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

[Guest guest]

that, i have no idea! every insurance is different. i have blue cross,

who paid 80% of the surgery. i owed my OS the difference, and he

required payment in full by 4 weeks prior to the surgery. my

orthodontics were seperate from the surgery and were not authorized

(they came out of my pocket) but i am still fighting with blue cross

to get them to pay. your questions sound like they are better directed

at your insurance company! and i dont think insurance can drop

coverage of your surgery after its been authorized, but dont quote me

on that.

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