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[Guest guest]

I just wanted to say thanks to Liz and Ronda for your responses....my

daughter read them with me, and as I said before, every bit of

information helps.

I think we will be spending the next 2 weeks gathering everything we

can.

We are supposed to get all of her records, x-rays, models, any any

notes from her ortho before the consultation appt.

Thanks again, and we will keep you posted.

Pam

[Guest guest]

14 seems mighty young for these procedures, as it can be an issue

about whether the youngster is finished with her growth. Do be

certain to ask the surgeon about that.

Other things you'll want to know, in case he doesn't mention them:

Does he wire his patients shut? Band them? How tightly? Does he

usually use a splint (a little piece of plastic wired into the upper

brace to help the teeth and muscles find their places). If so, are

there any averages about how long?

What is his usual length of hospital stay for the patients?

How many of these procedures has he done? (Mine had done more than

1,700 when he got to me, and that was almost two years ago and he's

still at it.) More is usually, but not always, better.

Can you see pictures of his patients, before and after? Can you talk

with some who have had good results, and some who have not been so

satisfied? (If he has any of the latter.)

What are the risks, and what are the benefits. What are your child's

chances of keeping the orthodontic corrections, if she does not do

the surgery?

What hospital(s) does he work in, and what is the aftercare like in

the hospital? (It's tough to be in bed, in the middle of the night,

with a nurse who insists on taking an under-the-tongue temperature,

or who waits for you to speak through the intercom before getting you

another ice pack. I had excellent care in a special care unit, but

not everyone is so fortunate. If you are there with her, of course,

you can help deal with a lot of this.)

As for scheduling it, ask the surgeon about this, when you find out

what his time frame might be. If the ortho hasn't already prepared

her for surgery, she's probably in for some more treatment to get the

teeth in the right places for her post-op bite. Folks seem to find

that the time element is often not one that is predictable.

If it is something that concerns her, ask whether he uses a catheter

during and after the surgery. It's not a big worry, at least not for

women (or at least it wasn't for me -- I was glad to have it!) but

some youngsters, especially, are very frightened about it. If he

gives you a long time projection, some of these questions --

including this one -- can wait until closer to the time.

Good wishes,

Cammie

> I was wondering if anyone out there could offer us some insight.....

> My daughter, 14, is thinking about having this procedure. Our

first

> consultation will be May 6, and I would like for her to be as

> prepeared as possible.

>

> I am not exactly sure of all the terminology but, she has a

> underdeveloped upper jaw (one side)beleived to cause her slight

> crossbite and a very moderate underbite. She thinks they will only

> have to do something to her upper (again, this is all without

having

> had a concultation)and she doesn't think they will have to wire her

> only band.

>

> She had an expander for 1 year and has had braces for 3 years. Her

> ortho says he can't do anything else. We let her make the decsion,

> and she has decided that she wants to have the procedure, but I

> beleive she is not aware of all involved and she also wants it done

> at a special time in the summer and before school starts again

> (understandable) almost like she can rush this to make it work

> in " her " schedule.

>

> Anything offered will be better than what I've got now.

>

> Thanks,

> Concerned Mom (Pam)