hard palate perforation, loose teeth

[Guest guest]

My Lefort advancement was done on Jan 18th, 2005. Now, 2.5 weeks into

recovery, some rather disquieting conditions have become evident. I'm

hoping that someone within this group can share some knowledge or

experience with me, as my approaching freak-out is thundering on the

horizon.

As part of the advancement, my upper jaw has been widened

considerably. While the goal here was attained, I am left with a

hole in the roof of my mouth that leads right into my sinuses. It's

small enough, this hole, but its presence is NOT desirable. At least

part of everything I eat or drink ends up in my nose and my speech has

been significantly impaired (plosives - Ps and Bs - end up as wheezy

snorts). I also can't muster a good pucker or create a strong enough

vacuum to use a straw. Will this hole close over, in time? Will the

bone grow back?

My other pressing concern is over the looseness of my teeth,

especially the top incisors. I've always had a high gum-line, but my

upper gums have all but vanished and the teeth don't appear to be

anchored very firmly in whatever bone is there. Again, is this all

part of the recovery process? Do gums grow back?

Of course, I've brought these issues up with my surgeon (just saw him

today, in fact) and I am confident in his care. However, we are in a

wait-and-see period and I would take great comfort in hearing from

another jaw surgery patient that everything will be ok.

Please feel free to email me directly, as I'm likely to forget how I

discovered this Group to begin with.

Many thanks,

nbdog@...

[Guest guest]

Hopefully you'll be back to read this. I'm posting it here to give

others the benefit.

With upper surgery, you shouldn't be using a straw or attempting to

create any vacuum in the mouth (no nose-blowing either) until your

surgeon gives you the ok.

The hole sounds like something I've read about before, it should

close in time but you need to keep your surgeon informed about that.

If your upper jaw was impacted, your upper gums will have been

shortened as well. Sometimes people have their gums trimmed so that

more tooth is exposed, but this does grow back, apparently.

My ortho says that teeth are always a bit loose, they loosen up

during treatment, but not to worry unless there's one that's of

particular concern. I know I was afraid to bite into an apple for a

looooong time post-op.

It all sounds quite normal for this type of procedure, but do ask

your surgeon about anything that concerns you. No question is too

silly to ask, believe me, I've asked them all!

>

> My Lefort advancement was done on Jan 18th, 2005. Now, 2.5 weeks

into

> recovery, some rather disquieting conditions have become evident.

I'm

> hoping that someone within this group can share some knowledge or

> experience with me, as my approaching freak-out is thundering on the

> horizon.

>

> As part of the advancement, my upper jaw has been widened

> considerably. While the goal here was attained, I am left with a

> hole in the roof of my mouth that leads right into my sinuses. It's

> small enough, this hole, but its presence is NOT desirable. At

least

> part of everything I eat or drink ends up in my nose and my speech

has

> been significantly impaired (plosives - Ps and Bs - end up as wheezy

> snorts). I also can't muster a good pucker or create a strong

enough

> vacuum to use a straw. Will this hole close over, in time? Will

the

> bone grow back?

>

> My other pressing concern is over the looseness of my teeth,

> especially the top incisors. I've always had a high gum-line, but

my

> upper gums have all but vanished and the teeth don't appear to be

> anchored very firmly in whatever bone is there. Again, is this all

> part of the recovery process? Do gums grow back?

>

> Of course, I've brought these issues up with my surgeon (just saw

him

> today, in fact) and I am confident in his care. However, we are in

a

> wait-and-see period and I would take great comfort in hearing from

> another jaw surgery patient that everything will be ok.

>

> Please feel free to email me directly, as I'm likely to forget how I

> discovered this Group to begin with.

>

> Many thanks,

>

> nbdog@s...