Re: Has anyone been steered wrong about actually needing the surgery?

October 17, 2005

Hi Typinggoddess,

I think it is a great idea that you are going for a third consult.

Getting more information is always a good way to decided these things

ourselves. And it will be helpful when you get to the point of

meeting with your OMS too.

The fact that your first OD, while not mentioning the surgery to you,

stated that you would not have an optimal result from just braces,

also speaks volumes. Wishing you good luck with your third consult.

Please let us know how it goes!

Hugs,

Fran

>

> I have a recessed chin and class II overbite. I went to an

> orthodontist several years ago about fixing my crooked teeth (didn't

> know you could fix the chin) and he never said anything about

surgery,

> he just said the braces MAY fix my overbite slightly, but there is

no

> guarantee. I went for a second opinion just recently and that

> doctor said my overbite was too severe, that I would need surgery or

I

> would look bucktoothed after the braces. So I'm going for a third

> opinion. However, I am curious, has anyone been steered wrong about

> being told they needed the surgery but didn't really need it? Has

> anyone had their bite corrected just by braces alone?

>

October 17, 2005

Hi there -

I am just finishing up this process. I also had a overbite. I'm not sure what

class it was, but I had both upper and lower surgery (a Leforte and a BSSO) in

August after 14 months of pre-op othro.

Here's my $.02 worth:

I went to a oral surgeon when I was 21 (16 yrs ago) and he had a very

aggressive surgical approach, with ortho on the side. I didn't have the money

for it - so it got put aside. This time I went to an exellent OD who did the

work-up a bit differently. He looked at it as mainly ortho - with surgery at the

end. I got referred to a OS who he (the OD) works closely with all the time.

They were in constant contact during my ortho treatment, and didn't actually

decide on the exact proceedures for surgery until 1 to 2 weeks before surgery. I

had 2 upper teeth pulled in the beginning as part of the fix for the overbite

(my front teeth were pushed forward on a slant, as well as the overbite).

Because of the careful OD work, I had a simpler version of the Leforte than was

initially planned.

I do have exellent insurance, so it was all covered - but I started the ortho

with no guarrantees about coverage. Before I had surgery I was asked if I had to

stop treatment with no surgery would I be happy with the outcome. At the time I

said yes - but seeing my before and after pictures - I am so glad that I went

for it. My issues would not have been truly fixed with ortho alone, you can't

move teeth to places where the bone isn't - and that's what it came down to for

me.

It is a long and scary process, and each person has to decide if it is worth it

for them.

good luck!

Cyndy

typinggoddess117 wrote:

I have a recessed chin and class II overbite. I went to an

orthodontist several years ago about fixing my crooked teeth (didn't

know you could fix the chin) and he never said anything about surgery,

he just said the braces MAY fix my overbite slightly, but there is no

guarantee. I went for a second opinion just recently and that

doctor said my overbite was too severe, that I would need surgery or I

would look bucktoothed after the braces. So I'm going for a third

opinion. However, I am curious, has anyone been steered wrong about

being told they needed the surgery but didn't really need it? Has

anyone had their bite corrected just by braces alone?

October 17, 2005

Hi Cyndy,

What a great post! I especially felt this line " you can't

move teeth to places where the bone isn't " . That is so true!

Hugs,

Fran

> I have a recessed chin and class II overbite. I went to an

> orthodontist several years ago about fixing my crooked teeth

(didn't

> know you could fix the chin) and he never said anything about

surgery,

> he just said the braces MAY fix my overbite slightly, but there is

no

> guarantee. I went for a second opinion just recently and that

> doctor said my overbite was too severe, that I would need surgery

or I

> would look bucktoothed after the braces. So I'm going for a

third

> opinion. However, I am curious, has anyone been steered wrong

about

> being told they needed the surgery but didn't really need it? Has

> anyone had their bite corrected just by braces alone?

>

October 17, 2005

I also had a recessed chin and class II overbite among some other

issues. The overbite was causing my functional problems though, not

the other issues. Anyway, my parents when to the expense to provide me

with braces in high school. That orthodontist happily took their money

and never mentioned that he might NOT be able to correct my problem.

He acted as if he resolved everything by making my teeth look

straighter. He did NOT. I still totally had an overbite. He aligned my

teeth so that they fit together (sort of) if I jutted out my lower

jaw. What a fix! Yea right. The only time he mentioned any surgery was

after he removed my braces and pointed out my misaligned midlines (due

to skeletal assymetry) and said that I would need surgery to fix it,

told me that I didn't want it, and that how my mouth was at that point

was as good as it would get. I was very poorly advised about my need

for surgery... He didn't even mention it as an option. My case was

incompetently handled. Please do continue to have consultations and

seek opinions until you feel confidently and comfortable with whatever

you decide. Maybe you should also see an OMS surgeon to review your

case. Anyway, for me it was a matter of functional problems as well as

cosmetic. I couldn't chew a lot of food and couldn't bite into

anything and my teeth didn't meet properly. I had strong motivating

reasons to pursue the surgery( which I had March of this year

upper/lower/genio). I don't know how or to what extent, if at all,

your overbite is affecting your life. Maybe it isn't severe or to the

point of causing you any problems. My overbite wasn't huge, but it

wasn't minor either. The braces did help it too.... before braces my

lower teeth were digging into the roof of my mouth. After the braces

the bite was improved at least to the point that I wasn't doing that

any longer. It just wasn't corrected all the way. Anyway, good luck!

Let us know what you figure out!

Katja

>

> I have a recessed chin and class II overbite. I went to an

> orthodontist several years ago about fixing my crooked teeth (didn't

> know you could fix the chin) and he never said anything about

surgery,

> he just said the braces MAY fix my overbite slightly, but there is

no

> guarantee. I went for a second opinion just recently and that

> doctor said my overbite was too severe, that I would need surgery or

I

> would look bucktoothed after the braces. So I'm going for a third

> opinion. However, I am curious, has anyone been steered wrong about

> being told they needed the surgery but didn't really need it? Has

> anyone had their bite corrected just by braces alone?

>

October 17, 2005

I had upper/lower/genio surgery in Aug 2002 for a similar problem, at

the age of almost 47. When I was in my early 20s, I went through the

process of getting molds done for braces, but chickened out. The

dentist at the time wanted to remove 4 teeth and correct with braces.

No mention of surgery.

The ortho I was referred to by my current dentist (after I started

having pain on opening to eat) is a TMJ specialist, and gave me two

options. We weren't going to try to straighten the teeth to eliminate

the overbite or recessed lower jaw, but rather he would provide a

splint that would help with the pain. The other option was braces

leading to possible surgery. He said he needed to leave surgery open

as a possibility.

In the end, I opted for the second treatment plan, as I figured things

wouldn't get better and they might get worse. I didn't want to have

surgery later in life when I might not be as healthy. I found out when

I saw the oral surgeon that my left condyle was wearing down.

About 8 weeks before surgery, I panicked and wondered if I really

needed the surgery (probably not the best timing!), and went back to

my ortho. He took another set of xrays and said, yes, you need it. My

case was pretty severe, according to him. So we went ahead.

No regrets, I had a terrific recovery, and would do it again if I had

to, with the same surgeon, ortho, and anaesthesiologist.

Hope that helps.

>

> I have a recessed chin and class II overbite. I went to an

> orthodontist several years ago about fixing my crooked teeth (didn't

> know you could fix the chin) and he never said anything about

surgery,

> he just said the braces MAY fix my overbite slightly, but there is

no

> guarantee. I went for a second opinion just recently and that

> doctor said my overbite was too severe, that I would need surgery or

I

> would look bucktoothed after the braces. So I'm going for a third

> opinion. However, I am curious, has anyone been steered wrong about

> being told they needed the surgery but didn't really need it? Has

> anyone had their bite corrected just by braces alone?

>

October 18, 2005

I have the same diagnosis as you. I have also gotten two opinions -

both said pretty much the same thing, but the second orthodontist

explained it best. He said that he could put braces on and straighten

out the crooked teeth, but there was no way to fix the bite without

surgery. The lower teeth are too far back, and if they pulled the

upper teeth back to meet them, my face would look sunken in. Braces

just can't fix the bite, and the plus side of the surgery is that I

will actually have a chin when it's done

Good for you for getting several opinions, though. It will help you

feel better about whatever decision you make. Good luck.

Bree

> >

> > I have a recessed chin and class II overbite. I went to an

> > orthodontist several years ago about fixing my crooked teeth

(didn't

> > know you could fix the chin) and he never said anything about

> surgery,

> > he just said the braces MAY fix my overbite slightly, but there

is

> no

> > guarantee. I went for a second opinion just recently and that

> > doctor said my overbite was too severe, that I would need surgery

or

> I

> > would look bucktoothed after the braces. So I'm going for a

third

> > opinion. However, I am curious, has anyone been steered wrong

about

> > being told they needed the surgery but didn't really need it?

Has

> > anyone had their bite corrected just by braces alone?

> >

>

October 18, 2005

Surgery moves bone. Braces move teeth.

Get the surgery done.

sabbiecatt wrote:

I have the same diagnosis as you. I have also gotten two opinions -

both said pretty much the same thing, but the second orthodontist

explained it best. He said that he could put braces on and straighten

out the crooked teeth, but there was no way to fix the bite without

surgery. The lower teeth are too far back, and if they pulled the

upper teeth back to meet them, my face would look sunken in. Braces

just can't fix the bite, and the plus side of the surgery is that I

will actually have a chin when it's done

Good for you for getting several opinions, though. It will help you

feel better about whatever decision you make. Good luck.

Bree

> >

> > I have a recessed chin and class II overbite. I went to an

> > orthodontist several years ago about fixing my crooked teeth

(didn't

> > know you could fix the chin) and he never said anything about

> surgery,

> > he just said the braces MAY fix my overbite slightly, but there

is

> no

> > guarantee. I went for a second opinion just recently and that

> > doctor said my overbite was too severe, that I would need surgery

or

> I

> > would look bucktoothed after the braces. So I'm going for a

third

> > opinion. However, I am curious, has anyone been steered wrong

about

> > being told they needed the surgery but didn't really need it?

Has

> > anyone had their bite corrected just by braces alone?

> >

>

October 18, 2005

Hi all,

I have a story to share for the surgery need issue. Five years ago, I went to

see my first ortho just to get braces for my overbite and gummy smile. My ortho

did mention one time in the middle of my course about the surgery need since my

lower jaw is too small. Becuase he did not explian what surgery is for and why I

need one, I opted for non-opration treatement. Six teeth were pulled out in

order to align the upper and lower jaws. I just found later on from the

scholarly article that this method is called " camouflage method " . Some orthos

use this method for a patient who does not want operation: the ortho put braces

to correct the deformed jawlines and the result is that the patient jawlines

seem to be well aligned. The same article reports that both camouflag and

surgery have equal chance for relap after five years. I thought the problem got

solved since my jawlines look perfect, when I admitted cosmetic chin surgery

after brace was done.

Despite wearing a retainer for 24/7, my upper teeth start to move in year 4 and

5 after brace. The same ortho said the upper teeh twisted but he did not admit

that my teeth are moving according to my natural bone shapes (which are

deformed!). The problem gets compounded when I went to see two surgeons and they

denied the surgery reasoning that the surgery's benefit would less than the risk

(only 10 percent improvement compared to jaw cutting and wire shut). My teeth

keep moving just like a kids' teeth becuae they were fighting to follow my

deformed bones (which were not correct). I know that if I stop wearing retianer

even for a month, lots of negative change will happen. Now, I am facing big

dilemma in deciding whether stop wearing 24/7 retainer and wait until all deform

obviuosly shown to convince the surgeon for surgery, or weare retainer 24/7

until I die (this method does not guarantee that my teeth will not move, though,

since my deformed bones are still here with me).

My advise is that try to do teh right thing at the fisrt time, so that you will

not have serial problems, like mine. If more than three surgeons think your

bones are deformed, then choose surgery. Some orthos don't know what they are

doing, since the empirical evidences ahve not been intensively conducted yet.

good luck,

Sandy

Geletka wrote:

Surgery moves bone. Braces move teeth.

Get the surgery done.

sabbiecatt wrote:

I have the same diagnosis as you. I have also gotten two opinions -

both said pretty much the same thing, but the second orthodontist

explained it best. He said that he could put braces on and straighten

out the crooked teeth, but there was no way to fix the bite without

surgery. The lower teeth are too far back, and if they pulled the

upper teeth back to meet them, my face would look sunken in. Braces

just can't fix the bite, and the plus side of the surgery is that I

will actually have a chin when it's done

Good for you for getting several opinions, though. It will help you

feel better about whatever decision you make. Good luck.

Bree

> >

> > I have a recessed chin and class II overbite. I went to an

> > orthodontist several years ago about fixing my crooked teeth

(didn't

> > know you could fix the chin) and he never said anything about

> surgery,

> > he just said the braces MAY fix my overbite slightly, but there

is

> no

> > guarantee. I went for a second opinion just recently and that

> > doctor said my overbite was too severe, that I would need surgery

or

> I

> > would look bucktoothed after the braces. So I'm going for a

third

> > opinion. However, I am curious, has anyone been steered wrong

about

> > being told they needed the surgery but didn't really need it?

Has

> > anyone had their bite corrected just by braces alone?

> >

>

October 18, 2005