What method would you recommend and are there any other solutions?
Hello, I recently went to the orthodontist. He said that the teeth on my upper jaw are not 2 millimeters in front of my teeth on my lower jaw, as they should be. However I do not have an under bite or over bite. He said that either my bottom jaw is too large or my upper jaw is too small. I have slight spacing on my upper jaw between and around my two front teeth. He proceeded to tell me that getting braces would cause an underbite and the only way in fixing that is by getting surgery along with the braces or by wearing a certain type of headgear which he said has a 75% chance of not working. Since I am under 18 I would have to wait until I'm 17 to get the braces and then go into surgery which he did not say much about. I feel as though this is fixing one problem but causing an even bigger one as well. I really want to close my gaps however I don't want to undergo such complications. I am aware that many people with braces where elastics, could that work in fixing the lining of my jaw? Thank You
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Answer: Second Opinion
By BracesInfo.com Expert 10
Anybody who is interested in undergoing orthodontic treatment, should always get at least two professional opinions prior to committing to treatment. Try to receive referrals from family and friends in your local area. It is not only a large financial commitment, but a physical and emotional commitment as well. After reading your question, it sounds like the orthodontist is recommending orthodontics in combination with orthognathic surgery. There may or may not be alternative options to achieve your treatment goals, which are ultimately the most important. It is usually better to start this sooner than later and haven't previously heard of someone waiting till they are 17 years old in order for orthodontic treatment to begin. Before getting discouraged, seek an additional opinion with your treatment goals in mind. Discuss all possible options and outcomes with each treatment choice. Many times it is possible to reach your perfect smile, even if its not the orthodontists idea of perfection.
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