Guest guest Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 Honey, I think you've posted before, and had answers before, on this subject. First: Ask your docs. They may be able to explain better than we can. Second: Try not to be obsessive about the splint. It's not a huge deal. It is unpleasant, cumbersome, almost impossible to keep clean, an impediment to clear conversation -- but probably no more of the last of that list than my Southern drawl! Different surgeons use different procedures. Some wire patients shut. Some believe rigid internal fixation without wiring works better. Some use splints. Some use internal wiring. Some band tightly. Some band loosely. Some don't band at all, sometimes. I do not beleve that more than .00005 percent do any of this sadistically (there are some rotten apples in every barrel, and you don't want to wind up with one of them!) but I do believe you want your surgeon doing what his experience tells him serves his patients best. In addition, some surgeons prefer different kinds of cuts (a vertical osteotomy, I think, requires the wiring, while a bilateral surgical sagittal osteotomy may not). Ask your doc about which way he chooses to slice, and why. Some docs believe the vertical cut may be more effective in sparing numbness, I think. Tell your docs candidly what you've found in your research, and ask them why they want to do things one way or another. And then do your own evaluations of the risks and benefits, and try your doggondest to figure out what will serve you best. Cammie > > Can someone explain to me why some oral surgeons > use a splint for lower jaw and some do not. > And am i doing myself a disservice by not going > with the splint oral surgeon both have the same > level of expertise . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 25, 2005 Report Share Posted July 25, 2005 Hello all, this is a great forum. I just discovered it today and am having surgery on Thursday. I have a large overbite and am getting my bottom jaw pushed forward. I have a few questions- Does anyone have before and after pictures that have had a similar procedure? Did they cut the outside of your face for the screws? If so, did it scar? I would greatly appreciate any responses. I am getting a little scared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 25, 2005 Report Share Posted July 25, 2005 I had small (5 mm) lower advancement, plus a sideways movement 3 mm. to the right. And I think my pix before and after are posted, but you won't see much, if any, change, except that the teeth are straighter. 5 mm is about a quarter of an inch, so it's really just a tad. Good wishes to you. Oh, and the two little percutaneous cuts, low on the cheeks, one on either side, gave my surgeon the angle he needed to install the screws. No big deal. Each one closed by three little stitches, and I'd defy you to find a scar today. Cammie > Hello all, this is a great forum. I just discovered it today and am > having surgery on Thursday. I have a large overbite and am getting my > bottom jaw pushed forward. > > I have a few questions- > > Does anyone have before and after pictures that have had a similar > procedure? > > Did they cut the outside of your face for the screws? If so, did it > scar? > > I would greatly appreciate any responses. I am getting a little scared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 25, 2005 Report Share Posted July 25, 2005 I had lower jaw surgery 13 days ago. I don't know how far they advanced my jaw. The doctor cut into my gums, not through the face. I still have stitches inside my mouth, and chin numbness. The first three days were pretty bad. I wasn't in pain, just miserable with the swolleness and the banded teeth. The first day I vomited twice. Eating was hard. I used the zip and squeeze to help me eat; otherwise I don't think I could have gotten anything down. After 8 days the tight bands were taken off and I got bands I could remove to eat. My jaw is still swollen a little, so I still don't know how the outcome will look. I did not take pictures. Patty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 25, 2005 Report Share Posted July 25, 2005 Patty, Thanks for the reply. My doctor is cutting the outside of my face for the screws I guess. He said the actual procedure would be done inside my mouth. He says it will heal and I will have small scars- if any. You know how that goes- One day they say you need jaw surgery and you never expected it, then they are cutting slits on the side of your face. It's a little hard when you dont see much wrong with your face. I am sure if you have a large facial discrepancy then you are greatful after surgery. When you never feel anything was wrong in the first place it is hard to cope with everything. Thanks for the support. Patty hathaway wrote: I had lower jaw surgery 13 days ago. I don't know how far they advanced my jaw. The doctor cut into my gums, not through the face. I still have stitches inside my mouth, and chin numbness. The first three days were pretty bad. I wasn't in pain, just miserable with the swolleness and the banded teeth. The first day I vomited twice. Eating was hard. I used the zip and squeeze to help me eat; otherwise I don't think I could have gotten anything down. After 8 days the tight bands were taken off and I got bands I could remove to eat. My jaw is still swollen a little, so I still don't know how the outcome will look. I did not take pictures. Patty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2005 Report Share Posted July 26, 2005 I ate soup, food that had been blended chicken dinner was the nicest but I soon got fed up of it. But I mainly had home made milk shakes and smoothies. And my Dr prescribed sone Complain and ensure. My pointers would be to keep on top of your pain meds as it's easier to keep on top of the pain than play catch up. Also to eat little and often as eating/drinking can use up a lot of energy. --------------------------------- Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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