Guest guest Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 Hi Mark, My daughter , who just turned 18 last week, had the same problems you are describing. She would always push out her lower jaw while out in public, and more times than I can count, came home from school in tears because of kids making comments to her about her appearance. It really did a number on her self-esteem, as well as causing pain from pushing her lower jaw forward. She had her surgery two weeks ago, and is very happy with her results. My advice to you is to go for a consultation. What can it hurt? (Besides your pocket! lol) But it is all worth it! Take care! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 Hello again, Mark (and everybody!) My daughter actually needed extensive orthodontic work before her surgery, as well as needing to wait to " finish " growing. She actually started seeing the ortho at 7 years old. She had her palate expanded first, then braces for close to eight years. This time included lots of appeals to insurance companies, as well as the waiting for her to mature. She could have had it done any time after she turned 16. We actually got approval last December from the insurance company, but waited until after her dance recital and high school graduation, as we did not want to ruin a special time for her! As I'm writing this, I can hear her giggling on the phone with her friends, as she dribbles soup down her chin! It is so nice to hear! She is two weeks post-op tomorrow. We have learned so much from this group in the short time we have been on the list. Hang around, and I think you will to! Take care! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 Hi Mark, I have had a problem with my lower jaw, what they call retrognathic jaw (receding). Basically my OD told me my lower jaw never grew to keep up with my upper jaw as a teenager. For probably 40 some years (I'm 62), I have have been trying to compensate apparently for it. The OS told me that I move my lower jaw joint forward and this has produced degenerative changes in my left jaw joint, including clicking noise. I had braces as a child by didn't wear the retainer plus they never really solved the problem with jaw. As a teenager I had trouble with my jaw locking, etc. (TMJ) The receding jaw has also produced sleep apnea. For which I finally consulted with OS & OD. I had surgery on 6/23/05 for a Lefort I (upper jaw), BSSO (lower jaw), and genio (where they pull chin & tongue forward). My recommendation is to see an oral surgeon that specializes in jaw surgeries, mine happened to be recommended by my pulmonologist. You might not need braces, but you might to line up everything right for surgery. My OS would have done surgery with teeth like they were, but he recommended orthodontic treatment first in hopes we'd only need to do lower jaw. Also I wanted to straighten my teeth. I still needed both jaws moved. Since you are already experiencing pain, probably due to the TMJ and your movement to compensate, it would probably worth a consultation with an OS. Hope this helps a little, Shirley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 Welcome Mark. You're not alone. Many of us on this board suffer the lower jaw chin deficiency. I'm sorry to hear it is causing you so much pain. I tend to shift and stretch my lower jaw forward as well, and continue to do so although I've been in braces 18 months. Perhaps your new employment will have the insurance coverage for this surgery. I believe the braces are needed to prepare your teeth for their new position post jaw surgery. Congratulations Mark for graduating and finding such a great job. Cathy > Hello, > > My name is Mark and I'm a college student. Over the last 10 years > or so my lower jaw has been slowly increasing in pain due to my > appearance (I'll tell you what I mean in a second). Today the pain > is so severe that it starts to hurt during a simple conversation. > The worst is when I'm doing a hour long presentation at school, > thats when it really becomes painful. > > From the research I have done over the last couple of years I pretty > much know what I have, and that is a receding lower jaw and a weak > chin, which also makes me look very unbalanced. When I am out in > public I force my my lower out to hide the receding lower jaw. By > forcing or pushing the lower jaw out it hurts, but at least I look > normal and more balanced. I've been doing this for the last 10 years > and I think I'm making things much worse. As a kid I hoped that by > forcing my lower jaw out I would cure it myself, but I guess I was > wrong. > > I hope some of you can answer a couple of questions for me. I wore > braces during a child and my teeth at the moment are perfectly > straight. Would I still need to wear braces if I were to have > surgery to correct my jaw inbalance? > > I was also hoping you can tell me what price range I might be > looking at. I currently dont have insurance because I'm in school, > but I already signed an offer sheet to start working at a financial > firm starting in January. My starting salary will be very high for a > college graduate, so I wouldn't mind at all to take a loan to cover > the cost of surgery and slowly pay it back when I begin to work in > January. > > Thank you all for listening and I look forward to sharing my > progress with you all in the future > > Best Regards, > Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 Welcome here, Mark, That business of pushing the jaw forward is generally called " posturing, " and many of us " lower-jaw-challenged " folks do exactly that. And nope, it doesn't help. And yep, it adds some stress in the work of the joints. Will you need braces for the surgery? Probably. For one thing, they put the teeth in a different relationship before surgery than the one they give you without the surgery. If, by chance, you don't, you'll most likely get something called " arch bars. " I'll only say of them that I would much rather have the regular wires and brackets than those things, from all descriptions. Prices vary greatly with geography and doctors and dentists, also with which procedures you need. If you have insurance, and if the insurance company will cover it, the surgery is generally covered under your major medical policy. If you're going to have a job with decent benefits soon, you might want to consider waiting a bit longer to get started... Or at least asking whether the preparatory ortho would take long enough to put you under coverage before the insurance. My braces were about $5,600, less a $1,200 lifetime cap of payment for ortho. My surgeon charged a bit over $5,000. His assistant was something under $600. The hospital was about $10,000. (In addition there can be fees for anesthesiologists, records, fees, splints, etc. Ask your docs.) I had lower advancement only, and only 24 hours in the hosiptal. Genioplasty (sliding the chin forward or backward) is sometimes needed, and is generally not covered by the medical, although some folks have even managed to get that covered on grounds of sleep apnea. I don't remember just what it costs, as I didn't have it, but I'm thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of $2,000. So the bills can come to a total somewhere around $50,000, before you do much adding up, if you need substantial work. By all means, if you wind up paying for this on your own, or in advance, try to negotiate with the docs and hospital. My ortho gave me a significant discount for cash in advance; others have had similar from hospitals. One way around some of this expense is to have the work done at a dental school, if you're comfortable having students work on you, under professional supervision. I have known some folks who were quite happy with that, and a few who were not at all. It's generally accepted, I think, that you probably want a surgeon who's done a lot of these procedures. Good luck! cammie > I was also hoping you can tell me what price range I might be > looking at. I currently dont have insurance because I'm in school, > but I already signed an offer sheet to start working at a financial > firm starting in January. My starting salary will be very high for a > college graduate, so I wouldn't mind at all to take a loan to cover > the cost of surgery and slowly pay it back when I begin to work in > January. > > Thank you all for listening and I look forward to sharing my > progress with you all in the future > > Best Regards, > Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 Hi Mark, The first thing you need to do is see someone who specializes in what you need to know. I asked my dentist for the name of an orthodontist, which he gave me. The orthodontist then in turn referred me to an oral surgeon. I had braces on when I was a child too, but my teeth, while not as bad as they once were, shifted over the years. I also have an open bite and overjet. With orthognathic surgery, braces are not to straighten the teeth, but to position them in their respective jaws for post surgery. Payment varies, depends on if you have health insurance, what the health insurance will pay, whether or not it's approved. Each plan is different. If you get health insurance thru your job, there'll be someone who can answer your questions, whether it be your health insurance representative at work or at the health insurance company itself. Best of luck to you with everything. I just began this process with braces back in December, and will be getting upper/lower jaw surgery in about a year. Keep us posted. ~Joanne > Hello, > > My name is Mark and I'm a college student. Over the last 10 years > or so my lower jaw has been slowly increasing in pain due to my > appearance (I'll tell you what I mean in a second). Today the pain > is so severe that it starts to hurt during a simple conversation. > The worst is when I'm doing a hour long presentation at school, > thats when it really becomes painful. > > From the research I have done over the last couple of years I pretty > much know what I have, and that is a receding lower jaw and a weak > chin, which also makes me look very unbalanced. When I am out in > public I force my my lower out to hide the receding lower jaw. By > forcing or pushing the lower jaw out it hurts, but at least I look > normal and more balanced. I've been doing this for the last 10 years > and I think I'm making things much worse. As a kid I hoped that by > forcing my lower jaw out I would cure it myself, but I guess I was > wrong. > > I hope some of you can answer a couple of questions for me. I wore > braces during a child and my teeth at the moment are perfectly > straight. Would I still need to wear braces if I were to have > surgery to correct my jaw inbalance? > > I was also hoping you can tell me what price range I might be > looking at. I currently dont have insurance because I'm in school, > but I already signed an offer sheet to start working at a financial > firm starting in January. My starting salary will be very high for a > college graduate, so I wouldn't mind at all to take a loan to cover > the cost of surgery and slowly pay it back when I begin to work in > January. > > Thank you all for listening and I look forward to sharing my > progress with you all in the future > > Best Regards, > Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 Hi , Nice to meet you, I'm glad your daughter is doing well. I was wondering how long her whole process took....from the first day she went to see a doctor to discuss her options to the day she finally had surgery. Did your daughter wear braces before surgery? I'm really trying to avoid wearing braces again!!! Unless they have braces today that are a lot smaller than the ones I had to wear... Anyway...thanks for your respond. Regards, Mark wenanddave@... wrote: Hi Mark, My daughter , who just turned 18 last week, had the same problems you are describing. She would always push out her lower jaw while out in public, and more times than I can count, came home from school in tears because of kids making comments to her about her appearance. It really did a number on her self-esteem, as well as causing pain from pushing her lower jaw forward. She had her surgery two weeks ago, and is very happy with her results. My advice to you is to go for a consultation. What can it hurt? (Besides your pocket! lol) But it is all worth it! Take care! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Hi Mark, I went to three different OD consults to make a decision. My teeth are also very straight, but I do have other issues. I will be in braces for two years pre op. I should be getting them in the next week or so. They do have to move the teeth, even if they are straight, to be in position for the new jaw position. Everything has to be better aligned. The good news for you about this, is that most insurance plans have limited coverage for orthodontics for adults. Most of us have to pay for this. Most OD have payment plans so that you don't have to take out a loan for this. I haven't seen anyone here who has had surgery before 6 months of having braces. So by the time you are working in January, you may have insurance which will cover your surgery. So perhaps, depending on the insurance you will have, that part will be covered as well. The first thing would be to go to a few OD consults to get a perspective of what needs to be done exactly, and what they would do to help you get there. I really wish you luck with this! Hugs, Fran > Hello, > > My name is Mark and I'm a college student. Over the last 10 years > or so my lower jaw has been slowly increasing in pain due to my > appearance (I'll tell you what I mean in a second). Today the pain > is so severe that it starts to hurt during a simple conversation. > The worst is when I'm doing a hour long presentation at school, > thats when it really becomes painful. > > From the research I have done over the last couple of years I pretty > much know what I have, and that is a receding lower jaw and a weak > chin, which also makes me look very unbalanced. When I am out in > public I force my my lower out to hide the receding lower jaw. By > forcing or pushing the lower jaw out it hurts, but at least I look > normal and more balanced. I've been doing this for the last 10 years > and I think I'm making things much worse. As a kid I hoped that by > forcing my lower jaw out I would cure it myself, but I guess I was > wrong. > > I hope some of you can answer a couple of questions for me. I wore > braces during a child and my teeth at the moment are perfectly > straight. Would I still need to wear braces if I were to have > surgery to correct my jaw inbalance? > > I was also hoping you can tell me what price range I might be > looking at. I currently dont have insurance because I'm in school, > but I already signed an offer sheet to start working at a financial > firm starting in January. My starting salary will be very high for a > college graduate, so I wouldn't mind at all to take a loan to cover > the cost of surgery and slowly pay it back when I begin to work in > January. > > Thank you all for listening and I look forward to sharing my > progress with you all in the future > > Best Regards, > Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 I don't know what your earlier braces were like, but the really great news is that today's orthodontic equipment is much better than it has ever been before. I'll not tell you that it was painless, but sooo much better than when I had braces back in the 1950s -- yep, the 1950s: I'm the antique on the site! Cammie > Hi Mark, > My daughter , who just turned 18 last week, had the same problems you are > describing. She would always push out her lower jaw while out in public, and > more times than I can count, came home from school in tears because of kids > making comments to her about her appearance. It really did a number on her > self-esteem, as well as causing pain from pushing her lower jaw forward. She had > her surgery two weeks ago, and is very happy with her results. My advice to you > is to go for a consultation. What can it hurt? (Besides your pocket! lol) But > it is all worth it! > Take care! > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Frab, Sorry to butt in but I was ready for surgery after only 4 months of braces and Judy who is known as rainbow on this site had the surgery done without braces. Just wanted to add more info :-) Sara > > Hello, > > > > My name is Mark and I'm a college student. Over the last 10 years > > or so my lower jaw has been slowly increasing in pain due to my > > appearance (I'll tell you what I mean in a second). Today the > pain > > is so severe that it starts to hurt during a simple conversation. > > The worst is when I'm doing a hour long presentation at school, > > thats when it really becomes painful. > > > > From the research I have done over the last couple of years I > pretty > > much know what I have, and that is a receding lower jaw and a weak > > chin, which also makes me look very unbalanced. When I am out in > > public I force my my lower out to hide the receding lower jaw. By > > forcing or pushing the lower jaw out it hurts, but at least I look > > normal and more balanced. I've been doing this for the last 10 > years > > and I think I'm making things much worse. As a kid I hoped that by > > forcing my lower jaw out I would cure it myself, but I guess I was > > wrong. > > > > I hope some of you can answer a couple of questions for me. I > wore > > braces during a child and my teeth at the moment are perfectly > > straight. Would I still need to wear braces if I were to have > > surgery to correct my jaw inbalance? > > > > I was also hoping you can tell me what price range I might be > > looking at. I currently dont have insurance because I'm in school, > > but I already signed an offer sheet to start working at a > financial > > firm starting in January. My starting salary will be very high for > a > > college graduate, so I wouldn't mind at all to take a loan to > cover > > the cost of surgery and slowly pay it back when I begin to work in > > January. > > > > Thank you all for listening and I look forward to sharing my > > progress with you all in the future > > > > Best Regards, > > Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 oops type, i meant to say Fran not Frab. Sorry about that! > Frab, > > Sorry to butt in but I was ready for surgery after only 4 months of > braces and Judy who is known as rainbow on this site had the surgery > done without braces. Just wanted to add more info :-) > > Sara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 yes OD does stand for orthodontist and OS is oral surgeon. you may also see OMS from time to time, means oral and maxillofacial (sp?) surgeon. ~Joanne > Hi, > > Im sorry ............but I'm very new to this. Does OD stand for Orthodonist? And OS would stand for Oral Surgeon. Sorry for being such a newbie!! > > Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Hi Sara, I am glad you did post this! I hadn't been aware of that short of timeframes preop. That would give a lot of people hope for a shorter process! I stand corrected on that Mark. Hugs, Fran > > > Hello, > > > > > > My name is Mark and I'm a college student. Over the last 10 > years > > > or so my lower jaw has been slowly increasing in pain due to my > > > appearance (I'll tell you what I mean in a second). Today the > > pain > > > is so severe that it starts to hurt during a simple > conversation. > > > The worst is when I'm doing a hour long presentation at school, > > > thats when it really becomes painful. > > > > > > From the research I have done over the last couple of years I > > pretty > > > much know what I have, and that is a receding lower jaw and a > weak > > > chin, which also makes me look very unbalanced. When I am out in > > > public I force my my lower out to hide the receding lower jaw. By > > > forcing or pushing the lower jaw out it hurts, but at least I > look > > > normal and more balanced. I've been doing this for the last 10 > > years > > > and I think I'm making things much worse. As a kid I hoped that > by > > > forcing my lower jaw out I would cure it myself, but I guess I > was > > > wrong. > > > > > > I hope some of you can answer a couple of questions for me. I > > wore > > > braces during a child and my teeth at the moment are perfectly > > > straight. Would I still need to wear braces if I were to have > > > surgery to correct my jaw inbalance? > > > > > > I was also hoping you can tell me what price range I might be > > > looking at. I currently dont have insurance because I'm in > school, > > > but I already signed an offer sheet to start working at a > > financial > > > firm starting in January. My starting salary will be very high > for > > a > > > college graduate, so I wouldn't mind at all to take a loan to > > cover > > > the cost of surgery and slowly pay it back when I begin to work > in > > > January. > > > > > > Thank you all for listening and I look forward to sharing my > > > progress with you all in the future > > > > > > Best Regards, > > > Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 yup, I've had my braces on for 4 months and am ready for surgery-now set for September 12. At my initial consult they advised 4-6 months pre-braces and 6 months after (i've never had braces before but my teeth weren't too bad..a couple of rotations and closing a few gaps) BUT, at all the other OD consults I've been to throughout my life they've always said 18 months braces beforehand and 6 months after - I wonder now what they were going to do that would take so long considering its only taken 4 months with my current OD!! I put it down to the fact that the OD and OS are both at a teaching hospital which seems to be a little more willing to advance their procedures from the old way of doing things... I HIGHLY recommend at least having a consult at your local university teaching hospital. jo > > > Hello, > > > > > > My name is Mark and I'm a college student. Over the last 10 > years > > > or so my lower jaw has been slowly increasing in pain due to my > > > appearance (I'll tell you what I mean in a second). Today the > > pain > > > is so severe that it starts to hurt during a simple > conversation. > > > The worst is when I'm doing a hour long presentation at school, > > > thats when it really becomes painful. > > > > > > From the research I have done over the last couple of years I > > pretty > > > much know what I have, and that is a receding lower jaw and a > weak > > > chin, which also makes me look very unbalanced. When I am out in > > > public I force my my lower out to hide the receding lower jaw. By > > > forcing or pushing the lower jaw out it hurts, but at least I > look > > > normal and more balanced. I've been doing this for the last 10 > > years > > > and I think I'm making things much worse. As a kid I hoped that > by > > > forcing my lower jaw out I would cure it myself, but I guess I > was > > > wrong. > > > > > > I hope some of you can answer a couple of questions for me. I > > wore > > > braces during a child and my teeth at the moment are perfectly > > > straight. Would I still need to wear braces if I were to have > > > surgery to correct my jaw inbalance? > > > > > > I was also hoping you can tell me what price range I might be > > > looking at. I currently dont have insurance because I'm in > school, > > > but I already signed an offer sheet to start working at a > > financial > > > firm starting in January. My starting salary will be very high > for > > a > > > college graduate, so I wouldn't mind at all to take a loan to > > cover > > > the cost of surgery and slowly pay it back when I begin to work > in > > > January. > > > > > > Thank you all for listening and I look forward to sharing my > > > progress with you all in the future > > > > > > Best Regards, > > > Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 It may be that your teeth just really respond to the pressure your ortho uses on them, and scoot right into place. When I went to the installation, my ortho just put on the brackets and wires. When I went back a month later, he was amazed to see that one of my lower incisors had practically moved back in line. He'd planned to put an ocs (open coil spring) on it -- actually had one out on his little tray -- and was amazed to see that I didn't need it. Even called his assistants over to see how much that tooth had moved! (I was just grateful not to have to put up with the spring!) Cammie > > > > Hello, > > > > > > > > My name is Mark and I'm a college student. Over the last 10 > > years > > > > or so my lower jaw has been slowly increasing in pain due to my > > > > appearance (I'll tell you what I mean in a second). Today the > > > pain > > > > is so severe that it starts to hurt during a simple > > conversation. > > > > The worst is when I'm doing a hour long presentation at school, > > > > thats when it really becomes painful. > > > > > > > > From the research I have done over the last couple of years I > > > pretty > > > > much know what I have, and that is a receding lower jaw and a > > weak > > > > chin, which also makes me look very unbalanced. When I am out > in > > > > public I force my my lower out to hide the receding lower jaw. > By > > > > forcing or pushing the lower jaw out it hurts, but at least I > > look > > > > normal and more balanced. I've been doing this for the last 10 > > > years > > > > and I think I'm making things much worse. As a kid I hoped that > > by > > > > forcing my lower jaw out I would cure it myself, but I guess I > > was > > > > wrong. > > > > > > > > I hope some of you can answer a couple of questions for me. I > > > wore > > > > braces during a child and my teeth at the moment are perfectly > > > > straight. Would I still need to wear braces if I were to have > > > > surgery to correct my jaw inbalance? > > > > > > > > I was also hoping you can tell me what price range I might be > > > > looking at. I currently dont have insurance because I'm in > > school, > > > > but I already signed an offer sheet to start working at a > > > financial > > > > firm starting in January. My starting salary will be very high > > for > > > a > > > > college graduate, so I wouldn't mind at all to take a loan to > > > cover > > > > the cost of surgery and slowly pay it back when I begin to work > > in > > > > January. > > > > > > > > Thank you all for listening and I look forward to sharing my > > > > progress with you all in the future > > > > > > > > Best Regards, > > > > Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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