I have a jaw deviation to the left. I'm sure that I'll have to be put in braces and then have the surgery as this is what I've been told before, but I put it off because I'm terrified.
I want to find the best surgeon. I repeat: I'm scared witless.
Also, I was just reading about the surgery on another site and it says that you may have numbness forever. How many people have had this happen? To say I'm terrified is actually a bit of an understatement.
Help?
Edit: If anyone has had a surgery for this sort of thing (deviation, etc.) please let me know. I have a slight overbite, but nothing I couldn't live with if I don't have to have surgery. Can you see me trying to talk myself out of it? :p
My surgery did involve a mandibular rotation, so yes, I have had that. My guess is BSSO (Bilateral Sagital Split Osteotomy) for you, but of course, only the professionals know.
So, as the old song goes, "my momma told me--YOU BETTER SHOP AROUND!" Usually the first step is to see an orthodontist, so you might consider that.
If you live in a city where there is a University with a good dental school, you might start there. Also, ask your friends and relatives. You may be surprised at the number of people who have had orthognathic surgery.
Permanent numbness is a possibility, and many of us have written about this issue. I am more than a year past my BSSO, and my lower lip is still prickly. I am patient, and am also willing to accept this as a natural consequence of the surgery. The amount of sensation loss I've had does not in any way detract greatly from the quality of my life!
It is good for you to face your fears, acknowledge them, and deal with them now. Also, you can express these concerns to the professionals whose advice you seek. You may wish to factor into your decision of which one you choose exactly how they respond to your fears, and how much information they give back to you. I like professionals who communicate with me!
All the best, and keep us posted. Archwired is a great place to learn a lot.
mrshenryjones wrote:I was just reading about the surgery on another site and it says that you may have numbness forever. How many people have had this happen?
Yes, you can have numbness forever, in fact it seems to be pretty common. However, the numbness that remains doesn't seem to bother anyone to the point that they regret having the surgery.
Hi,
I'm not sure where you are located but here is an interesting website providing reviews for dentists, orthos & surgeons in major cities in the US: http://www.doctoroogle.com/
Also I agree with the earlier post - ask friends, family & co-workers. You'd be surprised at how many people either have heard of someone or used them personally. Best of luck with your journey!!
What I ended up doing was picking the orthodontist that I trusted first. You will be spending most of your time with the ortho so you have to make sure you are happy with that person. As for an oral surgeon, my ortho recommended 2 oral surgeons that he feels he works well with. I chose the one that accepted my insurance since I could not afford it out of pocket. I met with him and really liked him and so everything was set. I think its good for your ortho and the oral surgeon to work well with each other as they are able to formulate a proper plan for you together.
Brace date: 5/2/2007
Debanding date: 1/14/2009
Ceramic Braces: 20 months
Currently in clear Essix retainers at night
Thanks to everyone who replied. I've made a consult appointment and am going to start talking to different people and find out what my best option is.
If they say it's purely cosmetic and the popping and all that won't ever get worse, I'm going to just do what I can to mask the cosmetic issues so I don't have to have anything done to the bone. If they say that I'm going to have more issues down the line, I guess I'll bite the bullet, almost literally, and go through with it.
Thanks so much to everyone for replying so quickly!
