My bite is worse after braces! How can I correct my bottom bite and get my lip back? (photo)

Question

I wanted to extract the right, lower wisdom tooth that moved my K9 tooth out of place, but my ortho removed a front lower tooth instead to make space for K9. The result is now my bottom lip curls under my top bite! He shaved down my 2 front upper teeth to close a miniscule of a triangle- unnecessary! So my lip would've been invisible if left in its natural state. Extracting the LF tooth worsened my smile. I'm extremely unhappy, more self-conscious and need to correct this asap. What do I do?

John McDonald, DMD · Answer

First thing to do is sit down and have a talk with your orthodontist and let him know how you feel and discuss the options.
For what it is worth, here are some thoughts on your case.
Removing your wisdom to solve a crowding problem in the canine area is not a viable treatment plan.  If your main concern was lower crowding, then a lower incisor extraction is a good option.  Trying to move 2 molars and 2 premolars back into a wisdom tooth space is pretty much impossible with out implants.  I also would mess up your bite, moving the bottom back teeth requires moving the upper teeth if you want to keep the bite the same.
You have a very "full", attractive,  smile, meaning that your upper teeth are very prominent  relative to the rest of your facial features.  I say this because expansion or "arch development" as suggested below would have pushed your teeth further forward and would have made you look "horsey".  It is impossible to enlarge the bony dental arches in an adult.   "Arch development" is simply a euphemism for tipping the teeth forward and outward to align them, no space is actually created in the bone.  I am sure you know someone who has straight teeth but their smile seem to be "to much" or slanted out like a horse.  Smiles like that are usually the result of "arch development" orthodontics applied to someone like you.
I also have to say that I had trouble noticing that much of a difference in your lip position.  Most people are going to be noticing your great looking teeth and not so much your lips.  They will also not be noticing the crooked lower canine that is now well aligned.
None the less, speak to your orthodontist, he or she knows your case the best and will do their best to find a solution.

Brad Lockhart, DDS · Answer

Whenever there is not sufficient space to straighten teeth you either have to remove teeth or enlarge the space (dental arches). Many doctors believe that enlarging dental arches in adults is impossible so they remove teeth. Unfortunately, removing teeth almost always creates more space than is needed and the smile, lips, face, airway and possibly TMJ become compromised. Even if removing teeth doesn't create too much space, if this method is utilized, the patient remains with underdeveloped dental arches which still have adverse effects on the airway, facial aesthetics and TMJ.I know that enlarging dental arches in adults is possible because I do it every day in my practice. This method of treatment yields far more beautiful results. Unfortunately, you have already lost a tooth but the ill-effects of that lost tooth can still be reversed by enlarging the dental arches.Good luck!

My bite is worse after braces! How can I correct my bottom bite and get my lip back? (photo)

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My bite is worse after braces! How can I correct my bottom bite and get my lip back? (photo)

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Everything you need to know about Braces

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