Very very confused!! Help!

[Guest guest]

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]

I would get a second opinion. And third and fourth, if necessary. Take

your X-ray and show it to some people who know what they're looking

at. See what they say. Good luck! Luna

> 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]

I agree with Luna about getting a couple of other opinions. I have

some bone loss (due to gum disease-which is ok now). Bone loss can

be from different causes. It'a hard to compare since each case is

individual.

I has consulted another OD, but he wouldn't touch me. However, I

was referred by pulmonologist (I have severe sleep apnea) to the OS,

who referred me to the OD. I wasn't sure if they'd be able to do

anything as I also have a bunch of crown, etc. My OD is head of

orthodontics at the dental school and they are treating me. I have

braces on both top and bottom. Surgery scheduled next week.

Because of my history of gum disease I go every three months for

cleanings, however the hygienist said I could go longer, but while

in braces I don't want to go any longer. They told me they wish

their younger ortho patients would do as good a job as I do keeping

everything so clean. The watepik helps, but I use a variety of

methods, too.

Since they didn't even check your joints, etc I'd definitely get

another opinion or two. My orthodontist checked my joints, x-rays,

etc before developing a treatment plan.

Shirley