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I wore braces decades ago and take excellent care of my teeth. I used an upper Hawley and lived with a cemented lower retainer for decades until recently a dentist told me it had come unbonded. That explained why several of my lower teeth became crooked.
I went to a (horrible) ortho who said he could remove the old retainer and put one of my teeth back in place with a spring retainer. This ortho was a nightmare for many reasons, but now I'm left with an extremely uncomfortable, messed up bite due to these removable Hawley upper/lower retainers.
Only two of my molars touch in the back on one side of my mouth and make a horrible grinding sound when I eat, or chew gum. The right side bite doesn't even close. You can visibly see this when pulling my cheek back.
I've sought out two other opinions and it's recommended to have Invisalign and rubber bands to pull my teeth back into place. They said getting braces at such a young age didn't help for jaw growth all these years.
The killer is that my teeth look beautiful cosmetically and are all still in place perfectly except for my bite. You can see the misalignment. I was so vigilant about wearing retainers my entire life and to consider braces again is SO DISAPPOINTING!
Would you suck it up and get Invisalign for year to correct this bite situation or just live with it?
Only your dentist can determine what kind of treatment the problem warrants. This being the Fashion and Beauty forum, I'm guessing your primary concern is aesthetic. Does the difficulty with your bite cause an abnormal appearance of your face?
My understanding of the OP is that her main concern isn't aesthetic but practical; her bite doesn't work and causes her a lot of discomfort! OP, I'm not clear on what Invisalign is. It doesn't sound like traditional "braces", so I'm not sure what your concern about that proposal is. It sounds like an easier, more affordable, and more comfortable solution than old-fashioned "braces".
I did google it, and found their website with some diagrams of different types of bite problems, including "overbite", which like so many dentists and orthodontists, the site claims in abnormal. I just want to say, that if you're of European heritage, an overbite is completely normal, and by itself is nothing to correct.
But your issues are not about overbite. I think you should go back to the orthodontists who recommended Invisalign, and investigate that option further. Ask a lot of questions about how, specifically, the treatment would improve your situation: how would it solve the misalignment (which sounds to be fairly complex), resolve the discomforting symptoms, and so on.
They're right, that getting braces too young can cause problems later on. Braces were such a huge fad in prior eras, that parents got them for kids thinking everyone needed them, but that was not the case. In some cases it was better to wait, as the kids' teeth were still adjusting to the growth spurts kids were going through, so it was too early to evaluate those cases, let along treat them for something that could self-correct over time.
I think you do need to find a solution to your situation; you shouldn't have to live with your symptoms the rest of your life. The trick is to find a practitioner you trust. For now, do further research, collect information, and take your time on deciding whom to trust, and how to go forward.
It takes a while for teeth to shift. But that is neither here nor there.
I consulted four dr ortho earlier this year for a bite correction and shifting teeth. Invisalign's patent has run out. Sparks is a similar product with an a bit more sturdy plastic trays. There are several options for aftercare retainers. My estimates ran from 4500-7500 for a one year treatment and one set of retainers. So far a lot of improvement and I should make target.
The downside:
I need a Dremel to buff down rough edges on every tray. Basic cleaning takes cleaning tabs and an electric toothbrush and cotton swabs. There is pain! Especially the first two days after the weekly replacing of trays. You have a mouth full of "something" all day. You may have to adjust your speech. There is no eating or drinking with the trays in! You will additional routine teeth cleanings.
My understanding of the OP is that her main concern isn't aesthetic but practical; her bite doesn't work and causes her a lot of discomfort!
Okay, okay - Don't yell at me.....if OP's concern was "practical" then OP would have posted the thread in the Dental Health sub-forum. I stand by my post.
I have never heard of any one wearing braces or a retainer as long as OP has. When I had braces I had them on 2 years tops and the retainer maybe 1 year. I did not even know you could wear retainers for that long.
I have never heard of any one wearing braces or a retainer as long as OP has. When I had braces I had them on 2 years tops and the retainer maybe 1 year. I did not even know you could wear retainers for that long.
Invisalign is not as strong as regular braces. My wife had them on for over 2 years and they broke frequently having to go back to the dental office quite often. She said they were okay, about 80% of the straightening job, but they were a nuisance.
I spent the majority of my childhood and teens in retainers, braces, headgear and then back to retainers. I never had the extent of the issues and complications you’re experiencing but I would strongly recommend getting a second opinion preferably at a dental college if one is located within a reasonable distance from you.
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