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FAQ: Adult Orthodontics

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Question:
Open bite recurrence after orthodontic treatment: Before I had braces, I had extreme pain in my jaw and teeth.

There were times when it would get so stiff that my jaw would get stuck and I won't be able to open my mouth past an inch apart. After the braces, it got better but now a year later, I am getting the same problem back again.

My jaw cracks everytime I open and close my mouth and it seems more relaxed when open but I always try to close it and even squeeze it close but my pain gets worse and worse.What can I do to relieve this constant pain in my jaw?

Also it seems that my my top teeth are moving outward and my lower teeth are going inward causing all my teeth to not touch and more pain. ....Visitor from CA

Answer:
Teeth Moving After Orthodontic Care and Jaw Pain

The cause of the problem is that as teeth move the bite changes.

Moving teeth cause an unstable bite. Unstable bites lead to jaw joint pain. Some people take longer to get to full adult size. When orthodontic care is finished before growth stops, the teeth move as you grow.

You also mentioned that your bite is opening causing your teeth not to touch. Your bite and your jaw joint are not in harmony. If you want pain relief, you may need to go through orthodontic care again and get the bite stability that your jaw joint requires.

As you stated, "after the braces it got better" and now that your teeth have shifted the pain is getting worse. To relieve pain, you need to get to the cause of the problem. Get another consultation for orthodontics or possible bite reconstruction.

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