r/AskOrthodontists

I decided on orthodontic work to fix my open bite and reduce jaw pain, and completed my treatment in late 2023.

I consulted with three orthodontists - the first suggested removing my premolars or jaw surgery. The second and third said I would just need invisilign. I ended up getting treatment done by the third, who ended up using champagne braces, I think.

The treatment took about one year, and halfway through the orthodontist walked back their earlier statement of treatment helping my tmj. Post braces, my bite felt uncomfortable and my front bottom teeth pressed uncomfortably into the middle of my top front teeth when I pressed them together - my dentist recommended shaving my bottom teeth down, but I declined. Since the brackets were off, I would have had to pay again to redo everything, and didn't feel comfortable going through that with the same orthodontist.

I also experienced worsening jaw pain and the need to move my jaw from side to side to "adjust" it. I stopped using my retainer a few months posts treatment, and nearly three years later, I still need to move my jaw to find relief, but the pain isn't as bad.

Sleep has always been an issue for me, and with everything combined, I'm waiting to complete a sleep test and considering trying to see if I'm a candidate for Marpe and lower jaw surgery. Really regretting not doing the surgery to begin with when it was offered at my first consultation.

I'm basically here to vent a bit, ask for insight from dental professionals on my previous treatment, and to get advice on what to do next.

Thanks in advance!

This is me when I bite down. Only my back lower teeth touch. Someone on here told me it was a torqued mandible and the orthodontist could fix it using non invasive treatment. I’m so tired of living this way and so scared but anxious to see what the orthodontist says…can anyone relate to my kind of bite issue? How hard/easy will treatment be? I’ve been suffering so much mentally/physically lately. Just had to have a new crown put in.

I had braces when I was around 13 for crowding and was mostly happy with my teeth except for the flaring. As I grew, my smile continued to look a little toothy. Eventually my teeth went back into place despite me wearing my retainer full time for 2 years and then every night. I am guessing it was cuz i switched from a clear plastic retainer to a removable metal one, im not too sure. I am not 21 and not happy with my side profile and my teeth which not only are slightly crooked but also flared.
I’ve now seen 3 different orthodontists, and every single one gave me a completely different plan, despite each of them agreeing this issue is bimaxillary protrusion.

1. The first dentist I went to said that i needed to have my palette expanded with TADs and that molar extractions would be required. He basically said that my chin looks good from the front but looks recessed from the side and this would fix that to some extent.

2. I had to move out to another city for university where I visited an orthodontist who basically said that he would give me the same treatment I received at 13, but that he would make space using IPR.

3. I went to another orthodontist just to figure out which of the two treatments was better and he suggested a completely different treatment, involving premolar extractions to create space. He said that IPR wouldn’t give me my desired result due to my teeth needing to be pulled back a little more than the space IPR can make.

At this point I genuinely don’t know how patients are supposed to make decisions when treatment plans vary THIS much. Especially because orthodontics permanently changes your face, bite, airway, profile, etc.

Now, my main issue is my side profile. My chin is slightly recessed and I don’t expect braces to fix that completely. However, since I have bimaxillary protrusion it may help a little but maybe adding some soft tissue to the chin since I don’t have to force to close my mouth. (I strain slightly to close my mouth, so slightly that I never realised it, all 3 doctors have told me that I do)

I just don’t want my face to get messed up after braces, I don’t want a flat face or teeth that make the profile convex or leave me with flared teeth.

Has anyone else experienced this?
How did you figure out which orthodontist was actually right for you?

Would especially appreciate hearing from people who had braces young and then needed retreatment later or those with a mild chin recession or even any orthodontists on the sub

I’m a F 23yo. My dentist opts for wisdom teeth removal, but my wisdom teeth haven’t given me issues(if you see my cavities and crowns, that was my own personal poor choices; I was depressed for over 3 years back in 2020-early 2024 due to grief and burn out, so I didn’t really brush my teeth and definitely wouldn’t floss). Currently I feel like my jaw is strong(none of my teeth really give issues, I don’t get toothaches, or jaw pain, although some sporadic gum bleeding around my crowns for some reason). I use cocofloss, a water flosser, and a panasonic electric brush now with a gum health brush head. I got invisalign 2024, and it straightened my bottom teeth, but my top teeth didn’t move the way they were supposed to. There is just a clear lack of room for my upper teeth— I have flared teeth and my lateral incisor still didn’t fully move to the front with invisalign). I was told to get my 4 premolars removed, and additionally my 4 wisdom teeth, a total of 8 teeth. I’d like to avoid getting all my teeth removed since they don’t give me pain, but I realize that I have lack of room on my upper teeth. Initially I had told my dentist I only want my upper teeth wisdom teeth removed to make room for my lateral incisor, however they went against my wishes and made a referral to the orthodontic surgeon for all 4. I think my bottom wisdom teeth look okay, none of them give me issues. If I really have to, i’d like to remove only my top wisdom teeth, but I don’t actually want to. But what do I know. Just looking for a quick second opinion, thanks.

The upper incisors appear normally inclined clinically. I would like to ask your opinion on bracket prescription selection