newbie

[ohshegoes]

i'm new to the boards and wanted to post my story to get it all out there so here goes:

i always had ugly teeth. i started braces when i was 10(I think). i had my gums cut, teeth extracted, headgear and eventually retainers. i had to have my braces put back on a year or two later and after that my ortho. told my mom i was a candidate for jaw surgery.
i'm now 25 and never had the surgery. i have been really self conscious, since i was old enough to know what that means, about my face but i never realized what the problem was. i have a really gummy smile and elongated face. when im really laughing it up its really evident. i tend to hide my face in my hands when im smiling/laughing around new people. i was born two months early but im not sure if this is a birth defect thing or not.

finally, thru my dentist, i have a joint consultation with an orthodontist and jaw surgeon next month. its been a long time coming and i can't wait to hear what they have to say. i'm trying to research terms and whatnot in anticipation of my consultation. i am also trying to keep a realistic outlook on what my outcome might be.

my main concerns are they are going to say its unnecessary or that if it is a good idea that my insurance won't come thru. i have had migraines since i was very little, my jaws pop when i chew, i have had digestive problems since i was little, and i have a slight speech problem. from what i've read sometimes these problems are associated with bad jaws. anyways, i just wanted to put that out there and hopefully this won't be the last you hear from me. i plan on updating as soon as i hear back from the doctors.

[sauerkraut]

Hi and welcome

It sounds like you've had quite a journey so far already. Hope everything goes well for you at your consultation. Keep us posted!

[queenofoverbite]

In my own experience, all of the conditions you have because of your jaw are ones that insurance companies will cover you for having.

"functional improvement" and what not.