For Molly or anyone else - upper expansion

October 15, 2004

Hi Molly (and anyone else),

It sounds like you and I are in the same boat - I will also be

having my lower jaw pushed back, upper palate expansion, upper

pushed forward, and realignment. I won't actually be having surgery

for at least a year. I have a question about upper expansion: will

your surgeon be removing a tooth on each side of your upper jaw in

order to make the cut into the palate for expansion? I feel that I

already have quite a bit of room in my upper teeth, so losing two

more would not help. I am told that they will be closing the spaces

almost completely, but I'll probably notice a small crack between

the teeth. Still, I'm sure I'll notice these missing teeth. I'm

wondering if removing two teeth is completely necessary for this

surgery, or if there are other methods for expanding the upper

palate. Also, I wonder if there is anything an orthodontist can do

to help move the teeth apart on the upper jaw....or perhaps palate

expansion is actually used for more than simply moving the teeth

apart. What are the reasons your surgeon gave you for performing

palate expansion? Perhaps to flatten the palate more to have more

room in the nasal cavities? Anyway, thanks for all of your help!

If you have any pictures of your current jaw/teeth, I'd love to see

them since we have such similar problems.

> > > Just kidding. I has a class III prognanthic profile and will

> needs

> > > braces. Can anyone tell me (if your in similar situation) how

> > long from

> > > start of braces to day 1 of surgery. All things being equal

of

> > course.

> > > I do realize braces will continue after surg.

> > >

> > > in San Calif.

> > >

> > > Do those Stanford guys perform jaw reduction?

> > >

October 15, 2004