Guest guest Posted October 9, 2004 Report Share Posted October 9, 2004 Nate, I don't envy your decision. What you decide could affect the rest of your life. While complications from surgery can happen they are not common. If your open bite is not too bad you may want to opt for braces if they think it will get rid of the jaw aches. people have lived for a long time with slight crossbite issues that didn't cause them to lose their teeth prematurely however the open bite puts undue stress on the molars and probably is what is causing the pain. Everyone here will have a different opinion based on their case and the results they achieved. some ended up trading one problem for another while many achieved the results they wanted trouble free. When I got my braces I had a bad overbite and they were able to minimize it leaving my bite fine but not perfect. they told me I had to decide at that time (1987) if I wanted to have surgery so they could adjust the correct amount. I opted out and all worked out fine. good luck on your decision and remember the more " professional " opinions you get the better you'll be able to make the tough decisions. eric > > I am truly at a crossroads right now. I have slight muscle pain in > my jaw everyday and I have an openbite/crossbite. I have been to > several orthodontist and have therefore gotten several different > opinions. Most of the doctors, however, think that to get optimal > results I should go with the braces/surgery combination. There are > about 2 orthodontist, however, that feel they could solve the > problem with braces alone (this braces-alone-option is considered a > compromise by most of the other orthodontists I've been to). > Ultimately, my question is whether or not everyone out there thinks > surgery is worth it with all the recover time, weight loss, nerve > problems, numbness problems, and other risks that can offset the > benefits of the surgery. I do know one thing however, I have to get > my bite problem resolved one way or another. Thanks for your help. > > -nate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 9, 2004 Report Share Posted October 9, 2004 Nate, I don't envy your decision. What you decide could affect the rest of your life. While complications from surgery can happen they are not common. If your open bite is not too bad you may want to opt for braces if they think it will get rid of the jaw aches. people have lived for a long time with slight crossbite issues that didn't cause them to lose their teeth prematurely however the open bite puts undue stress on the molars and probably is what is causing the pain. Everyone here will have a different opinion based on their case and the results they achieved. some ended up trading one problem for another while many achieved the results they wanted trouble free. When I got my braces I had a bad overbite and they were able to minimize it leaving my bite fine but not perfect. they told me I had to decide at that time (1987) if I wanted to have surgery so they could adjust the correct amount. I opted out and all worked out fine. good luck on your decision and remember the more " professional " opinions you get the better you'll be able to make the tough decisions. eric > > I am truly at a crossroads right now. I have slight muscle pain in > my jaw everyday and I have an openbite/crossbite. I have been to > several orthodontist and have therefore gotten several different > opinions. Most of the doctors, however, think that to get optimal > results I should go with the braces/surgery combination. There are > about 2 orthodontist, however, that feel they could solve the > problem with braces alone (this braces-alone-option is considered a > compromise by most of the other orthodontists I've been to). > Ultimately, my question is whether or not everyone out there thinks > surgery is worth it with all the recover time, weight loss, nerve > problems, numbness problems, and other risks that can offset the > benefits of the surgery. I do know one thing however, I have to get > my bite problem resolved one way or another. Thanks for your help. > > -nate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 For me, the surgery was absolutely worth it. But, I had similar issues with deciding whether or not to do it. I opted for the Orthodontist that would remain open to letting me change my mind. I went in, not opting for surgery and let the Orthodontist get as far as he could with my teeth to see just how bad/good it would be with Orthodontics alone before I had to make the surgery decision. When we finally came to that crossroads a year later, where we could either finish up the job without surgery, or press forward and prepare my bite for surgery I made my decision that I would not be satisfied with my bite, even with my teeth straightened, so we went down the path to surgery. Doing things the way I did added about 6 months to the overall process, because I did not submit anything to my insurance until I was ready for the surgery. I spent the first 4 months without any new adjustments to my braces, just new rubber bands and ties every month. After the insurance approved the surgery, I had another 2 months of tweaking to get my teeth just right for surgery. Even though it made things take longer, I'm very happy I decided to do things this way. I was able to see what the final result would be if I had opted out of the surgery and that helped me tremendously in making my decision. Hope this helps! ~Jen > > I am truly at a crossroads right now. I have slight muscle pain in > my jaw everyday and I have an openbite/crossbite. I have been to > several orthodontist and have therefore gotten several different > opinions. Most of the doctors, however, think that to get optimal > results I should go with the braces/surgery combination. There are > about 2 orthodontist, however, that feel they could solve the > problem with braces alone (this braces-alone-option is considered a > compromise by most of the other orthodontists I've been to). > Ultimately, my question is whether or not everyone out there thinks > surgery is worth it with all the recover time, weight loss, nerve > problems, numbness problems, and other risks that can offset the > benefits of the surgery. I do know one thing however, I have to get > my bite problem resolved one way or another. Thanks for your help. > > -nate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 For me, the surgery was absolutely worth it. But, I had similar issues with deciding whether or not to do it. I opted for the Orthodontist that would remain open to letting me change my mind. I went in, not opting for surgery and let the Orthodontist get as far as he could with my teeth to see just how bad/good it would be with Orthodontics alone before I had to make the surgery decision. When we finally came to that crossroads a year later, where we could either finish up the job without surgery, or press forward and prepare my bite for surgery I made my decision that I would not be satisfied with my bite, even with my teeth straightened, so we went down the path to surgery. Doing things the way I did added about 6 months to the overall process, because I did not submit anything to my insurance until I was ready for the surgery. I spent the first 4 months without any new adjustments to my braces, just new rubber bands and ties every month. After the insurance approved the surgery, I had another 2 months of tweaking to get my teeth just right for surgery. Even though it made things take longer, I'm very happy I decided to do things this way. I was able to see what the final result would be if I had opted out of the surgery and that helped me tremendously in making my decision. Hope this helps! ~Jen > > I am truly at a crossroads right now. I have slight muscle pain in > my jaw everyday and I have an openbite/crossbite. I have been to > several orthodontist and have therefore gotten several different > opinions. Most of the doctors, however, think that to get optimal > results I should go with the braces/surgery combination. There are > about 2 orthodontist, however, that feel they could solve the > problem with braces alone (this braces-alone-option is considered a > compromise by most of the other orthodontists I've been to). > Ultimately, my question is whether or not everyone out there thinks > surgery is worth it with all the recover time, weight loss, nerve > problems, numbness problems, and other risks that can offset the > benefits of the surgery. I do know one thing however, I have to get > my bite problem resolved one way or another. Thanks for your help. > > -nate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 11, 2004 Report Share Posted October 11, 2004 I can't give you much of an opinion as I am just slightly further along than you. However, I have faced the crossroads and decided to go ahead. I had ortho in my 30s which bought me a little time but failed to solve the problem. So I have decided to get things right once and for all. My orthodontist in New York helped pioneer this surgery and keeps telling me, based on the 8 to 10 patients he sees a year with my issues, that he is confident I will be happy once the trauma is over and my bite (I need upper/lower/genio) is robust. I have met two people who had this surgery some time ago and are through the pain etc. They were very convincing (though one of them also had overwhelming cosmetic motivations and has seen his life and confidence transform as a result). I am on this group for support and for tips etc as the day approaches (Dec 7)and I am having second thoughts, all based on worry and fear. But in the end, you just have to find the guy you trust and take his professional advice. D > > I am truly at a crossroads right now. I have slight muscle pain in > my jaw everyday and I have an openbite/crossbite. I have been to > several orthodontist and have therefore gotten several different > opinions. Most of the doctors, however, think that to get optimal > results I should go with the braces/surgery combination. There are > about 2 orthodontist, however, that feel they could solve the > problem with braces alone (this braces-alone-option is considered a > compromise by most of the other orthodontists I've been to). > Ultimately, my question is whether or not everyone out there thinks > surgery is worth it with all the recover time, weight loss, nerve > problems, numbness problems, and other risks that can offset the > benefits of the surgery. I do know one thing however, I have to get > my bite problem resolved one way or another. Thanks for your help. > > -nate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 11, 2004 Report Share Posted October 11, 2004 I can't give you much of an opinion as I am just slightly further along than you. However, I have faced the crossroads and decided to go ahead. I had ortho in my 30s which bought me a little time but failed to solve the problem. So I have decided to get things right once and for all. My orthodontist in New York helped pioneer this surgery and keeps telling me, based on the 8 to 10 patients he sees a year with my issues, that he is confident I will be happy once the trauma is over and my bite (I need upper/lower/genio) is robust. I have met two people who had this surgery some time ago and are through the pain etc. They were very convincing (though one of them also had overwhelming cosmetic motivations and has seen his life and confidence transform as a result). I am on this group for support and for tips etc as the day approaches (Dec 7)and I am having second thoughts, all based on worry and fear. But in the end, you just have to find the guy you trust and take his professional advice. D > > I am truly at a crossroads right now. I have slight muscle pain in > my jaw everyday and I have an openbite/crossbite. I have been to > several orthodontist and have therefore gotten several different > opinions. Most of the doctors, however, think that to get optimal > results I should go with the braces/surgery combination. There are > about 2 orthodontist, however, that feel they could solve the > problem with braces alone (this braces-alone-option is considered a > compromise by most of the other orthodontists I've been to). > Ultimately, my question is whether or not everyone out there thinks > surgery is worth it with all the recover time, weight loss, nerve > problems, numbness problems, and other risks that can offset the > benefits of the surgery. I do know one thing however, I have to get > my bite problem resolved one way or another. Thanks for your help. > > -nate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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