I have an overjet. What now?

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#1 Post by **bunnybees** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:09 pm

I have been lurking on this site forever, and I just got back from my new orthodontist. Nevertheless, I'm bummed.

I'm 18 years old, and I have a 15mm overjet. I'm not sure if thats HUGE or whatever, but thats the way it is. I've had braces before for 3 years...didn't wear the headgear...or the retainer...so, I'm back to getting them again.

I went to one orthodontist, and they told me they can just pull my two bicuspids out and it'll be okay. So I was okay with that. HOWEVER...I didn't like my orthodontist due to his management, so I went to one that is really high-tech (has Damon braces, iBraces, Invisalign), and he told me I HAVE to get surgery because of how severe my overjet is. When my mom saw this (she's paying for the braces), she almost passed out. The dentist said that my case can be covered by my insurance (Kaiser), but she doesn't believe it. Additionally, because of how severe my case is, my braces are going to be about 9000 dollars (ceramic) or 8000 dollars (metal).

My question is, should I forget it and go to another orthodontist? Should I even try calling Kaiser about the surgery? Does charging me more because I have to get surgery seem fair? And, if it is, how do I convince my parents (the ones paying), that it is worth it? I can give pictures if you ask.

Thank you!

#2 Post by **almost50** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:52 pm

The cost does seem a little high, but not much more than I paid and I don't know exactly what your treatment plan is. I'm surprised there is such a difference between ceramic and metal--that part seems a little extreme.

My orthodontist gave me several options, one was extracting two teeth, and another was the surgery route (the recommended choice by him). The price difference between those two options wasn't more than a few hundred dollars. But I don't know the extent of what needs to be done in your case.

With 15mm (which is fairly significant) both options will have quite different cosmetic results and that shouldn't be taken lightly. With the surgery you will be pulling the lower jaw forward. With the extractions you will be pushing the top teeth back quite a bit. I wouldn't make your decision based on cost.

My advice is to get a third opinion if you feel unsure. Don't do anything until you feel confident in your decision. I would also make an appointment with Kaiser and see what they say--I'm sure the orthodontist you just went to see will give you a letter so you can get a referral from your Primary Care Doctor.

I wouldn't shy away from the surgery route. Kaiser is very good and you are lucky you have Kaiser for this. I had my lower jaw surgery done there will no significant complications.

#3 Post by **bunnybees** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 5:13 pm

almost50 wrote:The cost does seem a little high, but not much more than I paid and I don't know exactly what your treatment plan is. I'm surprised there is such a difference between ceramic and metal--that part seems a little extreme.

My orthodontist gave me several options, one was extracting two teeth, and another was the surgery route (the recommended choice by him). The price difference between those two options wasn't more than a few hundred dollars. But I don't know the extent of what needs to be done in your case.

With 15mm (which is fairly significant) both options will have quite different cosmetic results and that shouldn't be taken lightly. With the surgery you will be pulling the lower jaw forward. With the extractions you will be pushing the top teeth back quite a bit. I wouldn't make your decision based on cost.

My advice is to get a third opinion if you feel unsure. Don't do anything until you feel confident in your decision. I would also make an appointment with Kaiser and see what they say--I'm sure the orthodontist you just went to see will give you a letter so you can get a referral from your Primary Care Doctor.

I wouldn't shy away from the surgery route. Kaiser is very good and you are lucky you have Kaiser for this. I had my lower jaw surgery done there will no significant complications.

I was told that my both my jaws would be put in place if I went through with the surgery. I guess that one jaw (upper) grew too much, and one jaw didn't grow enough. So I have both just..messed up. I have pictures, and I can put them up if anyone wants me to. I went to another ortho, though, and they put the cost of my braces to be 3170. They didn't say I needed surgery.

I'm not nervous about the surgery route, and I'm all ready to go. Its my parents who are extremely distressed and horrified at the thought of my face swollen and tied up.

#4 Post by **daffodil** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 5:56 pm

15 mm is big! Your medical insurance should cover the surgery as long as your surgeon documents that you have functional difficulties with eating, speech, or breathing.

8000-9000 for braces sounds fair to me (although charging an extra 1,000 for ceramic sounds high, since a lot of people don't get charged extra for ceramic). I'm preparing for surgery for an overjet and my braces are 12,000. I think it sounds fair that my braces are more expensive because my orthodontist has to spend a lot of extra time talking to/emailing my surgeon to coordinate things.

You should go to another orthodontist to get another opinion if your parents are hesitant, and schedule a consultation with a surgeon as well. If the overwhelming opinion is that you need surgery, that should help.

#5 Post by **bunnybees** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 8:09 pm

Hello! I have a few more questions I want to ask, and I have pictures

Me from the side

[/img]http://tinypic.com/r/ku3o5/6[/img] looking up

And thats how I smile

I talked to my cousin about the surgery I'm having, and she freaked me out by telling me that I might become permanently numb in my mouth. How does this happen? Does this happen often?

Is it worth getting this surgery? Will my overjet come back? [/img]

#6 Post by bb » Thu Mar 04, 2010 8:47 pm

I think it's important for you and your parents to get a consult from an oral surgeon as well. He or she is the real expert when it comes to the jaw bone. Another ortho consult would not be out of line either. But since surgery is on the table, you should go to an oral surgeon- you can get all your questions answered and also get a better idea on price.

#7 Post by **bunnybees** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 8:52 pm

For some reason, my parents don't want to talk to an oral surgeon. I think they're insane. I'm not sure what exactly to do...call them myself?

#8 Post by **boatsink** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:45 pm

You can call the oral surgeon's office at Kaiser, but you won't be able to speak w/him/her. You will need a referral from your PCP to see the oral surgeon. My orthodontist wrote a letter to my PCP at Kaiser and within days I got a referral to see the oral surgeon of my Kaiser center. Well, this was my case and I assume this is how the Kaiser system works. Working for an HMO, that's how we minimize costs by having screeners - in this case it's the PCP.

I would recommend for you to see several orthodontists and get different opinions. Go with the one you are confident about. From there, if that OD recommends surgery, work with him/her to write a letter to your PCP for a referral at Kaiser.

$8000-9000 is quite expensive. I will require both upper and lower jaw surgery. Cost of braces for my tx plan was quoted 6200.00.

Goodluck =).

#9 Post by **trigger1901** » Sun Mar 07, 2010 5:09 am

Hey there,

I don't have much to add to the topic since I'm still investigating my options as well but I just wanted to let you know that my case looks somewhat similar viewtopic.php?t=33580.

I have been measured at a 9mm overbite and will require jaw surgery for a good bite, though I'm looking for a compromise treatment because I don't really care much for my overbite, but I'm really bothered by the over'jet'.

Anyway I would go with boatsinks advise and check out several other orthodontists to get different opinions, I've visited 3 so far and I've gotten wildly different opinions, which is somewhat sad as I'll have to make a tough decision, but at least I (hopefully) won't be stuck with a bad one.