Re: Braces tomorrow: I may back out!

[Guest guest]

Hi

My teeth were VERY crooked and overcrowded before I got my braces.

I'm soooo glad I did it and I really don't know how I ever thought I

could get away with not wearing braces. I only had my surgery two

weeks ago so I don't know yet whether I'll end up regretting that

part, but I definitely do not regret the braces.

Maybe you'll end up being happy with the difference made by the

braces and not need the surgery in the end.

.

>

> Hi, Im supposed to be getting my braces put on tomorrow but within

> the last 24 hours Ive suddenly got many doubts and am thinking of

> pulling out. I hate my smile and my teeth are very crooked and

> overcrowded. My jaws dont look perfect but its not really

noticable

> and people are surprised if I mention the surgey to fix them.

>

> My sudden concern is that ive read most people saying they wouldnt

do

> it for cosmetic reasons. But that is the only reason for me

really, I

> dont have functional problems. I am worried that I will look worse

> after surery. The differences are meant to be subtle and my

surgeon

> has said he will make as little change as he can because I dont

need

> much, but I am worried that just small changes will make me regret

> the surgery if I look worse. Ive read of one person on here saying

> that their lips and nose dont settle on their face the same way as

> before and that they regret their surgery. I would hate this to

> happen to me. Is that more likely to happen to someone who is

having

> major changes as opposed to small changes like me, or could such

bad

> results happen to anyone.

>

> My final question is, do most people getting this surgery have

over

> crowded or very crooked teeth? Because this is my main reason for

> getting the surgery, to correct this. But I dont really here many

> people on here talking about crooked teeth so im wondering if most

of

> you had crooked teeth before treatment. Im quite stressed out

> suddenly and would appreciate any replies to anything ive said, I

> really dont know if Im going to get these braces now.

>

> Thanks,

>

[Guest guest]

I was in the same situation as you! Funnily, i too was very nervous

one week before getting my braces... having said that, having braces

was the best investment i've ever made...

I had overcrowding and very narrow pallate... you'll start seeing

amazing results within 4 months....

I would be very cautious about the surgery.... there are REAL risks

with the surgery...

check with your ortho if you can get orthodontics without the

surgery? it may not fully correct your bite, but i truly believe

that the braces will make your appearce a lot better than any

surgery, unless you've got an extreme jaw issues...

i never give recommendations, but i'll make an exception here: GET

THE BRACES!!!! you won't regret it!

>

> Hi, Im supposed to be getting my braces put on tomorrow but within

> the last 24 hours Ive suddenly got many doubts and am thinking of

> pulling out. I hate my smile and my teeth are very crooked and

> overcrowded. My jaws dont look perfect but its not really

noticable

> and people are surprised if I mention the surgey to fix them.

>

> My sudden concern is that ive read most people saying they wouldnt

do

> it for cosmetic reasons. But that is the only reason for me

really, I

> dont have functional problems. I am worried that I will look worse

> after surery. The differences are meant to be subtle and my

surgeon

> has said he will make as little change as he can because I dont

need

> much, but I am worried that just small changes will make me regret

> the surgery if I look worse. Ive read of one person on here saying

> that their lips and nose dont settle on their face the same way as

> before and that they regret their surgery. I would hate this to

> happen to me. Is that more likely to happen to someone who is

having

> major changes as opposed to small changes like me, or could such

bad

> results happen to anyone.

>

> My final question is, do most people getting this surgery have

over

> crowded or very crooked teeth? Because this is my main reason for

> getting the surgery, to correct this. But I dont really here many

> people on here talking about crooked teeth so im wondering if most

of

> you had crooked teeth before treatment. Im quite stressed out

> suddenly and would appreciate any replies to anything ive said, I

> really dont know if Im going to get these braces now.

>

> Thanks,

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I can imagine you are feeling rather stressed... it's hard to make

such a big decision involving so much time and so many unknowns.

Sometimes, when I don't know what to decide... I approach my dilemna

with " regret " in mind... which decision would I possibly regret more?

Is there greater potential for regret if I go ahead with surgery and

don't get the outcome I'm hoping for- keeping in mind the chances of

unsuccessful outcome vs. successful. OR am I more likely to have more

regret if I hold off on everything and never try and am stuck with an

appearance/less than ideal functioning of my teeth and bite?

I am having surgery in 3 weeks.... my decision was based partially on

those considerations of what I might regret more, if at all.

Personally I would have regretted it more if I never tried. The

anticipated benefit to the rest of my life outweighed the year or two

of braces and the recovery from surgery. More than anything, I don't

think I could have justified pursuing such a drastic surgery to

myself if it was purely for cosmetic motivations. I have definite

funcional problems with my bite, but I WONT deny that I am looking

forward to anticipated cosmetic improvements too! They factor in as

well, just not solely as the only priority.

You might also take into consideration asking your orthodontist about

where predictavely might your teeth be- the condition of your mouth

be- if you Don't pursue braces and surgery at this time? I am quite

new to this group, but in my own reading have come across individuals

commenting on how their mouth/bite/teeth/joints etc. worsened over

the years, and then they finally have the surgery and braces when

they are much older, sometimes wishing they had had it when they were

younger and could have prevented a lot of the problems. Or they

weren't ready until older to go ahead with the whole thing. Also ask

your orthodontist about possible correction of your teeth without

having surgery. My orthodontist told me he could correct my bite with

surgery to actually correct the structural assymetries of my jaws, OR

he could correct the bite without surgery. For me, that would have

involved making everything more crooked and assymetrical so the top

and bottom teeth would match up. I opted to actually correct things

for once and for all. Cosmetic interest did come into play at this

point in my decision. I didn't want my face looking more

crooked/assymetrical!! But I was presented with both options.

If you aren't sure, you can always post-pone getting the braces put

on. Request another sit down with your orthodontist and discuss some

of your fears beforehand. This isn't your one and only chance! If not

tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, or maybe not at all if

that's what you decide.

I am 25. I had horribly crooked teeth to start with. I went through 2

1/2 years of braces in high school. My teeth were pretty much

straightened, but my bite wasn't corrected at all. My teeth were

aligned into a position where I guess I was supposed to all of the

sudden bite my teeth down, but of course since my jaw wasn't there it

didn't work that way... I have an over-bite/recessive lower jaw. So

all of the sudden " if I put my jaw forward, I'm supposed to bite in a

new posisition " . Well of course bites don't work that way! My first

orthodontist never told me or my parents about this, along with mis-

matched midlines and my upper and lower jaw assymmetries. So, when I

decided 2 years ago to go through braces a second time and this time

surgery too, it wasn't about my teeth being so crooked at that point.

but they were very very crooked to begin with.

I wish you the best of luck! Let us all know what you decide. I know

how hard these decisions can be and they seem to weigh the heaviest

the day or night before! Take care, Katja

[Guest guest]

hey guys, thanks a lot for your posts and support! I wasnt quite

clear in my original post tho. My dentist and surgeon have said that

having just braces wont really help, because if i get them, then my

teeth wont match up and the end result will probably be worse for me.

They have said that its pretty much all or nothing. This is why I am

not really concerned with the braces at all, I am only concerned

about regretting the surgery in the long term future. The fact that I

am supposed to be getting braces tomorrow and starting this procedure

has just brought all these worries to the surface today really. If i

could sort out my teeth without surgery I definately would, but this

isnt an option for me.

My current state of mind is that I get the braces tomorrow, then get

further appointments in the next week or so to dicuss all of my

concerns. If i then decided that I really dont want to go through

with it, is it possible for me to get the braces off then? As long as

it hasnt gone too far? I still think i probably will go through with

it, but is it still possible for me to back out soon after getting

braces put on?

Thanks again,

[Guest guest]

My final question is, do most people getting this surgery have over

> crowded or very crooked teeth? Because this is my main reason for

> getting the surgery, to correct this. But I dont really here many

> people on here talking about crooked teeth so im wondering if most

of

> you had crooked teeth before treatment. Im quite stressed out

> suddenly and would appreciate any replies to anything ive said, I

> really dont know if Im going to get these braces now.

>

> Thanks,

>

I didn't have severly crooked teeth, having gone through braces

already during my adolescence (five years). As an adult, though,

lower teeth were beginning to tip outwards (due to crowding) and I

had one tooth on mu upper that started to move.

But my whole surgery process started as a cosmetic procedure: I

wanted to get my chin done, as I had a TERRIBLE profile, and my jaw

was always sore 'cause I'd jut it out to compensate for my lack-of-

chin. I mentioned this to my dentist, who said that I should see an

orthodontist. The orthodonist confirmed that I was wearing down my

teeth and creating jaw pain for myself, and in the long run braces +

surgery were the best bet.

That was nearly three years ago. I had braces put on November

of '02 and I had my surgery February 3rd.

I have to say that a big boost for me to get the procedure done was

cosmetic, although what sealed the deal is that if I didn't get it

done, I'd end up wearing my teeth into nubs by the time I was 60.

Whle I'm still swollen, I am THRILLED with the outcome, and can't

wait to have a million-dollar (okay, a $30K) smile.

Cheers,

sm

[Guest guest]

You can back out after you get the braces put on, of course, but

you'll be out of pocket for the cost. Even at this point, your ortho

will have spent time & $$$ preparing for you.

You can even back out the day of surgery, although you'll be putting

someone else out who probably wanted that day.

Sounds like you need to think about it some more, and you certainly

can do that in braces during treatment. We can't really address your

concerns about what might happen post-op since we're not the experts.

The best person to ask this of is your surgeon - maybe he can show

you photos or put you in contact with other patients who have had

similar surgery. The outcome is more likely to be similar with the

same surgeon.

>

> hey guys, thanks a lot for your posts and support! I wasnt quite

> clear in my original post tho. My dentist and surgeon have said

that

> having just braces wont really help, because if i get them, then my

> teeth wont match up and the end result will probably be worse for

me.

> They have said that its pretty much all or nothing. This is why I

am

> not really concerned with the braces at all, I am only concerned

> about regretting the surgery in the long term future. The fact that

I

> am supposed to be getting braces tomorrow and starting this

procedure

> has just brought all these worries to the surface today really. If

i

> could sort out my teeth without surgery I definately would, but

this

> isnt an option for me.

>

> My current state of mind is that I get the braces tomorrow, then

get

> further appointments in the next week or so to dicuss all of my

> concerns. If i then decided that I really dont want to go through

> with it, is it possible for me to get the braces off then? As long

as

> it hasnt gone too far? I still think i probably will go through

with

> it, but is it still possible for me to back out soon after getting

> braces put on?

>

> Thanks again,

>