no longer contemplating surgery--moving foward!!

[Guest guest]

I was very, very impressed with the OS that I met yesterday. He's

the 3rd OS I saw since I starting thinking about having jaw surgery

(back in 2001). He suggested taking a different approach to surgery

than what the other 2 OS suggested. I liked what he had to say and

actually feel very excited about all of it instead of feeling

apprehensive and indecisive. He was very thorough in his

explanations and took a lot of time with me.

I am definitely going forward with the surgery. This is what we

talked about:

I have a 5-5.5 mm overbite. It is definitely within the margins to

be a candidate for surgery. He said surgery is not worth it if a

patient is 3mm or smaller. Anyway, the 2 previous OS suggested

advancing lower jaw and chin and a 3rd option was breaking the upper

jaw to reduce my gummy smile.

This OS, at this point, feels upper jaw surgery alone can correct my

overbite--something about the way my upper jaw is slanted. He said

there is less chance of nerve damage than with lower jaw surgery. A

chin advancement will most likely be done, too. He took x-rays and

wants to do a more involved analysis/study of everything to make

sure upper surgery is the best way to go (also mentioned something

about drawing up diagrams for me so I can visualize what he plans to

do). I'll meet with him again next week.

He's the first doctor who told me what he'd do if he were me. Other

doctors would give me my options but left it up to me. I'm not the

expert--I want to be told what would be best for me.

We talked about having no insurance coverage. Previously, he has

done surgeries in his facility to cut costs; but as of now, all

upper jaw surgeries were done in the hospital. I'm hoping I don't

have to go to the hospital, but I want whatever is best.

Hope I didn't get to lengthy! But I'll keep you posted.