Re: Vale-I had first talk with dentist about no room for tongue

[Guest guest]

Hi again,

In my zeal to post this, I used an incorrect description of my bite,

I think it is an overbite. My front teeth do not touch and they are

like buck teeth except they are turned in on the uppers so it belies

that it is an overbite. Tell me if I am using the term incorrectly.

Thanks,

Fran

>

> Hi Vale and everyone!

> I just had my first real discussion with my dentist about what I

> have come to find is a complex orthognathic problem, that requires

> maxilla lengthening and mandible surgery moving forward and

centered

> (currently goes to the left). I will also need septal correction

to

> put everything in alignment. I do not have an obvious overbite or

> underbite, though I do have an underbite. He says it is a

skeletal

> Class II malocclusion, div II. It will require orthodontic work

> first, then the surgery, followed by a quite complex full mouth

> rehabilitation. All of my teeth are about half the length of

> normal. My lower jaw overcloses and ends with an underbite. And

my

> maxilla is half distance too. This is why my tongue doesn't have

> room in my mouth. I chew all my food from the pocket of my

cheeks.

> He said there was a name for the callous on the inside of my cheek

> too. And the reason I didn't know I had an underbite is that my

> teeth turn in somewhat and I have a button pad on my chin which

from

> my profile belies the fact that my jaw is receded.

>

> I got so much information that my head is swimming. I didn't

> realize that other people chew with food in their mouths. And I

am

> 51 years old! When you don't realize you have a problem, it is

easy

> to rationalize difficulties you have as something everyone else

has

> too. I have always had dental care, and it was never mentioned

> before - but orthognathic surgery is a particular interest of my

new

> dentist. He has just finished his own mouth, having his braces

post

> op removed just before Thanksgiving!! So he is aware and

spreading

> the word. But mine is not a really common problem. My new dentist

> says he only has one other client who has this also.

>

> I don't look like there is a real problem, but if you see a mold

of

> my mouth along side people who don't have this (which is what my

> dentist did for me), I was absolutely stunned!! No wonder I can't

> bite apples or my fingernails. No wonder I stumble over my words

> sometimes, and can't get my mouth to move the correct way. I

> definately can't chew gum and talk. I choke easily and frequently

> every time I eat. I never ever have more than about 1/4 teaspoon

of

> already chewed or mashed potato consistency food in my mouth at

one

> time. The rest is pocketed in my cheeks, which have become very

> adept at feeding very small amounts of food into the molars to

> chew. DH has always called me chipmonk cheeks, and he was

right!!

> LOL But I thought everyone ate this way, and it was just that my

> chunky sized cheeks were more obvious. Like I said, it is easy to

> rationalize.

>

> The dentist even said my chunky cheeks are a function of the

> shortened jaw, and when they are in alignment, the cheeks will be

> elongated and not have the squished look they now have with a

closed

> mouth.

>

> And the full mouth rehab means I will have new crowns on ALL of my

> teeth, so I will never need bleaching again! I guess that is a

> bonus for having to be working with this for 3-4 years. Yeah,

that

> is the downside. I was hoping for a 2 year process.

>

> So he referred me to a couple of orthodontists for my first

consults

> with them. I have made the appointments for the end of this month

> (26th and 27th), and will know more then. I have good insurance

for

> the surgery, but will be out at least some for the orthodontic

work

> and part of the crown work. (I am really lucky that I have 80%

> coverage for crowns with no annual limit). I will see how much

> effort it takes to get preauthorized with the insurance company.

> From what I have read with you, it is a real nightmare. It is my

> biggest concern. Even with my dentist, who has training in the

full

> mouth rehab portion, and who will be cheaper than others, this is

> going to be one spendy smile.

>

> Sorry this is so long. But thanks for reading this!

>

> Fran

[Guest guest]

congratulations on your decision to have the surgery! it is funny how

you 'assume' everyone else has the same problem, isn't it? i dont have

nearly as many problems as you, but i just got my lower, upper and

chin done. i am really happy i did the surgery, as i'm sure you will

be once its all finished

keep us updated!

gina

>

> Hi Vale and everyone!

> I just had my first real discussion with my dentist about what I

> have come to find is a complex orthognathic problem, that requires

> maxilla lengthening and mandible surgery moving forward and centered

> (currently goes to the left). I will also need septal correction to

> put everything in alignment. I do not have an obvious overbite or

> underbite, though I do have an underbite. He says it is a skeletal

> Class II malocclusion, div II. It will require orthodontic work

> first, then the surgery, followed by a quite complex full mouth

> rehabilitation. All of my teeth are about half the length of

> normal. My lower jaw overcloses and ends with an underbite. And my

> maxilla is half distance too. This is why my tongue doesn't have

> room in my mouth. I chew all my food from the pocket of my cheeks.

> He said there was a name for the callous on the inside of my cheek

> too. And the reason I didn't know I had an underbite is that my

> teeth turn in somewhat and I have a button pad on my chin which from

> my profile belies the fact that my jaw is receded.

>

> I got so much information that my head is swimming. I didn't

> realize that other people chew with food in their mouths. And I am

> 51 years old! When you don't realize you have a problem, it is easy

> to rationalize difficulties you have as something everyone else has

> too. I have always had dental care, and it was never mentioned

> before - but orthognathic surgery is a particular interest of my new

> dentist. He has just finished his own mouth, having his braces post

> op removed just before Thanksgiving!! So he is aware and spreading

> the word. But mine is not a really common problem. My new dentist

> says he only has one other client who has this also.

>

> I don't look like there is a real problem, but if you see a mold of

> my mouth along side people who don't have this (which is what my

> dentist did for me), I was absolutely stunned!! No wonder I can't

> bite apples or my fingernails. No wonder I stumble over my words

> sometimes, and can't get my mouth to move the correct way. I

> definately can't chew gum and talk. I choke easily and frequently

> every time I eat. I never ever have more than about 1/4 teaspoon of

> already chewed or mashed potato consistency food in my mouth at one

> time. The rest is pocketed in my cheeks, which have become very

> adept at feeding very small amounts of food into the molars to

> chew. DH has always called me chipmonk cheeks, and he was right!!

> LOL But I thought everyone ate this way, and it was just that my

> chunky sized cheeks were more obvious. Like I said, it is easy to

> rationalize.

>

> The dentist even said my chunky cheeks are a function of the

> shortened jaw, and when they are in alignment, the cheeks will be

> elongated and not have the squished look they now have with a closed

> mouth.

>

> And the full mouth rehab means I will have new crowns on ALL of my

> teeth, so I will never need bleaching again! I guess that is a

> bonus for having to be working with this for 3-4 years. Yeah, that

> is the downside. I was hoping for a 2 year process.

>

> So he referred me to a couple of orthodontists for my first consults

> with them. I have made the appointments for the end of this month

> (26th and 27th), and will know more then. I have good insurance for

> the surgery, but will be out at least some for the orthodontic work

> and part of the crown work. (I am really lucky that I have 80%

> coverage for crowns with no annual limit). I will see how much

> effort it takes to get preauthorized with the insurance company.

> From what I have read with you, it is a real nightmare. It is my

> biggest concern. Even with my dentist, who has training in the full

> mouth rehab portion, and who will be cheaper than others, this is

> going to be one spendy smile.

>

> Sorry this is so long. But thanks for reading this!

>

> Fran

[Guest guest]

Thank you ,

I am nervous as this is a BIG committment. Can you tell me if, when

you get preauthorized, if the bill is a lump sum bill. I mean, if I

commit to the orthodontist and the surgeon and the rehab, is it

authorized all at once or piecemeal? I don't want to get halfway

into this and have my insurance change or the business go defunct

and not have insurance to finish the work. Is there some way for

this to be protected for long term work like this?

Thanks again!

Fran

> >

> > Hi Vale and everyone!

> > I just had my first real discussion with my dentist about what I

> > have come to find is a complex orthognathic problem, that

requires

> > maxilla lengthening and mandible surgery moving forward and

centered

> > (currently goes to the left). I will also need septal

correction to

> > put everything in alignment. I do not have an obvious overbite

or

> > underbite, though I do have an underbite. He says it is a

skeletal

> > Class II malocclusion, div II. It will require orthodontic work

> > first, then the surgery, followed by a quite complex full mouth

> > rehabilitation. All of my teeth are about half the length of

> > normal. My lower jaw overcloses and ends with an underbite.

And my

> > maxilla is half distance too. This is why my tongue doesn't

have

> > room in my mouth. I chew all my food from the pocket of my

cheeks.

> > He said there was a name for the callous on the inside of my

cheek

> > too. And the reason I didn't know I had an underbite is that my

> > teeth turn in somewhat and I have a button pad on my chin which

from

> > my profile belies the fact that my jaw is receded.

> >

> > I got so much information that my head is swimming. I didn't

> > realize that other people chew with food in their mouths. And I

am

> > 51 years old! When you don't realize you have a problem, it is

easy

> > to rationalize difficulties you have as something everyone else

has

> > too. I have always had dental care, and it was never mentioned

> > before - but orthognathic surgery is a particular interest of my

new

> > dentist. He has just finished his own mouth, having his braces

post

> > op removed just before Thanksgiving!! So he is aware and

spreading

> > the word. But mine is not a really common problem. My new

dentist

> > says he only has one other client who has this also.

> >

> > I don't look like there is a real problem, but if you see a mold

of

> > my mouth along side people who don't have this (which is what my

> > dentist did for me), I was absolutely stunned!! No wonder I

can't

> > bite apples or my fingernails. No wonder I stumble over my

words

> > sometimes, and can't get my mouth to move the correct way. I

> > definately can't chew gum and talk. I choke easily and

frequently

> > every time I eat. I never ever have more than about 1/4

teaspoon of

> > already chewed or mashed potato consistency food in my mouth at

one

> > time. The rest is pocketed in my cheeks, which have become very

> > adept at feeding very small amounts of food into the molars to

> > chew. DH has always called me chipmonk cheeks, and he was

right!!

> > LOL But I thought everyone ate this way, and it was just that

my

> > chunky sized cheeks were more obvious. Like I said, it is easy

to

> > rationalize.

> >

> > The dentist even said my chunky cheeks are a function of the

> > shortened jaw, and when they are in alignment, the cheeks will

be

> > elongated and not have the squished look they now have with a

closed

> > mouth.

> >

> > And the full mouth rehab means I will have new crowns on ALL of

my

> > teeth, so I will never need bleaching again! I guess that is a

> > bonus for having to be working with this for 3-4 years. Yeah,

that

> > is the downside. I was hoping for a 2 year process.

> >

> > So he referred me to a couple of orthodontists for my first

consults

> > with them. I have made the appointments for the end of this

month

> > (26th and 27th), and will know more then. I have good insurance

for

> > the surgery, but will be out at least some for the orthodontic

work

> > and part of the crown work. (I am really lucky that I have 80%

> > coverage for crowns with no annual limit). I will see how much

> > effort it takes to get preauthorized with the insurance

company.

> > From what I have read with you, it is a real nightmare. It is

my

> > biggest concern. Even with my dentist, who has training in the

full

> > mouth rehab portion, and who will be cheaper than others, this

is

> > going to be one spendy smile.

> >

> > Sorry this is so long. But thanks for reading this!

> >

> > Fran