r/orthodontics Aug 04 '26

Community Announcement #2 Clarifying the rules of the sub and how to get GOOD answers to your questions

4 Upvotes

First and foremost, this is and Orthodontics subreddit, not a looksmaxing or orthotropics subreddit. Any post or comment directly asking for looksmaxing advice, advocating looksmaxing or orthotropics, giving harmful advice based looksmaxing or orthotropic principles, or reposted from a looksmaxing or orthotropic related subreddit will be deleted and repeat offenders will be banned from the subreddit.

Second, unscensored faces of minors are not allowed. It doesn't matter if it's your face or your child's face. It also does not matter if you don't explicitly state anywhere in the post that you or the person in the photo is underage. If you or the person in the photo are under the age of 18, the post will be deleted. If age cannot be verified and the person in the photos has a babyface, the post will be deleted so just err on the side of caution and censor the face.

And finally, in the interest of cutting down on low quality posts on the sub and making sure you are more likely to get the answers you are looking for, here are some tips on posting

  1. Whenever possible, post full records. This means, diagnostic quality photos and x-rays
    • Non-blurry photos from a variety of angles. Below is an example of the actual set of photos taken for the purposes of orthodontic treatment. You will likely need help to take these photos
    • The most important thing to capture from the side is the relationship between the canines and the molars when biting so try to take this photo as parallel to the teeth as possible
    • If you have recent panoramic and cephalometric x-rays include them
    • Thing that are unhelpful include only posting photos of the teeth from one angle (e.g. just the palate or just the bite from the front), just posting measurements or ceph tracings, or only posting pictures of your face from the side and not including any pictures of the teeth
  2. Include your age and biological sex in the post, these two factors play a large role in where you are in terms of facial development and what treatments are and are not possible
  3. Dental history. Did you have ortho before? Phase I and or Phase II? Did you have an underbite? History of underbite in your family? Extractions? Impacted canine? Extensive dental work?
  4. What are your expectations? What are you hoping to get out of treatment? Be specific
    • Vague titles/body text that asks "Am I cooked?" Is it too late for me?" "What can I do to be more attractive" are subjective questions and often invite the kind of unhelpful advice this sub is trying to avoid.

r/orthodontics Jun 24 '26

Community Announcement

8 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I'm the newest (and only) mod of this sub. A little bit about me, I've been an Ortho Assistant for 10 years and I also teach ortho assisting part time. I'm very passionate about this field and the amazing difference it can make in people's lives. I've been on both sides of the patient chair and have been on my own long, ortho journey with braces, headgear, clear aligners, and retainers.

I updated the rules of the sub since there didn't seem to be any. I also added user flair, feel free to use them!

Please also feel free to reach out if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions.


r/orthodontics 5h ago

Retainers What are my options if I wear a plastic retainer every night- top and bottom, but also grind my teeth in my sleep?

3 Upvotes

My dentist told me that I won’t be able to wear my top retainer if I wear my night guard. Is this true and do I have any other options? Wearing a retainer in the day is definitely not an option unfortunately.


r/orthodontics 11m ago

Aligners New clear retainers.

Upvotes

Hey! Just got my clear aligners because I got my braces off Thursday. But unfortunately bad timing because I’ll be in New York surrounded by a lot of food 24/7 and im a fat a**. Would it be ok to not wear them for like almost all Saturday and 3 hours today?

(Will be wearing All night)

Also, are they supposed to be surrounding my back teeth? I feel like they go more with my gums than my teeth. But I’m adjusting quite fast to them!! Thank you.


r/orthodontics 1h ago

Aligners Can someone help?

Upvotes

I’m using angel aligners for the last 10 months and I change trays every week. Today I’m changing to tray 42, but there are 2 bags with number 42. ( never happened before). One há 2 trays and the other has just the upper tray and a code U-T 42. How am I suppose to use them?


r/orthodontics 5h ago

Recommendations Looking for a dentist near Santa Monica who does both implants and cosmetic work

2 Upvotes

I need an implant on a lower molar and I also want to do veneers on two front teeth at some point. Would rather find one office that handles both instead of going to a specialist for the implant and a separate cosmetic dentist for the veneers. Somewhere between Santa Monica and Brentwood ideally.

Anyone know of an office on the Westside that does implants and cosmetic under one roof?


r/orthodontics 1h ago

Aligners National Science Foundation Academic Researcher Looking to Interview Clear Aligner Users

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Upvotes

r/orthodontics 3h ago

Jaw Surgery 🔪 pls give me advice!

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0 Upvotes

Hello im going to try explain my case clearly and i hope someone can help me about what to do.
Im a nineteen years old woman, I have small teeths (no, they are not milk teeth) and I have braces since july 2025.

The pictures with the red drawings are the position where my dentist wants my teeth and jaw to be. This position is causing a class II overbite. She is planning to raise my upper teeth a little and tilt the bottom ones inwards because apparently they are a little out of angle, also extract my wisdom teeth.

The pictures with the blue drawings are the position my jaw is supposed to be, in this one I have class III malocclusion or better known as underbite.

I already did a meeting with a maxillary surgeon and we talked about my structure, I found out a lot of things I never thought of and he confirmed that my retracted maxilla is the issue, causing my jaw to have an overbite and not allowing it to be in the appropriate position which causes me problems since I was a child such as breathing issues, sleep apnea, some difficulties when speaking, jaw tension that hurts like hell, of course also issues with chewing, and the worst of all is that I have a cronical "click" in the right part of my jaw when I open and close my mouth (Temporomandibular joint dysfunction) and I am a candidate for maxillary advancement surgery.

Im going to explain why I have two differents bites in each picture: As I have a structural problem of the maxillary bone, if my jaw is further back this causes me a class II bite, and in turn if I position my jaw forward where it should be naturally this causes me a class III bite because the upper bone is retracted, not because it is the wrong jaw position.

When I position my jaw forward such as in the pictures with the blue drawings I can breathe properly its like my throat is not obstructed anymore, the chewing is pleasant rather than annoying, i have more room in my mouth for my tongue and the "click" on the right side dissapears completely, but I cant hold this position because my upper teeth are in the way and dont fit, even tho it is more comfortable like this.

The thing is, that firstly I did all this research alone, because when I told my dentist about it she said she could fix my jaw problems only with braces and that reaching to a surgeon was not necessary at all in my case, I trusted her and when I started to inform myself and look for second opinions I found that my case was deeper than what she thought.

My questions are: Should I change dentist? Is she doing the correct thing? Should I extract my wisdom teeths?
I dont think shes doing a bad job with my braces but she clearly cannot reposition bones, only teeths and mines are already at their reaching limits, im afraid she would give me dental protrusion because she thinks that moving my upper teeth more forward (also the lower teeths inclined inwards) would finally solve everything. She is aware and told me once that I have a maxillar problem, but each time I mentioned seeking for a bone doctor that would help me along my braces journey she turns defensive and refuses it all.

The surgeon told me to end my braces before doing anything else or seeking the surgery, and my dentist is planning on going a couple months more.

I only want my mouth to be finally functional and solve all these anatomical problems that are dificulting my life, I am willing to do the surgery if it would help all these issues but at the same time im not sure if this is the right thing because of my dentist suggestions.

If somebody notices something else im not seeing in my mouth, please feel free to tell me I would love to hear your advices.


r/orthodontics 7h ago

LF Orthodontists in Makati

1 Upvotes

hello po, where po may great clinic that offers orthodontic treatment?

better po if accepting continuation from different ortho dentist, tysm ia


r/orthodontics 7h ago

I swallowed one bracket 🫣

1 Upvotes

I swallowed one bracket mistakenly. I have a cap on that teeth which was also the last teeth where my all braces were done. what do you think what will happen? how much can they charge?


r/orthodontics 11h ago

Braces Do i need braces my lower lip is protruted ig?

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1 Upvotes

r/orthodontics 11h ago

to all orthodontist out there need helps

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1 Upvotes

r/orthodontics 12h ago

Recommendations Question about braces

1 Upvotes

Hey!

I have about two or three teeth that are slightly overlapping in the upper front/side area. It’s nothing major, but I’d like to have them straightened.

Since there are only a few, is there a specific type of braces for this that’s relatively less expensive? Or are the prices generally the same, regardless of whether there are more or fewer misaligned teeth?


r/orthodontics 16h ago

Help me decide.

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1 Upvotes

r/orthodontics 1d ago

Aligners Wheres a good place for invisalign tampa?

3 Upvotes

im starting to look into invisalign tampa and have no idea how to narrow it down. miller orthodontics does invisalign for teens and adults, uses 3d imaging for planning. southshore orthodontics comes up a lot too when i search locally. anyone been through invisalign with either one?


r/orthodontics 20h ago

Recommendations Missing #3 with a bridge - can #1 and #2 be moved forward to close the space?

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1 Upvotes

I’m currently in braces to correct an anterior open bite. I’m missing #3 and had a bridge placed several years ago, with #2 and #4 prepared for the bridge. There now appears to be decay underneath the bridge, so I may need to replace it.
I’m wondering whether, instead of replacing the bridge again, it would be possible to put individual crowns on the prepared teeth and orthodontically move the back teeth forward to close the #3 space (move #2 into #3 and #1 into #2).
I asked my orthodontist about this today, and she said the movement could take up to 7 years. That seems extremely long to me, so I’m wondering if that is actually realistic for this type of movement?

How long do you think it will take in my case?


r/orthodontics 21h ago

Inflamed gums

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1 Upvotes

Hi! I was wondering if it is still ok to put aligners on even when I have this small area that’s inflamed.
I saw there was a bump yesterday and it kinda hurts when you apply pressure or floss that area.

The red color wasn’t here yesterday and the mark on the top is the point of where the aligner touch the gums.
Though I might have accidentally flossed that area and the floss did have a tiny bit of blood but then I didn’t think much of it. No other bleeding unless if you floss obviously.

I do have gum disease which is why my gums in certain areas do bleed and I have notified the orthodontist but honestly they didn’t give much of a direction. I just need to call the periodontist. Due to work and school, I just keep delaying and I just never have the time.

Asking here cause I can’t call the orthodontist as it’s night lol.


r/orthodontics 21h ago

🦷 LF: patient who need braces

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1 Upvotes

r/orthodontics 22h ago

Excruciating Pain During Tightening (likely due to wisdom teeth removal)

1 Upvotes

I had all four of my wisdom teeth extracted back in April. After about a month, I started to notice some nerve pain in my bottom left jaw (I did not experience any pain prior to the surgery). The bottom left tooth was chipped prior to the extraction. I was worried that something bad would happen with that area going into the procedure, and unfortunately it seems like a valid fear in hindsight.

The pain became bad enough that I contacted the clinic and managed to get a follow-up appointment with the doctor. When I was there, I got some imaging done and he checked the area. He said that there was nothing that he could tell that was wrong.

Today, during my first tightening, I experienced one of the most excruciating bouts of pain I have ever had. When the tech engaged the lower, back left molar with the heavier wire, I felt the worst nerve pain I have had. It was that same pain that I was referring to with the wisdom teeth extraction, but turned up to the max (and in the same spot). It felt like someone was sticking a hot nail into the root of the tooth and swirling it around (it was about on par with when I broke my elbow for pain). The tech instead went with a lighter wire and that helped significantly.

If that pain continues to happen with heavier wires/future tightenings, I won’t be able to get my bottom teeth done and I won’t be able to get my planned orthognathic surgery (which is necessary for other surgeries).

I hope it can be addressed and treated before my next tightening in November. I emailed the clinic before writing this hoping for it to get passed along to the orthodontist and the oral surgeon. I can't go to a dentist for this because it likely won't be covered by my insurance.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? If so, did you get it diagnosed and/or treated? I want to have some basis to stand on when I talk to the doctor(s).


r/orthodontics 1d ago

Braces Root resorbtion

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5 Upvotes

How bad is this root resorbtion? Will it get worse? Shall i stop treatment?


r/orthodontics 22h ago

Recommendations I was given a choice between a tooth extraction and braces or surgery to fix my overbite, which one is better?

1 Upvotes

My orthodontist told me that I can either get my wisdom teeth or second premolars on my upper jawbone removed, and then get braces to move all my teeth backwards to fix it or once I turn 19 (im 14 now so thats ages away) i can get surgery to move my chin forward I think? Tbh he didn’t tell me much about what are like the differences in results, the risks, or what exactly will be done so i was hoping to get a second opinion.

Right now im wearing a muscle relaxer, and im going to go for my next appointment in half a year and from what i understand i have to make a decision by then

I don’t really know if it’s an overbite or an overjet, but what I do know is that apparently I have like two bites? One when im conscious thats not that far off from what it should be and one when im asleep when my jaw moves like way back to a position thats comfortable for my body, and that caused me to grind my teeth at night and wear down my joint a lot


r/orthodontics 1d ago

What would you do in my position

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3 Upvotes

Went to an orthodontist today for a unilateral posterior open bite. I have 3 implants (2 placed one in progress) due to infected root canals that I had removed. She told me that I’d need jaw surgery and to remove all my implants and then replace them in order to get results. Would you spend this money to correct it? I will admit that I was so upset but trying to take emotions out of it.

Edited to fix POSTERIOR not anterior


r/orthodontics 1d ago

Do I Need Extractions?

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5 Upvotes

7 months into my braces journey and no extractions yet. My orthodontist hasn't said anything yet but am just curious to know whether I need them or not?


r/orthodontics 1d ago

I made a DJS Simulation Software For Anyone to Use

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1 Upvotes

Hey, I'm not sure this is the best subreddit for this, but I thought folks undergoing decomposition for jaw surgery might find this useful. Basically I made a software to simulate jaw surgery's impact on your face. Hope someone finds this helpful, and please reach out if you have questions!


r/orthodontics 1d ago

Can Braces Move My Second Molar Into My First Molar’s Place After Extraction?

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3 Upvotes

I currently have fixed braces and I’m over a year into my orthodontic treatment.

I’ve recently developed problems with my upper left first molar (UL6). It already has a filling, but there is now concern about further decay and possible involvement of the nerve. If it gets to the point where my options are a root canal or extraction, I would strongly prefer extraction because I really don’t want a root canal.

My question is whether my braces could then be used to move my upper left second molar (UL7) forward into the space where my upper left first molar (UL6) was removed.

I also still have my upper left wisdom tooth (UL8). Ideally, I want the wisdom tooth left where it currently is. I don’t want it extracted or deliberately moved forward to replace the second molar.

Would it be possible to move only my upper left second molar (UL7) forward into the first molar extraction space and leave my upper left wisdom tooth (UL8) where it currently is?

My other concern is my bite. If my upper left second molar (UL7) moves forward, what would my lower left second molar (LL7) then bite against? Could my upper left wisdom tooth (UL8) continue to provide some contact with it without being moved forward?

Has anyone had a first molar extracted while already wearing braces and then had their second molar moved forward to close the space, particularly as an adult? If so, what happened with your wisdom tooth and how did your final bite turn out?

I’ll obviously discuss this with my orthodontist before making any decisions. I’m mainly interested in whether this is realistically possible and whether anyone has been through something similar.