Patient #3 DEEP OVERBITE (vertical incisor overlap) “Gummy” tooth smile
PRE-TREATMENT
Facial Profile: Good
Dental: Deep overbite, space insufficient for teeth and the parents are concerned about the “gummy” smile as seen in the smiling photograph.
Patient #3 PROGRESS
Facial Profile: The lower lips are protruding but the “gummy” smile improved.
Dental: Overbite improved and cuspids are erupting.
This patient was treated to this point to change the “gummy” smile. Now we will address the crowding and lip protrusion by extracting two upper and two lower teeth.
Patient #3 POST-TREATMENT
Facial Profile: Profile looks good
Dental: The bite and smile look great.
This patient was treated to address a) his facial concerns and b) treat his bad bite (malocclusion). Through orthodontics and growth we accomplished changes that had treatment been postponed until adulthood jaw surgery would have been needed to achieve similar results.
Patient #3 Success Story
“Brace face”, “railroad tracks”, “metal Mouth”; were only some of the things that I was called when I first got my braces on. That was six years ago, when I was in the fifth grade and braces were not popular yet. Hardly anyone I knew had these pieces of wire and metal wrapped around their teeth. Well anyway, my teeth were pretty messed up I guess you could say. Then I met Dr. Guess and my whole life changed around; it got worse. Just kidding. No really, Dr. Guess has had to put up with me for several, so you have to give the man some credit.
It all started off with the choking experience in the IMPRESSIONS! After peeling what was left over from the impressions off my face, I got my first set of braces on my teeth. After a little gluing and tying, I was off to set off airport security checks. I thought my love life would be over, but then I remembered; I did not have one. Visit after visit, and pain after more pain, there was a little bit of improvement. I was excited until I heard the words “head gear” being talked about. Well I only ended up having to wear for a little more than a month, so it was not that bad. I felt like one of those dogs with satellite dishes around their heads because that dumb head gear stuck so far out of my mouth!. But what I did not know was that I would be lucky enough to wear them for a second time. I actually began to notice a lot of improvement because I had to start wearing rubber bands. These tugged at my teeth while I was awake, while I slept and yea, even when they were not on at all!
I think the hardest part of all about getting braces was not being able to eat what I was used to eating. At first I was so good about not eating nuts, chewing gum, or eating any other hard items. Then I said forget this, and ate what I pleased. I must have done pretty well, because I think I have only broken about seven brackets, which is good compared to my sisters twelve. Braces do not cause too many problems that I can remember. I fell snowboarding once, and they made a gash in my mouth. The biggest problem was probably trying not to get food stuck in them. It seems that no matter how hard you try, there would always be food stuck in those brackets. But if you really think about it, these are a small price to pay, (besides the cash) , to have a great looking mouth, I used to be a nerd with a huge overbite, and now I am a nerd with straight teeth! Now I will be able to pick up the women folk; well, maybe not. Anyway, I would like to thank the staff and especially Dr. Guess for putting up with my tardiness, grumpiness and the rest of the stuff that has happened over treatment. Thank you all. And I now leave you my sister to torture and play games with; but I’ll be back!