A question for people who had braces:

[Anonymous]

Do the orthodontist:

1. pull your teeth back (as a whole) so they go in?

2. grind your blunt tooth or round tooth so it has a nice horizontal line?

3. do something about your gums showing too much when you smile?

[Jonny_]

For the first question it depends on what you're having done, if you have under or overbite they're more likely going to shift the whole row back or forward... If it's only a chance of crooked teeth they will just line them up. I don't believe they do grinding, I have two round teeth and they're exactly the same as they were, only difference is that they're in line. As for your gums I don't believe braces alters them whatsoever, and a lot to do with your gums showing is probably more to do with how much you open your lips. I had braces for almost three years, my bottom teeth are going crooked again, I did have a retained, but it sliced my gum open and became a painful infection. By the time I could bare to use the retainer again it didn't fit anymore.

[jtwatson8]

Braces are normally applied to the face of the tooth so later it will move with the braces. So no they do not pull your teeth back before applying or grind your teeth down. When I had braces put on (they've been off for almost 3 years now) they applied a cement substance to the face of your tooth, applied the bracket, and went on to the next one until they were finished. After that they would attach your wire in the brackets tighten it and you are done. :D I hope this has helped!

[Anonymous]

1).They put spacers which hurted me SO BAD, for at least two weeks so that your back teeth could have enough space to put the metal bands.

2) No, well when you put braces for a long time your blunt/round teeth will eventually have nice a horizontal line, but they do nothing about it when first putting braces on.

3)No.

[kheserthorpe]

1) yes.

2) a little bit, but sparingly

3) no.