Hello.
I've had my brace on for 4 years and today I finally got my date for surgery. I'm to be admitted on the 2nd of March prior to surgery on the 3rd.
To be honest it came as a shock after all this time to be told my op is in little more than 3 weeks away. I've done nothing but moan to my ortho about the length of time it's taking, now It feels like it's come around too soon! It's probably better that I havent got much time to dwell on it.
I was originally scheduled to have upper and lower surgery to correct my underbite, misaligned jaw and asymetric face. But last time I met up with the specialists they told me that after studying my photos they feel only upper jaw surgery is necessary. This was surprise to me as I had always thought my 'Buzz Lightyear' look was due to my advanced lower jaw, but it turns out its my poorly developed upper jaw.
Presumably this will make the whole process a lot more straight forward, as it's the bottom jaw that seems to do most of the work?
I dont know what I'm really asking, but I suppose i'm after reassurances.
Has anyone else had the same procedure?
Surgery Date.
Moderator: bbsadmin
Hiya,
I haven't/am not having the same procedure but I saw your length of time for waiting - jesus! How come you've been waiting so long? I am worried the same thing is going to happen to me as it's been nearly 2.5 years and still no end in sight in getting a surgery date. Are you on the NHS?
B@stards!
That's great you got your date so quickly though!!
I haven't/am not having the same procedure but I saw your length of time for waiting - jesus! How come you've been waiting so long? I am worried the same thing is going to happen to me as it's been nearly 2.5 years and still no end in sight in getting a surgery date. Are you on the NHS?
B@stards!
That's great you got your date so quickly though!!
Cheers bb.
When they first told me they would only be moving my top jaw, the cynic in me thought, 'they're just trying to save a few quid'. Since then though, ive been having a good look and I can see exactly where they're coming from. Wierd how an underdeveloped upper jaw can make it look like you have a large bottom jaw.
I've also developed what feel like arthritis in TMJ thanks to forcing my bottom jaw into unnatural positions, to meet my wonky top jaw, when eating, speaking etc. Presumably that will ease when my top jaw is in the right place.
When they first told me they would only be moving my top jaw, the cynic in me thought, 'they're just trying to save a few quid'. Since then though, ive been having a good look and I can see exactly where they're coming from. Wierd how an underdeveloped upper jaw can make it look like you have a large bottom jaw.
I've also developed what feel like arthritis in TMJ thanks to forcing my bottom jaw into unnatural positions, to meet my wonky top jaw, when eating, speaking etc. Presumably that will ease when my top jaw is in the right place.
Hi redfoxjo,
Yep, it's been a real pisser of a wait. They havent really said why, just that my teeth were taking a long time to get into the right position. I also had a lot of breakages at the beginning when the wire was light. According to my ortho, this isnt an extraordinary length of time to wait. But from what I can gather from reading the forums, it clearly is a long time.
God knows how long the brace stays on after the surgery. I havent asked that.
Yep, it's been a real pisser of a wait. They havent really said why, just that my teeth were taking a long time to get into the right position. I also had a lot of breakages at the beginning when the wire was light. According to my ortho, this isnt an extraordinary length of time to wait. But from what I can gather from reading the forums, it clearly is a long time.
God knows how long the brace stays on after the surgery. I havent asked that.
Cheers Tony.
Funny/depressing thing is, It all started when I went to my GP about the aches in my jaw. He sent me to a specialist, next thing I've got a gob full of metal!
I wouldn't have minded as much if I was a teenager. They seem to see it as a fashion accessory. But I'm 40 now, and there's a real stigma, Ive found, in a middle aged bloke wearing a brace. People think you're a bit of a div. Then you start drooling everywhere and confirm it!!
Funny/depressing thing is, It all started when I went to my GP about the aches in my jaw. He sent me to a specialist, next thing I've got a gob full of metal!
I wouldn't have minded as much if I was a teenager. They seem to see it as a fashion accessory. But I'm 40 now, and there's a real stigma, Ive found, in a middle aged bloke wearing a brace. People think you're a bit of a div. Then you start drooling everywhere and confirm it!!
Haha you make me laugh! Well I'm a 25 year old girl and look like Jaws in James Bond.
I remember my surgeon saying sometimes you could be in braces for 3 years before surgery. I guess it does depend on the position needed.
Are you in the UK and therefore on the NHS? I am convinced it's taking so long because the NHS are slow....
I can't wait to be able to bite a sandwich properly anyway. I look like a right cretin in a restaurant.
I remember my surgeon saying sometimes you could be in braces for 3 years before surgery. I guess it does depend on the position needed.
Are you in the UK and therefore on the NHS? I am convinced it's taking so long because the NHS are slow....
I can't wait to be able to bite a sandwich properly anyway. I look like a right cretin in a restaurant.
Mmmm...Jaws out of James Bond you say? You sound foxy!! 
Before my procedure started they were doing their best to put me off. One young consultant said, "You're about to put yourself through 12 months of wearing a brace". 12 months??? He accused me of exaggerating the extent of my misaligned bite by sticking my chin out!! He also said there was no guarantee the procedure would cure my TMJ. To which I replied, if I don't have the procedure it definitely wont be wont be cured will it, so I may as well have a go? What a ocean!
If I ever meet up with him again I'll hit him with his little 'mirror on a stick' thing!
I honestly haven't had a problem eating in restaurants, other than when the waiter chooses the wrong moment to ask 'is everything OK with the meal', and you've got to look up and smile your approval with a brace full of dinner.
It would be interesting to know how long the same procedure would have taken if I'd gone private. About a fortnight probably.
Before my procedure started they were doing their best to put me off. One young consultant said, "You're about to put yourself through 12 months of wearing a brace". 12 months??? He accused me of exaggerating the extent of my misaligned bite by sticking my chin out!! He also said there was no guarantee the procedure would cure my TMJ. To which I replied, if I don't have the procedure it definitely wont be wont be cured will it, so I may as well have a go? What a ocean!
If I ever meet up with him again I'll hit him with his little 'mirror on a stick' thing!
I honestly haven't had a problem eating in restaurants, other than when the waiter chooses the wrong moment to ask 'is everything OK with the meal', and you've got to look up and smile your approval with a brace full of dinner.
It would be interesting to know how long the same procedure would have taken if I'd gone private. About a fortnight probably.
Ha well I have the same hair colour as a fox - hence my lame-@ss screenname.
12 months?! Oh boohoo. Why do they lie? They must know to look at you how long/complicated the process is going to be?
I just read all of the posts from our friends across the pond and they all seem to get surgery after about 1-1.5 years whereas all NHS people are in the 2-4 year bracket.
My ortho says I do have a complicated case because I'm getting a pallate expansion and therefore this last annoying stretch till surgery is them trying to move the roots apart to make way for incisions. Christ knows what I'm going to look like after they're done with me.
I went for my usual wire-change two weeks ago and they've put back my appointment again for joint clinic to May now. B@stards.
Restaurants + bread rolls = embarrassing sight
12 months?! Oh boohoo. Why do they lie? They must know to look at you how long/complicated the process is going to be?
I just read all of the posts from our friends across the pond and they all seem to get surgery after about 1-1.5 years whereas all NHS people are in the 2-4 year bracket.
My ortho says I do have a complicated case because I'm getting a pallate expansion and therefore this last annoying stretch till surgery is them trying to move the roots apart to make way for incisions. Christ knows what I'm going to look like after they're done with me.
I went for my usual wire-change two weeks ago and they've put back my appointment again for joint clinic to May now. B@stards.
Restaurants + bread rolls = embarrassing sight
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sauerkraut
- Posts: 573
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 2:57 pm
- Location: Germany
Perhaps the leisurely treatment is a European thing? I've been braced nearly 2 years now, without the remotest sign of a surgery date in sight. Tho I was told at the beginning to reckon with a treatment time of at least 4 years so I spose I can't say I wasn't warned.
Congratz on getting your date at last, columbo, and I hope all goes well
Congratz on getting your date at last, columbo, and I hope all goes well
SARPE: Sept 2007
Braced: May 2008
BSSO: Nov 2010
Debraced: March 2011
Braced: May 2008
BSSO: Nov 2010
Debraced: March 2011