New Here, question about closing extraction gaps

[mommybecca919]

Hi, Im new here. Im 26 years old and finally decided to get braces. I had 4 teeth extracted on Monday and got my wires put in the same day. Im in alot of pain still, Im guessing from the extractions and tightening of the wires. What is bothering me the most is the missing teeth, about how long will take to close the gaps? I only have my top braces on, and they will start my bottom when my top is aligned. I have some bad crowding so needed them out, but at the same time it is bothering me so much Im second guessing my decision.

[Sunny]

Hi and welcome!

Teeth move on average 1 mm a month ... which means some move faster and some move slower. Something to remember ... if your teeth looked good, you'd not need braces. Orthodontic treatment means your teeth are fine to look 'crazy' ... so hopefully you'll get used to it soon and realise that teeth with braces on them are expected to be out of alignment, gappy etc.

You mention you have some bad crowding ... this is the type of work that is corrected first, due to alignment being the first stage of orthodontics. This means you should see some great progress in the weeks ahead.

Remember to put wax on any brackets that rub and let your mouth toughen with the wax on and then you won't risk mouth sores. Also keep well hydrated as this will make it easier for your mouth to cope with your new hardware.

Good luck!

[happysmile]

hi mommybecca,

i also had 4 teeth extracted before i got my braces on. but i can't imagine getting the wires and braces on the same day as getting teeth extracted. although my extractions healed rather quickly (one week), the healing process felt like forever. i got my wires and braces on one week after my extractions. i too have been wondering how long it's going to take for my gaps to close, because when i smile or laugh, it's quite noticeable. i too, was wondering what i got myself into and was (kind of still am) 2nd guessing my decision. but the way i look at it now is there is no going back, so i gotta just hang in there and wait. i have a quite an overjet on my upper teeth, and it's only been two months and i'm noticing my teeth have moved quite a bit "inward" to correct my overjet. but i'm not noticing any movement to the sides to close the gaps - bummer. but on my bottom teeth i am noticing a tad bit, but like sunny said, i'm only seeing probably about a 1 mm move. granted it's only been 2 months, but it feels like forever!

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

As Sunny mentioned, teeth move at about 1mm per month. There is some variation depending on the type of movement, the amount of crowding, how long ago exos were done, bone density etc.

One anecdotal observation that I have made is that space closure with braces can be severely affected by tongue thrusting. Whenever your tongue goes into that space, it is actually pushing the teeth apart. Checking how big the space is with your tongue does the same thing. It's amazing how much of a difference that will make!

[catgyrl]

OMG, Dr. Tam!!

Thank you very much for telling us that!! One of my favorite ways to pass the time is to see how big the gap is with my tongue. It's unbelievable how strong that action is and how it affects teeth.

I shall make a concerted effort to not do that anymore...

-Cathy

[Brace Face]

Cool....I want my gap to open up so I shall be in a tongue thrust frenzy!

[smylex]

OMG, Dr. Tam!!

Thank you very much for telling us that!! One of my favorite ways to pass the time is to see how big the gap is with my tongue. It's unbelievable how strong that action is and how it affects teeth.

I shall make a concerted effort to not do that anymore...

-Cathy

Hence, my underbite - years of tongue thrust as a result of mouth breathing thanks to chronic sinus problems, polyps, a cyst and a deviated septum.

Now I know to keep my tongue out of the gap where my first left maxillary bicuspid was. That's scary!

[catgyrl]

I have a feeling the 1mm/month closure rate is going to be very much an exception, rather than a rule, when it comes to me. I think my gap is closer to 10mm (strange, because my tooth definitely didn't look that big to begin with). I've had this one little elastic on for 2 weeks now, and my left canine has moved over just enough so I can manage to fit my fingernail in there (sideways, of course). Hey, at least it's SOMETHING, right?

Why would they put a tongue (the strongest muscle in the body) next to teeth, that can become jacked up just by running your tongue over them? Fascinating...

(Yes, I am easily fasinated... haha)

[Sunny]

The tongue is a major problem when it comes to teeth ... damn the thing!

For anyone with a tongue thrust, their treatment needs to also address the thrust, as a tongue will undo any ortho work in a short time after the brackets and archwires are removed. Most thrusting requires retraining the tongue to move to the roof of your mouth when you talk, drink and eat, rather than push forward through your teeth.

There are appliances that help with this training and speech therapist also help.

Here's to all our tongues staying in the our heads ... in the right place!

[mommybecca919]

Wow very interesting. Thanks for all the replies. I too put my tongue in the gap, and I think Im really gonna have to train myself to stop.

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

The tongue is definitely a major factor in causing malocclusions, both before AND after orthodontic treatment.

In situations with extractions, fixed retainers may hold the anterior teeth in alignment, but a tongue thruster may find some slight reopening in space without a removable retainer to hold the posterior teeth as well.

When swallowing, the tongue should touch the palate, just behind the upper front teeth. We often ask our patients to practice swallowing exercises to retrain themselves at the onset of treatment, since it can take quite a long time to break the habit!