How would you have treated me with braces? (Photos)

Question

I regret getting 4 molar extracted in order to have braces. I never had palatal expansion to correct my posterior crossfire and as a result now at 18, I have TMJ, a bilateral crossbite and breathing issues. My orthodontist say my issue are not sure to my narrow palate or orthodontic treatment. He has told me that if my palate was expanded during treatment it would have not corrected my crossbite or the cause of my malocclusion. Please look at my teeth before braces (This is after extraction).

Brad Lockhart, DDS · Answer

Sorry to hear of your dental challenges. The good news is that your problems are still correctable. It is very possible that due to your severe dental crowding at the start of treatment that extracting teeth was the best way to create the necessary space to align your teeth. Thank your treating doctor for extracting molars rather than bicuspids; otherwise your problems would be far worse. A narrow dental arch can in fact be a contributing factor in TMJ Dysfunction and sleep breathing problems. Since the roof of your mouth is the floor of your nose, when a palate is narrow and vaulted then the roof of your mouth takes up space within your nose cavity causing a restriction of airflow and possible deviated septum as well. The good news is that your bilateral crossbite can still be corrected, as can your TMJ Dysfunction. Find a competent doctor who understands the relationship of tooth movement to TMJ health and airway health. If the doctor can not talk intelligently and knowledgeably about the relationship of orthopedic/orthodontic treatment to TMJ and airway health then keep searching. You will need both orthopedic treatment (to correct the crossbites and TMJ) and orthodontic treatment (to properly align the teeth). The orthopedic treatment would best be accomplished with a removable appliance and the orthodontic treatment with fixed braces, NOT clear aligners.Good luck!

Vicki Borowski, DDS · Answer

From your pictures posted it appears that you may have had your 3rd molars, or wisdom teeth, removed. This isn't usually considered an extraction for orthodontic reasons as most young adults have their wisdom teeth removed. You were in a crossbite before and you are still in a crossbite. You TMJ problems may be related to the positioning of you from teeth on the upper arch locking the lower arch but without additional information it is impossible to determine if this is the cause. Have you been to an ENT to determine the cause of your breathing problems? I suggest if your concerns are really bothering you that you get a second orthodontic opinion and a consultation with an ENT to determine the best course of action.

How would you have treated me with braces? (Photos)

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How would you have treated me with braces? (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.