So a dentist put my braces in and I have very bad teeth. I have an overbite and an overlapped tooth meaning that one of my bottom teeth is being pushed back and replaced by my top tooth and my teeth are also very crowded along with this. My parents did not know that the dentist was a dentist and were told that he was an orthodontist, and yet he is not an orthodontist. They found this out after the braces were put in. I am worried that my teeth will not be fixed properly because at first, they:
Did not give me a pixie brush or tool to show me how to brush my teeth with my braces.
They did not give me any way to brush my teeth or did not tell me any info on how to care for my braces either
They did not know how to even cut the wire when I came in to ask to get it cut again because it was cutting my cheek and it hurt a lot and caused bleeding.
The glue on the front teeth fell off and now I have 2 teeth that aren't even attached to the bracket
They left a tooth off of the wire because "it was too bad to fix so they were going to do it next time", and I am not sure if they are going to do this. Frankly, I just want my teeth straight but I am not sure if these guys are qualified for the job.
They did the X-rays and all the prep for the braces the day of and it seemed like the dentist had little time to plan on what to do with my teeth. Also, it has been 3 months since they said they were going to attach the other tooth and they still did not fix it and the tooth just got pushed back another 2-3 mm. 1 other tooth is being pushed back too and my teeth are not being fixed.
They put blue pegs on the back of my teeth which did not allow my jaw to fully close and then after I asked how to eat despite not being able to close my mouth, they said "chew with my back teeth" even though I only have 2 points of contact to chew and those points are the two pegs. I know that these are spacers and they are necessary but I asked how they were going to allow me to eat with my back teeth after the braces were put in and they said “don’t worry we will fix that when the problem comes”
When my brothers peg fell off his tooth within the first day he went into the office asking for it to be fixed and they refused to do it as they did not know how and said to wait for the "orthodontist" although he isn't an orthodontist. For them to fix this it would have taken 10 seconds as all it is a small little cement peg put on the tooth to stop the mouth from closing.
After a few weeks, that one tooth that is overlapped by the top tooth has been pushed back and is now rubbing against another tooth and it is very worrisome because my Dad said they might have to remove the tooth.
Every visit more problems occur. The bonding on the tooth fell off a total of 6 times. 2 times on my front teeth, twice on my side teeth and another 2 times on my other side teeth. I don’t eat anything hard and it only breaks from me brushing my teeth very lightly.
The bracket fell off the tooth but stayed on the wire more then 2 times. I could physically move the bracket along my teeth.
What should I do? My parents can not get a refund and they even said that they cheaped out but they were told that the service they would be getting is the exact same and they told us that the dentist was a certified orthodontist. I am scared for my teeth and I am worried they are going to make it worse. I have only had my braces for 3 months and so many problems have risen. Are my braces cheap and is the care cheap too?
First, find out for sure if this person is an orthdontist or not. If he is not, and if your parents have paperwork saying he is, you should be able to appeal to your state’s dental association. Even if he is an orthodontist, given the poor care you’re receiving, you may be able to appeal there as well. There should be some method of filing a complaint. Poke around online to find [Your State] Dental Association and see what they have to say.
Edited to add: Once I posted, the post below also posted. I agree with that suggestion first – see if they can answer your questions, explain the process. If they can’t, then go to the State Dental Association.
It sounds like you have not been given an overall plan for your care. Before your next appointment call and tell them that you would like someone in the practice to take ten minutes to explain to you the steps in your teeth straightening process and the anticipated timeline. Bring a pen and a notebook to your appointment and write down what they say. Tell them you are concerned about the tooth that they appear to be ignoring and see what they plan to do about it.
Ask why the cement keeps letting go and what you can do about it.
It’s possible you have a terrible dentist who is going to ruin your teeth but it is unlikely. It may just be that you need a better understanding of the process and they should be able to provide that.
Much of what you mentioned, while painful, is typical. Those blue pegs on the back of the teeth are bite blocks/turbos. They’re one of the biggest frustrations for people in braces but are useful for correcting bite problems, especially bad overbites. Waiting some time to wire in teeth that are severely crooked or misaligned is also common. I have two teeth that weren’t bracketed (just loosely attached with something my orthodontist called “lollipops”) until something like six months into treatment; once those brackets were added, my progress moved much faster, but it would have been counterproductive for them to be bracketed before other teeth had been aligned to make space. Teeth also adjust in bizarre ways during treatment. It may seem that things are getting worse before they get better, but this is all part of orthodontic science, so to speak.
Now, that isn’t to say that your concerns are unfounded. They should have shown you how to care for your teeth during treatment, and I’m surprised that you were x-rayed the day that your brackets were put on but not earlier in your consultations. Do investigate the credentials of your provider and ask around.
Yes, I’d get a second opinion from another orthodontist. (If you are near your state university, and they have a dental clinic, see if the FACULTY - not students - have a clinic for the public - I’ve had good luck getting second opinions there).
That said, I’ve filed a complaint with a state dental board in the past, and they don’t do much more than warning in my experience. In my state the database of complaints is private! I think you can ask if there have been other complaints about this care provider, but they won’t give you details. And the people on the panel are all dentists - I’m not convinced they are going to police their own very harshly. So don’t assume filing a complaint would get you any financial relief or even get the provider in much trouble.
Agree that you should be seeking out another opinion, perhaps 2, from other orthodontists, not internet strangers. Even if someone who responds to your post is an orthodontist, I would ignore any response other than seeking out another first hand opinion(s).
I also wouldn’t be filing any complaints with state boards at this point because even if they investigate, that won’t address your immediate treatment concerns. I mean a state board isn’t going to step in immediately and tell the dentist what he should be doing for you. If anything at end of an investigation which could take months, they may institute some disciplinary action against dentist (eg suspension/loss of license), but how does help you now. Again find other non internet orthodontic opinion(s). Good luck.
As soon as I read the person putting braces on your teeth is not an orthodontist I cringed. If this is true, immediately get the braces taken off. Not only should you be going to an orthodontist but go to a board certified one.
I have gone through orthodonture twice - once as a child and again as an adult. Not all treatments are equal. It truly matters to be with the right professional.
Take care of this immediately. You are correct in that damage could be happening to your teeth.