Re: Help-looking at surgery

[Guest guest]

Try Dr. sandy Bigman

he is in san ramon great guy you can email him

questions and he answers. he has answerwed alot of

my questions am i n a different state.

[Guest guest]

I would not cancel your appt with Dr. O'. She (and Dr.

Poor) are two really good surgeons (and I am not just saying that

because I had surgery on May 17 with Dr. Poor...). The only thing

that they do for Kaiser is Orthognathic Surgery. Last year, they

did over 300. This year alone they have done over 70. Dr. O'

and Dr. Poor are great at answering questions and they can point you

in the right direction as far as how to proceed with your case.

My orthodontist is Dr. Whisler in Danville (practice is under Dr.

Cuenin and Dr. Whisler). He is also very good about answering

questions. He is the one that recommended I switch to Kaiser and go

see Dr. O' and Dr. Poor.

My dentist is Dr. Hanna in San Ramon. I am pretty happy with

him.

I am now 2 weeks post op and I just got mouth unwired today. The

surgery (for me) was not too bad. I had upper and lower surgery.

You can see my before pics in the '' folder. I am going to post

some unbanded photos soon.

Good luck in your decision.

> Please help with my decision---I have a 5mm open bite. Had braces

> for 4 years as a teenager now I am 51 years old and only my very

> back teeth touch and cannot bite thru anything. I also clench and

> grind my teeth at night which in turn creates a migraine several

> times a week. I was told by my orthodontist that I am not a

canidate

> for braces because he is afraid if he where to move my teeth I

might

> lose them from bone loss? I have waited 6 months for an

appointment

> with Kaiser in Oakland, CA with Dr. O'. I just got the letter

> today they can see me next Friday. Now I am thinking of

cancelling?!

> At my age the surgery scares the cra-- out of me! If I cannot have

> braces what can be done? Reading over the many postings of other

> members that have gone thru this it seems to me you need the

braces

> on for awhile before the surgery. Now what do I do?? This all

> started with a root canal and crown that I have been complaining

> about for 5 years. The crown feels too large and is alot longer

than

> my natural tooth and has really thrown my bite out worse on the

> right side. What to do??? Soooo confused. The last dentist I went

to

> wanted to replace nine of my back teeth with porceline (?) crowns

> but I would still be left with the open bite in front. Plus she

> wanted 12K to do this--. Does anyone know a good dentist and ortho

> in North Bay area, CA??? At my age I really don't want the

surgery!

> I am willing to have braces again, but can't seem to get anywhere

> with that either. HELP!!

> Thank You

[Guest guest]

Nope. Nobody else can really help you. You have to decide for

yourself.

I would suggest that you not cancel the appointment with Dr. O';

She (am I remembering right that she's a she???) comes with

excellent references, at least in this group. And her practice and

partners are well experienced with a variety of troubles, and very

caring.

I don't know what you can do, if you cannot endure the braces again.

But I would expect that your experts can give you a good view of the

available options.

It is not unusual at all for folks on this site to be in braces for

the second, or third, or fourth -- or even more times.

Babe-oh. I had surgery at age 56, or was it 57? Had an easy ride of

it. I did not have an open bite, which can be tougher. But I had

minimal trouble from the surgery -- no real pain. If I had

migraines, I would go through seven layers of hell (which neither

the braces, the surgery, nor the recovery, involved) to get rid of

them, and some folks who have had jaw surgery have found troubles

with migraines resolved.

Ask the docs who look at your jaws and bites, and know what's

involved, how they can help you! And don't be scared of the surgery -

- it's more fearsome in the approach than in the reality. I'm not

saying it's right for you, but for heaven's sake -- and your sake --

at least understand what your options are!

Best,

Cammie

> Please help with my decision---I have a 5mm open bite. Had braces

> for 4 years as a teenager now I am 51 years old and only my very

> back teeth touch and cannot bite thru anything. I also clench and

> grind my teeth at night which in turn creates a migraine several

> times a week. I was told by my orthodontist that I am not a

canidate

> for braces because he is afraid if he where to move my teeth I

might

> lose them from bone loss? I have waited 6 months for an

appointment

> with Kaiser in Oakland, CA with Dr. O'. I just got the letter

> today they can see me next Friday. Now I am thinking of

cancelling?!

> At my age the surgery scares the cra-- out of me! If I cannot have

> braces what can be done? Reading over the many postings of other

> members that have gone thru this it seems to me you need the

braces

> on for awhile before the surgery. Now what do I do?? This all

> started with a root canal and crown that I have been complaining

> about for 5 years. The crown feels too large and is alot longer

than

> my natural tooth and has really thrown my bite out worse on the

> right side. What to do??? Soooo confused. The last dentist I went

to

> wanted to replace nine of my back teeth with porceline (?) crowns

> but I would still be left with the open bite in front. Plus she

> wanted 12K to do this--. Does anyone know a good dentist and ortho

> in North Bay area, CA??? At my age I really don't want the

surgery!

> I am willing to have braces again, but can't seem to get anywhere

> with that either. HELP!!

> Thank You

[Guest guest]

Thank you all for the encouragement. I still think I am to old to go

thru this but I have to do something. As of now I will keep my

appointment and go from there. Hopefully Dr. O' can recommend a

dentist and ortho in my area for me. I will keep everyone posted if

I continue or chicken out.

> > Please help with my decision---I have a 5mm open bite. Had

braces

> > for 4 years as a teenager now I am 51 years old and only my very

> > back teeth touch and cannot bite thru anything. I also clench

and

> > grind my teeth at night which in turn creates a migraine several

> > times a week. I was told by my orthodontist that I am not a

> canidate

> > for braces because he is afraid if he where to move my teeth I

> might

> > lose them from bone loss? I have waited 6 months for an

> appointment

> > with Kaiser in Oakland, CA with Dr. O'. I just got the

letter

> > today they can see me next Friday. Now I am thinking of

> cancelling?!

> > At my age the surgery scares the cra-- out of me! If I cannot

have

> > braces what can be done? Reading over the many postings of other

> > members that have gone thru this it seems to me you need the

> braces

> > on for awhile before the surgery. Now what do I do?? This all

> > started with a root canal and crown that I have been complaining

> > about for 5 years. The crown feels too large and is alot longer

> than

> > my natural tooth and has really thrown my bite out worse on the

> > right side. What to do??? Soooo confused. The last dentist I

went

> to

> > wanted to replace nine of my back teeth with porceline (?)

crowns

> > but I would still be left with the open bite in front. Plus she

> > wanted 12K to do this--. Does anyone know a good dentist and

ortho

> > in North Bay area, CA??? At my age I really don't want the

> surgery!

> > I am willing to have braces again, but can't seem to get

anywhere

> > with that either. HELP!!

> > Thank You

[Guest guest]

Dear Friend,

I am 50 years old, and went through top and bottom jaw surgery (10/26/04),

liposuction, Restyland injections in top lip and genioplasty all done in the

past few months. 3 surgeries later and one more on the horizon, I am so

happy I did this. I have multiple autoimmune illnesses which did not

complicate my surgeries. Dr. Poor in Oakland is wonderful. An awesome

clinic! I highly recommend Dr. Poor and O'. I also heard they've added

Dr. Wagner and he also receives high kudos.

Take care:)

Feel free to write to me:)

Connie

connie@...

Re: Help-looking at surgery

Thank you all for the encouragement. I still think I am to old to go

thru this but I have to do something. As of now I will keep my

appointment and go from there. Hopefully Dr. O' can recommend a

dentist and ortho in my area for me. I will keep everyone posted if

I continue or chicken out.

> > Please help with my decision---I have a 5mm open bite. Had

braces

> > for 4 years as a teenager now I am 51 years old and only my very

> > back teeth touch and cannot bite thru anything. I also clench

and

> > grind my teeth at night which in turn creates a migraine several

> > times a week. I was told by my orthodontist that I am not a

> canidate

> > for braces because he is afraid if he where to move my teeth I

> might

> > lose them from bone loss? I have waited 6 months for an

> appointment

> > with Kaiser in Oakland, CA with Dr. O'. I just got the

letter

> > today they can see me next Friday. Now I am thinking of

> cancelling?!

> > At my age the surgery scares the cra-- out of me! If I cannot

have

> > braces what can be done? Reading over the many postings of other

> > members that have gone thru this it seems to me you need the

> braces

> > on for awhile before the surgery. Now what do I do?? This all

> > started with a root canal and crown that I have been complaining

> > about for 5 years. The crown feels too large and is alot longer

> than

> > my natural tooth and has really thrown my bite out worse on the

> > right side. What to do??? Soooo confused. The last dentist I

went

> to

> > wanted to replace nine of my back teeth with porceline (?)

crowns

> > but I would still be left with the open bite in front. Plus she

> > wanted 12K to do this--. Does anyone know a good dentist and

ortho

> > in North Bay area, CA??? At my age I really don't want the

> surgery!

> > I am willing to have braces again, but can't seem to get

anywhere

> > with that either. HELP!!

> > Thank You

[Guest guest]

Even though I often rib Cammie about her age, I think you're still

pretty young for this surgery. I had my surgery when I was almost 47

years of age (yes, 3 years ago and that means a new decade for me

this fall).

One of the considerations for me was that the problems I was having

were not going to get better on their own, but might get worse, and

that I might have to do the surgery when I was not in as good health

as I am now and much older.

Glad you're keeping your appointment with the surgeon. Make a list of

questions (the geocities site can help - check out the surgery FAQs

at http://www.geocities.com/orthognathicinfo/

It's a tough decision, not without risks (which your surgeon should

discuss with you), and all yours to make. Just make sure you evaluate

both decisions - the to-do and the not-to-do, since there are future

consequences in both, I think.

Hope that helps,

> Thank you all for the encouragement. I still think I am to old to

go

> thru this but I have to do something. As of now I will keep my

> appointment and go from there. Hopefully Dr. O' can recommend a

> dentist and ortho in my area for me. I will keep everyone posted if

> I continue or chicken out.