First visit with Orthodontist = Frustration

Fawkon

Ok so I went to a well known branch in Ireland for my Orthodontic consultation. All went fine, got photo's and moulds etc. with a nurse or whatever dentist equivalent is. Up to the Ortho's chair i got and he's having a root around (no pun intended) and he says "Bite naturally" to which i reply "I am?". He told me i wasn't so he tells me to relax my jaw which i do and decides to nearly sit on my Jaw and start forcing it backwards, to which he says that's my natural bite after pushing it back using alotta force!?.
To me it felt so unnatural to bite in that way, i lieterally have to drag my lower teeth back to make the bite and on top of that it creates a big overjet which i didn't have 5 minutes earlier.
Some history on me, when i was a kid i went to the orthodontists and they said my jaw was slightly shorter than it should be. They stuck me in these big huge retainers which pull my jaw forwards during growth etc. That was fine finished that treatment and was quite pleased with my facial profile especially my jaw :P.
But all of a sudden this guys is telling me what i feel is my natural bite isn't my natural bite? I'm 21 and i went in for some braces just to straighten my teeth and fix a miniscule overjet and now i'm stuck in front of the mirror checking out my bite every 2 seconds. When i relax my jaw and close it i get the bite i've had for years, the one I'm happy with, i even pause while eating with food in my mouth and my teeth clenched and check my teeth and again it's "my" reguler bite.
So any advice guys, I'm going back in 2 weeks but i don't think i can wait that long going a bit nuts here worried that i've got a F'd up bite and being 21 i know my teeth have stopped growing so braces won't fix that only surgery i presume

Thx...

hg03 eyu

You mentioned that you had "moulds" taken before you got to the orthodontist chair.

I assume you mean that impressions were taken.

My question is was it a dentist or a nurse that took the impressions?

Dental nurses are not permitted to perform intra-oral work on a patient in this country

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Many patients posture to close down an overjet, the orthodontist was testing is your centric position was close to your natural bite or further back, its pretty standard proceedure, maybe communication was lacking a bit.

Fawkon

hg03 eyu wrote: »

You mentioned that you had "moulds" taken before you got to the orthodontist chair.

I assume you mean that impressions were taken.

My question is was it a dentist or a nurse that took the impressions?

Dental nurses are not permitted to perform intra-oral work on a patient in this country

Well when you stick your teeth in this gum shield thing in your mouth, the Nurse or whatever she was did it not the ortho?.

Yahir Jolly Sensibility wrote: »

Many patients posture to close down an overjet, the orthodontist was testing is your centric position was close to your natural bite or further back, its pretty standard proceedure, maybe communication was lacking a bit.

Well he was foreign, not that I've any issue with that but when I'm ready to smack the guy in the head for pissing me off then it becomes an issue. Question: Is it possible to get my jaw into my postured position? Would elastics do anything or am i too far gone in relation to age... I like my jaw shape the way it is postured although when you say it's postured it feels fairly natural too me, I don't make a concsious decision when i bite, i just do it and that's the way it is whether the ortho belives it or not.

Big_G

This is a very difficult concept to explain without the aid of pictures and some basic knowledge of anatomy, but I will attempt it anyway
What fitzgeme was talking about when he said 'centric' relation is where the jaw is positioned in relation to the skull. Dentists, orthodontists and other dental specialists usually determine this position by getting the patient to relax their jaw muscles. This is so that the heads of the condyles seat properly against their respective fossae in the base of the skull.

That sounds complicated. The jaw is shaped like a big 'U'. At the top ends of the 'U' are the condyles. These fit into dish shaped dents in the base of the skull. When the lower jaw is smaller than the upper jaw such as in your case, some people unconsciously bring the heads of the lower jaw forward so that the lower front teeth are closer to the upper front teeth. Also, people who undergo twinblock orthodontic therapy (which is likely what you had done) are trained by the appliance to posture forward slightly.

Again, I know this is probably very confusing. The orthodontist is right to check where your 'correct' centric position is because that gives him an idea of how much he needs to move the teeth, and where he wants his final jaw position to be. Dentists pick this position because it is the most stable and repeatable position to relate the upper jaw to the lower jaw, because the lower jaw is really floating in space and is just attached to the skull with muscles and ligaments. If we didn't do this, every time you came to see us, your jaw might be in a different position, making any treatment that requires the teeth to meet together in the same position very difficult.

Again, confusing I know. This concept takes a year or two of dental school to really wrap your head around.

digzy

once again-why go to a dental chain where you're dealing with someone who doesnt speak english as their first language!
get word of mouth references from your friends or in the case of an orthodontist your own dentist. You wont be charged anymore than at the chain, and at least you'll get some communication!

Fawkon

Big_G wrote: »

in the same position very difficult.

Again, confusing I know. This concept takes a year or two of dental school to really wrap your head around.

I understood about 20% of what you said but appreciate the well explained reply.
Yes i'm pretty sure i had twin block orthodontic. Basically what i'm worried about is he's gonna do something to my jaw to push it backwards, which i do not want! as i like my facial profile the way it is even though when i slide/force my teeth back all the grooves in my back teeth slot together nicely. What are my options in relation treatment (i know i will find out in 2 weeks but it's really really bugging me) can he do work on my upper teeth so that they will slot in with the way my jaw posture is now? In my head i could see him removing a tooth on either side making space for pulling back teeth and adjusting them around a bit. Is that feasible?

Again appreciate all your replies.

work

Fawkon wrote: »

Well when you stick your teeth in this gum shield thing in your mouth, the Nurse or whatever she was did it not the ortho?.


Well he was foreign, not that I've any issue with that but when I'm ready to smack the guy in the head for pissing me off then it becomes an issue.

I assume you respect this "orthodontist" then? Why would you go back to someone you do not respect? Your physiologic jaw position is probably behind where you appear to be biting at the moment, this has already been covered with other posts here. I suggest you check the web site for the Orthodontic Society of Ireland (www.orthodontics.ie) and ensure you are seeing an Orthodontist. You seem really worried about this situation, I can assure there is no need for you to have surgery (you have not died yet). Please note only an orthodontist after properly assessing you can really answer your questions. Good luck with this and dont stress.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

yeah good advice from work there, if your not happy go to another orthodontist for an opinion, it not like the chain your visiting are cheap. it only has the perception of cheapness. Any orthodontist will treat you for that kind of money.