Case Study: A Need For Braces. . .But Anxiety Was High!

A 20-year-old male with complex dental concerns needed braces but was anxious from the start and worried about the outcome. He had been told he would need orthognathic (jaw) surgery.

Patient. Joseph is a young adult male who had impacted canine teeth, a posterior cross bite and an under bite. He knew braces would improve his appearance and his health, but he worried about the process and whether or he’d get the results he wanted without jaw surgery.

Problem. Joe’s narrow top jaw left his canine teeth impacted. Besides needing braces to align the teeth, Joe needed an arch expander to allow the teeth to come in and to help with proper alignment. Other orthodontists had previously told Joe that he was too old for an expander.

Solution. The doctors at Baltimore Orthodontic Group agreed that the first step of Joe’s treatment should be the expansion of his top jaw. A quad helix expander was used to provide more room for Joe’s teeth to align properly and correct his posterior crossbite. A full upper and lower innovation bracket system was then used to align his teeth and make more room for the impacted canines. Joseph was referred to an oral surgeon to help expose his impacted canine teeth. The doctors at Baltimore Orthodontic Group were then able to tether the teeth to bring them into proper position.

Process. Joseph originally started working with Baltimore Orthodontic Group in December of 2021. His braces were removed in July of 2024. Joseph’s teeth alignment was a more complex case. Knowing this, it was important for Joe to feel comfortable with the group performing orthodontic care and to have the trust in his doctors.

Result. Joseph’s smile, alignment and appearance improved significantly. Joe considered the end result very successful. According to Joseph,

“I was very nervous going into treatment as an adult, especially since my case included the need for an oral surgeon. Throughout my entire treatment, Dr. Kyser and his team were so encouraging. That encouragement helped convince me that I would have the best result. The entire Baltimore Orthodontic Group has been great and I am very happy with how my smile turned out. Really, it was difficult to envision the final outcome while going through treatment, but I am so happy in the end that I decided to trust the process and the people and stick with it all!"