newbie - underbite concerns

[Guest guest]

Hi! I came across this lovely neighborhood of people by accident,

and I'm so thankful that I did. You guys have developed a great

support group online.

I'm a 20 year old college student from upstate New York and have

lived with a severe underbite most of my life. I'm just beginning

the process of preparing for surgery, so I don't know what my

underbite is classified as. I actually have not even chosen a

surgeon yet, as I have to go through some formalities with my

orthodontist first. Hearing all of your experiences and seeing your

pictures has been so informative, but I am now scared to death of

the recovery period. It seems that you all managed to live through

it though! It appears that it was worth it. I have some initial

questions and concerns as I know very little about what happens

during the actual surgery. I'm hoping that some of you may be able

to provide answers...

If anyone is from the northeastern part of the country, can you

recommend any excellent surgeons? I'm willing to travel hours and

hours for the best. My orthodonist is planning on hooking me up

with a surgeon he has worked with before, but I'd really like to

research many surgeons.

Are pre and post-op braces necessary to have underbite surgery

completed? I realize that the jaw must be held in a stable

condition using bands, and these bands are attached to braces. I am

wondering if there is another method of stabilizing the jaw because

I have already been through years of braces.

What do surgeons actually DO to correct an underbite? I'd love to

see some detailed pictures or descriptions of the surgery. I'm sure

I will learn this information at my first appointment with a

surgeon, but it may take awhile to get an appointment.

One of my main concerns is being able to breathe. In my current

condition, I can rarely breathe through my nose, mostly due to

allergies. I understand, however, that the nasal passage may become

a bit wider after this type of surgery, and that it is easier to

breathe. Is this the case with many of you? Or do I have the wrong

idea?

I will be finished with college in May of 2006. My options for

having this surgery performed are over Christmas break (a period of

4 weeks) and over summer break (a period of 4 months). I would love

to have 4 months to recover, but that would completely ruin my

chances of getting an internship, as most of them last the entire

summer. An internship is essential, and I don't think I would

choose surgery over it. I'm just not sure that I would be ready to

go back to school and trudge around campus in the freezing weather

after 4 weeks recovery time. I understand that recovery times vary

depending on the type of surgery and so on. But I'd rather not put

off the surgery till after I graduate...I can't stand the wait! Any

advice on this matter?

I'm so excited to have come across such a great community online!

I'm hoping to post some pictures of my underbite soon, even though I

won't have any post-op pictures for quite awhile. - O.

[Guest guest]

Hi! I came across this lovely neighborhood of people by accident,

and I'm so thankful that I did. You guys have developed a great

support group online.

I'm a 20 year old college student from upstate New York and have

lived with a severe underbite most of my life. I'm just beginning

the process of preparing for surgery, so I don't know what my

underbite is classified as. I actually have not even chosen a

surgeon yet, as I have to go through some formalities with my

orthodontist first. Hearing all of your experiences and seeing your

pictures has been so informative, but I am now scared to death of

the recovery period. It seems that you all managed to live through

it though! It appears that it was worth it. I have some initial

questions and concerns as I know very little about what happens

during the actual surgery. I'm hoping that some of you may be able

to provide answers...

If anyone is from the northeastern part of the country, can you

recommend any excellent surgeons? I'm willing to travel hours and

hours for the best. My orthodonist is planning on hooking me up

with a surgeon he has worked with before, but I'd really like to

research many surgeons.

Are pre and post-op braces necessary to have underbite surgery

completed? I realize that the jaw must be held in a stable

condition using bands, and these bands are attached to braces. I am

wondering if there is another method of stabilizing the jaw because

I have already been through years of braces.

What do surgeons actually DO to correct an underbite? I'd love to

see some detailed pictures or descriptions of the surgery. I'm sure

I will learn this information at my first appointment with a

surgeon, but it may take awhile to get an appointment.

One of my main concerns is being able to breathe. In my current

condition, I can rarely breathe through my nose, mostly due to

allergies. I understand, however, that the nasal passage may become

a bit wider after this type of surgery, and that it is easier to

breathe. Is this the case with many of you? Or do I have the wrong

idea?

I will be finished with college in May of 2006. My options for

having this surgery performed are over Christmas break (a period of

4 weeks) and over summer break (a period of 4 months). I would love

to have 4 months to recover, but that would completely ruin my

chances of getting an internship, as most of them last the entire

summer. An internship is essential, and I don't think I would

choose surgery over it. I'm just not sure that I would be ready to

go back to school and trudge around campus in the freezing weather

after 4 weeks recovery time. I understand that recovery times vary

depending on the type of surgery and so on. But I'd rather not put

off the surgery till after I graduate...I can't stand the wait! Any

advice on this matter?

I'm so excited to have come across such a great community online!

I'm hoping to post some pictures of my underbite soon, even though I

won't have any post-op pictures for quite awhile. - O.

[Guest guest]

welcome ashley, your oral surgeon will determine the best way to

proceed depending on your profile. they will either move your upper

jaw forward or the lower back or a combination of both. if they move

the upper forward it will slightly affect the width of your nose and

you may be able to breath easier after the initial congestion and

swelling subside. it helped me a little but not enough to make me a

nose breather(i'm still working on that). i also had braces when

younger so my bite was ok. they used screws on me that screw into your

bone that kinda look like push pins on the end so they can hold bands.

when they remove them you can't even feel it (no shots either.) they

heal up nicely and leave no scars in the gingiva. there are also arch

bars that can be used.(bands that go around the teeth kinda like

braces with hooks) they are not as nice to the gingiva so some docs

don't use them. ortho site 2 has many links to answer some of your

questions. eric

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/orthognathicsurgerysite2/

> Hi! I came across this lovely neighborhood of people by accident,

> and I'm so thankful that I did. You guys have developed a great

> support group online.

>

> I'm a 20 year old college student from upstate New York and have

> lived with a severe underbite most of my life. I'm just beginning

> the process of preparing for surgery, so I don't know what my

> underbite is classified as. I actually have not even chosen a

> surgeon yet, as I have to go through some formalities with my

> orthodontist first. Hearing all of your experiences and seeing your

> pictures has been so informative, but I am now scared to death of

> the recovery period. It seems that you all managed to live through

> it though! It appears that it was worth it. I have some initial

> questions and concerns as I know very little about what happens

> during the actual surgery. I'm hoping that some of you may be able

> to provide answers...

>

> If anyone is from the northeastern part of the country, can you

> recommend any excellent surgeons? I'm willing to travel hours and

> hours for the best. My orthodonist is planning on hooking me up

> with a surgeon he has worked with before, but I'd really like to

> research many surgeons.

>

> Are pre and post-op braces necessary to have underbite surgery

> completed? I realize that the jaw must be held in a stable

> condition using bands, and these bands are attached to braces. I am

> wondering if there is another method of stabilizing the jaw because

> I have already been through years of braces.

>

> What do surgeons actually DO to correct an underbite? I'd love to

> see some detailed pictures or descriptions of the surgery. I'm sure

> I will learn this information at my first appointment with a

> surgeon, but it may take awhile to get an appointment.

>

> One of my main concerns is being able to breathe. In my current

> condition, I can rarely breathe through my nose, mostly due to

> allergies. I understand, however, that the nasal passage may become

> a bit wider after this type of surgery, and that it is easier to

> breathe. Is this the case with many of you? Or do I have the wrong

> idea?

>

> I will be finished with college in May of 2006. My options for

> having this surgery performed are over Christmas break (a period of

> 4 weeks) and over summer break (a period of 4 months). I would love

> to have 4 months to recover, but that would completely ruin my

> chances of getting an internship, as most of them last the entire

> summer. An internship is essential, and I don't think I would

> choose surgery over it. I'm just not sure that I would be ready to

> go back to school and trudge around campus in the freezing weather

> after 4 weeks recovery time. I understand that recovery times vary

> depending on the type of surgery and so on. But I'd rather not put

> off the surgery till after I graduate...I can't stand the wait! Any

> advice on this matter?

>

> I'm so excited to have come across such a great community online!

> I'm hoping to post some pictures of my underbite soon, even though I

> won't have any post-op pictures for quite awhile. - O.

[Guest guest]

welcome ashley, your oral surgeon will determine the best way to

proceed depending on your profile. they will either move your upper

jaw forward or the lower back or a combination of both. if they move

the upper forward it will slightly affect the width of your nose and

you may be able to breath easier after the initial congestion and

swelling subside. it helped me a little but not enough to make me a

nose breather(i'm still working on that). i also had braces when

younger so my bite was ok. they used screws on me that screw into your

bone that kinda look like push pins on the end so they can hold bands.

when they remove them you can't even feel it (no shots either.) they

heal up nicely and leave no scars in the gingiva. there are also arch

bars that can be used.(bands that go around the teeth kinda like

braces with hooks) they are not as nice to the gingiva so some docs

don't use them. ortho site 2 has many links to answer some of your

questions. eric

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/orthognathicsurgerysite2/

> Hi! I came across this lovely neighborhood of people by accident,

> and I'm so thankful that I did. You guys have developed a great

> support group online.

>

> I'm a 20 year old college student from upstate New York and have

> lived with a severe underbite most of my life. I'm just beginning

> the process of preparing for surgery, so I don't know what my

> underbite is classified as. I actually have not even chosen a

> surgeon yet, as I have to go through some formalities with my

> orthodontist first. Hearing all of your experiences and seeing your

> pictures has been so informative, but I am now scared to death of

> the recovery period. It seems that you all managed to live through

> it though! It appears that it was worth it. I have some initial

> questions and concerns as I know very little about what happens

> during the actual surgery. I'm hoping that some of you may be able

> to provide answers...

>

> If anyone is from the northeastern part of the country, can you

> recommend any excellent surgeons? I'm willing to travel hours and

> hours for the best. My orthodonist is planning on hooking me up

> with a surgeon he has worked with before, but I'd really like to

> research many surgeons.

>

> Are pre and post-op braces necessary to have underbite surgery

> completed? I realize that the jaw must be held in a stable

> condition using bands, and these bands are attached to braces. I am

> wondering if there is another method of stabilizing the jaw because

> I have already been through years of braces.

>

> What do surgeons actually DO to correct an underbite? I'd love to

> see some detailed pictures or descriptions of the surgery. I'm sure

> I will learn this information at my first appointment with a

> surgeon, but it may take awhile to get an appointment.

>

> One of my main concerns is being able to breathe. In my current

> condition, I can rarely breathe through my nose, mostly due to

> allergies. I understand, however, that the nasal passage may become

> a bit wider after this type of surgery, and that it is easier to

> breathe. Is this the case with many of you? Or do I have the wrong

> idea?

>

> I will be finished with college in May of 2006. My options for

> having this surgery performed are over Christmas break (a period of

> 4 weeks) and over summer break (a period of 4 months). I would love

> to have 4 months to recover, but that would completely ruin my

> chances of getting an internship, as most of them last the entire

> summer. An internship is essential, and I don't think I would

> choose surgery over it. I'm just not sure that I would be ready to

> go back to school and trudge around campus in the freezing weather

> after 4 weeks recovery time. I understand that recovery times vary

> depending on the type of surgery and so on. But I'd rather not put

> off the surgery till after I graduate...I can't stand the wait! Any

> advice on this matter?

>

> I'm so excited to have come across such a great community online!

> I'm hoping to post some pictures of my underbite soon, even though I

> won't have any post-op pictures for quite awhile. - O.