Does all of this sound right?? Am a little worried

[Guest guest]

So, as some of you may know, I began posting a little over a month

ago because I initially had planned on getting plastic surgery to

shorten my chin. I went to two plastic surgeons, both of them also

had dental degrees. One said he could do just a chin reduction

(genioplasty) and another said that he refused to do just a

genioplasty and that I needed to have jaw surgery. Anyway, I opted

to do the jaw surgery. I started my search by going to 3 different

orthos...they all agreed about the jaw surgery. I decided on an

ortho that i liked, then I went to see an oral surgeon. I didn't

have any molds, xrays or photos at the time, but I told the oral

surgeon that I was getting them all done tomorrow. I asked if he

needed to see them before I got my braces on to make sure I needed

the surgery, etc. He told me no and that I should just go ahead and

get the braces on. So i got my molds and xrays done at this one

place bc they were cheaper, and then i brought them to the place

where I was getting my braces on. I brought them in the day I got my

braces on. The ortho only looked at the xrays for a minute, and then

the braces went on. I just think its weird that he didn't look at my

mouth or my xrays a lot, determine how much my jaw would have to be

moved etc. I guess what I am trying to say is...shouldn't there be a

bit more planning on his part? I had braces on in my teens to try

and fix my bite, but apparantly when you get the braces on before

surgery, my bite will start to look worse?? So is there something

different about this braces process than the other time I had them?

I seems that they were put on in exactly the same way, same position,

etc. Does anyone get what I'm trying to say? Not even sure if I get

what I'm trying to say.

Thanks,

Samara

[Guest guest]

Hehe, I think I understand what you're saying/asking.

My OD and OS did both take molds and x-rays at the beginning of the

process for me. Of course my OS also told me to go get braces on and

come back when I'm ready for surgery, and that was that. So when I

saw him again in August, he took new molds.

As for the OD, mine did a whole workup before I even committed to

getting braces with him...on my first visit they did molds and xrays

and photos. Then when I came in to get a quote on price, he showed me

befores and afters of how I should sorta look, and I think that was

all part of his selling me on it deal.

I suppose if an OD is competent enough (and hopefully yours is) that

he can just look at your mouth and tell basically where things need to

be, and so without molds or anything just start things moving. I

wouldn't be too worried about it, I don't think. I'm sure he knows

what he is doing. But as everyone here always says...there's no hurt

in asking. So you could ask him next time you go in.

~

[Guest guest]

Samara,

ys the braces process is different pre-surgery than post-op. It's

because the ortho has to realign your teeth so that they are in the

right position for when they shift your jaw. In other words, although

your teeth may look out of wack pre-surgery they will fall into the

exact proper position they need to be in after. The better aligned

they are pre-surgery then the less work they have to do post-op.

In terms of not looking at your molds or xrays very much....are you

sure? That has me a little concerned. Can you discuss this with your

oral surgeon? In terms of measurements etc. the ortho doesn't

actually go through these calculations until some months after you've

had the braces on. My ortho knew roughly what he wanted to do but it

all started to become crystal clear after about 3 months with the

braces.

Hope this helps and don't be afraid to ask your doctors what is going

on.

Sara

> So, as some of you may know, I began posting a little over a month

> ago because I initially had planned on getting plastic surgery to

> shorten my chin. I went to two plastic surgeons, both of them also

> had dental degrees. One said he could do just a chin reduction

> (genioplasty) and another said that he refused to do just a

> genioplasty and that I needed to have jaw surgery. Anyway, I opted

> to do the jaw surgery. I started my search by going to 3 different

> orthos...they all agreed about the jaw surgery. I decided on an

> ortho that i liked, then I went to see an oral surgeon. I didn't

> have any molds, xrays or photos at the time, but I told the oral

> surgeon that I was getting them all done tomorrow. I asked if he

> needed to see them before I got my braces on to make sure I needed

> the surgery, etc. He told me no and that I should just go ahead

and

> get the braces on. So i got my molds and xrays done at this one

> place bc they were cheaper, and then i brought them to the place

> where I was getting my braces on. I brought them in the day I got

my

> braces on. The ortho only looked at the xrays for a minute, and

then

> the braces went on. I just think its weird that he didn't look at

my

> mouth or my xrays a lot, determine how much my jaw would have to be

> moved etc. I guess what I am trying to say is...shouldn't there be

a

> bit more planning on his part? I had braces on in my teens to try

> and fix my bite, but apparantly when you get the braces on before

> surgery, my bite will start to look worse?? So is there something

> different about this braces process than the other time I had

them?

> I seems that they were put on in exactly the same way, same

position,

> etc. Does anyone get what I'm trying to say? Not even sure if I

get

> what I'm trying to say.

>

> Thanks,

> Samara