Bad posture, slouching and overbite

[streetmaster]

Since i've begun pocking around on this site, i've learned a whole lot about myself. Things like TMJ, recessed jaw, why a tooth still hurts even after its been filled twice.

But nothing compairs to what i realised about myself, while checking out the photos that the ortho took of me and my teeth.

Man do i ever slouch, and it dawned on me that the nasty overbite in my lower jaw, might be because of bad posture, or slouching.

So i started standing nice and straight, and did notice that my jaw felt normal, but began to slouch some and i could feel the muscles in my jaw begin to pull.

Yeah the last ortho i saw, had me freeked out about OS, because he said that my jaw looked to him, as if it did'nt grow enough, and i would need surgery.

Its funny because, while i slouch, my lower jaw pulls all the way inward, probly because the way my bite is, and when i straighten back up, it drops back into a more normal position.

Yeah i've been driving a commercial vehicle for 20 yrs. now, and tend to slump down in my seat a lot, 10 hrs or more, going down the road.

I guess i am wandering if bad posture, or slouching, affect the way braces perform. Oppinions please

[archangel689]

well braces don't move bones, just teeth.

That being said. I'd definitely get a second opinion. I'd look to see if your state has a Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons or something like that and get one of the more prominent members to give you an opinion even if they won't be doing this surgery (second opinions are usually covered by insurance).

I wanted the best person I could find to do mine, and I don't have to go very far. But I supposed that depends on where you live.

[classII]

Absolutely. Do a search for postural jaw position (pjp). There is a definitive relationship between jaw position and sitting / standing.

As already mentioned the braces themselves or use thereof are / will be unrelated.

[Jrogryzek]

I pray you found relief by fixing posture. I recently discovered my own posture problem trying to treat my own back pain, as my doctors were unable to help. Coincidentally I also went in for an estimate to fix my teeth and they want to give me headgear braces and jaw surgery, but I noticed too that my jaw swings forward when I am standing with the right posture! Have you found any more info? Email me if you would like to share resources, at jrogryzek@msn.com. Thanks!