What makes up a bite?

[monomer15]

Should all the top teeth touch the bottom teeth at some point? and where?

[catgyrl]

From my understanding, your upper central and lateral incisors (the 4 middle upper teeth) should overlap your lower teeth a bit, and the rest of your upper teeth (from canines back to molars) should touch and fit together on top of your lowers. I think this is the hardest, and longest, part of the treatment process.

[lasvegasann]

It is the longest and hardest part of the process. I have had my braces over 24 months and he is trying to work on my bite on the right hand side. It takes time.

[catgyrl]

Thank you, lasvegasann. I was beginning to wonder if he would even be able to fix my bite on my left side. My right side looks fine, but the left one is very tricky. When he uses triangle elastics, it helps the bite, but makes the overjet more prominent. When he changes the elastics to Class II, it helps the overjet, but pulls my bite back upwards. I'm starting to think that I may end up with something significantly less than perfect.

[BraceFace23]

hey there i saw this post and was like :o i was wandering the same because look at my teeth atm.

front.jpgleft.jpgright.jpg

Heyy look im due to get these things off in two days....:/ MEH, not ready i know i had them 3 fricken years

[catgyrl]

BraceFace23-

I don't mean to be a pessimist, but to me, it looks like you still have a bit of work to do on your bite. It looks like you have an "open bite" there, and your fronts should overlap your lower teeth. (Or, maybe it's just the way you're smiling/gritting your teeth that makes it appear that way?) If you are truly "biting down" (as they ask us to do hundreds of times), then I would suggest you keep them on a bit longer. Just my uneducated opinion...