Cary/Re: Considering Ortho Surgery

[Guest guest]

Thanks ,

You people are far too nice! I am so thankful of the reponse that

you put into your replies. I can't say how much I appreciate it.

I must admit, I'm pretty sure I'm going to do this. Hopefully I can

go forward with it quickly before I get a chance to change my

mind. I'm extremely nervous about it all but I hope it will all be for

the best.

My condition is hereditary as my father has the same issues.

But, the terrible thing is that I've noticed my 4 year old son has

the same jaw as me and an open bite as well. It's an awful

feeling when you realize it's your own genes that cause your

offspring to have the same thing as yourself. Although, with what

I know now my son won't have to suffer with what I have due to

ignorance of the issue.

Thank you again and I'll keep in touch.

Cary

> > Hello everyone,

> >

> > I apologize first of all if some of you have read this on other

> > support forums. I'm considering ortho surgery so I'm looking

for

> > as much info and help as possible.

> > ---

> > I'm a 34 year old male living in a suburb of Vancouver, BC

with a

> > moderate underbite and an anterior (front) open bite. I've

> > obviously lived with this for most of my life as my underbite is

> an

> > heredity trait and have been self concious of it as well. I had

no

> > idea I had an open bite until a visit to the dentist about a year

> > ago. Up until that time, I thought I had a normal bite except for

> the

> > underbite. She asked me if I had difficulty eating sandwiches

> > and pizza at all. I had never really thought about it up until

> then,

> > but I have really noticed since then. Plus, she pointed out that

> my

> > molars are wearing more than normal due to my back teeth

> > touching without my front teeth coming together. Nobody had

> > even pointed this out to me when I was younger as my teeth

> > came in straight thanks to my big mouth and larger lower

jaw. At

> > the time, she explained that surgery would be the only thing

to

> > correct it. I of course said " No thanks! " and decided to live

with

> it

> > like I have been for all of my life.

> >

> > Now that time has passed, I have realized that my jaw, open

bite

> > and under bite cause more problems than I thought. After

doing

> > some research I have found that the jaw joint soreness I get,

> > head aches that begin at the back of my jaw, difficulty

breathing

> > while sleeping unless my mouth is open, and sleep apnea

can

> > all be contributed to this. Plus, I've never been happy with my

> > profile, the way my bottom lip comes together with my top lip

and

> > the difficult of keeping my lips closed (no, I don't talk a lot!)

> and

> > my tongue in my mouth can be attributed to this as well.

> >

> > Now, with all of this said, I've made an appointment with my

> > dentist on Friday, June 24 to see what I can do about it.

> > Needless to say, I'm very nervous about it all and wondering

if

> > the surgery is worthwhile. In fact, I'm sweating and shaking

just

> > typing this. I'm hoping some of you can help me with some

> > questions I have before visiting my dentist. I know she will be

> > able to answer them all, but I'd like to have some of my

nerves

> > calmed. Anyways, here are my questions:

> >

> > 1. I have straight teeth already, but am I going to end up with

a

> > mouth full of braces in for quite some time before and after

the

> > surgery?

> >

> > 2. If I do end up with braces (which I sincerely hope I don't

have

> > to), what is it like to be an adult wearing braces? How do

people

> > view and treat you?

> >

> > 3. Is there a significant difference in the way your mouth and

jaw

> > feel after the surgery? Is it easier to eat, sleep and keep your

> > mouth closed? (It would be nice to wake up without a pillow

full

> > of drool in the morning. Sorry if I grossed you out.)

> >

> > 4. How painful is the surgery and is the surgery worthwhile?

> >

> > 5. Lastly, is it worth it for a 34 year old to even consider this?

> >

> > Thanks very much to you all. I hope I can talk with you more

as I

> > consider and possibly progress with this.

> >

> > Cary