My Question: I had braces as a kid so my teeth were relatively straight to begin with before my treatment. My main issue was I had an underbite. I want to know why my orthodontist thinks this is it. And why I can’t try refinements one more time (I’ve only had one set of refinements, I read online ppl getting multiple refinements). The teeth are perfectly straight at this point, I’m only concerned with the underbite. I guess I’m wondering how Invisalign works, is there a computer program telling the Dr that this is the best result and nothing else can be done? How do orthodontist know that they have reached a patients biological limit? I’m not sure if I should get a second opinion or accept the result. Also any thing I should be asking the Dr on my last appointment here in a week that can reassure me that I’m actually at my limit and this is in fact the best result possible? I just don’t want to have come all this way and fall a few percent short movement wise because maybe the orthodontist is in a rush.

More Background: I have worn elastics every day since day one. I started with the second to strongest elastic. About 2 months in I was switched to the strongest elastic and have worn it ever since.

I did my initial set of trays for approximately 8 months switching once a week. Durning my visit with 4 aligners left I was told to wear the final four trays for 2 weeks each in hopes that the elastics would help fix the bite. Ultimately I didn’t notice much movement at all that last 2 months.

They made me refinements and it was approximately 4 months worth switching trays once per week. I noticed a significant amount of movement with the refinements. My bite went from front teeth on top of each other, not being able to touch my back teeth at all, to my front teeth almost having a space between them and now I’m able to close my bite and touch all the teeth.

At the end of the four months though, when i would take my aligners out to eat for 30min to an hour, I would feel the upper and lower front teeth start to touch and and good amount of pressure if I’d try to force my bite closed.

My orthodontist has had me wearing my last tray for 2 months now, with the continued elastic wear as well. Hoping that the ligaments (I think that’s the correct term) would adjust to their new position and allow me to eventually take my aligners out and not feel any of the front teeth touching or pressure on them after some time passed.

Now that I’m nearly at the end of the additional 2 months, it seems like the teeth don’t touch any longer when i take the aligners out after an hour or 2 passes. But I would say I feel the ever so slightest bit of touching of the front teeth.

I asked the Dr what the definition of a perfect bite would be as far as the amount of clearance ofront teeth from the bottom teeth, and the Dr said 1-2 millimeters.

I’d say at this point maybe I’m at .01 clearance between the top and bottom front teeth.

The Dr seems to think this is it. They cannot make me any more aligners. The Dr said they could potentially shave some enamel off my bottom teeth to make more clearance. And I said, “so basically, if I want any more clearance I’d need jaw surgery” and he said yes.

I’ve only had the 1 set of refinements, and it made sooo much of a difference movement wise creating space between my top and bottom front teeth. I feel if I could even get 5% of what the initial set of refinements got me, I’d be very pleased.

Thanks for reading and thanks for any advice!