Flared teeth normal?

[dopeysgem]

Nine year-old son had expanders 11 months ago. Then braces on top to straighten the front adult teeth. All good until a few weeks ago at the last adjustment and now we’re seeing his top two left teeth (right side in pic) starting to flare or lift. They’re sticking out enough that it’s protruding his lip. Much more noticeable when you look at him from the side or when he talks.

Is this normal when he’s almost done with his year of braces? The other side is not shifting. Just want to be sure this is expected and not something we need to rush back to the doctor about. Thanks!

 

[Dr M]

The best option would be to discuss this with the orthodontist, since he is the only that knows the treatment plan. In my opinion, towards the end of treatment, the teeth should be more or less stable. Protrusion might be part of the plan if you take into consideration the angulation of the bottom incisors, but I would contact the orthodontist to make sure.

 

[dopeysgem]

Thanks. We plan to call. The four front teeth haven’t moved much in several months and now suddenly two are flaring and almost like goofy, honestly. He’s in pain when he brushes and sometimes when he eats. Just seems odd to be moving so much now. I guess I need peace of mind that this is the correct plan.

 

[Dr M]

The pain that he is experiencing, might be due to the movement of the teeth. This should subside again once everything is stable.

 

[dopeysgem]

Saw the orthodontist. She acknowledged the wire/coil was too strong or tight. His teeth never should’ve been moved so far forward. They’re in the process of bringing them back and depending how things go, they might extend his treatment plan another month to make sure they’re secure.

There’s a noticeable gap on the backside of his tooth by the gum. You can see how far it was pushed forward. Is there any worry about the integrity of his tooth at this point? Basically, will any gaps fill in and go back to the firm hold he had before? Thanks!

 

[Dr M]

If the tooth was moved too fast, there is a possibility that there might be some root resorption visible. This is a common risk with orthodontic treatment. We would need an x-ray to confirm this.

 

[dopeysgem]

Let’s say that happened. What kind of issue can it pose to his tooth/teeth long-term? Is it an aesthetic issue or does it leave his teeth Vulnerable to potential problems? Thanks!

 

[Dr M]

Most of the times you will see shortened tooth roots on an x-ray. The teeth can be stable even if the roots are shortened. But there is also a tiny chance that they can become mobile over time, depending on the amount of resorption. I would advise regular check ups, with a panoramic x-ray once a year.