Worried about what orthodontist plans to do.. need advice :S

February 15, 2005

Okay, so here's my problem. I have a perfect bite, yet my upper and

lower jaws are around 7mm retrognathic aka too far back. Anyway

along with me not finding my profile very attractive, it causes some

difficulty for me breathing wise and some muscle pain. So this

morning I went to the orthodontist (who seems to have many years of

experience) to make a payment, for x-rays and such and he very

briefly (he still had not been able to examine everything.. only the

x-rays) explained what might be the course of action. He said that

my lower jaw will need to be moved forward 7mm or so with surgery

but he claims that he can line my teeth up without moving my upper

jaw, just by putting me in braces. I'm now very worried since 7mm

seems like a lot to make up with orthodontics. My front teeth would

have to go forward and my back teeth backward. I really don't have

all kinds of money to spend on orthodontics because they are not

covered by my insurance, surgery is however. I'm hoping this isn't

a case where I don't need orthodontics but he wants to make some

money instead of sending me to a surgeon who will move my upper jaw

to where it should be instead of moving teeth to compensate. I'll

be going back next week with some of these questions, but I'm really

afraid now that he might not be looking out for my best interests.

I don't want to have to wear braces for longer than I have to, I

don't want to spend more than I have to, and I don't want to have to

worry about my teeth after because they've been pushed as far as

they will go and won't be in a natural position. It seems to me if

I don't do this right, then I may have to be in braces again later

on in life or even surgery again.

Advice is very much appreciated. Thanks

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