weird bite

[michelle.elizabeth]

Hi. I'm fifteen and I've recently been to the orthodontist because I was concerned about my bite.
My top and bottom molars line up fine but then my front teeth are 'edge to edge' and don't meet at all.
Other than that my teeth are quite straight except for one that has grown too high up.
My orthodontist said that my bite was probably because I am a mouth breather and my bottom jaw has grown more quickly than my top jaw.
She sent me to get more xrays and then said that she would like to wait to fix the problem until I have stopped growing in case my jaw moves back after treatment.
I have been doing lots of research though and I'd like to hear what other people think.
What kind of orthodontic treatment will I need? Will I need an expander as well as braces?
Does it sound like I have a crossbite? Because I read that in most cases the treatment should be done before you stop growing in cases of crossbites.
I myself would prefer to get the treatment over and done with while I'm still young.
Another thing is, can my jaw problem have anything to do with my ears? When I was young I had many ear infections and am now partly deaf and have had to go to specialists to look at my nose/ears.
I also used to have a habit of moving my jaw from side to side so it would crack slightly. I noticed that it sometimes made my ears hurt.
Any feedback is really appreciated.
Thanks =D

[Sunny]

Hi and welcome Michelle!

I think you need to write your questions down and take them to appointments with you and get answers from the orthodontist's you consult with.

Without x-rays, moulds and photos, it's difficult to give a possible analysis of what your problem might be, but I suspect it is an open bite, as you state that your front teeth are straight, but they don't touch. If your molars are touching, there's a good chance you won't need a palative expander. Most open bites are corrected with either braces alone, or braces and surgery, depending on whether the cause is dental or skeletal.

It doesn't sound like you have a crossbite, but you need an ortho with the appropriate documents to tell you that information for sure. I had two crossbites ... and they're being fixed now ... and I'm in my 50's ... so stopped growing (well in most areas) a very long time ago! Of course the optimium time for orthodontic work is adolescent, before the jaws have fused in many cases, but great work can still be done many decades later.

I recommend you consult with at least another one or two orthodontist's and hear what they recommend for your treatment ... and please take your great list of questions along.

The ears and teeth area are connected, so anything is possible ... ask the medical people you deal with about this one also.

Good luck with seeking further consults!

[Zoso]

Michelle, the amount of research you have done as you have approached this question does you credit.

Does it seem like your upper arch of teeth might not be as wide as the lower? A mouth breathing habit has been implicated in the development of a high and narrow upper palate - I wonder if this is the case with you, and if it is why you mention a crossbite and expansion. It's relevant too to note that a few studies are starting to implicate mouth breathing in early childhood ear infections. (I'm so very sorry that you had so many that your hearing is permanently impaired)

What I would do, were I you, is ask the ortho whom you've already seen just what her diagnosis is and what her proposed treatment plan entails. Then also perhaps head off for another consultation or two to see if there is a concensus. And absolutely keep asking questions! You're obviously a smart young lady, and you deserve as much as anyone to be able to make an informed decision about your treatment, and understand what's going on once it does begin - and I can't imagine you'd be happy being treated by an orthodontist who is not willing to keep you as informed as you wish to be.

[michelle.elizabeth]

Thanks a lot for your help.
The ear infection bit is interesting, as it makes sense.
I will ask my orthodontist more about my problem.