Question:

I have been booked in for surgery next month but I cannot undergo it due to falling pregnant. I have worn braces for three years and I'm not happy with my tooth holes. Is there another way to get a new bite and maybe new teeth without surgery?

Answer:

This depends very much on the degree of underbite you have. Most often, orthognathic surgery and orthodontics are the best approach, and although it's sometimes a long and arduous process, the results can mean a significant improvement in appearance and overall function.

In selected cases, the bite can be manipulated by opening it with restorations that will reshape the teeth. This too is a complicated process, but the correction of the underbite is achieved by bulking out the upper teeth and opening the bite to lessen the discrepancy between upper and lower teeth. This is most often achieved by fitting crowns to several or all teeth, and I must stress that this solution is not without its own complications, including cost and limited longevity.

Unless there is actually an issue with the condition or appearance of your teeth that needs to, or should be addressed by comprehensive restorative treatment, then you would be well-advised to stick to the original treatment plan that you have already started and consented to.

No doubt your specialist team has treated your condition to this point after some very careful diagnosis, planning and treatment. It would be unwise to abort the treatment at this stage without further detailed consultation or second opinion.

In short, there is no easy way out of a complex problem. You need to understand and assess your options and consequences very carefully before deciding on aborting or postponing your treatment.

For more information please visit Dr Angelo Lazaris's website.