on having children bites diagnosed

[Guest guest]

I must confess that when I read your OD's diagnosis of what should be

done to correct your daughter's bite my heart and stomach went into

knots. I started wearing braces when I was 7 years old to correct a

severe overbite. Many appliances and braces later (including a gate

at the roof of my mouth for tongue thrusting and two HORRIBLE

headgears) I finally completed treatment at 17 years old. That means

10 years of braces. Now here I am 10 years later and I am having

surgery because my TMJ problems were not resolved and my bite has

progressively gotten worse (now measures 7mm overbite, when I took

braces off it was less than 1mm, so almost perfect). Words cannot

describe how frustrated I was growing up and to always BE THE ONE

with braces or some sort of appliance attached to me. Children can be

so cruel and I was not spared taunts from my classmates. I am sure

that your OD is right and that nowadays there is a lot more that can

be done to correct a child's jaw growth. But I went to the best OD's

in Switzerland, Italy, and Washington DC and they were still not able

to get me to avoid surgery (something they warned me about at 17). I

guess what I am saying is that when is old enough to understand

her problem, maybe give her the choice on whether to wear braces or

to wait a few years until she stops growing and then just wear the

braces and get the surgery done (that is if the surgery is the must

from the get-go). I wish I had been given that choice. 5 years of

braces would have been a lot more bearable than 10 years, not to

mention a lot cheaper!

Sorry to butt my nose in your business (I hope I didn't offend you)

but my heart just went out to your little . Brought me back many

years! And I am sure that with a mother that has been through her own

share of jaw problems, she is in the best hands possible! This

reminds me that when the time comes I will bring my own children to

get checked up too:-)

Sara

> > hi guys,

> > i have been so busy i barely have time to go on the computer

> > anymore, my family is taking a family trip to israel and my 10 yr

> > old son is going to sleep away camp for the summer for the first

> > time - so i have not had a minute to breath - thank god i am

> feeling

> > better-

> > i have been getting a lot of comments on how i look and i notice

> > people staring at me a lot- i have heard it all - " did you get a

> > nose job " - " you lost so much weight " - " love your chin " - " you

> look

> > so different i did not even recognize you " - " when you talk your

> > upper lip doesn't move it looks funny! " needless to say i was

not

> > laughing at the last one! i still have no feeling from in my

nose

> > and upper lip/roof of my mouth- which is a little frustrating

> being

> > allergy season - but i guess i am not moving all my muscles yet

> > either - be prepared for this cuz at times it gets frustrating.

> >

> > i am going back to dr sachs on thursday and i am actually

bringing

> > my 5 yr old who i think has the same jaw as me and i want to find

> > out if there is any way to avoid her having this wonderful

> surgery -

> > wish me luck!

> > sara - when is your next appt? did you find a ride back to the

> city

> > from the hospital? i wish i could take you but my 3 yr old is

> home

> > from school early and i would not make it home for my other kids.

> so

> > sorry. it really is getting closer and i hope you are more

> excited

> > than nervous cuz you are in the home stretch now . it would be

> > great if we could all have our braces off for the new year i am

> very

> > much looking forward to that!!

> > carol - how are you doing? how many more weeks till the wires

are

> > off? do you feel like time is crawling by? i hope the rest goes

> by

> > quickly and before you know it you will be eating mashed pot. and

> > pasta like me!

> > good luck - hope all is going well

> > amy