Re: Very very confused!! Help!-update!

[Guest guest]

Here is my update. Went to my regular PCP a week after seeing Kaiser

in Oakland. Guess what--now my doc thinks I might have emphysema!

Great!!! So question is now I don't even think they would do the

operation. So I quess I am stuck. I have quit smoking 5th day.

Between jobs start a new on on the 11th. I really think I have too

much going on right now. I am totally freaked out with this new

problem. Getting lung function test on Aug. 2 to see what is going

on! Damn I think I am falling apart!!!

> > I have posted before about being 51 yrs. old and open bite

problem.

> > I waited 7 months to get a consult with Kaiser in Oakland. Went

last

> > Friday. I had my xrays and models with me from my ortho but

where

> > several years old. The resident took one look in my mouth and

said

> > based on my xrays I have too much bone loss to get braces and

then

> > upper jaw surgery to close open bite. She then took my stuff to

Dr.

> > Poor and he said I could get braces but the uppers (with bone

loss

> > and only a third of my roots left on those teeth) would hardly

need

> > any movement at all. All the ortho adjustment could be done on

my

> > bottom teeth to prepare me for the surgery. My question is no

one

> > not dentist or other wise has ever told me I have bone loss and

only

> > a third on my roots left on my top teeth! I have never had gum

> > disease. I had braces for 4 years as a teenager. Could the

movement

> > from that caused this bone loss??? The Docs at Kaiser still said

> > there is no guarentee that I still could loss my teeth. So now

where

> > am I?? I don't want to lose my teeth, but I can not stand the

> > grinding, severe headaches and not being able to chew or bite

thru

> > anything! I am very confused. Anyone out there faced this kind

of

> > thing?? Is there any hope for me?? The resident I saw also never

> > even really gave me an exam, never felt how my jaw moves etc.

Only

> > looked in my mouth. So far not very impressed. They are writing

a

> > treatment plan to my ortho in 5 to 6 weeks. Help!

> > Thank you!

[Guest guest]

First of all, Congratulations on your 5th day without smoking! That

is certainly a step in the right direction, regardless of what you

do with the surgery. I agree wholeheartedly with Luna about getting

several opinions about this. I mean about the emphysema and the

jaw! I went to three different orthos, my new dentist and the OS

before I made up my mind that this was indeed necessary, and what to

do about it. The different OD's had similar but slightly different

approaches as to how to treat this as well. After a lot of digging

and questions, I was able to make up MY decision, as that is really

where the buck has to stop when you are talking about the plans for

your own care. I have to leave the surgery to them, but go with who

you decide is taking you in the direction you are wanting to go. It

means you will have to educate yourself on what is available, and

what the impact of the different directions tends to do for others

in similar situations. That is my suggestion anyway. And that goes

for the emphysema too. I would get a few opinions, and ask lots of

questions before proceeding.

And you do have lots going on in your life right now. I am 51 also -

for a few more days anyway! lol It is really important to

decompress when things get a little overwhelming. You aren't

falling apart, it is just that your body has been working for a long

time, and needs some attention. Stopping smoking is certainly a

good thing to do. I am really glad you have made that choice.

Other choices will help you too. But it is definately still you,

and you are in charge! I am sending you the best wishes for this,

and am hoping for a favorable outcome with the lung function test.

Hang in there!

Hugs,

Fran

> > > I have posted before about being 51 yrs. old and open bite

> problem.

> > > I waited 7 months to get a consult with Kaiser in Oakland.

Went

> last

> > > Friday. I had my xrays and models with me from my ortho but

> where

> > > several years old. The resident took one look in my mouth and

> said

> > > based on my xrays I have too much bone loss to get braces and

> then

> > > upper jaw surgery to close open bite. She then took my stuff

to

> Dr.

> > > Poor and he said I could get braces but the uppers (with bone

> loss

> > > and only a third of my roots left on those teeth) would hardly

> need

> > > any movement at all. All the ortho adjustment could be done on

> my

> > > bottom teeth to prepare me for the surgery. My question is no

> one

> > > not dentist or other wise has ever told me I have bone loss

and

> only

> > > a third on my roots left on my top teeth! I have never had gum

> > > disease. I had braces for 4 years as a teenager. Could the

> movement

> > > from that caused this bone loss??? The Docs at Kaiser still

said

> > > there is no guarentee that I still could loss my teeth. So now

> where

> > > am I?? I don't want to lose my teeth, but I can not stand the

> > > grinding, severe headaches and not being able to chew or bite

> thru

> > > anything! I am very confused. Anyone out there faced this kind

> of

> > > thing?? Is there any hope for me?? The resident I saw also

never

> > > even really gave me an exam, never felt how my jaw moves etc.

> Only

> > > looked in my mouth. So far not very impressed. They are

writing

> a

> > > treatment plan to my ortho in 5 to 6 weeks. Help!

> > > Thank you!

[Guest guest]

You know I have started with another new dentist that is willing to

work with my ortho. My problem is, is I am restricted to only Kaiser

Docs. I have heard wonderful things about docs in Oakland, but they

did not even examine me. Only looks in my mouth. They didn't feel my

jaw joints nothing. They only where looking at my records/xrays from

my ortho which are now 4 yrs. old and my bite has changed/gotten

worse since then. So my ? is how can the doc (who never even looked

at me, only the resident) write up a treatment plan for my ortho??

Not very confident. If I go outside of Kaiser it is on my dime. They

also told me I have to have braces before and after the surgery, it

is required, but they wouldn't pay for them. Makes no sense to. But

I do know that is pretty average for insurance to do this. Really

everything is on hold right now until my lung function tests and

starting a new job I will now be able to get time off for doc appts

and such. To many changes for me!!!

> > > > I have posted before about being 51 yrs. old and open bite

> > problem.

> > > > I waited 7 months to get a consult with Kaiser in Oakland.

> Went

> > last

> > > > Friday. I had my xrays and models with me from my ortho but

> > where

> > > > several years old. The resident took one look in my mouth

and

> > said

> > > > based on my xrays I have too much bone loss to get braces

and

> > then

> > > > upper jaw surgery to close open bite. She then took my stuff

> to

> > Dr.

> > > > Poor and he said I could get braces but the uppers (with

bone

> > loss

> > > > and only a third of my roots left on those teeth) would

hardly

> > need

> > > > any movement at all. All the ortho adjustment could be done

on

> > my

> > > > bottom teeth to prepare me for the surgery. My question is

no

> > one

> > > > not dentist or other wise has ever told me I have bone loss

> and

> > only

> > > > a third on my roots left on my top teeth! I have never had

gum

> > > > disease. I had braces for 4 years as a teenager. Could the

> > movement

> > > > from that caused this bone loss??? The Docs at Kaiser still

> said

> > > > there is no guarentee that I still could loss my teeth. So

now

> > where

> > > > am I?? I don't want to lose my teeth, but I can not stand

the

> > > > grinding, severe headaches and not being able to chew or

bite

> > thru

> > > > anything! I am very confused. Anyone out there faced this

kind

> > of

> > > > thing?? Is there any hope for me?? The resident I saw also

> never

> > > > even really gave me an exam, never felt how my jaw moves

etc.

> > Only

> > > > looked in my mouth. So far not very impressed. They are

> writing

> > a

> > > > treatment plan to my ortho in 5 to 6 weeks. Help!

> > > > Thank you!

[Guest guest]

Kaiser docs have really good reps on this board. And specifically,

the ones in California.

Have you tried asking the docs, those examining you, about your

concerns? I'm a believer in mailing letters, e-mailing, calling,

doing whatever you have to do to get plugged in.

I think they're the ones who have classes for all their patients.

Myself, I'd druther have a consult with the doc, but I can

understand how a class could be more time-efficient, and most of

those who have posted about Kaiser's classes have been glad to

attend and appreciative of what they've learned.

If you're not getting the care you want/need/deserve, don't hesitate

to call things to a halt and ask more questions. But try their way,

first. At least, I think that's what I'd do.

Not at all unusual for insurance to decline payment for orthodontic

work. My DENTAL policy paid its maximum lifetime cap -- between

$1,000 and $1,250, I'm thinking. Really unusual (I can't think of

anyone) for either dental or medical to cover the whole cost of

braces. My major MEDICAL paid for the surgery.

Try getting to know the Kaiser docs better, would be my suggestion.

And yes, indeedy. you want to know about your lung function before

you turn your breathing over to an anesthesia team, which is what

you will have to do, to have orthognathic surgery, from all I know.

It may be that the braces can give you some help with a troubled

bite, even if the surgery turns out to be impossible. Ask, ask, ask.

C.

> You know I have started with another new dentist that is willing

to

> work with my ortho. My problem is, is I am restricted to only

Kaiser

> Docs. I have heard wonderful things about docs in Oakland, but

they

> did not even examine me. Only looks in my mouth. They didn't feel

my

> jaw joints nothing. They only where looking at my records/xrays

from

> my ortho which are now 4 yrs. old and my bite has changed/gotten

> worse since then. So my ? is how can the doc (who never even

looked

> at me, only the resident) write up a treatment plan for my ortho??

> Not very confident. If I go outside of Kaiser it is on my dime.

They

> also told me I have to have braces before and after the surgery,

it

> is required, but they wouldn't pay for them. Makes no sense to.

But

> I do know that is pretty average for insurance to do this. Really

> everything is on hold right now until my lung function tests and

> starting a new job I will now be able to get time off for doc

appts

> and such. To many changes for me!!!

>

>