Hey everyone,

I’m 20M and I’m posting here because I want informed opinions before I do something irreversible.

I’ve attached photos from multiple angles so you can judge for yourselves rather than me over-describing.

Main issues:

My jaw clicks when opening/closing

Bite doesn’t feel fully stable

Some asymmetry concerns

I was previously told by an orthodontist that I should extract a tooth and get braces, but that advice didn’t sit right with me

I’m not looking to rush into extractions or aggressive orthodontics without understanding the long-term facial and functional consequences.

I’m planning to visit an orthodontist again soon, but I want to go in educated and ask the right questions.

Also:

I’m aware my teeth look yellow. I recently got some money and plan to get professional whitening. The discoloration is mostly from the water I used to drink, not neglect.

What I’m asking from this sub:

Based on what you see, does this look more like a functional / TMJ / bite issue than a simple alignment problem?

Is jaw clicking something that should be addressed before braces?

What should I specifically talk about or ask when I see an orthodontist?

Are there non-surgical, non-extraction paths I should explore first?

I’d really appreciate serious, experience-based advice especially from people who’ve dealt with TMJ, orthotropics, or had to choose between extractions vs alternatives.

Thanks in advance.

  • You have severely underdeveloped arches. This is why your teeth are crooked - they do not have enough space.

    You desperately need expansion. Not just to avoid extractions, but to allow for better breathing capabilities in your future, and to develop your skull and face properly.

    I expanded myself at adult age (age 29), starting from a very underdeveloped point, using only my tongue. Both jaws grew in the process - this is seemingly always the case when expansion is achieved "naturally" (you will not find anyone on this list complain about having developed a crossbite: https://www.reddit.com/r/orthotropics/comments/15rv31p/comment/ke8p0nv/)

    I applied upwards pressure with my tongue against the entire hard palate as well as against the anterior portion of the soft palate, for most of my time awake. I learnt to do so subconsciously, which made the process quite manageable. To reach that point, I first needed to work hard on my tongue strength and tongue reach. I explain a bit more about it here: https://www.reddit.com/r/orthotropics/comments/1puaey0/comment/nvnqsvd/

    There are other means to aid the process. Many expansion devices exist. Amongst professionals that affiliate with Orthotropics, removable expansion devices that can be combined with tongue engagement are popular (even in adults). Some examples would be the DNA/Vivos appliances, the Homeoblock appliance, as well as the Biobloc.

    There are more invasive options as well, such as the MARPE type expanders. For more info, see r/MARPE and r/MaxillaryExpansion. If you expand your maxilla using a more invasive approach, you can always assume that your lower arch will not adapt in the process, meaning that you will need a plan for how your lower arch will expand to match the upper. Based on what I know, devices can be used for this in the lower arch to some extent.

    parent

    Thanks for the detailed explanation. That makes sense conceptually. One practical issue for me is availability and cost where I live (India). MARPE is actually quite common here and relatively affordable (around ~$300 due to cost of living), but the other appliances you mentioned (DNA/Vivos, Homeoblock, Biobloc) seem to be either not available or tied to private companies/clinics that are extremely expensive. I honestly doubt most orthodontists here even work with those systems. Given that, what’s your take on non-surgical conventional expanders (the kind typically used in children) used very slowly in adults, combined with tongue posture and myofunctional work? I know skeletal change would be limited, but could they still provide meaningful dental/alveolar expansion or functional improvement, or is that mostly a dead end at this age? I’m trying to balance what’s biologically ideal with what’s realistically accessible where I live.

    parent root

    Does Biobloc provide palate expansion ?

    parent root

  • You don’t need extractions bro you need expansion, your pallete is very narrow

    parent

    I agree I want to avoid extractions. I’m just trying to figure out which type of expansion actually makes sense at my age and how to approach it safely.

    parent root

  • Super narrow bite , you shouldn’t have any problem getting some kind of expander, you will likely need for both upper and lower don’t extract try to get expansion , do you have allergies /asthma or fibrosis ?

    parent

    I haven’t really heard of a true lower jaw expander either from what I understand the mandible can’t be expanded skeletally like the maxilla, mostly just dental/alveolar changes. As for airway issues: yes, I’ve had recurrent bronchitis that flares up almost every year around March, and I’ve also had chronic sinus issues. The sinus symptoms have improved over time using thumbpulling, but my nose still gets blocked when I sleep on my left side, so I mostly sleep on my right. That’s part of why I’m taking expansion seriously and trying to understand the airway/TMJ side of things, not just tooth alignment.

    parent root

  • EXPANDER TOTALLY NEEDED. A advice from me? If you cant find a ortho that supplies then use getexpanded.org cause a HUGE problem i see is everyone always says "need expander" but never tells you how to find a ortho that supplies expander. Also seriously watch out for orthos who say "you only need braces" cause trust me when i say this, the orthodontic market is mostly build on shit and lies to sell you more shit which gives you 0 health benefits.

    parent

    I checked getexpanded.org, but unfortunately there’s no provider listed in my city. That’s part of the problem for me a lot of these expansion-friendly options don’t seem accessible where I live. And yeah, I agree with you about being cautious. The dentist I saw was very quick to push extractions + braces immediately, without really discussing TMJ, expansion, or alternatives. which is why I stepped back and didn’t proceed. I’m trying to find an orthodontist who actually considers expansion and airway, not just straightening teeth.

    parent root

    To be fair i dont have a ortho in my city either, im just willkng enough to move between 2 states to do this. You could try but if you cant find one then id seriously consider reaveling long distances for that

    parent root

  • Don’t get extractions. They’ll ruin your face. Braces can be obtained without extractions

    parent