Why are braces not closing a gap in my front teeth that they actually created?

[i_love_cats]

Hey everyone so I have had braces for almost 9 months (Got them March 23rd). I am nineteen years old. My teeth were pretty ugly. I cannot believe I thought that they were okay at the time because looking back now, I am so happy I got them because they have come quite a far way. I had some crowding in my upper teeth with my two front teeth slightly crossing over. Look at the pic:

http://i42.tinypic.com/2lasaxs.jpg

Now the first signs of a gap in my front teeth started to form in July and it was small and I could see my front teeth coming apart. By August my two front teeth were separated with a big gap!! Now it is December and I still have the massive gap! My orthodontist put a chain on my teeth 2 months ago to try and close it but it did not work. 4 weeks ago she put a double chain on my two front teeth to try close the gap but now it has not closed or even moved at all! I feel like nothing has changed at all!! I go back next Wednesday and last time she said something about "re-bonding."

Here is a photo of my teeth now. The gap has been like this since July so what is going on!!!???

http://i41.tinypic.com/2ds2u4j.jpg

Also, the teeth are not in centre with my nose? Aren't your two front teeth meant to line up with the centre of your face? Mine are way out! My orthodontist said I will be getting them off in around March or April, that is only 3-4 months away!! How is that possible with a gap like that?? Am I just being too much a perfectionist? Any help is appreciated thanks!

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

It looks like your teeth are tipped in lingually so they are in contact with the lower teeth. If they are in contact, there is no where for the teeth to go back to close the space. The teeth need to be torqued so that the roots move lingually and the crowns go more to the front of your lips before the space can be closed properly.

Easy to describe orthodontics when saying two things can't be in the same space at the same time .

[NarcoAngel]

It looks like your teeth are tipped in lingually so they are in contact with the lower teeth. If they are in contact, there is no where for the teeth to go back to close the space. The teeth need to be torqued so that the roots move lingually and the crowns go more to the front of your lips before the space can be closed properly.

Easy to describe orthodontics when saying two things can't be in the same space at the same time .

So what does that mean for her? Are they going to leave it like that?

[i_love_cats]

Hello thank you very very much for your reply. So do you think that within 3-4months that the gap might close? I know that you truly cannot say because it depends on what my orthodontist does to my teeth, but I am just wondering if you might have an estimate? Thanks very much! You gave me more information than my ortho has ever done before.

[lightskinnnn38]

I highly doubt they will leave it like that. I have seen instances where they would shave off a little bit of the inside of teeth and bring it together or there may be some bonding added? I would ask your ortho about your concerns because they may be trying to fix something else before they work on your gap issue.

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

There are times when bonding should be done because there is an improper ratio of the width of the top teeth relative to the bottom teeth. However, this can also happen with inadequate torque control of the anterior teeth, so that rather than closing space with the anterior teeth coming back at the same angle, they tip inwards.

I have no estimate for the time it would take your orthodontist to correct this problem. I have seen several patients from another local office who have been in treatment for 5 years and the doctor has not been able to close the space. We replaced the "low friction/faster" brackets (the brand starts with a "D") that were malpositioned with our own and closed space and restored the proper angulation within 6 months. In other words, you can try to continue to close the space for years, but if the position of the teeth and brackets don't allow for the spaces to close, it may not happen at all.

Speak to your doctor to determine why he/she thinks your space is taking so long to close up. Good luck!

[IHIC]

Is this also something that tends to happen when the two teeth used to overlap (as in the OP's first photo)? It's just I have a similar thing, but the 'gap' (I call it a black triangle) is between my upper left lateral and central incisor... and prior to braces the central incisor overlapped the lateral incisor.
Mine has got a little bit smaller but still I don't like it, I'm hoping my Ortho can do something about it or if not I'll look into bonding... maybe I'll just have to live with it.

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

A black triangle is completely different and caused by the shape of the teeth being wider near the biting surface and narrower at the gumline. Generally, when teeth are uncrowded during treatment, this area is not covered by the gums, and therefore appears a space near the gumline. Note that the teeth are still in contact so it is not a true space between the teeth.

Black triangles can be addressed by gum surgery and reshaping of the teeth to make them more parallel.