Cary/Re: Considering Ortho Surgery

[Guest guest]

Cary,

You are so much welcome!

The good news about your son is that you know about his condition

early and he will be able to be treated early, which can possibly

prevent him ever needing surgery.

Let's think positive and say yes this decision will be for the best

and you are doing it to better yourself! Think of the lifetime

benefits you will gain from this surgery!

You have made the first important step and that is talking about it

to your dentist and asking questions on this support site!

Nice talking to you,

> > > 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