Braces instead of surgery?

[AliB]

Hi everyone,

I’m a 28 year old male teacher thinking of getting a brace and it looks like this is the best place to come and ask questions!

I'm not sure how to attach photos but I have some if people would like to see (and can tell me how!). I have crowded teeth as well as an overbite due to a slow growing mandible. I have seen an orthodontist recently and hes said to fix the mandible I would need surgery. However he really tried to sway me from that option, telling me that he could reduce the overbite by 80% and get straighter teeth with braces alone. I am inclined to believe him and I think this is my best option. I was wondering whether anyone here had a similar bite to mine and whether they opted for braces alone, did it work? Was it worth it or did it still look rubbish with the lack of chin? Also did the upper lip sink into the face as well? (Something I’m not too sure would look good due to my already prominent nose! Nightmare!).

I am very very nervous about this, and to be honest I think I just need reassurance that it will be a success if I’m gonna go through hell for the next 18 months.

[Tyrantblade]

I think you should see another orthodontist or two for additional consultations just to see if they also think surgery may be necessary, if another also think surgery may need to be involved maybe you should go through with surgery plus braces.

If you see two more and both dont think surgery is really necessary you can probably avoid it and still get good results.

Its impossible for any of us online to really say what is or isnt necessary in anybodies case, only an orthodontist should know what you do or dont need to treat your case after you have a consultation with them

And seeing several will give you an even better idea of if a specific part of treatment like surgery will be truly necessary

[EWUgal15]

I also recommend seeing another orthodontist for a second opinion.

Braces are normally used in conjunction with jaw surgery. I would be leery of a treatment plan that doesn't use both orthodontics and orthognathic surgery together, if surgery is needed. That said, explore/research both routes (orthodontic alone and orthodontic+orthognathic) and ask as many questions as you need to. Ask for before and after photos of patients that went with surgery combined with braces and patients that only went the orthodontic route. It would also be a good idea to consult with an oral surgeon as well. They could give you a better idea of whether or not you need

Admittedly, I am quite unsure why surgery would be mentioned if the orthodontist felt that he could treat you without it.

[Lala082008]

I was told as a teenager that I would need braces and jaw surgery. I got neither, and now (as an adult) I am set to get braces soon. My ortho said she didn't think I would need surgery. And the other ones I consulted said likely I wouldn't need it either. Has anyone else had this experience, where they were told as a teen they would need surgery and then not need it as an adult? Because I would think it would go the other way.

[mindinggaps]

[quote="Lala082008"]I was told as a teenager that I would need braces and jaw surgery. I got neither, and now (as an adult) I am set to get braces soon. My ortho said she didn't think I would need surgery. And the other ones I consulted said likely I wouldn't need it either. Has anyone else had this experience, where they were told as a teen they would need surgery and then not need it as an adult? Because I would think it would go the other way.[/quote]

I've found the surgery thing to be a bit of a mystery. I am currently in the process of consulting some orthos and some say surgery, others say not so much. I had braces as a teen and surgery was never brought up. I think it can really depend on how the ortho wants to treat your problems and how severe they are.

[monkey123]

When I was 16 I was told I needed surgery to fix my big over jet. The thought of surgery put me off I left it until into my 40's when my bottom teeth started to rub the roof of my mouth. I resigned myself that I needed to have surgery and when to see a specialist ortho - I explained that I really didn't want surgery and he said no problem that we what we can do to reduce it - in fact my overjet has nearly disappeared and I think he is surprised to - I'm as pleased as punch. But for nearly 30 years I put off having my teeth fixed because I feared surgery was the only way forward.

[nhyn]

I have a very, very similar case! I'm also 28 (but female), have an underdeveloped lower jaw, overjet, and overbite. The orthodontist did tell me that to fix it perfectly, I would need surgery, but she thinks it's not necessary. She said after braces I would still have a very slight overbite, but it will be - like you mentioned - 80-90% reduced from before. 2 year of braces was her estimate. Due to a busy personal schedule (and my own hesitation about having to take out 2 upper teeth), I have not started treatment yet, but I think most orthodontists, unless you have a really severe case, would discourage you from surgery since it is a major surgery and from what I read, would put you out of commission for a while (some people said their jaws/faces were numb for 2 months, eek!)

[sukibeth]

[quote="Lala082008"]I was told as a teenager that I would need braces and jaw surgery. I got neither, and now (as an adult) I am set to get braces soon. My ortho said she didn't think I would need surgery. And the other ones I consulted said likely I wouldn't need it either. Has anyone else had this experience, where they were told as a teen they would need surgery and then not need it as an adult? Because I would think it would go the other way.[/quote]

I went to check on getting braces at age 19 and yep, they also said jaw surgery. It was actually one of the biggest things that kept me from NOT getting braces in the 13 years afterwards (seems that's been a factor for quite a few people). The only surgery I've had in my two years of treatment was to start the process of bringing down an impacted canine - something that my first orthodontist (at 19) didn't even tell me that I had!

[Sunshine84]

I was told I would need surgery also for for large overjet/overbite. My sister had it done also and I wasn't impressed with her results so I went to a new orthodontist. He is doing top and bottom braces and has actually advised against getting my two top teeth pulled to pull the overjet back completely. It's been 4 months in braces and it's already hard to see any overbite unless I hold my jaw in the far back position ( I've naturally trained myself not to) I am very happy with my decision and my sister who went through with 6 years of braces and jaw surgery is happy with hers so I think it's a personal decision. I'm too big of a suck to go through with it ; )