Teeth shifted after braces - WWYD

[MickeysMommy]

I'm going to jump in here - not a parent but someone who had "perfect" teeth and had my bonded retainers removed because the orthos office told me I had them on long enough. I had braces at 14 and once removed my teeth were "perfect". At about 19 I got the bonded retainers. At 27ish had them removed. Worse. Mistake. Of. My. Life.

My teeth have now shifted and I don't know what to do. I want my perfect teeth back but I have some gum recession and not sure I am able to since I have bone loss also. Not sure I know all about that but don't blame him completely. Yes, he should've worn his retainers but if your teeth are going to shift they are going to shift.

 

[sonnyjane]

I'm going to jump in here - not a parent but someone who had "perfect" teeth and had my bonded retainers removed because the orthos office told me I had them on long enough. I had braces at 14 and once removed my teeth were "perfect". At about 19 I got the bonded retainers. At 27ish had them removed. Worse. Mistake. Of. My. Life.

My teeth have now shifted and I don't know what to do. I want my perfect teeth back but I have some gum recession and not sure I am able to since I have bone loss also. Not sure I know all about that but don't blame him completely. Yes, he should've worn his retainers but if your teeth are going to shift they are going to shift.

Same boat. I wore my retainer on top for about a year and had the bottom one for two years and then my ortho said I was "done". Now nearly 20 years later my teeth have shifted quite a bit. They quoted me at about $5,000 for Invisalign but I don't care that much. I'm mostly upset that I was never warned what might happen. Maybe they didn't realize since that was quite a while ago.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Never had braces, nor a retainer. My parents couldn't afford it and back then. It also didn't seem like now where almost everyone has them.

But my husband did have them. He had a bonded retainer across the back of his bottom teeth. He had it for years, and years. When they finally took it off, he was maybe 30, it didn't take a year for his teeth to shift. So my husband had a retainer for what was more than 10 years. And it still didn't last.

So my question is, how long is your son suppose to wear his retainer? He had braces for 2 years. Wore the retainer for 3 solid months, plus part time for the rest of that year. And now he isn't wearing it and his teeth have shifted. Is this something he is suppose to wear forever? Is there an end in sight?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If you can pay for bonding and that would correct it, I would go that direction.

 

[xjillianpaige]

I wonder if your DS cares about how his teeth look and about the gap?

I was terrible about wearing my retainers and my teeth shifted, and continue to do so because I have an uncorrected tongue thrust (they tried to correct it but it didn't work). It was my fault that they shifted, so I wouldn't expect my parents to pay for another set or a new retainer or anything like that. I also don't care that my teeth shifted and think they look fine, because the shift wasn't monumental, so unless there's some major movement or change in appearance, I won't be doing anything to re-adjust my teeth.

I think that if the shifting of your DS's teeth isn't bothering him, and because the shift is on him, then you could just let it be and if/when he would like the dental care then that's on him.

 

[cvjw]

Maybe some people's teeth are just more inclined to shift back than others? I had braces years and years ago. Wore the retainer for a year or so and then quit and my teeth have never shifted back. Same for my husband.

Both of my sons did the same. One wore his retainer for a couple of years. One wore his for about six months and then quit. Both of their teeth are still perfect. Both have had their wisdom teeth out also and no change.

Maybe your son just has teeth that will move back no matter what.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Never had braces, nor a retainer. My parents couldn't afford it and back then. It also didn't seem like now where almost everyone has them.

But my husband did have them. He had a bonded retainer across the back of his bottom teeth. He had it for years, and years. When they finally took it off, he was maybe 30, it didn't take a year for his teeth to shift. So my husband had a retainer for what was more than 10 years. And it still didn't last.

So my question is, how long is your son suppose to wear his retainer? He had braces for 2 years. Wore the retainer for 3 solid months, plus part time for the rest of that year. And now he isn't wearing it and his teeth have shifted. Is this something he is suppose to wear forever? Is there an end in sight?

These days orthodontists tell kids to wear their retainers every night for life! That is the only way to prevent shifting. No one knows whether their teeth are prone to shifting until it is too late; they've already shifted.

 

[spacemountainmom]

I had braces put on at age 10-11 and had them for less than two years. I wore my retained religiously until I was 16. At that point, I had grown enough that it no longer fit. My mom didn't see the need to purchase another. My one tooth twisted slightly again once I quit wearing the retainer. I notice it, but I am not sure most people would. I just find it aggravating that my parents spent the money, I did what I was supposed to and still my tooth moved post treatment.

I don't wonder if orthodontic treatment shouldn't wait until one reaches adulthood and stops growing.

 

[Southernmiss]

My teeth shifted after braces. I still have impacted wisdom teeth, too. That's contributed to the shift, I'm sure.

But I am grateful for the braces. Though my teeth shifted, I am sure they look much better than if I'd not gotten braces.

I feel the same about my kids. Was it expensive, yes. Am I a little sad if I notice their teeth shifted, yes. But I am sure their teeth are better off than without braces. Not just aesthetics, but to prevent decay and disease. That will be worth every penny of the $ spent.

Think about it, by late 40 before orthodontic and special care of teeth, people were loosing teeth and looking very old. Nowadays, it is rare to see a youngish person with dentures or partials, etc. I am sure orthodontic care, even with shifting teeth is beneficial.

 

[Christine]

Maybe some people's teeth are just more inclined to shift back than others? I had braces years and years ago. Wore the retainer for a year or so and then quit and my teeth have never shifted back. Same for my husband.

Both of my sons did the same. One wore his retainer for a couple of years. One wore his for about six months and then quit. Both of their teeth are still perfect. Both have had their wisdom teeth out also and no change.

Maybe your son just has teeth that will move back no matter what.

I wonder that too. I wore braces for 3.5 years, wore my top retainer for about a year and the bottom retainer for about 4 years. My teeth barely ever shifted. Even at 52, there is very little change. Both my kids' teeth shifted horribly though.

 

[lesliekatya]

My teeth shifted because my wisdom teeth came in, but I never knew it was possible to shift without some outside force mucking things up. Now I'm going to be paranoid about my kids.

 

[clh2]

As far as the OP's question of WWYD??? Absolutely nothing. This is the problem that the adult child needs to fix, at his expense, or not to fix.

My DD went through her ortho stuff. And I know she when she went away to college, that she became lax about her retainer wearing. I said my piece about this that when she turned 18, that my employer no longer covered orthodontics, nor would I. DD is now 22, and if anything were to happen, this is not my problem!

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

These days orthodontists tell kids to wear their retainers every night for life! That is the only way to prevent shifting. No one knows whether their teeth are prone to shifting until it is too late; they've already shifted.

That is quite a commitment. Do most kids know this when they start out?

I guess I would also wonder if the OP's son cares how his teeth look now.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Same story with DS18! He forgot to pack his retainers for a one-week vacation back in February. When we got back, the bottom one was uncomfortably tight. Then he started "forgetting" to wear it all the time. I noticed about a month ago that his bottom teeth are crooked.

He saw our dentist last week who is also an ortho (she didn't do his two rounds of braces but managed Invisalign for me last year). She is going to make him a "functional retainer" that will shift his teeth back (mostly). After that she'll make him a regular retainer to hold them in place. Luckily, we have changed insurance companies since DS's last round of braces and have benefits to cover it.

We are not happy that DS didn't take more responsibility for his teeth. This kid is auditioning for musical theater college programs and wants to be a professional singer/actor. You'd think he would be more mindful about these things!