elastics problems. help plz!

[tbk]

Hi, I'm new to this forum, so i don't know if this is exactly where i should place this post. XD

i have a problem with my braces/elastics. Before I had braces, I had a bit of an overbite, but my teeth were always able to close down comfortably.

After i got my elastics put on (i've had elastics for about 6-7 months now)
I feel like all they do is ram my bottom teeth into my top teeth.

according to the numbers in this pic:



my elastics are connecting my 18-10 and my 31-7.

Separately, my bottom and top rows were pretty straight, so i'm pretty happy about that:
Picture0004.jpg

However, when I close my teeth, there's a lot of gaps, and my teeth don't fit down properly. I thought elastics were suppose to fix this, but i feel they just ram my front teeth (from 6-12 and 27-22) into eachother, preventing me from biting down properly. I feel like I can bite down on one side, but the other side will feel awkward. Right now, my ortho wants just the right side to have elastics at night:
Picture0002.jpg

here's a side view of my right side:
Picture0003.jpg

I guess my issue is that I've had my braces for over 2 years (a year over estimated), and the biting issue doesn't seem like it's getting resolved. I've used my elastics everyday and am not seeing the results like I used to in the first year. Could it be the way that I'm biting? Is there something I can do to help the process?

My teeth have been out of order for so long that I'm confused on how my jaws should meet! I'm not really sure what I'm striving for (placement wise) with these elastics, so if anyone can give my some good feedback, that would be amazing.

THX!!!

[Sunny]

Hi and welcome tbk!

You need to ask these questions of your ortho. Make sure you do and I hope you get great answers.

The best way you can help your teeth is by following exactly the instructions your ortho has given you.

If you're really concerned about how your teeth are biting together give your ortho a call and seek advice.

Good luck!

PS ... you teeth and brackets look amazing!