Has anyone had a distalizing appliance?

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#1 Post by **HeatherLynn** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 11:09 am

I have a choice between lower jaw surgery to correct an 8mm overbite. OR having a distalizing appliance to fix it without surgery. I have researched jaw surgery, but cannot find much on the distalizing appliance. This is such a difficult decision to make. So if anyone has ANY type of info. regarding the success or lack of, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!!!

#2 Post by **missingu** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 1:01 pm

I do not have personal experience with either, but I found two web sites that describe different distalizing applicances so you can at least see what they look like and their actions:

www.oc-j.com/issue7/vlock.htm

www.johnsdental.com/articles/ortho/fixed/cddist.htm

Because surgery is irreversible, and movement with an applicance can be adjusted, and less invasive/risky, I generally choose conservative, non-surgical treatments. It's definitely a topic for you and the ortho to discuss, but if s/he pushes surgery, please get at least one more opinion to be sure.

#3 Post by **Joanna20** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 1:12 pm

Hey, I don't have any experience with it but I might need one of those, since my molars need to be distalized.
Cheers,
Joana

#4 Post by **fins** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 3:43 pm

I have - you can pm me if you want.

#5 Post by **HeatherLynn** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:55 pm

Thanks for all of the replies. I keep flipping back and forth. So many people have had the surgery and are very happy they did it. I have three little one's and dread the thought of recovering. Just dealing with the fact that I will have to wear braces again (after 5 years of them when I was a teenager) is enough. So much to think about!

Meryaten...with regards to the chances of relaspse...do you think there would be a much better risk of that without surgery? That is a good point.

#6 Post by **i814u2c** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 7:27 pm

HI
I have a distalizing appliance. I have springs on both sides pushing the molars back. Trying to push the right back further than the left. I have bands on my 1st premolars that are connected on roof of mouth so that my front teeth do not move forward. Seems to be working for me sofar. My other option is to have teeth pulled.

Good luck
i814u2c

#7 Post by **HeatherLynn** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:52 am

I had so many teeth pulled with the first set of braces that they cannot pull anything else. Are the teeth moving quickly for you? How uncomfortable is the appliance??

#8 Post by **Samantha08** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:21 am

I think my little sister had one of those... she has had braces for about a year and a half or so (she's 13 now) and I remember she had to have something like that to fix her jaw. She really never complained about it, so I think if you can do anything to avoid surgery, thats the best bet. But it's totally up to you