Jaw and Teeth Issues

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I just wanted to comment on the current jaw/teeth thread. I had major

jaw and teeth issues up until the age of sixteen. I've had more

permanent teeth than I can count pulled because their wasn't enough

room in my mouth and I spent nearly seven years in braces. I also had

my jaw lengthened at the age of 16 (after the surgeon was sure that I

had stopped growing). I just had the lower jaw done, although it is

my understanding that some people also have the upper jaw and palate

extended. The surgeon sliced through the bone along my lower mandible

and inserted screws to hold the two pieces of jaw together.

Eventually, new bone grew around the screws and voila - I now have a

brand new jaw! The surgery was pretty painful and the covery was

lengthy BUT I would do it again in a heartbeat. I no longer get

headaches from poor jaw/teeth alignment and my jaw itself doesn't get

sore anymore from chewing or talking. I don't mean to scare any of

you that have kids that may be headed down that road, but I wanted to

let you know my experience with the procedure and the positive outcome

that that surgery produced!

~Hillary

21, RSS (and very happy with her current jaw alignment )

[Guest guest]

Another RSS pre-teen arrived at the convention last summer, having

healed from this same surgery. I remember Dr. Harbison looking at

her and being so excited for her!!! However, please be aware this

this surgery is not for every child. I thought 's mouth was

pretty crowded, and her jaw looks so small compared to her face, and

she has a wicked overbite .... and yet the craniofacial team said

that palate expanders, headgear and braces will resolve the problems.

The surgery can't be done until the permanent teeth are in. Palate

expanders can't be in until the eye teeth are out. And headgear

once, gosh, I think they said 15 baby teeth have been replaced by

permanent ones.

IMPORTANT!!! For those of you who are coming to the convention, Dr.

Kirt , Director of Craniofacial at Arkansas Children's

Hospital, will be providing brief (10 minute) dental/orthodontal

evaluations in the Dr. Harbison visit area for all RSS/SGA

families. (He normally has done this on Thursday night, but we have

a large demand from our families). He is going to do this FRIDAY

night only, and I haven't yet figured out how to schedule these yet,

so bear with me. But FYI!!!

> Hi,

> I just wanted to comment on the current jaw/teeth thread. I had

major

> jaw and teeth issues up until the age of sixteen. I've had more

> permanent teeth than I can count pulled because their wasn't enough

> room in my mouth and I spent nearly seven years in braces. I also

had

> my jaw lengthened at the age of 16 (after the surgeon was sure

that I

> had stopped growing). I just had the lower jaw done, although it

is

> my understanding that some people also have the upper jaw and

palate

> extended. The surgeon sliced through the bone along my lower

mandible

> and inserted screws to hold the two pieces of jaw together.

> Eventually, new bone grew around the screws and voila - I now have

a

> brand new jaw! The surgery was pretty painful and the covery was

> lengthy BUT I would do it again in a heartbeat. I no longer get

> headaches from poor jaw/teeth alignment and my jaw itself doesn't

get

> sore anymore from chewing or talking. I don't mean to scare any of

> you that have kids that may be headed down that road, but I wanted

to

> let you know my experience with the procedure and the positive

outcome

> that that surgery produced!

>

> ~Hillary

> 21, RSS (and very happy with her current jaw alignment )