Getting my braces off early--I hope I'm doing the right thing?!

[Poultrygirl]

I've had braces since February 2007. I will 18 this august.
I had an impacted tooth that required 2 oral surgeries, a special appliance I frequently got my tongue stuck in and drew blood, a coil, spacers, etc.
I have a class II overbite and since february have had rubber bands. Nothing much doing. He's suggested the "springs" but I really dont want another appliance to shred my mouth for a few months. It's been 2 1/2 years. I want them OFF.
I talked to the ortho yesterday and he said I have months more if we want to get my bite better. But he said with my bite, he's not sure how much better "better" will be. We could try for another 4 months and have significant improvement, or due to my age....none. It all depends.
Because I'm almost 18 my jaws are done growing. So the chances of ever getting a 100% perfect bite are much slimmer than if he'd worked with a 14 year old. We could try till christmas...and even if it made an improvement we wouldn't be done. IF IF IF it made a difference.
I'm so confused....What should I do? I want them off, and my teeth cosmetically are PERFECT, and my mom is okay with it (that's the only thing that makes me feel bad is her money). My goal was always to get them off by my 18th birthday...which happends to be in three weeks. OPINIONS PLEASE?!
I made the appointment for next week. I hope I'm doing the right thing. I just cant picture any more appliances or springs in my mouth! My bite is more than livable--it's better than it was, but not as good as it *might* have got. Rubber bands weren't doing much. He doesn't think my bite would ever have the possibility of PERFECTION, short of jaw surgery, we could just get it better possibley.
I've driven my family nuts with this. I figure in 30 years it won't matter either way, but I wanted to know what some other orthodontic sufferers thought and had experience!

[Sunny]

Hi PoultryGirl! I think you'll find the majority on this board are adults and paying for our own treatment. This does also mean that most of us aren't orthodontic sufferers, but instead we're thrilled that we have the opportunity to be able to do this for ourselves.

I think if you're really convinced this is the best thing for you, to have your braces off early, then do it. But ... before you do, ask your ortho if your bite is stable and at the best place for your jaw joints for the rest of your life. You're only 18, so you have maybe 70 years of using your teeth ahead of you, so it's important to be confident that you're going to be able to retain them for all those years and not have to cope with jaw pain due to a bad bite.

One of the reasons many of the members of this forum have braces as adults, is because they didn't understand that once the braces are removed, their teeth will move back to where they come from and keep drifting for as long as they're alive ... so retainer wear is a lifetime commitment, if you want to keep your teeth where they are the day your brackets are removed.

Another reason many are having ortho treatment as adults, is because of jaw joint problems. So please talk to your ortho about this, and then make the best decision for you.

Good luck ... and trust yourself to make the right decision!

[chris james]

i agree with sunny like you i also had braces when i was 18 it is a real drag but i guess i wish i had seen it through as you dont get asked half as many questions as a kid as you do when your an adult
i had my braces off early when i was 18 and didnt realy care at the time now im 35 and care a whole lot i know ur 18th birthday is a big deal but so are your teeth
think long and hard as you may think the same as us older people going through ortho treatment
good luck

[Poultrygirl]

NOTE: Sunny, that was one of my major concerns when I spoke to the ortho on the phone for 15 minutes--does leaving my bite the way it is now raise my chances of TMJ, a worse bite in the future, any other medical risks. His answer: NO. Quote "Only you, me, and your dentist will know you have a class II overbite. I don't see any medical risks for taking them off now, aside from higher risk of trauma (no duh, if I do a face plant, of course i have a higher risk of trauma to my teeth!)

[Denise]

If your orthodontist thinks that there is no more room for improvement for your bite, then go ahead and get them off. But honestly, think about how far you've come with your treatment. Is it worth it to get them off now when, if you waited say, even 6-9 more months, it could be even better? The better you get it now, the less chance you'll have of needing surgery or braces again later in life. I'm sure you're aware by now that your teeth will always be moving, and the importance of wearing your retainer. But have a real, serious talk with your orthodontist and take what they say to heart before you get them off simply because you're turning 18. Goals are great to have, but when it comes to your health, it's probably best to leave it to the professionals Either way, it sounds like your bite is vastly improved and that is fantastic news!!!

[Zoso]

Actually, with the canines still in Class II you have more of a chance of trauma should you start to grind your teeth, since the canines are unable to function together to minimise that. The end result can be molars that are so badly worn they all need root canals and crowns. And I know any number of adults who are having this trouble to varying degrees.

[Poultrygirl]

Well....I thought about what y'all said...and still was gonna go through with it.
But then I went to the lake this past weekend, and looked at my smile alot in the mirror. My chin kinda comes forward. Even my mom noticed.
So I changed my appointment a little--instead of getting my long awaited freedom I had them put the forsus springs on yesterday. I thought at the time I was doing the right thing. I told the ortho I still want them off by thanksgiving. HE WAS NOT HAPPY AT AAAAAAAAALL! He said, "well, I don't like to take them off directly after forsus, so I would only leave the forsus on for two omonths and then a month of rubber bands. That's gonna be a really limited difference if at all". WHAT THE HECK? WHY AM I DOING THIS AGAIN?!
Also, I asked the tech, and she said the chinthing....may get a lil better but my bite getting fixed isn't going to totally resolve it.
AND THEN THERE ARE SPRINGS....I CANNOT TALK RIGHT. AND I CAN TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE MY BITE BECOMES CLASS II BECAUSE I CANNOT BITE DOWN AT ALL ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IT FEELS LITERALLY LIKE I COULD BREAK A TOOTH ON NITENOL SPRINGS. Eating is literally almost impossible. I woke up and panicked several times during the night cuz of them, and the pain.
I just feel like i made the right decision, and it still turned out to be the wrong one! I'm giving these springs TWO weeks, and if I can't talk right or bite down without breaking a tooth by them, the whole kit and kabooble is going.
What would happen if he took the braces off immeaditly following the forsus springs?

[thelongwayhome]

I am getting my braces on in September for grinding my teeth. I remember when I was 18. I remember how nice it was to have no braces. But, fast forward to 40 years old. I have pain. I have been grinding my teeth and broke 3 and have many stress fractures. My dentist and orthodontist say I will loose my teeth!! I know that my life has changed drastically since I was 18. I think I would stay in my braces for a little longer. I know it doesn't sound good now. I wish you could fast forward to an older age. I see my girls and hope for the best and only want that for other people too. You will understand when you are my age. I hope you find happiness now and have good outcome for the future.