Re: hello I'm new and I have a question : )

[Guest guest]

Hi Margemynx,

I am 52, and can definately say that not doing upper and lower jaw

surgery has caused severe deterioration of my teeth. So much so,

that I will need full mouth rehab even after the surgery and

braces. That means all of my teeth will be abraded, and I will need

new crowns on the stubs of my otherwise healthy teeth. They have

worn down immensely from the poor bite and jaw position for over 5

decades.

And not one of my former dentists even mentioned that I had a jaw

problem! Even with frequently breaking teeth, wearing my teeth down

to nubs and a whole host of physical problems with this. Most

dentists are not aware of the intracacies of orthognathics,

especially with a less than fully problematic bite. And if your

teeth are straight, they don't even refer you to an orthodontist for

evaluation. That is my experience. It took my last dentist

retirement and subsequent selling of his practice to a young dentist

who himself had orthognathic surgery, to even propose that I have a

problem. Compound that to most family dentists being more familiar

with orthognathic surgery as practiced a few decades ago (much more

complex, exposed incisions, less precision etc etc etc), and I think

this compounds the problem.

Were your consults with orthodontists? Have they recommended a good

OMS in your area for a consult?? If so, it might be good to take

one or both of your parents with you to that consult. That way they

can hear for themself(selves) what this surgery will mean for you.

When I finally went in to the OD's consults, each one of them saw my

problem as soon as they first set eyes on me. Yet I had never once

had anyone prior to that mention that I had a correctable problem.

This is a serious surgery, but if you find a really well trained and

experienced OMS, and I would check with the OD's to find a consensus

on that, the dangerousness of this surgery is significantly

redueced. I think the questions you mentioned here would be a great

start for a list of questions you should ask at the OMS consult.

It is expensive, but many insurance companies do cover this, even if

they do not cover other strictly dental or what is labeled cosmetic

surgery. If this is medically necessary surgery, and yours does

sound like that, many insurance companies do cover it. It depends

on the way the OMS submits the request. Also a good reason to use

an experienced OMS.

These are just suggestions. I am wishing you the best of luck in

your reserach on this and with your consults. Please let us know

what you find out. This is a great place for research too. I know

when I first heard about my jaws earlier this year, just coming here

and reading the daily posts for a few weeks taught me TONS about

what was involved. And we have had other parents come on the board

too and get information from patients too. It seems to help them

see what the process is. Just at thought. Good luck to you!

Hugs,

Fran

>

> Hello everyone! I've gotten about 3 opinions (I live in Chicago),

and

> they rec braces for 1-2 years, upper and lower surgery, and braces

for

> 1-2 more years (I have an anterior open bite).

>

> My parents, who live in Virginia, are freaked out. They talked to

my

> dentist there, who thinks jaw surgery is extremely radical and

> dangerous. BTW, I had braces in middle school and high school.

>

> I'm kind of scared about it now (not to mention the cost!!!) -

> what's the damage if I don't get it done? Right now I have

trouble

> with lip closure and mouth breathing b/c of it. Will my teeth

suffer

> greatly? Will I age poorly if I don't get it corrected?

>

> Sorry this is kind of long - I'm just overwhelmed.

>