Samara

[Guest guest]

Samara,

Yes, I did see several orthodontists who told me I would have to wear

braces for longer than the one I actually ended up using. One ortho

told me I would have to wear them for at least 1 1/2 to 2 years pre-

op. This obviously caused me to postpone doing the surgery for a long

time...I mean a LONG time, 10 years to be exact. You see, from the

time I was 7 to 17 years old I not only wore braces but every single

sort of evil contraption you can imagine in an effort to fix my bite.

When I was 17 and they finally took off my braces for the last time

they told me there was no guarantee that my bite would stay put and

that surgery would be a good idea. Of course I told them to all go to

hell and carried on with life happily brace and contraption free.

Needless to say within 5 years my bite got worse as did my TMJ pain

so I started seeing different doctors to get consultations and they

all told me I would have to wear braces for at least a year pre-op.

Then when I was 26 the headaches I had as a result of TMJ got so

unbearable that I said to myself " that's it, I'm doing this surgery

no matter what " . Luckily for me I found an orthodontist that said he

could do it all in 6 months pre-op and 6 months post-op. What he

didn't know for sure but suspected was that as a result of 10 years

of braces my teeth probably moved very quickly. And move quickly they

did. I was amazed. A second factor that probably helped is that while

my overbite is considered severe it's not as bad as other people's in

that it's only 7mm (some people have up to 15mm or more I think).

Also, my teeth were perfectly straight prior to the braces pre-op

because I had a permanent retainer on both my top and bottom teeth

and my ortho said that helped in that my bottom jaw teeth didn't need

to be realligned as much.

Having said all of this, my OMS who works often with my ortho has

told me on several occasions that Dr. Diamond is very fast " sometimes

too fast " . I guess that means that moving my teeth too quickly can't

be all that good. Certainly not for my poor roots and nerves. In fact

my teeth are VERY sensitive. Either way I'm not going to complain. I

will tell you this though - I ABSOLUTELY DREADED getting those braces

back on. I sobbed for 2 weeks before getting them and 2 weeks after

getting them. They hurt me, they made me feel like a dork and

inadequate. I just hated them. Then after a few months when I saw how

my teeth were being moved, suddenly the reality of what I was finally

going through with unfolded before me. For some reason I stopped

stressing about the braces. I would tell myself every day " you know

what, I'm taking care of my teeth and bite and no one is going to

stop me now. " I tried to see the braces as a means to an end and not

as a constant torture. Of course I can't wait to get the darn things

off but I'm willing to be patient if my ortho says that it will be 7

or 8 or 9 months post op instead of 6. My bite already looks so good

now I'm pleased either way.

Ok, sorry for the long rant but I hope my thoughts help you feel a

little better about your year in braces. And fingers crossed, maybe a

miracle will happen and you'll be ready for surgery before schedule.

Several members on this site have had that happen including myself (2

months ahead of schedule) and Luna who was ready a whole 6 months

before schedule if I'm not mistaken. So there's hope!

Sara

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > i recently joined this group and should first congratulate

whoever

> > created this site as it is a huge gift to the orthognatic patient

> > community!

> > I have a slight underbite with no real functional problems (yet)

> and

> > am still trying to decide wether to go for surgery (for perfect

> > results) or attempt a compromise with braces only. I have seen a

> > surgeon recommended by my ortho but was not very comfortable with

> him.

> > Does anyone know of a good surgeon (and possibly also ortho) in

> > Manhattan/NYC? alternatively, where can one start a research for

> > surgeons in this area?

> >

> > Thanks/best

> > Dany

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for getting back to me Sara. I really really hope I am one of

the lucky ones. I truly hate being 26 years old, single, and wearing

these things. I'm also now wondering if maybe I should have seen a

few more orthos that would have told me that I would only be in

braces for 6 months pre-op. Oh well...i guess there is nothing I can

do now.

Can't believe you were in braces for 10 year btw!! That is just

nuts. You must be completely elated that its almost over.

Samara

> > > Hi everyone,

> > >

> > > i recently joined this group and should first congratulate

> whoever

> > > created this site as it is a huge gift to the orthognatic

patient

> > > community!

> > > I have a slight underbite with no real functional problems

(yet)

> > and

> > > am still trying to decide wether to go for surgery (for perfect

> > > results) or attempt a compromise with braces only. I have seen

a

> > > surgeon recommended by my ortho but was not very comfortable

with

> > him.

> > > Does anyone know of a good surgeon (and possibly also ortho) in

> > > Manhattan/NYC? alternatively, where can one start a research

for

> > > surgeons in this area?

> > >

> > > Thanks/best

> > > Dany

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Samara,

I'm sure your ortho is going to do his best to keep your time in

braces to as little as possible. Just be proud of yourself for having

actually taken the big step of getting these pesky buggers on your

teeth!

Sara

> > > > Hi everyone,

> > > >

> > > > i recently joined this group and should first congratulate

> > whoever

> > > > created this site as it is a huge gift to the orthognatic

> patient

> > > > community!

> > > > I have a slight underbite with no real functional problems

> (yet)

> > > and

> > > > am still trying to decide wether to go for surgery (for

perfect

> > > > results) or attempt a compromise with braces only. I have

seen

> a

> > > > surgeon recommended by my ortho but was not very comfortable

> with

> > > him.

> > > > Does anyone know of a good surgeon (and possibly also ortho)

in

> > > > Manhattan/NYC? alternatively, where can one start a research

> for

> > > > surgeons in this area?

> > > >

> > > > Thanks/best

> > > > Dany

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >