Overbite correction with orthodontics?

I got braces on in Feb 07 and had to move to a different state in Aug 07.





Many orthos in that I consulted after moving kind of gave up after looking at my xrays, claiming it was a complicated case. My current (second) ortho said that my case is very complicated and he said "the only thing I can do is to straighten your teeth". I have an overbite (not too bad, but exists). Now, I am wondering if by straightening my teeth,


did he mean that overbite will be corrected, or it is just straightening my (very) slightly crooked teeth.





I am wondering - why should I go thru this pain just to correct slightly crooked (barely noticeable) teeth. My teeth are just fine, I just wanted to correctr the overbite.





Can I have the braces removed? Would it move back totally in random directions? Wha if I put on a retainer, would it help?





The current ortho also said something about not being able to make space for the teeth to move.





Thanks

Overbite correction with orthodontics?
Did you have any teeth pulled to allow your teeth room to adjust? you should have. maybe that is what he means about not having enough space to move.
Reply:i had an overbite, just had a horrible retainer with blocks to push my bottom jaw forwards for 1 and a half year, it also kind of straightened my teeth, but still needed train tracks afterwards.





To make space for the teeth to move though, they may remove a moler or something
Reply:I currently have braces and the reason for them was that i had an underbite? (does that make sense?LOL).. i have had braces for 2 yrs and it has straigtened them nicely.. After the use of elastics aswell, it has "pulled" my teeth forward to what it should be naturally. After a few months for that, my braces were removed and am currently wearing a retainer, so my teeth gets used to it..





I am not sure about the orthodontics in America, but here in the UK, overbites are not difficult to deal with... Overbite and straightening your teeth are different, although braces can effective deal with both.. However, make sure your orthodontist knows you want the overbite corrected NOT only straightened.





As i am quite young, it may be easier to correct but i am not sure, as everyone is different. Hope it helps abit..
Reply:I would contact your last ortho and see what his/her game plan was. Also, ask this ortho what would happen if you just had the braces taken off. Take his/her game plan to another ortho and see if they can do the same thing. It sounds like you trusted your old ortho more than these new ones. Therefore, see what he/she would do, I'm sure he/she will be upfront with you.





Personally, I don't think your teeth would move back in random directions, they would go back where they were before.





Also, when I had braces, they had to pull one of my bottom front teeth because my jaw didn't have enough room for my teeth once they would be straight. I did not have an overbite. My sister, on the other hand, had a tremendous overbite, and didn't have to have ANY teeth pulled, they straightened her teeth as well. My son had an overbite and never had to have any teeth pulled either. You don't always have to pull teeth - especially since your first ortho didn't say anything about pulling any.





Good luck.
Reply:lack of diastema,what a pity

jsp