questions about banding -- lower jaw setback

[Guest guest]

Hi all. I had my lower jaw set back 5 mm on July 15th and I have a

few questions about being banded shut.

I am currently wired shut without a splint right now but I have an

appointment with my OS this Thursday and he is going to replace the

wires with rubber bands and is not going to put in a splint. My

total treatment time is 6 weeks.

My questions are:

1. I have guidewires on my braces that have little hooks (I have 11

on the top and on the bottom). When the OS says he is going

to " band " my teeth shut is he going to band EVERY tooth? Am I going

to replace wires with 11 rubber bands or is he just going to put two

or three rubber bands on to hold my teeth together?

2. I have read a lot of messages on this group and when some people

get banded they can open their mouth a teeny bit (like 1 finger

width) is this something that the OS gives you permission to do or

is it just that you can open your mouth only that much?

3. It also sounds like from the messages, people who have their

lower jaws wired shut are usually " tightly banded " for the entire 6

weeks with no way of opening their mouths at all? Is this true?

I know I'll find these answers out on Thursday, but I'd like to have

an idea in advance if possible.

Thanks!

Helen

[Guest guest]

Hi Helen,

Your surgeon will probably do something like a box-shaped banding,

where several teeth on top will be banded in conjunction with one or

more teeth on the bottom (or vice versa). The exact configuration of

banding depends on the individual case. I had three bands (2 box

shaped on each side, and one in a sort of triangle at the front), but

I know of others like Cammie who turned into a sort of " Hannibalette "

(as she called herself) with the configuration of bands her surgeon

chose.

I can't answer whether or not you'll be able to open your mouth at

all - that again will depend on your surgeon. You may be able to

remove the bands when you eat and replace them. If so, make careful

notes as to which teeth the bands are hooked onto (my elastics

package had a chart on the back that I drew on). Also ask for a

plastic hook to make taking them off and putting them on easier.

Hope you get the green light for some soft no-chew, like scrambled

eggs or fish (yes, I did fish as a no-chew).

> Hi all. I had my lower jaw set back 5 mm on July 15th and I have a

> few questions about being banded shut.

>

> I am currently wired shut without a splint right now but I have an

> appointment with my OS this Thursday and he is going to replace the

> wires with rubber bands and is not going to put in a splint. My

> total treatment time is 6 weeks.

>

> My questions are:

>

> 1. I have guidewires on my braces that have little hooks (I have

11

> on the top and on the bottom). When the OS says he is going

> to " band " my teeth shut is he going to band EVERY tooth? Am I

going

> to replace wires with 11 rubber bands or is he just going to put

two

> or three rubber bands on to hold my teeth together?

>

> 2. I have read a lot of messages on this group and when some

people

> get banded they can open their mouth a teeny bit (like 1 finger

> width) is this something that the OS gives you permission to do or

> is it just that you can open your mouth only that much?

>

> 3. It also sounds like from the messages, people who have their

> lower jaws wired shut are usually " tightly banded " for the entire 6

> weeks with no way of opening their mouths at all? Is this true?

>

> I know I'll find these answers out on Thursday, but I'd like to

have

> an idea in advance if possible.

>

> Thanks!

>

> Helen

[Guest guest]

Hi it's Helen again. Thanks for everyone's words of encouragement.

Good news, today I only cried a few times (briefly) about it. I

went to work again today for 1/2 a day and my co-workers are great.

Jut like this group they are very supportive and also help me keep

things in perspective. Yes, this in inconvenient and frustrating

but no it is not permanent and no it is not anything like a dread

disease. I tend to be somewhat of a dramatist and very emotional

(as you have read), but strong. Stronger than I think I am. I keep

comparing this to the first 6 weeks of life with a newborn (which I

experienced about 11 months ago with the birth of our son). I

survived that! Surely, I can survive 4 more weeks of my jaw being

banded shut!

Anyway, I'm feeling a little better today. THANKS so much for your

kinds words .

Helen

> > --

> >

> > Well, I had my appointment with my OS today and it was very

> > depressing. He took off the wires but rubber banded my teeth

> > together with about 20 rubber bands. I do look like " hannibal

> > lechter " . I am very depressed right now. He told me that he

> needed

> > to do this to help with positioning my teeth (he said it would

> > reduce my post op orthodontics work down from about 2 years to 5-

6

> > months). Sounds good but right now, I'd almost say, you know

what,

> > I'll take the 2 years othodontics rather than 4 more weeks of

> > nothing but a liquid diet and looking like some kind of freak.

I

> am

> > so upset right now. Not only do I look worse than I did with

the

> > actual wires, but I can't talk as well either and all my teeth

> > hurt. Bands are supposed to be progress over wires? I don't

get

> > it. The final blow was when he said that I might not be banded

> shut

> > for just 4 more weeks (which would make 6 weeks total) but I

could

> > be banded shut for longer (depending on how my bite looks in 4

> weeks

> > when he removes the bands and puts only 2 on as " guides " . Right

> now

> > actually, I am just typing here and crying about the whole

> > situation. I am feeling sorry for myself and really doubting

> myself

> > about this whole procedure anyway.

> >

> > Sadly,

> >

> > Helen

[Guest guest]

Hey Helen,

Your baby and mine are about the same age. Grace is just about to

turn 11 months. WILD WOMAN she is.

I am banded also, and am 5 weeks post surg. i am not banded in front,

all along the sides. i really was getting in the dumps about the food

thing and you would not beLIEVE the food i have blended. I had pizza

the other night. i blend EVERYTHING. Yesterday i jammed some very

finely cut up turkey breast from the deli and it was the best turkey

i have ever tasted. i had it again at 10pm, and again today for

lunch. i am cutting it so quickly to feed to my baby and also for me,

it's laborous, but i am trying to get a little more chunkier food in

there. i am not even one finger width open. there is a little play in

my jaw, but i cannot chew.

One thing i want to say is, at least for me, it HURTS to cry. all

those muscles in your jaw area, they just are uncomfortable during

that " activity " . so think next time, chin up (ha) and take a deep

breath and think of all of these people out here who are actually

going through the same thing as you. It really is amazing. You want

to hear something? I am a teacher and have to go back to work like

this in 3 weeks. i am quite nervous as my speech is still off and i

have not yet gotten permission to remove my bands, they are on there

all the time. UGH.

Keep up the positive attitude, this too shall pass, one day at a

time.

> > > --

> > >

> > > Well, I had my appointment with my OS today and it was very

> > > depressing. He took off the wires but rubber banded my teeth

> > > together with about 20 rubber bands. I do look like " hannibal

> > > lechter " . I am very depressed right now. He told me that he

> > needed

> > > to do this to help with positioning my teeth (he said it would

> > > reduce my post op orthodontics work down from about 2 years to

5-

> 6

> > > months). Sounds good but right now, I'd almost say, you know

> what,

> > > I'll take the 2 years othodontics rather than 4 more weeks of

> > > nothing but a liquid diet and looking like some kind of freak.

> I

> > am

> > > so upset right now. Not only do I look worse than I did with

> the

> > > actual wires, but I can't talk as well either and all my teeth

> > > hurt. Bands are supposed to be progress over wires? I don't

> get

> > > it. The final blow was when he said that I might not be banded

> > shut

> > > for just 4 more weeks (which would make 6 weeks total) but I

> could

> > > be banded shut for longer (depending on how my bite looks in 4

> > weeks

> > > when he removes the bands and puts only 2 on as " guides " .

Right

> > now

> > > actually, I am just typing here and crying about the whole

> > > situation. I am feeling sorry for myself and really doubting

> > myself

> > > about this whole procedure anyway.

> > >

> > > Sadly,

> > >

> > > Helen