Renée C. Pompei, DDS

I highly recommend you see an orthodontist for a consultation.  When spaces between teeth are closed, sometimes torque is lost which means the teeth are leaned back giving them a dished-in look.  Also, your overbite will deepen.  It's often more complicated to have the best possible result than it may appear at first. I have not seen enough information to give a complete diagnosis and treatment plan but I think it is likely your treatment will take about a year.

Your teeth are touching, there is no "gap" to close.  You happen to have teeth that taper towards the incisal edges, so your contact point is shorter than that of other peoples' who have teeth that are more triangular in shape.  Your teeth can't really be reshaped anymore, your orthodontist is right.  Teeth come in so many shapes and that's what makes smiles unique and beautiful. I would say: wait until your braces come off and see if you can grow to love your teeth's natural shape as you get used to your new braces-free smile.  If after affew months you still do not like your smile, talk to your dentist about composite or porcelain veneers.

Please go see an orthodontist!  There are definitely treatments that can improve your smile!!  Without seeing a panoramic radiograph and full records I can't give you a more specific treatment plan.  It appears you are missing your right lateral incisor (you say it is fused with your central incisor?) and have a peg left lateral incisor on your upper arch.  First you would need orthodontic treatment to idealize the positions of your existing teeth and re-distribute spacing, possibly have some teeth slenderized.  You may be able to keep your upper right canine in the lateral position or it might be better to open space for a prosthetic lateral incisor, it will depend on a few factors that I don't have information on.  You definitely will need to open space behind the left peg lateral so it can be made larger.  Regardless, the orthodontist can work with the restorative dentist to determine how best to position your natural teeth.  After the teeth are in the right place, you can have veneers placed as needed.  There is hope, and all your natural teeth should most likely be maintained.

Your photos show moderate upper arch crowding and moderate to severe lower arch crowding.  Full records and an exam will be needed to determine the best treatment plan, but you may need to have some teeth taken out for ideal results; or you may need significant lower arch interproximal reduction (removal of ~.3-5mm of enamel in the side surfaces of your teeth).  Your "high" canine is not that high can be easily aligned via several methods, your more complicating factor is your lower arch.  Clear aligners (most popular brand is Invisalign but there are many others) can be used for all or the majority of your treatment even if you need extractions, as long as you go to an orthodontist who is comfortable treating complex cases with clear aligners.  Clear aligners are just a tool that in expert hands can be used for very complex tooth movement.  There is a chance you may need a short course of braces for a few months at the end to parallel roots, that is always a possibility with extraction cases.  However, your end result will be great and it will be worth it!

I highly recommend you see an orthodontist.  Without full records and an exam I cannot say with certainty, but it appears that your open bite is not too severe that it cannot be corrected with orthodontic treatment alone.  In face, treatment with clear aligners is an ideal choice for you over braces as it will allow for more efficient intrusion of your posterior teeth which will help close your open bite.  In addition, although you may have stopped the habit, you may have developed a habitual low tongue posture from your open bite.  This should be addressed with myofunctional therapy that trains your tongue to stay on your palate rather than in between your teeth.  This will help with the long-term stability of your bite correction.