Re: Where do I start?

[Guest guest]

Hi Ebony,

My local OD's do not charge for a consult. I went to three

consults. The OD's were each nice, but the prices ranged from $5200

to $7800. And my insurance gives no help with braces!! So price

was a consideration. I actually didn't go with the cheapest guy,

but I didn't choose the most expensive one either (and he is my

neighbor - uh oh!!! I haven't given an open lip smile since I got

them). The one I chose had a game plan very similar to the OMS. I

had references for each office, so it was a big decision. I am glad

I went with who I did.

Since you have already been through this enough to know that it is

an option for you, a dental consult is probably not necessary, but

it might help for you to let them know that you have been through a

consult in another town. Then they know you are a candidate. Just

a thought.

Hugs,

Fran

>

> Hi-I've been reading along for awhile and doing alot of research.

I

> have a class III underbite.I'm not sure where to start--by going

to a

> orthodontist or a OMS?

> I did both when I used to live in Ohio just to confirm my

suspicions,

> but didn't take any action. But now I live in Illinois and I am

about

> to get individual health insurance and I don't know what to do

first.

> Help!

>

> Do I need the referral of an OD to see the OMS since health

insurance

> doesn't even cover the OD?

> -ebony

>

[Guest guest]

Ebony - Welcome to this group! The place to start is at the

Orthodontist's office. Call around and get one that has experience

working with an OMS who does these surgeries, because the two of them

will be working together throughout your entire treatment. This is the

chain of events that I went thru: 1)You go to the OD for your

Orthodontic consult/work-up first. The OD will refer you to the OMS

after you have had your Orthodontic consult/work-up. 2)The OD will get

together with the OMS prior to the development of your Orthodontic

treatment plan, and then you will meet with your OD to discuss that

plan. 3)Then, you will go to the OMS for his consult/work-up, which

takes two appointments: 1st is the consult/work-up, and 2nd is the

discussion and Q & A session. If you like what you hear, like the guy and

feel you could trust him completely, then it is time to proceed with

your Orthodontic plan. 4)Go back to the OD and get your braces

installed.*You have now officially begun your " Orthognathic Journey "

and are on your way. Others on this board may have done things in a

different order, but basically that's the gist of it. Ask your OD if

you can have Continuous Force Wires, as they are cutting-edge

technology and move the teeth alot faster than conventional wires. My

teeth have moved so much in the short amount of time I have had these

wires in; the faster your teeth move into alignment, the sooner you can

get your surgery done. I go to my OD every four weeks for an

adjustment, and then my OD calls my OMS to keep him informed on my

progress. I'm a 47 year-old with an underbite, and have been in braces

for thirteen weeks. I will be in them for up to ten months prior to and

up to six months after the surgery. I will be having a BSSO to set back

my mandible and a LeFort Maxillary Osteotomy to advance my maxilla and

drop it down in front (I have Maxillary Hypoplasia as well as

Mandibular Hyperplasia (underbite).) // Well, I hope all this info has

helped you. Ask questions anytime. Again, welcome! ~~ Diane (Idaho)--

In orthognathicsurgerysupport , " wimbs1 " <wimbs1@y...>

wrote:

>

> Hi-I've been reading along for awhile and doing alot of research. I

> have a class III underbite.I'm not sure where to start--by going to

a

> orthodontist or a OMS?

> I did both when I used to live in Ohio just to confirm my suspicions,

> but didn't take any action. But now I live in Illinois and I am about

> to get individual health insurance and I don't know what to do first.

> Help!

>

> Do I need the referral of an OD to see the OMS since health insurance

> doesn't even cover the OD?

> -ebony

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane, Sounds a lot like what I've done so far How have you

been? I've got closing loops now, along with the powerchains and

thicker wires...

~Joanne

>

> Ebony - Welcome to this group! The place to start is at the

> Orthodontist's office. Call around and get one that has experience

> working with an OMS who does these surgeries, because the two of

them

> will be working together throughout your entire treatment. This is

the

> chain of events that I went thru: 1)You go to the OD for your

> Orthodontic consult/work-up first. The OD will refer you to the OMS

> after you have had your Orthodontic consult/work-up. 2)The OD will

get

> together with the OMS prior to the development of your Orthodontic

> treatment plan, and then you will meet with your OD to discuss that

> plan. 3)Then, you will go to the OMS for his consult/work-up, which

> takes two appointments: 1st is the consult/work-up, and 2nd is the

> discussion and Q & A session. If you like what you hear, like the guy

and

> feel you could trust him completely, then it is time to proceed

with

> your Orthodontic plan. 4)Go back to the OD and get your braces

> installed.*You have now officially begun your " Orthognathic

Journey "

> and are on your way. Others on this board may have done things in a

> different order, but basically that's the gist of it. Ask your OD

if

> you can have Continuous Force Wires, as they are cutting-edge

> technology and move the teeth alot faster than conventional wires.

My

> teeth have moved so much in the short amount of time I have had

these

> wires in; the faster your teeth move into alignment, the sooner you

can

> get your surgery done. I go to my OD every four weeks for an

> adjustment, and then my OD calls my OMS to keep him informed on my

> progress. I'm a 47 year-old with an underbite, and have been in

braces

> for thirteen weeks. I will be in them for up to ten months prior to

and

> up to six months after the surgery. I will be having a BSSO to set

back

> my mandible and a LeFort Maxillary Osteotomy to advance my maxilla

and

> drop it down in front (I have Maxillary Hypoplasia as well as

> Mandibular Hyperplasia (underbite).) // Well, I hope all this info

has

> helped you. Ask questions anytime. Again, welcome! ~~ Diane (Idaho)

[Guest guest]

-Hello there, Joanne - How nice to hear from you! I just posted one

of my nice long posts to Fran. Well, I had another OD adjustment

appointment yesterday, and my wires were changed again, this time to

#18's - the round nickel-titanium ones. I also got the bands on my

2nd molars installed; they have hooks that have been digging into my

cheeks. I can't get the wax to adhere for any length of time, and

then it falls off. So, now I'm using some oral pain meds right on the

inflamed tissue. They took a Cephalometric xray and a set of molds,

and will be bringing them to Dr. for his viewing pleasure. The

powerchains are completely on both my upper and lower teeth. What do

the closing loops look like? Are they similar to the powerchains?

What size wire do you have now? Are your teeth still moving as fast

as they always have? My " crowns " problem still continues; I think my

OD is hoping that Dr. will intervene and ask my dentist to

trim down those little bumps on the bottom near the gumline on the

lingual side. My upper front teeth are resting on those bumps,

interfering with those teeth moving into alignment. Oh, the joys of

having an underbite continues!! // So, what's new with you since we

last wrote? // My appointment with Dr. is coming up - it's

December 13th which is also my birthday. I will be asking him for

two " presents " : 1)definitely do the LeFort, and 2)move my surgery up

a few months. I hope I get the best birthday presents from my

wonderful OMS! LOL // Well, that's it for now. Hope you have a nice

weekend! Take care. ~~~~ Diane-- In

orthognathicsurgerysupport , " jpulaski129 "

<jpulaski129@y...> wrote:

>

> Hi Diane, Sounds a lot like what I've done so far How have you

> been? I've got closing loops now, along with the powerchains and

> thicker wires...

> ~Joanne

>

>

> >

> > Ebony - Welcome to this group! The place to start is at the

> > Orthodontist's office. Call around and get one that has

experience

> > working with an OMS who does these surgeries, because the two of

> them

> > will be working together throughout your entire treatment. This

is

> the

> > chain of events that I went thru: 1)You go to the OD for your

> > Orthodontic consult/work-up first. The OD will refer you to the

OMS

> > after you have had your Orthodontic consult/work-up. 2)The OD

will

> get

> > together with the OMS prior to the development of your

Orthodontic

> > treatment plan, and then you will meet with your OD to discuss

that

> > plan. 3)Then, you will go to the OMS for his consult/work-up,

which

> > takes two appointments: 1st is the consult/work-up, and 2nd is

the

> > discussion and Q & A session. If you like what you hear, like the

guy

> and

> > feel you could trust him completely, then it is time to proceed

> with

> > your Orthodontic plan. 4)Go back to the OD and get your braces

> > installed.*You have now officially begun your " Orthognathic

> Journey "

> > and are on your way. Others on this board may have done things in

a

> > different order, but basically that's the gist of it. Ask your OD

> if

> > you can have Continuous Force Wires, as they are cutting-edge

> > technology and move the teeth alot faster than conventional

wires.

> My

> > teeth have moved so much in the short amount of time I have had

> these

> > wires in; the faster your teeth move into alignment, the sooner

you

> can

> > get your surgery done. I go to my OD every four weeks for an

> > adjustment, and then my OD calls my OMS to keep him informed on

my

> > progress. I'm a 47 year-old with an underbite, and have been in

> braces

> > for thirteen weeks. I will be in them for up to ten months prior

to

> and

> > up to six months after the surgery. I will be having a BSSO to

set

> back

> > my mandible and a LeFort Maxillary Osteotomy to advance my

maxilla

> and

> > drop it down in front (I have Maxillary Hypoplasia as well as

> > Mandibular Hyperplasia (underbite).) // Well, I hope all this

info

> has

> > helped you. Ask questions anytime. Again, welcome! ~~ Diane

(Idaho)

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Fran and Diane! I feel alot more focused on how to tackle this

journey. Anyone in the Chicago area with OD/OMS referrals let me know!

**ebony**

> >

> > Hi-I've been reading along for awhile and doing alot of research.

I

> > have a class III underbite.I'm not sure where to start--by going

to

> a

> > orthodontist or a OMS?

> > I did both when I used to live in Ohio just to confirm my

suspicions,

> > but didn't take any action. But now I live in Illinois and I am

about

> > to get individual health insurance and I don't know what to do

first.

> > Help!

> >

> > Do I need the referral of an OD to see the OMS since health

insurance

> > doesn't even cover the OD?

> > -ebony

> >

>