Guest guest Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 Hi, Lots of questions, I'll try to answer some of them, from the perspective of someone who had upper/lower/genio (genio was chin reduction/advancement which is often done to balance the other changes) and am older. I was almost 47 when I had the surgery, didn't know I needed it, but found out that my joints were starting to wear because of their deformity (don't you love that word?). I had popping, clicking, occasional locking of the jaws, but only when I started to have some pain on opening to eat did I start to investigate, and only when my dentist suggested it (he had always asked if I had any pain, always monitored the sounds). I did not have the surgery for cosmetic reasons and would not recommend it for that, there are risks involved and one needs to carefully weigh them against the benefits. Although I was teased as a child, I would have been happy to live with my looks for the rest of my life, but I decided to have the surgery in order to prevent the further deterioration of my joints, and to have it while I was still relatively young and quite healthy. I had no pain or serious discomfort throughout all of this process. There is a large nerve that runs through the lower jaw that, because it will be disturbed during surgery (but hopefully not damaged), will provide enough numbness that you shouldn't have pain. Most people don't have pain. I was given demerol while I was in hospital (2 days) and then weaned off onto children's tylenol with codeine. That was quite adequate for the discomfort, which I would characterize as muscle soreness. Likely symptoms post-op? You'll swell up, you'll drool, you'll have trouble talking, you'll have numbness in the face and gums and possibly tongue. None of this is permanent, luckily, although some of the numbness can take a long time to go away. Most of it goes away in the first few weeks, but the remainder probably won't be gone that fast. I would describe the remaining numbness as an altered sensation something like the very last few seconds of dental freezing (novocaine) before it wears off. It's more annoying than anything else, you have feeling, but you also have some little tinglies to entertain you. Keep your mom involved, you're young and she can help you weigh the risks and benefits. You don't have to have surgery at your age, you can and might be better off to wait, especially until you have stopped growing. I started investigating this in Jan of 2000, decided on surgery after meeting the surgeon in October of that year. I started my ortho treatment in Jan of 2001, had surgery in August of 2002, and was out of braces in April of 2003. The timelines are different for everyone, it definitely depends on how fast your teeth move (the ortho will move them into the position they need to be in post-surgery, so they often mess up your bite). I hope that helps. There's also an info website that I set up that will provide lots of links and FAQs about this at http://www.geocities.com/orthognathicinfo/ > > I have recently been told by my orthdadontist that if I want to I > can go for the operation for my lower jaw to be moved slightly > because my front teeth don't meet at all, because of the misaligned > jaws. > > I did ask if I could possibly just have braces, but that wouldnt > help and I would need the operation to correct my bite. Plus braces > for 2 years (1 year of them and then operation and then another year) > > They orthadontist said that I don't definately need it, but if I > feel that I want it because of how I look, then I can. > > The reasons she said for having the operation is that it could > inprove the way I talk, because the gap between top and bottom teeth > creates some speech problems, but nothing mayjor, also because I > have flat cheekbones and that when Im older it could cause problems > with pain in my jaws. > > So I was wondering if anyone here could give me advice... I want it > done to improve my bite, and looks, but I really don't like the > thought of the pain, discomfort and everything else. But saying > that, I would probably be alright with it - what I want to know > really, is what is involved with the op and after the op.. what kind > of things should I expect? > > Also, the orthadontist has said that she will make an appointment > with the hospital for me, which will now probably be in Feb or > March.. and thats just to talk about everything and then decide > whether to go ahead with it... So after that, about how long would I > be waiting for the actual operation? What age do they prefer to do > the operation on? I am 16 now. > > Sorry for going on and on... just keep asking these questions to my > mum and she doesnt know, so thought I would ask here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 Hi, Lots of questions, I'll try to answer some of them, from the perspective of someone who had upper/lower/genio (genio was chin reduction/advancement which is often done to balance the other changes) and am older. I was almost 47 when I had the surgery, didn't know I needed it, but found out that my joints were starting to wear because of their deformity (don't you love that word?). I had popping, clicking, occasional locking of the jaws, but only when I started to have some pain on opening to eat did I start to investigate, and only when my dentist suggested it (he had always asked if I had any pain, always monitored the sounds). I did not have the surgery for cosmetic reasons and would not recommend it for that, there are risks involved and one needs to carefully weigh them against the benefits. Although I was teased as a child, I would have been happy to live with my looks for the rest of my life, but I decided to have the surgery in order to prevent the further deterioration of my joints, and to have it while I was still relatively young and quite healthy. I had no pain or serious discomfort throughout all of this process. There is a large nerve that runs through the lower jaw that, because it will be disturbed during surgery (but hopefully not damaged), will provide enough numbness that you shouldn't have pain. Most people don't have pain. I was given demerol while I was in hospital (2 days) and then weaned off onto children's tylenol with codeine. That was quite adequate for the discomfort, which I would characterize as muscle soreness. Likely symptoms post-op? You'll swell up, you'll drool, you'll have trouble talking, you'll have numbness in the face and gums and possibly tongue. None of this is permanent, luckily, although some of the numbness can take a long time to go away. Most of it goes away in the first few weeks, but the remainder probably won't be gone that fast. I would describe the remaining numbness as an altered sensation something like the very last few seconds of dental freezing (novocaine) before it wears off. It's more annoying than anything else, you have feeling, but you also have some little tinglies to entertain you. Keep your mom involved, you're young and she can help you weigh the risks and benefits. You don't have to have surgery at your age, you can and might be better off to wait, especially until you have stopped growing. I started investigating this in Jan of 2000, decided on surgery after meeting the surgeon in October of that year. I started my ortho treatment in Jan of 2001, had surgery in August of 2002, and was out of braces in April of 2003. The timelines are different for everyone, it definitely depends on how fast your teeth move (the ortho will move them into the position they need to be in post-surgery, so they often mess up your bite). I hope that helps. There's also an info website that I set up that will provide lots of links and FAQs about this at http://www.geocities.com/orthognathicinfo/ > > I have recently been told by my orthdadontist that if I want to I > can go for the operation for my lower jaw to be moved slightly > because my front teeth don't meet at all, because of the misaligned > jaws. > > I did ask if I could possibly just have braces, but that wouldnt > help and I would need the operation to correct my bite. Plus braces > for 2 years (1 year of them and then operation and then another year) > > They orthadontist said that I don't definately need it, but if I > feel that I want it because of how I look, then I can. > > The reasons she said for having the operation is that it could > inprove the way I talk, because the gap between top and bottom teeth > creates some speech problems, but nothing mayjor, also because I > have flat cheekbones and that when Im older it could cause problems > with pain in my jaws. > > So I was wondering if anyone here could give me advice... I want it > done to improve my bite, and looks, but I really don't like the > thought of the pain, discomfort and everything else. But saying > that, I would probably be alright with it - what I want to know > really, is what is involved with the op and after the op.. what kind > of things should I expect? > > Also, the orthadontist has said that she will make an appointment > with the hospital for me, which will now probably be in Feb or > March.. and thats just to talk about everything and then decide > whether to go ahead with it... So after that, about how long would I > be waiting for the actual operation? What age do they prefer to do > the operation on? I am 16 now. > > Sorry for going on and on... just keep asking these questions to my > mum and she doesnt know, so thought I would ask here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 Thanks for your post . I hadn't realised that your surgery, age, motivation and timing were so close to mine. When I signed all the forms giving consent all of them had " Gross Skeletal Deformity " as the reason for surgery. love it. But as a friend points out, if it got Aetna to approve it.... - In orthognathicsurgerysupport , fiddlesticks220002 <no_reply@y...> wrote: > > Hi, > > Lots of questions, I'll try to answer some of them, from the > perspective of someone who had upper/lower/genio (genio was chin > reduction/advancement which is often done to balance the other > changes) and am older. I was almost 47 when I had the surgery, didn't > know I needed it, but found out that my joints were starting to wear > because of their deformity (don't you love that word?). > > I had popping, clicking, occasional locking of the jaws, but only > when I started to have some pain on opening to eat did I start to > investigate, and only when my dentist suggested it (he had always > asked if I had any pain, always monitored the sounds). I did not have > the surgery for cosmetic reasons and would not recommend it for that, > there are risks involved and one needs to carefully weigh them > against the benefits. Although I was teased as a child, I would have > been happy to live with my looks for the rest of my life, but I > decided to have the surgery in order to prevent the further > deterioration of my joints, and to have it while I was still > relatively young and quite healthy. > > I had no pain or serious discomfort throughout all of this process. > There is a large nerve that runs through the lower jaw that, because > it will be disturbed during surgery (but hopefully not damaged), will > provide enough numbness that you shouldn't have pain. Most people > don't have pain. I was given demerol while I was in hospital (2 days) > and then weaned off onto children's tylenol with codeine. That was > quite adequate for the discomfort, which I would characterize as > muscle soreness. > > Likely symptoms post-op? You'll swell up, you'll drool, you'll have > trouble talking, you'll have numbness in the face and gums and > possibly tongue. None of this is permanent, luckily, although some of > the numbness can take a long time to go away. Most of it goes away in > the first few weeks, but the remainder probably won't be gone that > fast. I would describe the remaining numbness as an altered sensation > something like the very last few seconds of dental freezing > (novocaine) before it wears off. It's more annoying than anything > else, you have feeling, but you also have some little tinglies to > entertain you. > > Keep your mom involved, you're young and she can help you weigh the > risks and benefits. You don't have to have surgery at your age, you > can and might be better off to wait, especially until you have > stopped growing. > > I started investigating this in Jan of 2000, decided on surgery after > meeting the surgeon in October of that year. I started my ortho > treatment in Jan of 2001, had surgery in August of 2002, and was out > of braces in April of 2003. The timelines are different for everyone, > it definitely depends on how fast your teeth move (the ortho will > move them into the position they need to be in post-surgery, so they > often mess up your bite). > > I hope that helps. There's also an info website that I set up that > will provide lots of links and FAQs about this at > http://www.geocities.com/orthognathicinfo/ > > > > > > > > > I have recently been told by my orthdadontist that if I want to I > > can go for the operation for my lower jaw to be moved slightly > > because my front teeth don't meet at all, because of the misaligned > > jaws. > > > > I did ask if I could possibly just have braces, but that wouldnt > > help and I would need the operation to correct my bite. Plus braces > > for 2 years (1 year of them and then operation and then another > year) > > > > They orthadontist said that I don't definately need it, but if I > > feel that I want it because of how I look, then I can. > > > > The reasons she said for having the operation is that it could > > inprove the way I talk, because the gap between top and bottom > teeth > > creates some speech problems, but nothing mayjor, also because I > > have flat cheekbones and that when Im older it could cause problems > > with pain in my jaws. > > > > So I was wondering if anyone here could give me advice... I want it > > done to improve my bite, and looks, but I really don't like the > > thought of the pain, discomfort and everything else. But saying > > that, I would probably be alright with it - what I want to know > > really, is what is involved with the op and after the op.. what > kind > > of things should I expect? > > > > Also, the orthadontist has said that she will make an appointment > > with the hospital for me, which will now probably be in Feb or > > March.. and thats just to talk about everything and then decide > > whether to go ahead with it... So after that, about how long would > I > > be waiting for the actual operation? What age do they prefer to do > > the operation on? I am 16 now. > > > > Sorry for going on and on... just keep asking these questions to my > > mum and she doesnt know, so thought I would ask here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 Thanks for your post . I hadn't realised that your surgery, age, motivation and timing were so close to mine. When I signed all the forms giving consent all of them had " Gross Skeletal Deformity " as the reason for surgery. love it. But as a friend points out, if it got Aetna to approve it.... - In orthognathicsurgerysupport , fiddlesticks220002 <no_reply@y...> wrote: > > Hi, > > Lots of questions, I'll try to answer some of them, from the > perspective of someone who had upper/lower/genio (genio was chin > reduction/advancement which is often done to balance the other > changes) and am older. I was almost 47 when I had the surgery, didn't > know I needed it, but found out that my joints were starting to wear > because of their deformity (don't you love that word?). > > I had popping, clicking, occasional locking of the jaws, but only > when I started to have some pain on opening to eat did I start to > investigate, and only when my dentist suggested it (he had always > asked if I had any pain, always monitored the sounds). I did not have > the surgery for cosmetic reasons and would not recommend it for that, > there are risks involved and one needs to carefully weigh them > against the benefits. Although I was teased as a child, I would have > been happy to live with my looks for the rest of my life, but I > decided to have the surgery in order to prevent the further > deterioration of my joints, and to have it while I was still > relatively young and quite healthy. > > I had no pain or serious discomfort throughout all of this process. > There is a large nerve that runs through the lower jaw that, because > it will be disturbed during surgery (but hopefully not damaged), will > provide enough numbness that you shouldn't have pain. Most people > don't have pain. I was given demerol while I was in hospital (2 days) > and then weaned off onto children's tylenol with codeine. That was > quite adequate for the discomfort, which I would characterize as > muscle soreness. > > Likely symptoms post-op? You'll swell up, you'll drool, you'll have > trouble talking, you'll have numbness in the face and gums and > possibly tongue. None of this is permanent, luckily, although some of > the numbness can take a long time to go away. Most of it goes away in > the first few weeks, but the remainder probably won't be gone that > fast. I would describe the remaining numbness as an altered sensation > something like the very last few seconds of dental freezing > (novocaine) before it wears off. It's more annoying than anything > else, you have feeling, but you also have some little tinglies to > entertain you. > > Keep your mom involved, you're young and she can help you weigh the > risks and benefits. You don't have to have surgery at your age, you > can and might be better off to wait, especially until you have > stopped growing. > > I started investigating this in Jan of 2000, decided on surgery after > meeting the surgeon in October of that year. I started my ortho > treatment in Jan of 2001, had surgery in August of 2002, and was out > of braces in April of 2003. The timelines are different for everyone, > it definitely depends on how fast your teeth move (the ortho will > move them into the position they need to be in post-surgery, so they > often mess up your bite). > > I hope that helps. There's also an info website that I set up that > will provide lots of links and FAQs about this at > http://www.geocities.com/orthognathicinfo/ > > > > > > > > > I have recently been told by my orthdadontist that if I want to I > > can go for the operation for my lower jaw to be moved slightly > > because my front teeth don't meet at all, because of the misaligned > > jaws. > > > > I did ask if I could possibly just have braces, but that wouldnt > > help and I would need the operation to correct my bite. Plus braces > > for 2 years (1 year of them and then operation and then another > year) > > > > They orthadontist said that I don't definately need it, but if I > > feel that I want it because of how I look, then I can. > > > > The reasons she said for having the operation is that it could > > inprove the way I talk, because the gap between top and bottom > teeth > > creates some speech problems, but nothing mayjor, also because I > > have flat cheekbones and that when Im older it could cause problems > > with pain in my jaws. > > > > So I was wondering if anyone here could give me advice... I want it > > done to improve my bite, and looks, but I really don't like the > > thought of the pain, discomfort and everything else. But saying > > that, I would probably be alright with it - what I want to know > > really, is what is involved with the op and after the op.. what > kind > > of things should I expect? > > > > Also, the orthadontist has said that she will make an appointment > > with the hospital for me, which will now probably be in Feb or > > March.. and thats just to talk about everything and then decide > > whether to go ahead with it... So after that, about how long would > I > > be waiting for the actual operation? What age do they prefer to do > > the operation on? I am 16 now. > > > > Sorry for going on and on... just keep asking these questions to my > > mum and she doesnt know, so thought I would ask here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 16, 2004 Report Share Posted December 16, 2004 Hi , You're welcome. Hope you never have to use that reason again in the future : ) > > Thanks for your post . I hadn't realised that your surgery, age, > motivation and timing were so close to mine. > > When I signed all the forms giving consent all of them had " Gross > Skeletal Deformity " as the reason for surgery. love it. But as a > friend points out, if it got Aetna to approve it.... > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 16, 2004 Report Share Posted December 16, 2004 Hi , You're welcome. Hope you never have to use that reason again in the future : ) > > Thanks for your post . I hadn't realised that your surgery, age, > motivation and timing were so close to mine. > > When I signed all the forms giving consent all of them had " Gross > Skeletal Deformity " as the reason for surgery. love it. But as a > friend points out, if it got Aetna to approve it.... > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 16, 2004 Report Share Posted December 16, 2004 That website was great, thanks very much! Also appreciate you answering all my questions Age was a thing I was wondering about.. and my orthadontist said they prefer to wait until people are out of school and evertyhing. So I would have to have the operation after the age of 19 anyway... after A Levels. Just think I need to do a lot more thinking, and also little more research about it all just to know what I'll be having done. > > > > I have recently been told by my orthdadontist that if I want to I > > can go for the operation for my lower jaw to be moved slightly > > because my front teeth don't meet at all, because of the misaligned > > jaws. > > > > I did ask if I could possibly just have braces, but that wouldnt > > help and I would need the operation to correct my bite. Plus braces > > for 2 years (1 year of them and then operation and then another > year) > > > > They orthadontist said that I don't definately need it, but if I > > feel that I want it because of how I look, then I can. > > > > The reasons she said for having the operation is that it could > > inprove the way I talk, because the gap between top and bottom > teeth > > creates some speech problems, but nothing mayjor, also because I > > have flat cheekbones and that when Im older it could cause problems > > with pain in my jaws. > > > > So I was wondering if anyone here could give me advice... I want it > > done to improve my bite, and looks, but I really don't like the > > thought of the pain, discomfort and everything else. But saying > > that, I would probably be alright with it - what I want to know > > really, is what is involved with the op and after the op.. what > kind > > of things should I expect? > > > > Also, the orthadontist has said that she will make an appointment > > with the hospital for me, which will now probably be in Feb or > > March.. and thats just to talk about everything and then decide > > whether to go ahead with it... So after that, about how long would > I > > be waiting for the actual operation? What age do they prefer to do > > the operation on? I am 16 now. > > > > Sorry for going on and on... just keep asking these questions to my > > mum and she doesnt know, so thought I would ask here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 16, 2004 Report Share Posted December 16, 2004 That website was great, thanks very much! Also appreciate you answering all my questions Age was a thing I was wondering about.. and my orthadontist said they prefer to wait until people are out of school and evertyhing. So I would have to have the operation after the age of 19 anyway... after A Levels. Just think I need to do a lot more thinking, and also little more research about it all just to know what I'll be having done. > > > > I have recently been told by my orthdadontist that if I want to I > > can go for the operation for my lower jaw to be moved slightly > > because my front teeth don't meet at all, because of the misaligned > > jaws. > > > > I did ask if I could possibly just have braces, but that wouldnt > > help and I would need the operation to correct my bite. Plus braces > > for 2 years (1 year of them and then operation and then another > year) > > > > They orthadontist said that I don't definately need it, but if I > > feel that I want it because of how I look, then I can. > > > > The reasons she said for having the operation is that it could > > inprove the way I talk, because the gap between top and bottom > teeth > > creates some speech problems, but nothing mayjor, also because I > > have flat cheekbones and that when Im older it could cause problems > > with pain in my jaws. > > > > So I was wondering if anyone here could give me advice... I want it > > done to improve my bite, and looks, but I really don't like the > > thought of the pain, discomfort and everything else. But saying > > that, I would probably be alright with it - what I want to know > > really, is what is involved with the op and after the op.. what > kind > > of things should I expect? > > > > Also, the orthadontist has said that she will make an appointment > > with the hospital for me, which will now probably be in Feb or > > March.. and thats just to talk about everything and then decide > > whether to go ahead with it... So after that, about how long would > I > > be waiting for the actual operation? What age do they prefer to do > > the operation on? I am 16 now. > > > > Sorry for going on and on... just keep asking these questions to my > > mum and she doesnt know, so thought I would ask here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2004 Report Share Posted December 17, 2004 Hello, I keep getting messages in my e mail. How do I get the messages to not appear in my e mail anymore? shauna > > From: fiddlesticks220002 <no_reply > > Date: 2004/12/16 Thu PM 05:11:37 GMT > To: orthognathicsurgerysupport > Subject: [Orthognathic Surgery Support ] Re: Operation? > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2004 Report Share Posted December 17, 2004 Hello, I keep getting messages in my e mail. How do I get the messages to not appear in my e mail anymore? shauna > > From: fiddlesticks220002 <no_reply > > Date: 2004/12/16 Thu PM 05:11:37 GMT > To: orthognathicsurgerysupport > Subject: [Orthognathic Surgery Support ] Re: Operation? > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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