Re: jaws wired shut? screws? plate?

[Guest guest]

My Surgeon gave me the option - to be wired or not to be wired. As I

understand it, when you're not wired shut the surgery is different

regarding the place that you are " cut " . It is near a main nerve that

can have the awful side effect of permanent loss of feeling. It was

the main reason I chose to be wired shut. I'm looking forward to the

wieght loss - but I know some people wouldn't. I think my Surgeon also

said that the non-wiring surgery is more accommodating the younger you

are. He said something like " if you were 15, I'd try to talk you into

going that route " . I hope that helps, if just a little.

Good luck with your contemplation. Ask lots of questions!

Carol

> i am contemplating getting lower jaw surgery and my oral surgeon has

> recommended that i get my jaws wired shut...i have read in several

> other websites that getting your jaws wired shut isn't necessarily

the

> only option these days, given that they can use screws to hold the

> bones in place. what is everyone's thoughts on what the best route

to

> take is. i figure if i don't have my jaws wired shut i might be able

> to eat soft foods (not just liquid foods) in a few weeks and that

> would alleviate excess weight loss. however ive been told that using

> screws or plates can cause permanent numbness too...

[Guest guest]

I am not too concerned about the weight loss neither. I have already

lost 10 pounds in 1 week. My OS assures me that this is mostly water

weight. He said if I lose much more than 15 pounds then we need to

discuss some options to help maintain weight. I'm sure that once I

can actually eat again, I will gain back what I lose becuase I will

be eating everything that I can manage. I have up to 5 weeks left of

being wired shut, and I already want to tear this splint and wires

off so I can eat real food! )

> > i am contemplating getting lower jaw surgery and my oral surgeon

has

> > recommended that i get my jaws wired shut...i have read in

several

> > other websites that getting your jaws wired shut isn't

necessarily

> the

> > only option these days, given that they can use screws to hold

the

> > bones in place. what is everyone's thoughts on what the best

route

> to

> > take is. i figure if i don't have my jaws wired shut i might be

able

> > to eat soft foods (not just liquid foods) in a few weeks and

that

> > would alleviate excess weight loss. however ive been told that

using

> > screws or plates can cause permanent numbness too...

[Guest guest]

Well the to wire or not to wire, to rigid fixate or not to rigid

fixate debate is huge. There is no one consensus and every doctor

will have his or her own approach. For example, Dr. Arnett in Santa

Barbara will never wire a patient, especially one who suffers from

TMJ because he believes it to put a lot of unnecessary strain on the

joints while healing is taking place. Then again there are doctors

that feel more comfortable with wiring because it allows the jaw to

slide more easily into its natural position versus rigid fixation

where the surgeon has to make sure he places your jaw in the exact

and best position for you and if he doesn't.....

I had two different opinions for my surgery - one wanted to wire me

for at least 6 weeks and the other wanted to rigid fixate me and band

me. Ultimately I decided to go for the rigid fixation and banding.

However, my surgery involves only upper jaw. As it was explained to

me by my doctor, if I were having both jaws operated on he would

probably wire me. You should note that even when you are wired you

will have some level of plates or screws put into you (at least when

wiring was proposed to me this was the case because something needs

to hold your bone together) and even if you're banded/rigid fixated

you will have to be on a liquid diet for a while. Your jaw will be

very fragile for a while so you shouldn't be testing soft foods on it

too soon in the game.

Good luck in making your decision. It's a tough one. The important

thing is to find a surgeon that you can trust and have an honest

dialogue with. AT least this was the case for me.

Sara

> > i am contemplating getting lower jaw surgery and my oral surgeon

has

> > recommended that i get my jaws wired shut...i have read in

several

> > other websites that getting your jaws wired shut isn't

necessarily

> the

> > only option these days, given that they can use screws to hold

the

> > bones in place. what is everyone's thoughts on what the best

route

> to

> > take is. i figure if i don't have my jaws wired shut i might be

able

> > to eat soft foods (not just liquid foods) in a few weeks and that

> > would alleviate excess weight loss. however ive been told that

using

> > screws or plates can cause permanent numbness too...

[Guest guest]

Hmmm.

Now I don't exactly understand what I'm seeing here.

Unwired surgery accommodates the younger folks?

Babes and Babettes: I was 56, nearing 57. Not only was I not wired

shut for lower advancement and sideways movement. i was not banded.

I did have a big, nasty splint for seven weeks, but what's that,

compared to being wired shut???

I also had no numbness. Not a problem healing, or eating after --

although I was careful only to do stuff that I could slurp in.

I don't get it. I have three, very expensive little screws threaded

into each side of my lower jaw.

C.

- In orthognathicsurgerysupport , cfarero

<no_reply@y...> wrote:

> I am not too concerned about the weight loss neither. I have

already

> lost 10 pounds in 1 week. My OS assures me that this is mostly

water

> weight. He said if I lose much more than 15 pounds then we need to

> discuss some options to help maintain weight. I'm sure that once I

> can actually eat again, I will gain back what I lose becuase I

will

> be eating everything that I can manage. I have up to 5 weeks left

of

> being wired shut, and I already want to tear this splint and wires

> off so I can eat real food! )

>

>

>

>

> > > i am contemplating getting lower jaw surgery and my oral

surgeon

> has

> > > recommended that i get my jaws wired shut...i have read in

> several

> > > other websites that getting your jaws wired shut isn't

> necessarily

> > the

> > > only option these days, given that they can use screws to hold

> the

> > > bones in place. what is everyone's thoughts on what the best

> route

> > to

> > > take is. i figure if i don't have my jaws wired shut i might

be

> able

> > > to eat soft foods (not just liquid foods) in a few weeks and

> that

> > > would alleviate excess weight loss. however ive been told

that

> using

> > > screws or plates can cause permanent numbness too...

[Guest guest]

,

That's great that your doctor is keeping a close eye on your weight

loss. You're right, too. I hadn't thought about gaining it back

once I'm unwired. Interesting perspective!

The 5 weeks will fly by. Just hang in there!!!

Carol

> > > i am contemplating getting lower jaw surgery and my oral

surgeon

> has

> > > recommended that i get my jaws wired shut...i have read in

> several

> > > other websites that getting your jaws wired shut isn't

> necessarily

> > the

> > > only option these days, given that they can use screws to hold

> the

> > > bones in place. what is everyone's thoughts on what the best

> route

> > to

> > > take is. i figure if i don't have my jaws wired shut i might

be

> able

> > > to eat soft foods (not just liquid foods) in a few weeks and

> that

> > > would alleviate excess weight loss. however ive been told that

> using

> > > screws or plates can cause permanent numbness too...

[Guest guest]

C,

I think the advice given to me was based on the fact that I'm having

both upper and lower jaw surgery. I will have four titanium screws

in the upper jaw but need to have a split and be wired shut to

accommodate the bottom jaw. I'm not sure where the age thing comes

into play. I didn't pay as much attention to that part as I should

have - only because it didn't affect me directly.

I hope that clears it up - just a little.

Thanks,

Carol

> > > > i am contemplating getting lower jaw surgery and my oral

> surgeon

> > has

> > > > recommended that i get my jaws wired shut...i have read in

> > several

> > > > other websites that getting your jaws wired shut isn't

> > necessarily

> > > the

> > > > only option these days, given that they can use screws to

hold

> > the

> > > > bones in place. what is everyone's thoughts on what the best

> > route

> > > to

> > > > take is. i figure if i don't have my jaws wired shut i might

> be

> > able

> > > > to eat soft foods (not just liquid foods) in a few weeks and

> > that

> > > > would alleviate excess weight loss. however ive been told

> that

> > using

> > > > screws or plates can cause permanent numbness too...

[Guest guest]

Im 22 and have my upper jaw held in place with wires and the lower with titanium

screws and two plates (one on each side) I am wired shut for 2 1/2 weeks (with

splint) at which point I will be unwired and put on the elastic bands with no

splint for another four weeks.

Kev

miss_redagain2005 <no_reply > wrote:

C,

I think the advice given to me was based on the fact that I'm having

both upper and lower jaw surgery. I will have four titanium screws

in the upper jaw but need to have a split and be wired shut to

accommodate the bottom jaw. I'm not sure where the age thing comes

into play. I didn't pay as much attention to that part as I should

have - only because it didn't affect me directly.

I hope that clears it up - just a little.

Thanks,

Carol

> > > > i am contemplating getting lower jaw surgery and my oral

> surgeon

> > has

> > > > recommended that i get my jaws wired shut...i have read in

> > several

> > > > other websites that getting your jaws wired shut isn't

> > necessarily

> > > the

> > > > only option these days, given that they can use screws to

hold

> > the

> > > > bones in place. what is everyone's thoughts on what the best

> > route

> > > to

> > > > take is. i figure if i don't have my jaws wired shut i might

> be

> > able

> > > > to eat soft foods (not just liquid foods) in a few weeks and

> > that

> > > > would alleviate excess weight loss. however ive been told

> that

> > using

> > > > screws or plates can cause permanent numbness too...

---------------------------------

[Guest guest]

I'm 26 and I had upper and lower jaw surgery. I am

not wired shut due to the rigid fixation for both

jaws, I did not need a splint due to how perfect my

bite was (go orthodontist!), and am banded for about

6-8 weeks. So far so good. So it really all depends on

the doctor and the technique they use.

--- miss_redagain2005 <no_reply >

wrote:

> C,

> I think the advice given to me was based on the fact

> that I'm having

> both upper and lower jaw surgery. I will have four

> titanium screws

> in the upper jaw but need to have a split and be

> wired shut to

> accommodate the bottom jaw. I'm not sure where the

> age thing comes

> into play. I didn't pay as much attention to that

> part as I should

> have - only because it didn't affect me directly.

> I hope that clears it up - just a little.

> Thanks,

> Carol

>

>

> > > > > i am contemplating getting lower jaw surgery

> and my oral

> > surgeon

> > > has

> > > > > recommended that i get my jaws wired

> shut...i have read in

> > > several

> > > > > other websites that getting your jaws wired

> shut isn't

> > > necessarily

> > > > the

> > > > > only option these days, given that they can

> use screws to

> hold

> > > the

> > > > > bones in place. what is everyone's thoughts

> on what the best

> > > route

> > > > to

> > > > > take is. i figure if i don't have my jaws

> wired shut i might

> > be

> > > able

> > > > > to eat soft foods (not just liquid foods) in

> a few weeks and

> > > that

> > > > > would alleviate excess weight loss. however

> ive been told

> > that

> > > using

> > > > > screws or plates can cause permanent

> numbness too...

>

>

>

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