[Bonita--]

I went to the orthadontist today, and he was looking at my teeth and said something about my gums but I didn't quite understand what he said, so maybe someone can explain it to me. I wear braces, I have had them for a year and a half now. My teeth are pretty straight, but he said something like because my upper row was so overcrowded before, when the teeth moved to how they are now it caused my gums to do something weird, and now there are spaces between my teeth. He said he was going to get rid of it, he took this tool it looked like a little pizza cutter with sharp edges and he went between my teeth. It sounded like a loudddd drill in my mouth. Now I can see spaces between some of my teeth, and he told me to wear kangaroo elastics which are worn in the shape of a triangle. I was just wondering if anyone knew what was he doing to my gums? :confused:

[flossie]

Sorry Bonita, without being there or seeing what your gums looked like I can't tell you what it was he's done. If you are a minor, I'd suggest you have your parent call and ask the orthodontist what he did and why.

[Bonita--]

Well I'm 19 so I could ask him myself, but I don't want to go all the way there just to ask lol, and it would be pretty hard to talk to him on the phone because he's very busy. I was just curious because the last time I went in January he said my braces could possibly come off the next time I go in, and then when I went in he said something about my teeth having too much space between them and he's going to take out my gums between the teeth to make it so there are no spaces, or something along those lines. Have you ever heard of that before?

[flossie]

Can't say that I have. To me though, if he "takes out gums" the spaces will be bigger??

[Bonita--]

Hmm. Yes, I thought that maybe like he was taking them out so when my upper row shifts in more the spaces will close up because the gum isn't there anymore. It sounded like he was trying to say something like that, but maybe I'm wrong.

[flossie]

I guess you'll just have to stop him in his tracks at your next visit and have him explain what he did so you can understand.

[Bonita--]

Yea I'll ask him for sure, unfortunately I have to wait 6 weeks. Thanks anyway though.

[flossie]

WOW! That's a long time between appointments! Have ALL you appointments been 6 weeks apart?? The orthodontists I know tend to keep appointments within a 4 week time frame.

[Bonita--]

Six weeks is actually a short time for me. I used to go every 8-10 weeks until January when I started going every 6-8 weeks. I won't be back in the office until April 1st..