Jump to content
RemedySpot.com

Extreme Makeover + quick fixes

Rate this topic


Guest guest

Recommended Posts

Does anyone on here feel like they are going through (or have

already gone through) an extreme makeover, like the ones on TV? Ppl

have already referenced this to me (which is a little rude! but I

can certainly understand=) ~ not only will my facial structure

change but I think there will be some other changes in my life for

the better.

Speaking of that show ~ I have seen SO MANY contestants who

desperately needed jaw surgery but they all end up getting chin

implants and veneers etc. It's sad! I think a lot of veneers look

fake ~ especially when they plunk thick ones on top of really

crooked teeth. I mean dentures would look better LOL

In another thread there was a discussion about spotting ppl who need

the surgery, and celebrities who could use it. I mainly find myself

spotting " real " ppl rather than celebrities b/c let's face it, in

order to be a famous actor/actress you need a decent bite and smile

above everything else!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

actually, it's none of your business... as much as we want to help

others, most people don't want our advice....

what i find horrific is that this woman's orthodontics did not

mention the surgery to correct her bite...i suspect he did, and she

wasn't interested...

the only thing that would be acceptable is to mention to the women

that your bite could not simply be fixed by orthodontics and that

you required surgery becuase you're bite was too extreme...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know it's not my business to mention this to people as a means of

teaching them about it, but I asked the question because it seems SO

FEW people have ever even heard of this or know it exists! I only

learned about it because my boyfriend is a research hound and he was

trying to figure out why I snored and what the deal was with my

overbite. When I first started visiting orthodontists, the two I met

with were both highly regarded and I learned later, teachers at NYU

dental school. I knew to ask about the procedure because of the

research we had done. The first orthodontist told me she could tell

just by looking at my face that I was not a candidate for this surgery.

She also tried to convince me my top center line was off. (My bottom

center line was off... not the top.) The second orthodontist said it

was possible that I was a candidate for the surgery but he would not be

able to tell without full molds, x-rays, an eventual consult from the

OS and a full sleep study. I eventually got the braces and the surgery.

I am pretty certain neither of them (certainly not the first) would

have told me about the surgery unless I asked. So when I became friends

with this woman in her 30's, wearing braces for the 3rd time and with a

seriously, seriously weak chin, I could not BELIEVE she had never even

HEARD of the surgery! They had pulled healthy teeth from the top of

her mouth so they could bracket them and yank them back to meet her

recessed bottom ones, and her teeth simply refused to stay in that

position so she just kept getting braces to " train " her teeth. It made

me very sad - and rather angry- that no-one- and she had obviously met

with many " professionals " in 35 years- had bothered to tell this

woman about the procedure! Now, when I meet people that seem like they

might be dealing with similar issues, I will tiptoe towards the issue

and see if they have even heard the word " orthognathic " . 8 out of 10

have not. It's just sad and odd... you see every kind of disfiguring

& /or heroic surgery on TV but I've never, ever seen anything on

anything like this. Just those quick, cosmetic fixes...

Am I wrong and just ranting?

T.

>

>

> >

> > I know a few people whom I figure could benefit from this surgery

> > (underbites are the easiest to tell), but I would never, ever tell

> > them. > I agree with the member here that says it's really not

> your business.

>

> ## On the other hand, there are people who could benefit that may

> not know about it and may not otherwise find out.  I'm actually a

> perfect example of this.  My family dentists over the years have had

> to see how off my bite is, but none of them has ever mentioned it. 

> I've had work done, I've had x-rays and nobody ever even recommended

> orthodontia, let alone surgery.  When I decided on my own to see an

> orthodontist about slight crowding, I found out that surgery was an

> option to permanently fix my bite.  Until I saw that orthodontist, I

> didn't even know I have a problem with my bite!  I don't think I'd

> have been offended or upset if someone had suggested tactfully to me

> that I might look into surgery for my problem.  I think I might have

> appreciated knowing about this years ago. 

>

> Sharon

>

>

>

>

>

>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i guess it all comes down to culture... we all want to help others,

but some cultures don't intrude on other's personal boundries,

regardless if we feel our help is for their benefit...

again, i find it incredibly hard to believe this woman's ortho or

dentist has not suggested ortho surgery...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am having my upper jaw surgery next week. I've been in upper braces for

16 months and lowers for 11 months. I first started noticing that I would

grind my teeth at night about 15 years ago; and I have had a bite guard

since 1994. My referral to the orthodontist was made (thru my dentist) by

my hygienist. Her kids go to the same orthodontist.

I would have liked to know that I could have benefited from oral surgery 10

years ago before I spent nearly 10 grand replacing a lot of my teeth with

crowns.

I'm a private payer since my insurance doesn't cover this procedure. Braces

were $5700 and the surgery is $5450. If my OS didn't have such a sweet deal

with the hospital (and my being a private payer) I'd probably be billed

8-10K for this surgery. I have TriCare and Premera Blue Cross and neither

one covers any part of it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had a very close friend who was against any sort of cosmetic

surgery as well. Our other good friend said it best to her. She

said that there are varying degrees one will go to to improve

themselves. On the one end, there is make up. At the other end,

there is cosmetic surgery. The friend against cosmetic surgery went

on to say she thought it was wrong and you shouldn't change what God

made, blah, blah. My friend then went on to ask her, " Did God give

you blond hair? " After that, my friend against cosmetic procedures

never said another word.

> > > >

> > > > Does anyone on here feel like they are going through (or have

> > > > already gone through) an extreme makeover, like the ones on

> TV? Ppl

> > > > have already referenced this to me (which is a little rude!

> but I

> > > > can certainly understand=) ~ not only will my facial

structure

> > > > change but I think there will be some other changes in my

life

> for

> > > > the better.

> > > >

> > > > Speaking of that show ~ I have seen SO MANY contestants who

> > > > desperately needed jaw surgery but they all end up getting

chin

> > > > implants and veneers etc. It's sad! I think a lot of

veneers

> look

> > > > fake ~ especially when they plunk thick ones on top of really

> > > > crooked teeth. I mean dentures would look better LOL

> > > >

> > > > In another thread there was a discussion about spotting ppl

who

> > > need

> > > > the surgery, and celebrities who could use it. I mainly find

> > > myself

> > > > spotting " real " ppl rather than celebrities b/c let's face

it,

> in

> > > > order to be a famous actor/actress you need a decent bite

and

> smile

> > > > above everything else!

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > ---------------------------------

> > > >

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Tova,

I am one of the people who apparently had a major problem with my

jaw but I never had a clue until a few weeks ago. I have had

regular dental visits 2x/year forever. I have NEVER EVER heard

anything about this. When our old dentist retired, the new dentist

immediately informed me of the problem. I had all these symptoms,

but had no clue they were related to an underlying condition. He

knew the first time he saw me. Before I opened my mouth!

I thought maybe he was mistaken, even though when I tipped my head

back and looked in a mirror, I could see what he was talking about.

And though I DO now know people eat usually with food IN their mouth

not from their cheeks (I swear I didn't know you are supposed to eat

with food actually IN your mouth), but the orthodontists I have

since been to (so far - I still have 2 more consults to go), agreed

as soon as they looked at me when they walked in the room.

Apparently it is the length of my face from where my nose meets my

face to the chin above the chin pad that tips them off. Now I see

it with other people too! All the time! I must admit I don't see

see people with as small of lower face length as I have. But now I

notice the bite patterns you have been mentioning here on the board

too! And I see this everywhere. I had no idea this was such a

common problem. Why don't people know about this? How can you go

half a century without hearing this at some point and time?

I am 51 and have had some non-related surgeries that are relatively

unknown and yet have a lot of symptoms for older women. Whenever I

am around one or a few women my age, I will start talking about my

experiences. I don't usually mention to them that they might have

this problem (sometime I am more rigerous if it is mentioned on a

web site related to this type of discussion), but I talk about the

SYMPTOMS I had. If they make no comment immediately like " gee I do

that too!! " , I let it go. No one really likes to hear about someone

else's surgery if it doesn't obviously impact them in some way!

hahaha

But if they do say " gee that sounds like me " , I mention a few more

symptoms. You can usually tell if you are talking to someone who

should be hearing what you are saying. If they are, I do go into

quite a lot of detail about it. But I never mention that they

should do something about it. That is for them to decide for

themselves. I just tell them about my own situation and recovery

from those symptoms. I may tell them about a few other people I

have talked to who then also had the surgery, and if they are

interested, they will ask me who I went to to have it checked.

THEN I tell them about the process. This works for me because I am

really really open about anything I have done, cosmetically or

functionally. I don't mind embarassing myself by talking about what

is usually a private matter if in doing so someone will get an idea

of something to help their own situation. But I also don't tell

them initially I think they may have the same problem.

If out of the blue, someone mentions symptoms that I KNOW are

related and should be looked at promptly, I simply ask them if they

have ever discussed this with a professional. If they have, I don't

need to say more. If they haven't I will give them more

information. If they seem really open, I will tell lots of details

and tell them they should see a professional to check it out. But I

still don't tell them THEY have a problem! They can decide that for

themself when they talk to their professional.

Usually telling them your symptoms lets them identify with you and

makes them start thinking. If it is someone you know well, it will

come up more than once over a period of time as they start thinking

about it. If it is someone you don't know well and it is an obvious

problem, you might be a little more aggressive with your

explanation. This is just a suggestion. I think it would have been

soooooooooo much better to have done this years ago, like you said,

before you had spent money fixing dental work that now is

worthless. And I would have liked to have extra years of enjoying

what it is going to be like having a functional mouth for the first

time in my life! If the person has a more minimal problem though, I

would take a much easier approach.

It is a difficult call to share this kind of information, but I

think it is kinder to do SOMETHING, even if it is wrong or taken

badly. That said, if you are mentioning your own SYMPTOMS or the

symptoms of someone you know who has a similar problem to the person

you are talking with, you can navigate without appearing overly

intrusive.

I love this post!

Fran

> > >

> > > I know a few people whom I figure could benefit from this

surgery

> > > (underbites are the easiest to tell), but I would never, ever

tell

> > > them. > I agree with the member here that says it's really not

> > your business.

> >

> > ## On the other hand, there are people who could benefit that

may

> > not know about it and may not otherwise find out.  I'm

actually

a

> > perfect example of this.  My family dentists over the years

have had

> > to see how off my bite is, but none of them has ever mentioned

it. 

> > I've had work done, I've had x-rays and nobody ever even

recommended

> > orthodontia, let alone surgery.  When I decided on my own to

see an

> > orthodontist about slight crowding, I found out that surgery

was an

> > option to permanently fix my bite.  Until I saw that

orthodontist, I

> > didn't even know I have a problem with my bite!  I don't

think

I'd

> > have been offended or upset if someone had suggested tactfully

to me

> > that I might look into surgery for my problem.  I think I

might

have

> > appreciated knowing about this years ago. 

> >

> > Sharon

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fran,

" How can you go half a century without hearing this at some point and

time? "

One reason, Fran, is that the technologies have become so vastly

improved, even in the last 10 or 15 years, that the procedures are

more generally available than they once were.

When surgeons had to use open incisions, and keep people in the

hospital for a week or more, infection was a huge threat. They were

more likely to reserve these procedures for people whose needs were

severe.

Now, with the development of rigid internal fixation with titanium

screws and plates (or, experimentally, even resorbable polymers) the

surgeries are easier -- for both docs and patients -- and the

procedures are more widely available to resolve problems that are

less severe. They can now do the whole thing with either almost or

totally incisions within the mouth, so one doesn't have those great

gaping incisions. They are also easier and much less risky. At least

so i have been told.

(If you know anybody who's had a laparascopic gall bladder procedure,

and anybody who had one done the old-fashioned way, you'll see what

I'm talking about. Same is true with hernia repair, and removal of

kidney, and probably a lot of other procedures, too.)

In addition, back when I had ortho in the 1950s, orthodontists didn't

understand as much as we know now about the importance of matching

the jaws. Both my ortho and my surgeon told me they understood

exactly what my first ortho had done, in pulling my front teeth back

from the overjet, and raking them in. " I'd have done the same thing, "

both of them told me. " Back then, we just unravelled things and

said 'we're done,' " my surgeon said. (Actually, back then, if he was

more than a twinkle in his papa's eye, he was in diapers, but never

mind that -- increasingly that's true of all my docs, and Judith

Viorst has a very funny poem about turning her life over to a bunch

of kids with initials behind their names. Thing is, these " kids " are

much more knowledgeable, more communicative, more likely to involve

their patients in their own care, etc., etc. Much better deal for

both patients and docs, I think!)

Regards,

cammie

>

> Hi Tova,

> I am one of the people who apparently had a major problem with my

> jaw but I never had a clue until a few weeks ago. I have had

> regular dental visits 2x/year forever. I have NEVER EVER heard

> anything about this. When our old dentist retired, the new dentist

> immediately informed me of the problem. I had all these symptoms,

> but had no clue they were related to an underlying condition. He

> knew the first time he saw me. Before I opened my mouth!

>

> I thought maybe he was mistaken, even though when I tipped my head

> back and looked in a mirror, I could see what he was talking

about.

> And though I DO now know people eat usually with food IN their

mouth

> not from their cheeks (I swear I didn't know you are supposed to

eat

> with food actually IN your mouth), but the orthodontists I have

> since been to (so far - I still have 2 more consults to go), agreed

> as soon as they looked at me when they walked in the room.

> Apparently it is the length of my face from where my nose meets my

> face to the chin above the chin pad that tips them off. Now I see

> it with other people too! All the time! I must admit I don't see

> see people with as small of lower face length as I have. But now I

> notice the bite patterns you have been mentioning here on the board

> too! And I see this everywhere. I had no idea this was such a

> common problem. Why don't people know about this? How can you go

> half a century without hearing this at some point and time?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fran,

Thanks for posting your story... That is how I go about mentioning it

to others... gauging what they wanna hear by their interest and

questions. I am also more than happy to share all the gory details with

anyone who'll hear them. I am only 8 days post-op and returned to work

yesterday. Everyone wanted to know what happened and I just sat and

told all the details until they told me they could not listen to to my

mumbling for another minute... I think they were nervous something in

my mouth would break. Unless it was my bad breath... (Any hints on how

to deal with THAT??)

About 2 years ago,, right after I got on my braces, I went out to

drinks with a friend, her boyfriend, and a friend of his. The friend

was nice and we chatted for a while. I have a boyfriend so it was just

casual conversation. He was a 27 year old Criminal Trial Attorney

(imagine how much self-confidence THAT requires!) who grew up in NY and

had been orthodontically treated for his underdeveloped jaw by having

his top teeth yanked back. He had beautifully straight, white teeth

which were all very recessed from where they should have been. I did

mention the surgery to him (as my own situation) and he listened...

he'd never heard of it and didn't ask too many questions but listened.

We said goodnight and I've never seen him since (my friend no longer

dates his friend)

Since my surgery, I can't get this guy out of my head. He was so nice-

not arrogant or cocky- and probably would benefit greatly from the

surgery. I have day dreams of running into him in the street with my

post-surgery face and seeing if he ever looked into it. I know I'm not

the world's savior, but I feel like I've discovered something here that

is like a gold-mine no-one knows about!

-Tova

>

> Fran,

>

> " How can you go half a century without hearing this at some point and

> time? "

>

> One reason, Fran, is that the technologies have become so vastly

> improved, even in the last 10 or 15 years, that the procedures are

> more generally available than they once were.

>

> When surgeons had to use open incisions, and keep people in the

> hospital for a week or more, infection was a huge threat. They were

> more likely to reserve these procedures for people whose needs were

> severe.

>

> Now, with the development of rigid internal fixation with titanium

> screws and plates (or, experimentally, even resorbable polymers) the

> surgeries are easier -- for both docs and patients -- and the

> procedures are more widely available to resolve problems that are

> less severe. They can now do the whole thing with either almost or

> totally incisions within the mouth, so one doesn't have those great

> gaping incisions. They are also easier and much less risky. At least

> so i have been told.

>

> (If you know anybody who's had a laparascopic gall bladder procedure,

> and anybody who had one done the old-fashioned way, you'll see what

> I'm talking about. Same is true with hernia repair, and removal of

> kidney, and probably a lot of other procedures, too.)

>

> In addition, back when I had ortho in the 1950s, orthodontists didn't

> understand as much as we know now about the importance of matching

> the jaws. Both my ortho and my surgeon told me they understood

> exactly what my first ortho had done, in pulling my front teeth back

> from the overjet, and raking them in. " I'd have done the same thing, "

> both of them told me. " Back then, we just unravelled things and

> said 'we're done,' " my surgeon said. (Actually, back then, if he was

> more than a twinkle in his papa's eye, he was in diapers, but never

> mind that -- increasingly that's true of all my docs, and Judith

> Viorst has a very funny poem about turning her life over to a bunch

> of kids with initials behind their names. Thing is, these " kids " are

> much more knowledgeable, more communicative, more likely to involve

> their patients in their own care, etc., etc. Much better deal for

> both patients and docs, I think!)

>

> Regards,

>

> cammie

>

>

> >

> > Hi Tova,

> > I am one of the people who apparently had a major problem with my

> > jaw but I never had a clue until a few weeks ago.  I have had

> > regular dental visits 2x/year forever.  I have NEVER EVER heard

> > anything about this.  When our old dentist retired, the new dentist

> > immediately informed me of the problem.  I had all these symptoms,

> > but had no clue they were related to an underlying condition.  He

> > knew the first time he saw me. Before I opened my mouth!

> >

> > I thought maybe he was mistaken, even though when I tipped my head

> > back and looked in a mirror, I could see what he was talking

> about. 

> > And though I DO now know people eat usually with food IN their

> mouth

> > not from their cheeks (I swear I didn't know you are supposed to

> eat

> > with food actually IN your mouth), but the orthodontists I have

> > since been to (so far - I still have 2 more consults to go), agreed

> > as soon as they looked at me when they walked in the room. 

> > Apparently it is the length of my face from where my nose meets my

> > face to the chin above the chin pad that tips them off.  Now I see

> > it with other people too!  All the time! I must admit I don't see

> > see people with as small of lower face length as I have.  But now I

> > notice the bite patterns you have been mentioning here on the board

> > too!  And I see this everywhere.  I had no idea this was such a

> > common problem.  Why don't people know about this?  How can you go

> > half a century without hearing this at some point and time?

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Tova and Cammie,

Thank you both for replying. Tova, I love the story about dinner

with your friend's friend. It is funny how little moments like this

stick in our mind and can even influence how we speak to others in

the future. I have had that with another procedure I have had, and

when you spark a light in someone, you have to wonder if they make

the same life changing decision as you have made. It is a type of

empathy I think. We know what a change it can or has made for us,

and we hope they will have a similar positive situation in their

life. I hope you do run into him sometime. Even if he hasn't taken

this up for himself, perhaps seeing you might get him going!

Thank you Cammie for sharing the information about the changes in

this field. I am really new to this, and that goes a long way to

explaining why it was never brought up before. I have never had

orthodontia and my teeth are straight and even. This is a jaw

problem, and probably wouldn't have been a candidate even though it

is a real problem for me. But it wouldn't be so serious that I

would consider open incisions and all! I do think though, that some

of our initial care providers, our regular dentists, may not all

have a good idea of what to do for unusual jaw situations either.

For me, I guess it was lucky for me that my new dentist is able to

address it now, and some of the problems I have can be alievitated.

Thank you again!

Fran

> > >

> > > Hi Tova,

> > > I am one of the people who apparently had a major problem

with my

> > > jaw but I never had a clue until a few weeks ago.  I have had

> > > regular dental visits 2x/year forever.  I have NEVER EVER

heard

> > > anything about this.  When our old dentist retired, the new

dentist

> > > immediately informed me of the problem.  I had all these

symptoms,

> > > but had no clue they were related to an underlying

condition.  He

> > > knew the first time he saw me. Before I opened my mouth!

> > >

> > > I thought maybe he was mistaken, even though when I tipped my

head

> > > back and looked in a mirror, I could see what he was talking

> > about. 

> > > And though I DO now know people eat usually with food IN their

> > mouth

> > > not from their cheeks (I swear I didn't know you are supposed

to

> > eat

> > > with food actually IN your mouth), but the orthodontists I

have

> > > since been to (so far - I still have 2 more consults to go),

agreed

> > > as soon as they looked at me when they walked in the room. 

> > > Apparently it is the length of my face from where my nose

meets my

> > > face to the chin above the chin pad that tips them off.  Now

I see

> > > it with other people too!  All the time! I must admit I don't

see

> > > see people with as small of lower face length as I have.  But

now I

> > > notice the bite patterns you have been mentioning here on the

board

> > > too!  And I see this everywhere.  I had no idea this was such

a

> > > common problem.  Why don't people know about this?  How can

you go

> > > half a century without hearing this at some point and time?

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...