Orthodontist Nightmare PLEASE HELP!!!!

[stvnbrown7]

Hi, I just found this forum and it is perfect for this problem I have.

In fourth grade I was taken to the orthodontist to get looked at. my teeth were/are pretty screwed up. I was born without lateral incisors. over the course of a number of years and about $7000 later, I had retainers and braces. after all was done I had perfect teeth minus 2 lateral incisors. I was probably about 13-14 years old when they took the braces off and you have to be at least 18-19 before you can get permanent implants for the 2 missing teeth. so I had a retainer that the orthodontist made which had the 2 missing teeth built on to the retainer. it was not very comfortable and it was impossible to eat with it. removing it is very awkward in social situations so the orthodontist recommended me to get something known as a flipper. it is very comfortable and I can eat with it. now i am 19 and I want to get those permanent implants but since I had the braces removed a LONG time ago, my teeth shifted and they are not as perfect as they used to be. plus a developed a small gap between the central incisors. So now it is not a good idea to get those implants b/c my teeth are messed up again. so my question is, should I blame the orthodontist for this and expect him to fix this problem? He did recommend for me to get the flipper which apparently does not act as a retainer in terms of keeping the teeth form shifting. what should i do, and how should I approach this problem?

[Janesays]

Remember teeth do not have to be 100% perfect and in most cases braces cannot get them 100%. I would get the implants and then if there are still spaces that bother you, you are probably a good candidate for Invisalign.

Are you still wearing the retainer at nights?

[Zoso]

I wouldn't blame the ortho - he set you up with retainers, but when that was not working for you, he made a compromise and came up with an alternative that was more acceptible to you. It's also possible that your teeth might have shifted a little even in retainers - it can happen, and when there are gaps to be held open, it seems to me that it would be more likely than in other cases.

My advice is a bit different than Jane's. Do not get the implants yet if you are considering orthodontia to tweak those teeth that have shifted - implants cannot be moved orthodontically, so you'd be painting yourself into a corner by doing those first.

My advice would be to have consultations with a couple of orthodontists (including the one who originally treated you) to see what your options are, and also consult with a prosthedondist or a periodontist to verify that implants are an option.

[stvnbrown7]

would invisalign work in my case?

[Sunny]

Stvnbrown you need to talk to your orthodontist about what would work best for you. Where I work, brackets are used to open gaps. Options are ceramic or lingual brackets, if it's appearance you're concerned about.

Good luck with your consults.

[Zoso]

I think you perhaps misunderstood Stevn's question, Sunny. He is not looking to open up gaps for the implants - the gaps are already there - although I'd suspect perhaps not as ideal now as they were at the end of his previous orthodontic treatment, since the centrals would seem to have pushed out into those gaps.

Stvn - I don't know if Invislign would be suited. It generally is viewed as a good modality for patients who have had previous orthodontia and have suffered minor relapse. However, it is also not good at working with gaps - but that is in terms of closing gaps (the teeth tend often to tip instead of moving across into the space) and that is not at all what you desire - I am not aware how good Invisalign is when it is necessary to hold a gap open.

Again, my advice is to head in and consult face to face with the experts - one or more orthodontists, and also experts in implants.

Good luck to you.

[Punkin]

I think you perhaps misunderstood Stevn's question, Sunny. He is not looking to open up gaps for the implants - the gaps are already there - although I'd suspect perhaps not as ideal now as they were at the end of his previous orthodontic treatment, since the centrals would seem to have pushed out into those gaps.

Stvn - I don't know if Invislign would be suited. It generally is viewed as a good modality for patients who have had previous orthodontia and have suffered minor relapse. However, it is also not good at working with gaps - but that is in terms of closing gaps (the teeth tend often to tip instead of moving across into the space) and that is not at all what you desire - I am not aware how good Invisalign is when it is necessary to hold a gap open.

Again, my advice is to head in and consult face to face with the experts - one or more orthodontists, and also experts in implants.

Good luck to you.

My experience with gaps and invisalign is that it works just fine. I had four teeth removed before I started my invisalign, and putting attachments on the teeth surrounding each gap, they are able to keep them from tipping, and are, in fact, closing the gaps (considerably).

But, I do agree, the best advice will come from an orthodontist who can look at your individual case and tell you what he/she thinks will work best.