So I just got my braces off today and my top row of teeth stick out.
I've always noticed it while wearing the braces but I thought it just LOOKED like my teeth were slanting out because I had brackets on them.
But after taking it off, it became obvious that it was no optical illusion.

So I was just wondering if that's just the way teeth look right after braces and they just need a little time to shift back to normal or did the orthodontist do something funky?
And it if it was intentional, is it something I could request the ortho to fix with retainers?

I've worn braces for 5 years+, so I want them to be as nice as possible :o

What did the orthodontist say when he took the braces off? If nothing then I would call and nicely ask to speak to him if you feel you're years in braces haven't produced the results that you expected. You may have to check with another dentist to see what his opinion would be of your teeth. I know exactly how you feel when you've spent time, effort and money and not get what was either told you or what you expected and your family and friends told you so.
If you don't have money to have a second opinion check to see if there is a local dental school close enough for you to go to and have them check it out. Their fees are usually cheaper good luck

Wing,

You should definitely speak to your orthodontist and let him know you are not happy with the outcome.

If you don't get anywhere with him, ask for the set of models that were made with the very first impressions of your teeth (before braces). Take these models to another orthodontist for another opinion.

5 years is an awful long time for braces to be worn, you must have had a major malocclusion! 3 years is the longest I've ever known anyone to wear braces (the brackets only, not including any type of removable appliance).

Call your orthodontist today! Good luck!

Please let us know how it goes.

Ah, sorry for the REALLY late reply.

So when I went back the next day to get my retainers, I asked the ortho about it and he said it HAD to stick out because of the way my jaw is and if the teeth were straight down, I would have a severe underbite instead.

And recently I just received a letter with pictures of the before and after teeth from the ortho and it just fueled my dislike for my teeth new teeth =(

Actually, my teeth weren't that bad to start with since I've had braces before this ortho, just that my adult canine wasn't growing properly so they had to drill a hole in my gum and blahblahblah, which resulted in another 5 years of braces.

I've practically have had braces for half my life so I'm thinking I have the right to be anal about this.

And here are some pictures!

The before and after:
http://www3.telus.net/public/tsuilo/beforeafter.jpg
See how before my teeth were sort of turned in as opposed to now...
I wonder if it's just a part of growing up or what...
I think I was about 12 in the before picture and I'm 18 now...
I'd much rather have my teeth as it was before, even if it was a little misaligned =(

http://www3.telus.net/public/tsuilo/smile.jpghttp://www3.telus.net/public/tsuilo/upsmile.jpg
That huge gap on the right side (which is really my left) of the right picture bothers me a great deal

http://www3.telus.net/public/tsuilo/leftside.jpghttp://www3.telus.net/public/tsuilo/rightsmile.jpg
What I meant by my teeth sticking out. The left side is just bad =(

And a bad quality cam photo that emphasizes the slantiness
http://www3.telus.net/public/tsuilo/camsmile.jpg

Every time I look at the before and after pictures now, I feel agitation building up
And I'm VERY conscious about laughing and showing a big smile now, even more so then when I had braces on...
Maybe all this disappointment was self inflected as I was anticipating my brace-less smile too much =(

I'm going to be going back to the ortho for the 2 month retainer check in a few days
I was just wondering if it would be valid complaint if I asked him to turn my teeth back to more like how it was before, turning in instead of out...
And I don't really want to be seeing another dentist as I don't have the funds to
There is a dental department on campus where I go, but it would probably take another few K's to get it fixed the way I want...

Hmm... yeah some people have a skeletal relationship of their jaw so that the top jaw is small or the bottom jaw is big (sticks forward) We call it "retrognathic" or "Class 3"... so usually the teeth meet end-to end or even the top teeth are BEHIND the bottom ones... I guess to correct this, the orthodontist had to flare the front ones forward... im only a general dentist, but I can't see how else he could fix it (bring your impacted canine down) unless they did jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) or perhaps maybe they could extract an upper premolar and try to bring the top ones back a bit more, but its tricky... teeth have to be supported by bone, and the only way to move the bone around is with surgery (which you should try to avoid)

By the way I think you still have a great looking healthy smile, and you should not worry about it being perfect because no one is!

OH MY GOD I have the same problem as you. My front row of teeth are STICKING OUT! Not as bad as you... but still its disgusting and horrible. I shall complain to the dentist next week I see him! ALSO the retainer he gave me does not seem to be working as my teeth are still shifting with them on.

My daughter just went through this same situation. Got her braces off this year, only to be totally dissapointed that her teeth flare out top and bottom. Went for several months trying to get used to the look, but too disappointed so we are seeing new orthodontist who suggested two bicuspids removed from top and bottom to fix the flare. Here we go again 2 1/2 to 3 years of braces.

I hope you are asking for some kind of refund from the original orthodontist.

Actually he offered us the refund when I asked for the molds, x-rays and records, so yes.

Oh my gooshhh! This is exactly what is happenening to mee. I've had braces for 2 years &got them off in September 09', saw the results & I hated it! My front row is like yours! Before braces my top row actually curved in and touched my bottom teeth, I got so mad so I complained to them and they put it back on for me. They said they couldn't really do anything unless I got a tooth pulled which would provide space to push my teeth back.. and if not, putting braces back on would only fix it by a little.. it's alll bulllcrap to meee :( because before I never had a problem with an overbite or anything! So at this moment I AM wearing braces again and it's been 5 months already. I'm hoping so much that they fix it. And hopefully it turns out okk for you, good luckk!

Hi Wing Yi, I have the same problem of after braces experience - I expect my teeth to turn in a bit, but the upper row sticks out a little... I'm disappointed too, and feel like going to another doc to have another round (my family thinks I'm crazy)... however the bigger problem is that I don't really have the fund to do it now... anyway if possible just like to share experience... I don't think I'll give up yet in the quest for perfect teeth (my email's: [email protected] if we could keep in contact)... good luck and thanks...

It sounds like he realized things didn't go quite as expected. Congratulations for taking a stand and asking for the records! Good job!

I have the same problem too. They look gross and peple notice when I smile. I had braces when I was younger and had them for about 15 months. When I didn't have braces they didn't flare out and they looked arlight, I just needed them to be straightened out. I was really disappoinded when they came off and my retainer also does not seem to be doing its job. Mum and dad don't want to fix it but its effecting me by not wanting to smile for family pictures and school photos. I wish I didn't get braces until I was older.

My teeth are exactly the same, if not worse! My parents claim they don't see it but everyone else does.. I've had people at my high school even ask me about it multiple times. My own friends didn't believe I ever had braces! Which I did.. For three long years. The orthodontist even made a mistake in the process and I got them off then within three days I had them right back on. I don't have braces now though.. My mom and I went to get a opinion of a guy who does the surgery that fixes this (I can't remember exactly what his job position was called) and he said surgery and braces all over again is the only way to get it fixed. I'm trying to get my mom to take me to another person to get a second opinion, as I am now older than I was when we got the first opinion and my teeth flare has came back a tiny bit so I've been told.. But she's just making excuses at this point. It's frustrating because I know I have this issue yet she pretends not to see it.

Also my jaw juts out very far which is even more embarrassing..

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM! I got my braces off yesterday, and noticed it straight away. My orthodontist wasn't even there, his assistants were the ones that took mine off. Anyway, and she said that's the way my teeth are supposed to be otherwise my top lip would go in too much? I could smell the bull****. They are exactly the same amount pushed out as yours are. Everyone is noticing it and it makes me feel like I look like a horse! Lol. You can clearly see it in my retainer, the front teeth really stick out, and it's hard to pull off my retainer because the retainer isn't perfectly straight down on my front teeth, so I struggle to pull it out efficiently and it hurts too. It's definitely not right. I surely hope my orthodontist can fix it at no extra cost because I didn't pay $6000 to look like a horse. Yes my teeth are straightened, but not how I expected. I'm so glad I'm not the only one with this problem. Anyway my mum isn't happy either so she's going to make an oppointment with my orthodontist and we are going to discuss it. I hope I don't have to have braces AGAIN, and I don't see how they can fix the problem, since they caused the problem! :( I hope he offers me free Invisialign. He better! Anyway, thanks for making me feel better and knowing that I'm not alone :)

Same thing just happened to me. I'm afraid to get extractions though, I've read so many horror stories! I'm 19, going to be 20 soon. (fun time to have to get braces again, ugh)

My upper teeth also slant out.. I guess that is because I don't have my teeth extracted. I'm not satisfied!

I think you have a beautiful smile. I know that we are our own worst critics, but from an outsider's view you are BEAUTIFUL. I hope you smile as much as you can!