Are my front teeth too flared after braces have been taken off? (photos)

Question

I had my 6-month smile on for 5 months. I just got them off and chose not to have bonding added to my front four teeth to even the length. I do not mind not the asymmetry. On the other hand, I am worried that my top teeth are too flared. I feel like they stick out in a noticeable way.

John McDonald, DMD · Answer

I am sorry you are unhappy with your results.  Professionally speaking, You have nice teeth, good soft tissue contours and your jaws and teeth appear well positioned with in your facial structures.   In short everything that is necessary for a truly spectacular smile, and yet here you are.... (You did not provide any photos of what your teeth looked like before you started but that makes no difference in regards to the rest of my answer.)
What many people do not realize is that "Straight Teeth" does not mean the same thing as having a "A Great Smile" and you are experiencing that right now.  To have a smile that someone would describe as "great" requires at a minimum that the teeth are straight, but that is only the beginning.  (Modern braces technology and advances in wire materials actually make getting teeth "straight" or well aligned the easiest part of any orthodontic treatment.)   
A great smile requires the upper teeth be in the right position on the face, at the right "slant" and at the right relationship to the lower teeth.  That means that the lower teeth have to be in the right position, at the right slant so they allow the upper teeth to fit over them in just the right way to have the great smile.  The upper teeth fit like a lid on the lower teeth.  A good fit between upper and lower is what we call a good bite, which is part of a great smile but does not guarantee it.  In short, it takes all 4 elements (Position of the lower teeth, position of the upper teeth, fit between lower and upper, and proper "slant"  of the teeth) working together within your facial structure to create a Great Smile.  
Your teeth appear to be straight, with a good bite but not in the best place place, and not at the best "slant" to make the best smile possible for you.  It is a hard thing to articulate, your friends probably think you are nuts (because your smile is pretty nice in general) and it may be beyond the ability of your dentist (most 6 month smile providers are general dentists) to make improve.  I say all of this to let you know you have a valid concern and confirm your feeling that your smile can be better.  It will take more treatment, probably from another provider, to get it that way.  I can't advise you how do handle it with your dentist, I would only hope that his or her desire to make you happy might result in a partial refund since treatment did not meet your expectations.  Good luck don't settle for what you have now, you deserve the smile you want.

Are my front teeth too flared after braces have been taken off? (photos)

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Are my front teeth too flared after braces have been taken off? (photos)

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Everything you need to know about Braces

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.