Need braces (underbite) - very scared

Krane

Hi there,

I'm a 20 year old girl who has had pretty crooked teeth throughout her life. At this stage I am very happy with my looks apart from my teeth and feel they ruin my face.

The problem is this - I have an underbite where some of my front teeth slip behind my back which I bite down. However others protrude so that my lower lateral incisor is pushed back on the bottom and the lateral incisor on the top is pushed forward. My central incisors on the top are also slightly different lengths because they're pushed back at different angles.

You can't really see this at a glance, but sometimes it comes out awkwardly in pictures, etc, and I'm just horrified to think what people must be thinking - it was pointed out to me not-so-nicely recently in a club when a woman tried to score my boyfriend and then resorted to calling me names when she didn't succeed.

It bothers me a lot - as I said I am otherwise at a stage where I am happy with my looks which has been a struggle for me over my teens so now I would like to get this fixed. I just have some questions

- Would my underbite require corrective surgery? I can't forcibly bring my top row of teeth to meet my lower row of teeth but when I bite down they touch, if that makes sense - it doesn't look to be a very extreme underbite.
- How much do braces cost nowadays? No medical card, etc, but money is an issue. I'm a student but I work part-time too.
- Can anyone recommend an orthodontist who would allow payment in increments ie every few months - I don't think I would be able to pay otherwise. I'm in the Cork/Waterford area.
- I have two week teeth on either side of my front, top row - first and second molar so both pretty up front when I smile. One has been root canalled and the other just feels a little weak from being filled. Would the breaking of these teeth during braces treatment be an issue, or is it possible to remove these teeth in particular if indeed teeth did need to be removed if my poor bite is an issue of overcrowding (which it seems to be)? Just wondering how weak teeth stand up to this treatment...
- Finally, I have a strong jawline which I actually like and feel gives shape to my face - would fixing my underbite change the shape of my face and maybe soften my jawline? I would prefer to avoid this but it doesn't matter too much - just wondering.

I know I should really refer to an orthodontist but I do have the classical fear of dentists, although it's more of what they'll think than anything else. I also have a fear of going for a consultation and then not being able to afford treatment... any help you could give me would be very much appreciated. Sorry for rambling!

Dixie Chick

You could always go to the CUH dental hospital if money is very tight. There is a great service available there even if you are waiting a long time when you have appointments.

All I can say is that if it bothers you, go for it. In less than two years time you could have a smile you are much more satisfied with. Your ortho might be able to get your teeth into a position that look good from an aesthetics point of view that astisfies you and you may not need any kind of surgery

btkm8unsl0w5r4

An Langer, I have been looking over your post history and the IP matches to other usernames. No names allowed on the forum please read the charter.

jenny4385

no surgery .. underbites can be fixed with braces, etc,
i couldnt move my lower teeth in front of my top teeth, gap meant to be 3 mm mine was 11mm all fixed with braces..
best of luck

kkth0360

jenny4385 wrote: »

no surgery .. underbites can be fixed with braces, etc,
i couldnt move my lower teeth in front of my top teeth, gap meant to be 3 mm mine was 11mm all fixed with braces..
best of luck

That's an overjet - these can often be corrected without surgery, especially in a growing patient.

"Underbites" (or reverse overjets) are much more difficult to correct, and whether or not surgery is required depends on the extent of the underlying jaw size discrepency, and on how much natural adaptation has taken place. OP, you would need to see an orthodontist to determine the most appropriate course of action in your case.

Joncol

My one peice of advice is ask around to freinds and family to try find a good dentist that they personally recommend. I went to my dentist (just searched via Golden Pages) was told I would have braces for 8 months, well Im 14 months in and I was told today I will have them AT LEAST another 4 months, the guy is a joke, besides his lack of competancy at doing his job the whole standard of service from his practise is shocking, always late for appointments etc. Really really terrible.

Nothing worse then paying for braces that your told will take 8 months and 14 months after you are told another 4 to go.....

In terms of underbite, from what I know it can be fixed with braces and also wearing elastic bands (at night , don't worry not during daytime haha)


In terms of payments, I'd be very very suprised if most dentists wouldn't allow payment plan, in fact I would refuse to pay a dentist up front as with anything else it should be deposit upfront and then payment on completion, if a dentist won't agree to that then they don't have confidence in their own ability and there are plenty of dentists who will so just shop around

day dreamer

Hi there Krane

it seems as you would benefit from orthodontic treatment alright but without seeing you it would not be possible to give an exact response. Dont worry about some bird stealing your man. I will try to answer your questions but without seeing you it not possible to give a definitive response
1. without seeing you it is not possible to say if you need surgery to correct the underbite. This can be hard to correct in adults and if the bottom teeth are far ahead of the lowers then you would need surgery, if they are not too far ahead then it may be possible to correct this just with braces or possibly extractions.
2. upper and lower treatment costs around 4000 but orthodontists will vary, you can also get tax relief at 20% if you are paying tax
3. look up www.orthodontics.ie for a list of local orthodontists, there are plenty in Cork
4. Teeth that have root canal treatment or large fillings are usually fine for treatment but may need to be monitored. If you need extractions sometimes they can be extracted as part of treatment but extraction of molars is not usually a first choice
5. If you like your jaw line then orthodontics wont effect this too much unless of course you have jaw surgery. As mentioned in point 1 this may be necessary and will definitely affect your jaw line but usually for the better. But if you like your jaw the way it is and just want the teeth straightened then surgery wont be an option for you.

I wish you the best and hope things work out, you wont regret

day dreamer

Hi there

As a general rule:
You have to have braces top and bottom to ensure the teeth fit together or bite properly, your gface wont change with this so dont worry.
The braces are usually on for 18 months before the surgery. This to straighten out or decompensate the teeth and ensure the bite is ready for surgery. The braces can be taken off 6 months after surgery when everything is ready
Surgery is rarely done early as it takes 18 months or so to get the teeth straight and co-ordinated to be ready for the operation

Your orthodontist will go through all this with you, good luck

Cork24

Post op. How long does it take to recover to eating soild foods ?