Re: New to this board -long but Hello!

[Guest guest]

Hi Fran,

Welcome to the site! I can't begin to answer all of your questions,

but there are plenty of helpful people here and on site 2 at

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

I also set up a geocities info website at

http://www.geocities.com/orthognathicinfo that has FAQs and tons of

links.

My ortho said I'd " compensated well " , but I still had a pretty

screwed up mouth that needed surgery because it was, as he

said " severe " . I was almost 47 when I had my surgery and I'm happy to

have done it.

Hope that helps,

>

> Hi everyone!

> My name is Fran and I found this site from a message I posted on

> another board. One of the members kindly directed me to your site

> and I am overwhelmed!! I think you are pretty amazing in what you

> have gone through or are in the process of going through.

>

> I am 51 years old and only recently found out I have a problem with

> my bite and jaw. It is awe-some how our bodies can accomodate

> assemetry almost flawlessly, until you have some years of poor

> mechanics and finally have some symptoms from it. I recently had a

> facelift (it was a cosmetic surgery board that directed me here),

> and had wanted to have a feature re-worked at the same time as the

> lift. It was a feature that I have disliked all my life (much as

> someone who wants a nose job usually has disliked their nose for a

> long time). I have odd chipmunk cheeks. While they do keep you

> somewhat younger looking, they also make you look heavier than you

> are and a little too jovial if you understand what I am trying to

> say. But the plastic surgeon said that the problem was with my

> underlying structure and not something buccal fat pad removal alone

> would address. I didn't understand at the time.

>

> A few weeks post op, I went in for my routine dental visit, with a

> dentist who only recently took over for our former dentist. I was

> really open about the facelift, and was talking about it with the

> hygenist. When he came in, the new dentist began telling me what

> the plastic surgeon had not elaborated upon. He said that the

> problem was really with my jaw. The cheeks were pushed up because

> of the way my jaw has to overclose in order for my teeth to meet.

> In addition, my jaw is quite assymetrical, although from a frontal

> shot (which is usually how we see ourselves in mirrors), the

> assymetry does not show. Looking from under the chin, the way I

> have seen in some of your photos, I can now see the assymetry he is

> talking about!!! I am astounded that I didn't ever realize this

> before. Years of dental work has accommodated the assymetry too.

> When I close my mouth so that my teeth are centered, I only his the

> side of one tooth. But with crowns made over the last 30 years, I

> can have a good bite with my jaw completely assymetrical. I don't

> know if that makes any sense in the telling.

>

> And I will share something even my dentist doesn't know. For

years,

> my husband has kidded me about the way I eat. I thought it was

just

> a peculiar habit I had, but now I am thinking it is related to my

> newfound jaw problem. When I take a bite, I pocket the food in the

> corners of my cheeks and then gradually feed them into my molars to

> chew the food. I have to do this because there is no room for my

> tongue and the food together in my bite. In order for my bite to

> come down I have to twist my jaw to one side, and this flattens the

> interior of my mouth considerably. My tongue can barely move all by

> itself. So I have learned to put a small bite of food in my cheek

> and then introduce it slowly. Otherwise I choke or am unable to

> chew at all. I didn't even realize that other people didn't do

> this, but just thought I did it more obviously that they did. I

> just had never known any different way to chew. That is also why

we

> called my cheeks chipmunk cheeks.

>

> So my dentist has mentioned that it would take surgery to

reposition

> my jaw, rework my gums(???), and probably braces to correct this.

> He didn't mention if some of this might be covered by insurance,

but

> it really sounds expensive. The pictures on this site are the

first

> glimpse of the changes that are possible with the bite and the

> profiles. I am amazed. I am a complete novice at this. I don't

> know the terms or the procedures at all. Is there a place on this

> site that reviews them? Are there some key words I can use to try

> to look up information on the web? Any direction you could share

> would be greatly appreciated. I would also be interested in

finding

> out what the costs have been to do this. Has anyone else had

> something similiar to my situation? Sorry for so many questions,

> but I am, like I said earlier, kind of overwhelmed with the

prospect

> of this. And the dentist said it would be a long term process too,

> taking anywhere from 18 months to two years to finalize. Is that

> usual from your experience too?

>

> Anyway, thank you for listening. And any direction you could give

> me in my research would be appreciated.

> Fran

[Guest guest]

Hi Fran,

Welcome to the site! I can't begin to answer all of your questions,

but there are plenty of helpful people here and on site 2 at

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

I also set up a geocities info website at

http://www.geocities.com/orthognathicinfo that has FAQs and tons of

links.

My ortho said I'd " compensated well " , but I still had a pretty

screwed up mouth that needed surgery because it was, as he

said " severe " . I was almost 47 when I had my surgery and I'm happy to

have done it.

Hope that helps,

>

> Hi everyone!

> My name is Fran and I found this site from a message I posted on

> another board. One of the members kindly directed me to your site

> and I am overwhelmed!! I think you are pretty amazing in what you

> have gone through or are in the process of going through.

>

> I am 51 years old and only recently found out I have a problem with

> my bite and jaw. It is awe-some how our bodies can accomodate

> assemetry almost flawlessly, until you have some years of poor

> mechanics and finally have some symptoms from it. I recently had a

> facelift (it was a cosmetic surgery board that directed me here),

> and had wanted to have a feature re-worked at the same time as the

> lift. It was a feature that I have disliked all my life (much as

> someone who wants a nose job usually has disliked their nose for a

> long time). I have odd chipmunk cheeks. While they do keep you

> somewhat younger looking, they also make you look heavier than you

> are and a little too jovial if you understand what I am trying to

> say. But the plastic surgeon said that the problem was with my

> underlying structure and not something buccal fat pad removal alone

> would address. I didn't understand at the time.

>

> A few weeks post op, I went in for my routine dental visit, with a

> dentist who only recently took over for our former dentist. I was

> really open about the facelift, and was talking about it with the

> hygenist. When he came in, the new dentist began telling me what

> the plastic surgeon had not elaborated upon. He said that the

> problem was really with my jaw. The cheeks were pushed up because

> of the way my jaw has to overclose in order for my teeth to meet.

> In addition, my jaw is quite assymetrical, although from a frontal

> shot (which is usually how we see ourselves in mirrors), the

> assymetry does not show. Looking from under the chin, the way I

> have seen in some of your photos, I can now see the assymetry he is

> talking about!!! I am astounded that I didn't ever realize this

> before. Years of dental work has accommodated the assymetry too.

> When I close my mouth so that my teeth are centered, I only his the

> side of one tooth. But with crowns made over the last 30 years, I

> can have a good bite with my jaw completely assymetrical. I don't

> know if that makes any sense in the telling.

>

> And I will share something even my dentist doesn't know. For

years,

> my husband has kidded me about the way I eat. I thought it was

just

> a peculiar habit I had, but now I am thinking it is related to my

> newfound jaw problem. When I take a bite, I pocket the food in the

> corners of my cheeks and then gradually feed them into my molars to

> chew the food. I have to do this because there is no room for my

> tongue and the food together in my bite. In order for my bite to

> come down I have to twist my jaw to one side, and this flattens the

> interior of my mouth considerably. My tongue can barely move all by

> itself. So I have learned to put a small bite of food in my cheek

> and then introduce it slowly. Otherwise I choke or am unable to

> chew at all. I didn't even realize that other people didn't do

> this, but just thought I did it more obviously that they did. I

> just had never known any different way to chew. That is also why

we

> called my cheeks chipmunk cheeks.

>

> So my dentist has mentioned that it would take surgery to

reposition

> my jaw, rework my gums(???), and probably braces to correct this.

> He didn't mention if some of this might be covered by insurance,

but

> it really sounds expensive. The pictures on this site are the

first

> glimpse of the changes that are possible with the bite and the

> profiles. I am amazed. I am a complete novice at this. I don't

> know the terms or the procedures at all. Is there a place on this

> site that reviews them? Are there some key words I can use to try

> to look up information on the web? Any direction you could share

> would be greatly appreciated. I would also be interested in

finding

> out what the costs have been to do this. Has anyone else had

> something similiar to my situation? Sorry for so many questions,

> but I am, like I said earlier, kind of overwhelmed with the

prospect

> of this. And the dentist said it would be a long term process too,

> taking anywhere from 18 months to two years to finalize. Is that

> usual from your experience too?

>

> Anyway, thank you for listening. And any direction you could give

> me in my research would be appreciated.

> Fran

[Guest guest]

Dear Fran

I had surgery 12 days ago (upper,lower jaws and chin) to correct

functional bite problems. at 43; the orthodontistry I had at 30 just

bought me a little time.

My insurance Aetna has paid for the jaw surgery; ewven though the

chin is essentially reconstructive (in moving the jaw back i could

have been left with a weak chin) I think all insurance call this

(genioplasty) cosmetic. But the main operation, to correct

a " skeletal deformity " , was allowed despite my age.

The operation in total costs a lot (I think about $30 to $40,000).

Your dentist is right on timing as far as i am concerned (I had big

surgery) and i started the process a year ago. i guess it will be 1`8

months start to finish.

For me the surgery is a big deal. i am wired shut. eating is tricky

unless it's runny fluids. and, for me, speech is a problem 9I can't

really).

I guess (I know nothing about this) you ought to ask about the knock-

on condequences of this for your cosmetic surgery - it will alter the

underlying skeletal structure of your face)

The links to this site are excellent. Nothing beats a consult with a

good surgeon and orthodontist. My surgeon has operated on people in

their 60s though, like most people, I wish i had had this done in my

20s.

Everyone is different. I would not consider this for cosmetic resaons

but then the cosmetic consequences of this for me will be limited.

However, i will be left with my top teeth over my bottom teeth for

the first time, a jaw that works and much more increased probability

of retaining my teeth. Worth it for that.

>

> Hi everyone!

> My name is Fran and I found this site from a message I posted on

> another board. One of the members kindly directed me to your site

> and I am overwhelmed!! I think you are pretty amazing in what you

> have gone through or are in the process of going through.

>

> I am 51 years old and only recently found out I have a problem with

> my bite and jaw. It is awe-some how our bodies can accomodate

> assemetry almost flawlessly, until you have some years of poor

> mechanics and finally have some symptoms from it. I recently had a

> facelift (it was a cosmetic surgery board that directed me here),

> and had wanted to have a feature re-worked at the same time as the

> lift. It was a feature that I have disliked all my life (much as

> someone who wants a nose job usually has disliked their nose for a

> long time). I have odd chipmunk cheeks. While they do keep you

> somewhat younger looking, they also make you look heavier than you

> are and a little too jovial if you understand what I am trying to

> say. But the plastic surgeon said that the problem was with my

> underlying structure and not something buccal fat pad removal alone

> would address. I didn't understand at the time.

>

> A few weeks post op, I went in for my routine dental visit, with a

> dentist who only recently took over for our former dentist. I was

> really open about the facelift, and was talking about it with the

> hygenist. When he came in, the new dentist began telling me what

> the plastic surgeon had not elaborated upon. He said that the

> problem was really with my jaw. The cheeks were pushed up because

> of the way my jaw has to overclose in order for my teeth to meet.

> In addition, my jaw is quite assymetrical, although from a frontal

> shot (which is usually how we see ourselves in mirrors), the

> assymetry does not show. Looking from under the chin, the way I

> have seen in some of your photos, I can now see the assymetry he is

> talking about!!! I am astounded that I didn't ever realize this

> before. Years of dental work has accommodated the assymetry too.

> When I close my mouth so that my teeth are centered, I only his the

> side of one tooth. But with crowns made over the last 30 years, I

> can have a good bite with my jaw completely assymetrical. I don't

> know if that makes any sense in the telling.

>

> And I will share something even my dentist doesn't know. For

years,

> my husband has kidded me about the way I eat. I thought it was

just

> a peculiar habit I had, but now I am thinking it is related to my

> newfound jaw problem. When I take a bite, I pocket the food in the

> corners of my cheeks and then gradually feed them into my molars to

> chew the food. I have to do this because there is no room for my

> tongue and the food together in my bite. In order for my bite to

> come down I have to twist my jaw to one side, and this flattens the

> interior of my mouth considerably. My tongue can barely move all by

> itself. So I have learned to put a small bite of food in my cheek

> and then introduce it slowly. Otherwise I choke or am unable to

> chew at all. I didn't even realize that other people didn't do

> this, but just thought I did it more obviously that they did. I

> just had never known any different way to chew. That is also why

we

> called my cheeks chipmunk cheeks.

>

> So my dentist has mentioned that it would take surgery to

reposition

> my jaw, rework my gums(???), and probably braces to correct this.

> He didn't mention if some of this might be covered by insurance,

but

> it really sounds expensive. The pictures on this site are the

first

> glimpse of the changes that are possible with the bite and the

> profiles. I am amazed. I am a complete novice at this. I don't

> know the terms or the procedures at all. Is there a place on this

> site that reviews them? Are there some key words I can use to try

> to look up information on the web? Any direction you could share

> would be greatly appreciated. I would also be interested in

finding

> out what the costs have been to do this. Has anyone else had

> something similiar to my situation? Sorry for so many questions,

> but I am, like I said earlier, kind of overwhelmed with the

prospect

> of this. And the dentist said it would be a long term process too,

> taking anywhere from 18 months to two years to finalize. Is that

> usual from your experience too?

>

> Anyway, thank you for listening. And any direction you could give

> me in my research would be appreciated.

> Fran

[Guest guest]

Dear Fran

I had surgery 12 days ago (upper,lower jaws and chin) to correct

functional bite problems. at 43; the orthodontistry I had at 30 just

bought me a little time.

My insurance Aetna has paid for the jaw surgery; ewven though the

chin is essentially reconstructive (in moving the jaw back i could

have been left with a weak chin) I think all insurance call this

(genioplasty) cosmetic. But the main operation, to correct

a " skeletal deformity " , was allowed despite my age.

The operation in total costs a lot (I think about $30 to $40,000).

Your dentist is right on timing as far as i am concerned (I had big

surgery) and i started the process a year ago. i guess it will be 1`8

months start to finish.

For me the surgery is a big deal. i am wired shut. eating is tricky

unless it's runny fluids. and, for me, speech is a problem 9I can't

really).

I guess (I know nothing about this) you ought to ask about the knock-

on condequences of this for your cosmetic surgery - it will alter the

underlying skeletal structure of your face)

The links to this site are excellent. Nothing beats a consult with a

good surgeon and orthodontist. My surgeon has operated on people in

their 60s though, like most people, I wish i had had this done in my

20s.

Everyone is different. I would not consider this for cosmetic resaons

but then the cosmetic consequences of this for me will be limited.

However, i will be left with my top teeth over my bottom teeth for

the first time, a jaw that works and much more increased probability

of retaining my teeth. Worth it for that.

>

> Hi everyone!

> My name is Fran and I found this site from a message I posted on

> another board. One of the members kindly directed me to your site

> and I am overwhelmed!! I think you are pretty amazing in what you

> have gone through or are in the process of going through.

>

> I am 51 years old and only recently found out I have a problem with

> my bite and jaw. It is awe-some how our bodies can accomodate

> assemetry almost flawlessly, until you have some years of poor

> mechanics and finally have some symptoms from it. I recently had a

> facelift (it was a cosmetic surgery board that directed me here),

> and had wanted to have a feature re-worked at the same time as the

> lift. It was a feature that I have disliked all my life (much as

> someone who wants a nose job usually has disliked their nose for a

> long time). I have odd chipmunk cheeks. While they do keep you

> somewhat younger looking, they also make you look heavier than you

> are and a little too jovial if you understand what I am trying to

> say. But the plastic surgeon said that the problem was with my

> underlying structure and not something buccal fat pad removal alone

> would address. I didn't understand at the time.

>

> A few weeks post op, I went in for my routine dental visit, with a

> dentist who only recently took over for our former dentist. I was

> really open about the facelift, and was talking about it with the

> hygenist. When he came in, the new dentist began telling me what

> the plastic surgeon had not elaborated upon. He said that the

> problem was really with my jaw. The cheeks were pushed up because

> of the way my jaw has to overclose in order for my teeth to meet.

> In addition, my jaw is quite assymetrical, although from a frontal

> shot (which is usually how we see ourselves in mirrors), the

> assymetry does not show. Looking from under the chin, the way I

> have seen in some of your photos, I can now see the assymetry he is

> talking about!!! I am astounded that I didn't ever realize this

> before. Years of dental work has accommodated the assymetry too.

> When I close my mouth so that my teeth are centered, I only his the

> side of one tooth. But with crowns made over the last 30 years, I

> can have a good bite with my jaw completely assymetrical. I don't

> know if that makes any sense in the telling.

>

> And I will share something even my dentist doesn't know. For

years,

> my husband has kidded me about the way I eat. I thought it was

just

> a peculiar habit I had, but now I am thinking it is related to my

> newfound jaw problem. When I take a bite, I pocket the food in the

> corners of my cheeks and then gradually feed them into my molars to

> chew the food. I have to do this because there is no room for my

> tongue and the food together in my bite. In order for my bite to

> come down I have to twist my jaw to one side, and this flattens the

> interior of my mouth considerably. My tongue can barely move all by

> itself. So I have learned to put a small bite of food in my cheek

> and then introduce it slowly. Otherwise I choke or am unable to

> chew at all. I didn't even realize that other people didn't do

> this, but just thought I did it more obviously that they did. I

> just had never known any different way to chew. That is also why

we

> called my cheeks chipmunk cheeks.

>

> So my dentist has mentioned that it would take surgery to

reposition

> my jaw, rework my gums(???), and probably braces to correct this.

> He didn't mention if some of this might be covered by insurance,

but

> it really sounds expensive. The pictures on this site are the

first

> glimpse of the changes that are possible with the bite and the

> profiles. I am amazed. I am a complete novice at this. I don't

> know the terms or the procedures at all. Is there a place on this

> site that reviews them? Are there some key words I can use to try

> to look up information on the web? Any direction you could share

> would be greatly appreciated. I would also be interested in

finding

> out what the costs have been to do this. Has anyone else had

> something similiar to my situation? Sorry for so many questions,

> but I am, like I said earlier, kind of overwhelmed with the

prospect

> of this. And the dentist said it would be a long term process too,

> taking anywhere from 18 months to two years to finalize. Is that

> usual from your experience too?

>

> Anyway, thank you for listening. And any direction you could give

> me in my research would be appreciated.

> Fran

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thank you so much. I am going through the site I was given the

other day, and trying to absorb as much of the information as I

can. I agree about not doing it for cosmetic reasons alone. I

don't think that is why my dentist was telling me about this, but

after you mentioned this, I am going to recheck with him about it.

I was thinking it was because my lower jaw is so distorted with my

maxilla, and my dental work, while accommodating the distortion, is

shifting and I am having so many of them needing rework because of

it. And even with that, my teeth don't line up that well either.

Now the lower teeth bottom out on the upper front ones before my

molars hit. I am thinking this is why he mentioned it. I talked

with my sister who interned in my new dentists office, and she said

that the dentist is sensitive to patients needing this as he had it

done himself. But I appreciate your concern, and will definately

reaffirm that this is necessary for my jaw and bite to function more

appropriately and not for cosmesis. Hearing what you are enduring

and the length of the process, it would be hard to justify it for

cosmetics alone. Not to mention the expense and surgical recovery

time!!

One other thing that makes me concerned about this is that I cannot

eat properly even with a good bite as my palate is so broad and flat

that my tongue is squished with a full bite and NO food at all. I

have to use my cheek to pocket the food and introduce it slowly as I

chew from the outside as there is no room for a tongue and food in

my closed mouth (clear as mud description?). For now it is

definately odd and inconvenient, but I am 51 and looking at aging

much more closely than I did at an earlier age. Many illnesses and

aging insults affect your abilty to chew and swallow. I am using

more process and mechanics in my eating at this point than usual.

It would take only a small CVA or paralysis or Alzheimers to impact

the amount of processes that have to work optimally together in

order for me to eat. I want to prevent that situation now if I can

too. Later on, expecially with stroke running in our family, I

would be ineligible to have the reworking done. I don't know if this

makes any sense, but it is where my thinking is going at present.

Thank you so much for your sharing and insights. And I am going to

call my new dentist today to clarify that point exactly.

Fran

> >

> > Hi everyone!

> > My name is Fran and I found this site from a message I posted on

> > another board. One of the members kindly directed me to your

site

> > and I am overwhelmed!! I think you are pretty amazing in what

you

> > have gone through or are in the process of going through.

> >

> > I am 51 years old and only recently found out I have a problem

with

> > my bite and jaw. It is awe-some how our bodies can accomodate

> > assemetry almost flawlessly, until you have some years of poor

> > mechanics and finally have some symptoms from it. I recently

had a

> > facelift (it was a cosmetic surgery board that directed me

here),

> > and had wanted to have a feature re-worked at the same time as

the

> > lift. It was a feature that I have disliked all my life (much

as

> > someone who wants a nose job usually has disliked their nose for

a

> > long time). I have odd chipmunk cheeks. While they do keep you

> > somewhat younger looking, they also make you look heavier than

you

> > are and a little too jovial if you understand what I am trying

to

> > say. But the plastic surgeon said that the problem was with my

> > underlying structure and not something buccal fat pad removal

alone

> > would address. I didn't understand at the time.

> >

> > A few weeks post op, I went in for my routine dental visit, with

a

> > dentist who only recently took over for our former dentist. I

was

> > really open about the facelift, and was talking about it with

the

> > hygenist. When he came in, the new dentist began telling me

what

> > the plastic surgeon had not elaborated upon. He said that the

> > problem was really with my jaw. The cheeks were pushed up

because

> > of the way my jaw has to overclose in order for my teeth to

meet.

> > In addition, my jaw is quite assymetrical, although from a

frontal

> > shot (which is usually how we see ourselves in mirrors), the

> > assymetry does not show. Looking from under the chin, the way I

> > have seen in some of your photos, I can now see the assymetry he

is

> > talking about!!! I am astounded that I didn't ever realize this

> > before. Years of dental work has accommodated the assymetry

too.

> > When I close my mouth so that my teeth are centered, I only his

the

> > side of one tooth. But with crowns made over the last 30 years,

I

> > can have a good bite with my jaw completely assymetrical. I

don't

> > know if that makes any sense in the telling.

> >

> > And I will share something even my dentist doesn't know. For

> years,

> > my husband has kidded me about the way I eat. I thought it was

> just

> > a peculiar habit I had, but now I am thinking it is related to

my

> > newfound jaw problem. When I take a bite, I pocket the food in

the

> > corners of my cheeks and then gradually feed them into my molars

to

> > chew the food. I have to do this because there is no room for

my

> > tongue and the food together in my bite. In order for my bite

to

> > come down I have to twist my jaw to one side, and this flattens

the

> > interior of my mouth considerably. My tongue can barely move all

by

> > itself. So I have learned to put a small bite of food in my

cheek

> > and then introduce it slowly. Otherwise I choke or am unable to

> > chew at all. I didn't even realize that other people didn't do

> > this, but just thought I did it more obviously that they did. I

> > just had never known any different way to chew. That is also

why

> we

> > called my cheeks chipmunk cheeks.

> >

> > So my dentist has mentioned that it would take surgery to

> reposition

> > my jaw, rework my gums(???), and probably braces to correct

this.

> > He didn't mention if some of this might be covered by insurance,

> but

> > it really sounds expensive. The pictures on this site are the

> first

> > glimpse of the changes that are possible with the bite and the

> > profiles. I am amazed. I am a complete novice at this. I

don't

> > know the terms or the procedures at all. Is there a place on

this

> > site that reviews them? Are there some key words I can use to

try

> > to look up information on the web? Any direction you could

share

> > would be greatly appreciated. I would also be interested in

> finding

> > out what the costs have been to do this. Has anyone else had

> > something similiar to my situation? Sorry for so many

questions,

> > but I am, like I said earlier, kind of overwhelmed with the

> prospect

> > of this. And the dentist said it would be a long term process

too,

> > taking anywhere from 18 months to two years to finalize. Is

that

> > usual from your experience too?

> >

> > Anyway, thank you for listening. And any direction you could

give

> > me in my research would be appreciated.

> > Fran

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thank you so much. I am going through the site I was given the

other day, and trying to absorb as much of the information as I

can. I agree about not doing it for cosmetic reasons alone. I

don't think that is why my dentist was telling me about this, but

after you mentioned this, I am going to recheck with him about it.

I was thinking it was because my lower jaw is so distorted with my

maxilla, and my dental work, while accommodating the distortion, is

shifting and I am having so many of them needing rework because of

it. And even with that, my teeth don't line up that well either.

Now the lower teeth bottom out on the upper front ones before my

molars hit. I am thinking this is why he mentioned it. I talked

with my sister who interned in my new dentists office, and she said

that the dentist is sensitive to patients needing this as he had it

done himself. But I appreciate your concern, and will definately

reaffirm that this is necessary for my jaw and bite to function more

appropriately and not for cosmesis. Hearing what you are enduring

and the length of the process, it would be hard to justify it for

cosmetics alone. Not to mention the expense and surgical recovery

time!!

One other thing that makes me concerned about this is that I cannot

eat properly even with a good bite as my palate is so broad and flat

that my tongue is squished with a full bite and NO food at all. I

have to use my cheek to pocket the food and introduce it slowly as I

chew from the outside as there is no room for a tongue and food in

my closed mouth (clear as mud description?). For now it is

definately odd and inconvenient, but I am 51 and looking at aging

much more closely than I did at an earlier age. Many illnesses and

aging insults affect your abilty to chew and swallow. I am using

more process and mechanics in my eating at this point than usual.

It would take only a small CVA or paralysis or Alzheimers to impact

the amount of processes that have to work optimally together in

order for me to eat. I want to prevent that situation now if I can

too. Later on, expecially with stroke running in our family, I

would be ineligible to have the reworking done. I don't know if this

makes any sense, but it is where my thinking is going at present.

Thank you so much for your sharing and insights. And I am going to

call my new dentist today to clarify that point exactly.

Fran

> >

> > Hi everyone!

> > My name is Fran and I found this site from a message I posted on

> > another board. One of the members kindly directed me to your

site

> > and I am overwhelmed!! I think you are pretty amazing in what

you

> > have gone through or are in the process of going through.

> >

> > I am 51 years old and only recently found out I have a problem

with

> > my bite and jaw. It is awe-some how our bodies can accomodate

> > assemetry almost flawlessly, until you have some years of poor

> > mechanics and finally have some symptoms from it. I recently

had a

> > facelift (it was a cosmetic surgery board that directed me

here),

> > and had wanted to have a feature re-worked at the same time as

the

> > lift. It was a feature that I have disliked all my life (much

as

> > someone who wants a nose job usually has disliked their nose for

a

> > long time). I have odd chipmunk cheeks. While they do keep you

> > somewhat younger looking, they also make you look heavier than

you

> > are and a little too jovial if you understand what I am trying

to

> > say. But the plastic surgeon said that the problem was with my

> > underlying structure and not something buccal fat pad removal

alone

> > would address. I didn't understand at the time.

> >

> > A few weeks post op, I went in for my routine dental visit, with

a

> > dentist who only recently took over for our former dentist. I

was

> > really open about the facelift, and was talking about it with

the

> > hygenist. When he came in, the new dentist began telling me

what

> > the plastic surgeon had not elaborated upon. He said that the

> > problem was really with my jaw. The cheeks were pushed up

because

> > of the way my jaw has to overclose in order for my teeth to

meet.

> > In addition, my jaw is quite assymetrical, although from a

frontal

> > shot (which is usually how we see ourselves in mirrors), the

> > assymetry does not show. Looking from under the chin, the way I

> > have seen in some of your photos, I can now see the assymetry he

is

> > talking about!!! I am astounded that I didn't ever realize this

> > before. Years of dental work has accommodated the assymetry

too.

> > When I close my mouth so that my teeth are centered, I only his

the

> > side of one tooth. But with crowns made over the last 30 years,

I

> > can have a good bite with my jaw completely assymetrical. I

don't

> > know if that makes any sense in the telling.

> >

> > And I will share something even my dentist doesn't know. For

> years,

> > my husband has kidded me about the way I eat. I thought it was

> just

> > a peculiar habit I had, but now I am thinking it is related to

my

> > newfound jaw problem. When I take a bite, I pocket the food in

the

> > corners of my cheeks and then gradually feed them into my molars

to

> > chew the food. I have to do this because there is no room for

my

> > tongue and the food together in my bite. In order for my bite

to

> > come down I have to twist my jaw to one side, and this flattens

the

> > interior of my mouth considerably. My tongue can barely move all

by

> > itself. So I have learned to put a small bite of food in my

cheek

> > and then introduce it slowly. Otherwise I choke or am unable to

> > chew at all. I didn't even realize that other people didn't do

> > this, but just thought I did it more obviously that they did. I

> > just had never known any different way to chew. That is also

why

> we

> > called my cheeks chipmunk cheeks.

> >

> > So my dentist has mentioned that it would take surgery to

> reposition

> > my jaw, rework my gums(???), and probably braces to correct

this.

> > He didn't mention if some of this might be covered by insurance,

> but

> > it really sounds expensive. The pictures on this site are the

> first

> > glimpse of the changes that are possible with the bite and the

> > profiles. I am amazed. I am a complete novice at this. I

don't

> > know the terms or the procedures at all. Is there a place on

this

> > site that reviews them? Are there some key words I can use to

try

> > to look up information on the web? Any direction you could

share

> > would be greatly appreciated. I would also be interested in

> finding

> > out what the costs have been to do this. Has anyone else had

> > something similiar to my situation? Sorry for so many

questions,

> > but I am, like I said earlier, kind of overwhelmed with the

> prospect

> > of this. And the dentist said it would be a long term process

too,

> > taking anywhere from 18 months to two years to finalize. Is

that

> > usual from your experience too?

> >

> > Anyway, thank you for listening. And any direction you could

give

> > me in my research would be appreciated.

> > Fran

[Guest guest]

Sounds like you are giving it a fantastic amount of thought. Some

people on the site have clearly been transformed by the change in

their appearance. You can't separate the two I think. My surgery was

to correct the way my skull had developed incoorectly. I was really

worried about my bite (but lived with my face for 43 years). In

correcting my bite, the OS has undoubtedly changed the way i look

slightly. and because the proportions are now right, hopefully (at

the moment I look like a chipmunk on its way to being roadkill...) my

appearance wil be fine too. For ref, in moving the upper jaw forward,

very often people do look younger as a result.

Good luck with this journey. All research paid off for me.

> > >

> > > Hi everyone!

> > > My name is Fran and I found this site from a message I posted

on

> > > another board. One of the members kindly directed me to your

> site

> > > and I am overwhelmed!! I think you are pretty amazing in what

> you

> > > have gone through or are in the process of going through.

> > >

> > > I am 51 years old and only recently found out I have a problem

> with

> > > my bite and jaw. It is awe-some how our bodies can accomodate

> > > assemetry almost flawlessly, until you have some years of poor

> > > mechanics and finally have some symptoms from it. I recently

> had a

> > > facelift (it was a cosmetic surgery board that directed me

> here),

> > > and had wanted to have a feature re-worked at the same time as

> the

> > > lift. It was a feature that I have disliked all my life (much

> as

> > > someone who wants a nose job usually has disliked their nose

for

> a

> > > long time). I have odd chipmunk cheeks. While they do keep

you

> > > somewhat younger looking, they also make you look heavier than

> you

> > > are and a little too jovial if you understand what I am trying

> to

> > > say. But the plastic surgeon said that the problem was with my

> > > underlying structure and not something buccal fat pad removal

> alone

> > > would address. I didn't understand at the time.

> > >

> > > A few weeks post op, I went in for my routine dental visit,

with

> a

> > > dentist who only recently took over for our former dentist. I

> was

> > > really open about the facelift, and was talking about it with

> the

> > > hygenist. When he came in, the new dentist began telling me

> what

> > > the plastic surgeon had not elaborated upon. He said that the

> > > problem was really with my jaw. The cheeks were pushed up

> because

> > > of the way my jaw has to overclose in order for my teeth to

> meet.

> > > In addition, my jaw is quite assymetrical, although from a

> frontal

> > > shot (which is usually how we see ourselves in mirrors), the

> > > assymetry does not show. Looking from under the chin, the way

I

> > > have seen in some of your photos, I can now see the assymetry

he

> is

> > > talking about!!! I am astounded that I didn't ever realize

this

> > > before. Years of dental work has accommodated the assymetry

> too.

> > > When I close my mouth so that my teeth are centered, I only his

> the

> > > side of one tooth. But with crowns made over the last 30

years,

> I

> > > can have a good bite with my jaw completely assymetrical. I

> don't

> > > know if that makes any sense in the telling.

> > >

> > > And I will share something even my dentist doesn't know. For

> > years,

> > > my husband has kidded me about the way I eat. I thought it was

> > just

> > > a peculiar habit I had, but now I am thinking it is related to

> my

> > > newfound jaw problem. When I take a bite, I pocket the food in

> the

> > > corners of my cheeks and then gradually feed them into my

molars

> to

> > > chew the food. I have to do this because there is no room for

> my

> > > tongue and the food together in my bite. In order for my bite

> to

> > > come down I have to twist my jaw to one side, and this flattens

> the

> > > interior of my mouth considerably. My tongue can barely move

all

> by

> > > itself. So I have learned to put a small bite of food in my

> cheek

> > > and then introduce it slowly. Otherwise I choke or am unable

to

> > > chew at all. I didn't even realize that other people didn't do

> > > this, but just thought I did it more obviously that they did.

I

> > > just had never known any different way to chew. That is also

> why

> > we

> > > called my cheeks chipmunk cheeks.

> > >

> > > So my dentist has mentioned that it would take surgery to

> > reposition

> > > my jaw, rework my gums(???), and probably braces to correct

> this.

> > > He didn't mention if some of this might be covered by

insurance,

> > but

> > > it really sounds expensive. The pictures on this site are the

> > first

> > > glimpse of the changes that are possible with the bite and the

> > > profiles. I am amazed. I am a complete novice at this. I

> don't

> > > know the terms or the procedures at all. Is there a place on

> this

> > > site that reviews them? Are there some key words I can use to

> try

> > > to look up information on the web? Any direction you could

> share

> > > would be greatly appreciated. I would also be interested in

> > finding

> > > out what the costs have been to do this. Has anyone else had

> > > something similiar to my situation? Sorry for so many

> questions,

> > > but I am, like I said earlier, kind of overwhelmed with the

> > prospect

> > > of this. And the dentist said it would be a long term process

> too,

> > > taking anywhere from 18 months to two years to finalize. Is

> that

> > > usual from your experience too?

> > >

> > > Anyway, thank you for listening. And any direction you could

> give

> > > me in my research would be appreciated.

> > > Fran

[Guest guest]

Sounds like you are giving it a fantastic amount of thought. Some

people on the site have clearly been transformed by the change in

their appearance. You can't separate the two I think. My surgery was

to correct the way my skull had developed incoorectly. I was really

worried about my bite (but lived with my face for 43 years). In

correcting my bite, the OS has undoubtedly changed the way i look

slightly. and because the proportions are now right, hopefully (at

the moment I look like a chipmunk on its way to being roadkill...) my

appearance wil be fine too. For ref, in moving the upper jaw forward,

very often people do look younger as a result.

Good luck with this journey. All research paid off for me.

> > >

> > > Hi everyone!

> > > My name is Fran and I found this site from a message I posted

on

> > > another board. One of the members kindly directed me to your

> site

> > > and I am overwhelmed!! I think you are pretty amazing in what

> you

> > > have gone through or are in the process of going through.

> > >

> > > I am 51 years old and only recently found out I have a problem

> with

> > > my bite and jaw. It is awe-some how our bodies can accomodate

> > > assemetry almost flawlessly, until you have some years of poor

> > > mechanics and finally have some symptoms from it. I recently

> had a

> > > facelift (it was a cosmetic surgery board that directed me

> here),

> > > and had wanted to have a feature re-worked at the same time as

> the

> > > lift. It was a feature that I have disliked all my life (much

> as

> > > someone who wants a nose job usually has disliked their nose

for

> a

> > > long time). I have odd chipmunk cheeks. While they do keep

you

> > > somewhat younger looking, they also make you look heavier than

> you

> > > are and a little too jovial if you understand what I am trying

> to

> > > say. But the plastic surgeon said that the problem was with my

> > > underlying structure and not something buccal fat pad removal

> alone

> > > would address. I didn't understand at the time.

> > >

> > > A few weeks post op, I went in for my routine dental visit,

with

> a

> > > dentist who only recently took over for our former dentist. I

> was

> > > really open about the facelift, and was talking about it with

> the

> > > hygenist. When he came in, the new dentist began telling me

> what

> > > the plastic surgeon had not elaborated upon. He said that the

> > > problem was really with my jaw. The cheeks were pushed up

> because

> > > of the way my jaw has to overclose in order for my teeth to

> meet.

> > > In addition, my jaw is quite assymetrical, although from a

> frontal

> > > shot (which is usually how we see ourselves in mirrors), the

> > > assymetry does not show. Looking from under the chin, the way

I

> > > have seen in some of your photos, I can now see the assymetry

he

> is

> > > talking about!!! I am astounded that I didn't ever realize

this

> > > before. Years of dental work has accommodated the assymetry

> too.

> > > When I close my mouth so that my teeth are centered, I only his

> the

> > > side of one tooth. But with crowns made over the last 30

years,

> I

> > > can have a good bite with my jaw completely assymetrical. I

> don't

> > > know if that makes any sense in the telling.

> > >

> > > And I will share something even my dentist doesn't know. For

> > years,

> > > my husband has kidded me about the way I eat. I thought it was

> > just

> > > a peculiar habit I had, but now I am thinking it is related to

> my

> > > newfound jaw problem. When I take a bite, I pocket the food in

> the

> > > corners of my cheeks and then gradually feed them into my

molars

> to

> > > chew the food. I have to do this because there is no room for

> my

> > > tongue and the food together in my bite. In order for my bite

> to

> > > come down I have to twist my jaw to one side, and this flattens

> the

> > > interior of my mouth considerably. My tongue can barely move

all

> by

> > > itself. So I have learned to put a small bite of food in my

> cheek

> > > and then introduce it slowly. Otherwise I choke or am unable

to

> > > chew at all. I didn't even realize that other people didn't do

> > > this, but just thought I did it more obviously that they did.

I

> > > just had never known any different way to chew. That is also

> why

> > we

> > > called my cheeks chipmunk cheeks.

> > >

> > > So my dentist has mentioned that it would take surgery to

> > reposition

> > > my jaw, rework my gums(???), and probably braces to correct

> this.

> > > He didn't mention if some of this might be covered by

insurance,

> > but

> > > it really sounds expensive. The pictures on this site are the

> > first

> > > glimpse of the changes that are possible with the bite and the

> > > profiles. I am amazed. I am a complete novice at this. I

> don't

> > > know the terms or the procedures at all. Is there a place on

> this

> > > site that reviews them? Are there some key words I can use to

> try

> > > to look up information on the web? Any direction you could

> share

> > > would be greatly appreciated. I would also be interested in

> > finding

> > > out what the costs have been to do this. Has anyone else had

> > > something similiar to my situation? Sorry for so many

> questions,

> > > but I am, like I said earlier, kind of overwhelmed with the

> > prospect

> > > of this. And the dentist said it would be a long term process

> too,

> > > taking anywhere from 18 months to two years to finalize. Is

> that

> > > usual from your experience too?

> > >

> > > Anyway, thank you for listening. And any direction you could

> give

> > > me in my research would be appreciated.

> > > Fran