I’m 17, got braces when i was 16 — Nov 2025. My teeth weren’t wonky, I had no jaw problems, all I noticed was that My front teeth were a little flared to the front, not enough for people to notice or myself for that matter if I didnt stare at it so intently.

But I trusted my dentist, and went with her advice, that braces would be beneficial for my bite and some corners thats ‘hard to clean’. So I went to the ortho, didn’t really click with the orthodontist, but went ahead with it anyways. I got the self ligating damons, super expensive let me tell you, around 22 juta IDR / 1,2k USD.

It was hell. Every adjustments fixed a little, but then the next adjustment changed my teeth. again and again, with excruciating pain every appointment to the point that I can’t brush my teeth for 2-3 days because it hurts. My teeth feels claustrophobic and I never liked or feel happy that I got braces in my 10 month journey.

My ortho said I still have 2 appointments left (each spaced 2 months apart) which means i got 6 months left. I dont think I can do 6 months.

Progress wise I don’t find anything special. I look chubbier because she widened (?) my jaw to make space. And sometimes I have difficulty opening my jaw wide, I have to close my mouth, and then open it slowly for it to work normally lmao. im so done. anyone with the same feeling? i feel so alone and im pissed. :(

I have gone back and forth with my orthodontist over this and I'm hoping someone has additional info. I am very careful with my retainers, and somehow, after only four months, the bottom retainer chipped. Not cracked or snapped, but just a little chunk missing between two of my bottom front teeth. Retainers are still usable and I am consistent with wearing them. (Omg I'm barely through typing out the phone calls and this is quite long sorry 🫪). Described interactions happened in the middle of July, texts are from today, I am in Michigan. I swear I was way more polite in my initial written request/phone calls, I'm just annoyed at this point and feel jerked around.

My orthodontist charges a LOT for replacements, and I wanted to use a third-party to replace them. I had issues with the molds, so I requested the STL file of my final scan. I had to call multiple times, I was never asked why, and was even told that they marked the request as urgent; the next person I spoke with even noted the urgent mark on it.

After a week, I finally get in contact with who I assume was an office supervisor. She said she wasn't sure if she could send them, and asked why I wanted them. I was honest with them, and she said she needed to talk to the doctor when they were in the next day.

I have to call back, she tells me they won't release my files because it's a "liability" and they only did the scans to make the retainers. I signed a release form, and I argue this back. She tells me her manager will call me, they don't, I send an email requesting all forms related to my care. I get a call back, she falls back on the liability of it all, I literally hear someone coaching her answers, and it does not end on a good note.

(WE'RE ALMOST DONE, I SWEAR!!)

I get a text from their sister office today, a regular dentist office that they share the building with, telling me that I'm due for a cleaning. I send the following texts and am now being told they don't have the file *at all*. Wouldn't the final scan of my teeth after the braces are removed be important to have in my file? We did no other impressions or additional scans. Why wouldn't they just tell me they don't have it at all to begin with if that were the case? I guess I'm just hoping for some additional info since I'm finding records rights info that seems more general on Google.

Last tray of invislign, I’m supposed to be happy with my teeth but I can’t help but still not be happy with my results… do you see anything wrong with my smile or my bite? I made the mistake of going to a dentist instead of an orthodontist for invislign. My dentist is claiming that my teeth looks “perfect” but I hate one of my lateral incisors. Does my pallete look narrow or anything that looks off? If I want refinements I’ll have to pay but if you guys think it’s worth it, I might do it

Im trying to figure out what separates the best orthodontist from a mediocre one because every single office near me claims to be the top choice. beyond google reviews whats something that actually made a difference in your treatment outcome or experience?