Has anyone had surgery without getting braces first?

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I'm kinda new here, and wanted to write in and introduce myself. I

have finally gotten insurance approval to pay for my jaw surgery

which I am thrilled about! The insurance approved the surgery, just

not the braces that the doctor wanted me to have.

The surgery I am going to have done involves a few procedures

actually. They are: Le fort 1, reconstruction mandibular ramus,

genioplasty, and sliding osteotomy. Wow - I feel like practically

my whole face is going to be redone.

Here's some of my questions: first and foremost I am wondering if

anyone has had this surgery done without having braces put on their

teeth first? My teeth are really pretty straight anyway, so it's not

needed for that. I had braces as a teenager so they were

straightened then. The doctor said he can do the surgery without

braces but would prefer them to be put on. I am trying to decide

now if I should pay for them out of pocket or skip the braces

routine. Money is limited (when isn't it?) I'm a Mom of three and

just got one son out of braces and another son into braces, so can't

really scrape up more money for braces for me unless we absolutely

have to.

Also, how much pain should I anticipate for the surgeries? Does it

lay a person up very much? I've had plenty of other surgeries in my

lifetime but none on my bones, so am a little leary. I've had

abdominal surgery (two C-sections), and carpal tunnel surgery,

wisdom teeth removed, and nasal surgery too. I am super busy with my

family and don't have the pleasure of being laid up from this more

than a few days unfortunately. Is this something that I can be

doing pretty good after maybe a week or so?

Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated!

Judy

[Guest guest]

I've been away from the board for a bit, and am just seeing this one,

Rainbow.

Yes, there have been people who have had surgery without having the

braces. Generally they get something called " Arch Bars " for the

surgery, and if I were you, I would ask a lot of careful questions

about them. For my money, I would much rather have the braces.

I am surprised that your doc can do the surgery without braces, in

fact. Most of us here have worn braces -- and some of us two or three

or more times -- before we get ready for surgery. Fact is, back when

I was a child, they didn't know much about needing to match up the

jaws (I am 59, almost 60). And when other, younger folks were

children and teens, the surgery was much more difficult and

dangerous. Then came the use of rigid internal fixation, which made

everything much, much easier. And more available for less serious

troubles.

> Hi everyone,

> I'm kinda new here, and wanted to write in and introduce myself. I

> have finally gotten insurance approval to pay for my jaw surgery

> which I am thrilled about! The insurance approved the surgery,

just

> not the braces that the doctor wanted me to have.

> The surgery I am going to have done involves a few procedures

> actually. They are: Le fort 1, reconstruction mandibular ramus,

> genioplasty, and sliding osteotomy. Wow - I feel like practically

> my whole face is going to be redone.

> Here's some of my questions: first and foremost I am wondering if

> anyone has had this surgery done without having braces put on their

> teeth first? My teeth are really pretty straight anyway, so it's

not

> needed for that. I had braces as a teenager so they were

> straightened then. The doctor said he can do the surgery without

> braces but would prefer them to be put on. I am trying to decide

> now if I should pay for them out of pocket or skip the braces

> routine. Money is limited (when isn't it?) I'm a Mom of three and

> just got one son out of braces and another son into braces, so

can't

> really scrape up more money for braces for me unless we absolutely

> have to.

> Also, how much pain should I anticipate for the surgeries? Does it

> lay a person up very much? I've had plenty of other surgeries in

my

> lifetime but none on my bones, so am a little leary. I've had

> abdominal surgery (two C-sections), and carpal tunnel surgery,

> wisdom teeth removed, and nasal surgery too. I am super busy with

my

> family and don't have the pleasure of being laid up from this more

> than a few days unfortunately. Is this something that I can be

> doing pretty good after maybe a week or so?

> Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated!

> Judy

[Guest guest]

Rainbow,

I thought I might add to Cammie's post and say that the point of

braces pre-surgery is not to make your teeth straight but to make

them aligned to where they should be really sitting and where they

will sit once your jaw gets moved. When I started getting ready for

surgery this time around my teeth were very straight (I had a

permanent retainer on the top and bottom after wearing braces for 10

years when I was yonger). Despite their straightness my doctors felt

that putting the braces back on was the best option for realigning my

teeth. It really broke my heart but now that I am 4 days post-op I

believe they made the right decision. I don't know about archwires

but a few people who had them on said they were pretty painful.

Please check all your options carefully before coming to a final

decision.

Best,

Sara

> > Hi everyone,

> > I'm kinda new here, and wanted to write in and introduce myself.

I

> > have finally gotten insurance approval to pay for my jaw surgery

> > which I am thrilled about! The insurance approved the surgery,

> just

> > not the braces that the doctor wanted me to have.

> > The surgery I am going to have done involves a few procedures

> > actually. They are: Le fort 1, reconstruction mandibular ramus,

> > genioplasty, and sliding osteotomy. Wow - I feel like

practically

> > my whole face is going to be redone.

> > Here's some of my questions: first and foremost I am wondering if

> > anyone has had this surgery done without having braces put on

their

> > teeth first? My teeth are really pretty straight anyway, so it's

> not

> > needed for that. I had braces as a teenager so they were

> > straightened then. The doctor said he can do the surgery without

> > braces but would prefer them to be put on. I am trying to decide

> > now if I should pay for them out of pocket or skip the braces

> > routine. Money is limited (when isn't it?) I'm a Mom of three

and

> > just got one son out of braces and another son into braces, so

> can't

> > really scrape up more money for braces for me unless we

absolutely

> > have to.

> > Also, how much pain should I anticipate for the surgeries? Does

it

> > lay a person up very much? I've had plenty of other surgeries in

> my

> > lifetime but none on my bones, so am a little leary. I've had

> > abdominal surgery (two C-sections), and carpal tunnel surgery,

> > wisdom teeth removed, and nasal surgery too. I am super busy with

> my

> > family and don't have the pleasure of being laid up from this

more

> > than a few days unfortunately. Is this something that I can be

> > doing pretty good after maybe a week or so?

> > Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated!

> > Judy