how im too old (21) advices against going that route because they dont see it as a major problem.

i however find it cosmetically displeasing and find minor discomforts and jaw clicks when i move my jaws around. i am highly against braces because my job requires me to talk to people daily, but am open to suggestions to see if a treatment like invisalign would work. any input from you guys would be great. thanks

-e

[Sunny]

hsuanstr my teeth met edge to edge at the beginning of my treatment, but as gaps were closed on my upper arch and alignment corrected on my lower, my bite became a class III with the uppers closing slightly behind my uppers.

surgery is possible at any age, but my problem is dental and therefore sugery is not needed. My treatment involves braces with archwires to expand my arches and move the teeth within the arches to the best positions. Plus elastics to move my lower teeth back and my upper teeth forward. The roots of my teeth are long and it's been a slow process thus far ... but it is working. My left side is closing in a Class I now, which is the correct position, but my upper right still has some way to move.

I recommend you consult with more orthodontist's. At 21 you're definitely not too old for surgery, in fact as long as there are no other health issues present, I don't think there's an age when people can't have jaw surgery.

Good luck!

[mikeg]

I also was edge to edge, which is really an underbite. Mine was fixed with dental braces using a palatal expander up top for a little bit and then full metal braces top and bottom with elastics for 2 years.

Most ortho's told me surgery was needed, but many people in my famimly had the same thing and they were also fixed with braces, so I kept looking for someone that was confident in not doing surgery and fixing my bite atleast 75%.

[tvaysman]

Hsuanster,

I am an Orthodontist practicing in NYC. From your description of the problem there are defiantly cosmetic and functional implications from leaving the bite the way it is. When teeth meet edge/ edge it cause sever progressive wear to the teeth. The first thing to be determined is what is causing the problem: the position of your teeth, position of your bones or the combination of the above. If it is position of your bones, you might need surgery. If it is determined that it is mostly due to shifting of your teeth you might have many more options like clear braces or Invisalign. The best thing would be to have a consultation with an orthodontist to find out what your options are. You should definitely look into correcting it because the longer it is left the worst the situation tends to get.

I hope that you find this helpful.

Regards,

Dr. Tanya Vaysman
Upper Eastside Orthodontists
153 East 87th Street, #1B
New York, NY, 10128
212-360-0835
Dr. Tanya Vaysman New York Orthodontist

[hsuanstr]

thanks for the quick replies. I cannot see how this is a problem with the position of my teeth because they are perfectly straight and I've had braces before. As for the route of surgery how much does it cost and how quick is the recover. I shall consult with a doctor asap and let you know which method I will go. Stay tuned.

[Zoso]

Even if the teeth are prefectly straight, the issue might still be dental. For example, to give one very easily understood potential reason, it might be that (putting it simply) the lower teeth are not quite the right size relative to the upper teeth - referred to as a Bolton discrepancy. If the maxillary incisors are small then the upper arch length (canine to canine) can be too small for the lower.

Anyway, as posted above, do go ahead and consult with a couple of orthodontists. And be more than willing to ask lots of questions!