consult results

[Guest guest]

I went yesterday for my second OD consult after the OD analyzed the molds,

xrays, and photos. I'm not entirely familiar with all of the terms yet, so

i'll keep to simple words! I have an open bite and an overbite, as well as

pretty severe crowding on the top row, and minor crowding on the bottom. My

upper jaw is apparently more V shaped than U shaped, and this contributes to

the crowding..

The dr. gave me two options:

1) Traditional ortho--remove two teeth, slap some braces on, wait about 2

years, and call it a day.

2) a) Have an appliance put on my upper jaw to start spreading the jaw and

have braces put on my lower teeth at the same time.

Have surgery to stabilize the spread. Apparently after this surgery, I

will have a huge gap between my front teeth, and I will have to mold a tooth

to fit in that place for two months!! Has anyone else had this??? I just

about freaked when the OD told me that.

c) Braces for about 9 months

d) upper and lower jaw surgery. My upper and lower jaws are at an angle

instead of parallel, which I guess gives me less room for my teeth, and more

surface area of my jaw/mouth area, so I'm out of proportion--the lower third

of my face is much larger than the upper two 1/3's. So I guess somehow my

jaws would be re-tilted? Not exactly sure on that part. The lower jaw would

be moved forward.

Comments?

I'm trying to decide if I should go with a third OD consult...I had one a

year or two ago, and I was NOT keen on the options that OD offered me, which

included removing a portion of my jawbone to shorten my upper jaw. NOT an

option. My mom had it years ago, and it really impacted the roots of her

teeth, and now she has all sorts of problems.

I'm now scheduling a consult with the OMS and a plastic surgeon too; want to

fit a nose job in here somewhere. It'll be Extreme Makeover, Edition!

It's a long road though, and it's really going to interfere with my

activities! hockey, skiing, martial arts, outdoorsy adventurey stuff... I

just hope it's worth it. It's a lot of surgeries to commit to, when the only

thing I've ever had surgery on was my wisdom teeth.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I went to 3 ODs before I made my decision on what to do. Since this

is such a long process; one of the most important things before you

get started is to find someone you trust. An OD who has your best

interests in mind and makes you feel comfortable.

I am 33 and had braces when I was in my teens. Now as an adult, I

finally decide to fix my open bite as well. Like you most of my

crowding is on top because of my narrow jaw. It sounds like we have

similar problems. I am having step 2 done. My expansion surgery is

this Wednesday, Oct. 19th. It sounds like this is what the OD was

describing.

I just got the expander put in to widen my jaw last Wednesday. It

is not activated yet, as I need surgery to assist in my expansion.

What I am having done is called a surgical assisted rapid pallet

expansion sometimes abbreviated as SARPE. Here is a link someone

provide to me to help explain the process better:

http://www.orthonj.com/rpe.html

The expander is activated at surgery and I will have to use a key to

turn the expander each day. My expansion will be about 6 - 8 mm.

It may seem like a lot, but I looked at a ruler and its not that

bad. There will be a gap between my front two teeth but my OD has

said that it will close quickly once I get the braces on. The

expander will be in for 3 months.

After wearing braces for a year or so, I will have upper jaw surgery

to correct the open bite and possible lower. I also elected to get

the chin advancement either way.

This is a lot to commit to and it took me since this Jan. to get to

the point I am now, but I thought about fixing my bite on and off

years before. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. I

also started a weblog about my process if your interested

http://www.hurricaneweb.net/amy/

Not trying to solicit anything, its a way for me to diary my

experience and share it with my friends and family who live far from

me.

Good luck in making your decision. This board has been a great way

for me to gather information and people are really good about

sharing their experiences and answering questions. I wish you the

best.

Amy

>

> I went yesterday for my second OD consult after the OD analyzed

the molds,

> xrays, and photos. I'm not entirely familiar with all of the terms

yet, so

> i'll keep to simple words! I have an open bite and an overbite, as

well as

> pretty severe crowding on the top row, and minor crowding on the

bottom. My

> upper jaw is apparently more V shaped than U shaped, and this

contributes to

> the crowding..

>

> The dr. gave me two options:

>

> 1) Traditional ortho--remove two teeth, slap some braces on, wait

about 2

> years, and call it a day.

>

> 2) a) Have an appliance put on my upper jaw to start spreading the

jaw and

> have braces put on my lower teeth at the same time.

> Have surgery to stabilize the spread. Apparently after this

surgery, I

> will have a huge gap between my front teeth, and I will have to

mold a tooth

> to fit in that place for two months!! Has anyone else had this???

I just

> about freaked when the OD told me that.

> c) Braces for about 9 months

> d) upper and lower jaw surgery. My upper and lower jaws are at an

angle

> instead of parallel, which I guess gives me less room for my

teeth, and more

> surface area of my jaw/mouth area, so I'm out of proportion--the

lower third

> of my face is much larger than the upper two 1/3's. So I guess

somehow my

> jaws would be re-tilted? Not exactly sure on that part. The lower

jaw would

> be moved forward.

>

> Comments?

>

> I'm trying to decide if I should go with a third OD consult...I

had one a

> year or two ago, and I was NOT keen on the options that OD offered

me, which

> included removing a portion of my jawbone to shorten my upper jaw.

NOT an

> option. My mom had it years ago, and it really impacted the roots

of her

> teeth, and now she has all sorts of problems.

>

> I'm now scheduling a consult with the OMS and a plastic surgeon

too; want to

> fit a nose job in here somewhere. It'll be Extreme Makeover,

Edition!

> It's a long road though, and it's really going to interfere with my

> activities! hockey, skiing, martial arts, outdoorsy adventurey

stuff... I

> just hope it's worth it. It's a lot of surgeries to commit to,

when the only

> thing I've ever had surgery on was my wisdom teeth.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I know it is a lot of information to process. I had the same

reaction initially. I agree that a third consult might give you a

better idea, and perhaps a slightly different take. Be really

prepared with your own list of conserns. If the jaw length bothers

you, specifically have them explain options to you. If you are

concerned about your root health, ask about that specifically too.

So much has changed over the last few years, and you really want to

know what is available now, the recoveries, and complication risks

and factors.

But the third consult was easier for me. I already had an idea of

what would be discussed. By the third, I wasn't in shock sitting

there discussing the HUGE committment and recovery issues I would be

facing, and I could ask more meaningful questions about how it would

impact my face and function when I was through the main part of

recovery. In other words I was more able to determine what my

ultimate result would be because I could really be specific with the

OD about what I wanted from it. Maybe that was just me, but the

third one really was the charm for me! lol

Good luck to you with this! I know it is a lot. I did finally

decide to go with the whole package, but I can definately see why

someone would go another direction. Let us know what you decide to

do!

Hugs,

Fran

>

> I went yesterday for my second OD consult after the OD analyzed

the molds,

> xrays, and photos. I'm not entirely familiar with all of the terms

yet, so

> i'll keep to simple words! I have an open bite and an overbite, as

well as

> pretty severe crowding on the top row, and minor crowding on the

bottom. My

> upper jaw is apparently more V shaped than U shaped, and this

contributes to

> the crowding..

>

> The dr. gave me two options:

>

> 1) Traditional ortho--remove two teeth, slap some braces on, wait

about 2

> years, and call it a day.

>

> 2) a) Have an appliance put on my upper jaw to start spreading the

jaw and

> have braces put on my lower teeth at the same time.

> Have surgery to stabilize the spread. Apparently after this

surgery, I

> will have a huge gap between my front teeth, and I will have to

mold a tooth

> to fit in that place for two months!! Has anyone else had this???

I just

> about freaked when the OD told me that.

> c) Braces for about 9 months

> d) upper and lower jaw surgery. My upper and lower jaws are at an

angle

> instead of parallel, which I guess gives me less room for my

teeth, and more

> surface area of my jaw/mouth area, so I'm out of proportion--the

lower third

> of my face is much larger than the upper two 1/3's. So I guess

somehow my

> jaws would be re-tilted? Not exactly sure on that part. The lower

jaw would

> be moved forward.

>

> Comments?

>

> I'm trying to decide if I should go with a third OD consult...I

had one a

> year or two ago, and I was NOT keen on the options that OD offered

me, which

> included removing a portion of my jawbone to shorten my upper jaw.

NOT an

> option. My mom had it years ago, and it really impacted the roots

of her

> teeth, and now she has all sorts of problems.

>

> I'm now scheduling a consult with the OMS and a plastic surgeon

too; want to

> fit a nose job in here somewhere. It'll be Extreme Makeover,

Edition!

> It's a long road though, and it's really going to interfere with my

> activities! hockey, skiing, martial arts, outdoorsy adventurey

stuff... I

> just hope it's worth it. It's a lot of surgeries to commit to,

when the only

> thing I've ever had surgery on was my wisdom teeth.

>

>

>

>

>