Introduction + anyone here have TMJ replacement joint along with orthognathic?

[Guest guest]

My name is , I am in Boston, and was referred to an oral

surgeon by my dentist, who said I needed to look into fixing my jaw

misalignment. My front teeth do not meet, creating an " open bite " .

My lower jaw and chin are too far back, also.

I've just been to my initial consultation with my oral surgeon. He

says that due to Juvenile Rhumatoid Arthritis, my TMJ joints are not

strong enough to withstand the surgery I need (lower jaw being moved

forward nearly an inch). So, he wants to put in prosthetic TMJ joints

at the same time as the lower (and upper) jaw surgeries. Apparently,

I also have a serverly constricted airway which is likely causing

severe sleep apnea - and I thought I was just tired from my 4 kids! He

said my airway is 90% constricted - most people have approx. 11

millimeter opening, mine is approx. 1 millimeter.) Hmmmmm. that is a

lot of information in a tiny paragraph. :-)

I am just interested to know if anyone has had a similar surgery?

Also, my OS is Dr. Cottrell with BU Medical Center. Has anyone had

experience with him?

Thanks! I am so glad there are Yahoo support groups for EVERYTHING!! :-)

[Guest guest]

One question to consider is how long the artificial joints will hold

up. I believe one person here has said that they have to be replaced

every 10-15 years. So your present age would also be a factor.

I don't know that any of this is accurate, although I trust the one

who said so. Your doc may be onto something else that I've never

heard of. Or it may be the only possible route for you. You might

also ask your surgeon what he thinks about distraction osteogenesis...

Best,

cammie

>

> My name is , I am in Boston, and was referred to an oral

> surgeon by my dentist, who said I needed to look into fixing my jaw

> misalignment. My front teeth do not meet, creating an " open bite " .

> My lower jaw and chin are too far back, also.

>

>

> I've just been to my initial consultation with my oral surgeon. He

> says that due to Juvenile Rhumatoid Arthritis, my TMJ joints are not

> strong enough to withstand the surgery I need (lower jaw being moved

> forward nearly an inch). So, he wants to put in prosthetic TMJ

joints

> at the same time as the lower (and upper) jaw surgeries.

Apparently,

> I also have a serverly constricted airway which is likely causing

> severe sleep apnea - and I thought I was just tired from my 4 kids!

He

> said my airway is 90% constricted - most people have approx. 11

> millimeter opening, mine is approx. 1 millimeter.) Hmmmmm. that is

a

> lot of information in a tiny paragraph. :-)

>

> I am just interested to know if anyone has had a similar surgery?

> Also, my OS is Dr. Cottrell with BU Medical Center. Has anyone had

> experience with him?

>

> Thanks! I am so glad there are Yahoo support groups for

EVERYTHING!! :-)