Just starting this journey--Braces/Upper/Lower/Genio

[znewton]

Hi everyone! I'd love to hear some people's comments on my situation. I've created a blog which is zachsjaw dot wordpress dot comI've read a ton of blogs and threads on this forum and definitely have a good idea of what I'm in for at this point. I'm going to paste in my first blog post here so I don't have to re-type all of this. If you'd like to see pics please go to my blog and I'd appreciate any feedback at this point. I'm looking forward to getting this journey started!

Well since I’m about to start quite the journey I figured that I should document the whole process. It’ll be cool to look back on when everything is all said and done. So I’ll cut right to it: I’m getting braces and next summer will be getting my upper and lower jaw operated on and also having a genioplasty which is a procedure that moves your chin (that part of it is simply cosmetic but has been suggested by a surgeon to make everything look even).

For some reason as a child I never made it past the dentist to an orthodontist. I’m guessing it’s because I spent five years at a junior-prep boarding school in Boston, MA and just didn’t get around to it. When I was a senior in high school I finally decided to go see somebody and that’s the first time I was made aware that simple orthodontics (braces) would not fix my teeth.

I have what’s called an open bite. Essentially when I bite down only my back two molars touch and none of my other teeth really come together. In somebody who has a normal bite the front teeth come over the bottom teeth just a little bit. My teeth don’t overlap whatsoever. I’ll post pics when I’m done writing this.

As a senior I was referred to one of the top surgeons in the country who’s located in Texas. I was made aware that somebody who lived a few houses up from my family would be seeing the same specialist and was flying out for the day on his company’s private jet. He had no problem with me tagging along so a few weeks later we flew out on his 10 passenger jet, saw the oral surgeon, and made it back to the bay area the same day. I came out of the consultation with the oral surgeon knowing what would be involved with the surgery and what I needed exactly. I need to have my top jaw broken and moved back while my lower jaw will be moved forward. This part of the process happens about 50% of the way through (which is around the 9 month- 12 month mark but varies upon how your teeth move).

I decided that at that point I didn’t want to go through with the procedure. It’s now about seven years later and I’ve decided that I really want to do it. About six months ago I started working for a dental office in Marin and started to really get on top of my dental health. I informed the office of the work that I needed and all I received was positive feedback about how I should just do it. It’ll be about two years in total of my life and after that I’ll have an awesome smile and teeth that actually come together. In addition to that I currently grind my teeth like crazy at night and due to this have to wear a nightguard. I go through the nightguard in about six months and have to have a new one made by my boss (the dentist). In addition to the grinding I also clench my teeth and a few days out of the week will wake up with jaw pain (in my TMJ—jaw joints near your ears) and headaches.

I think that’s it for now. This is my first blog. I’m looking forward to making regular updates. Right now I’m scheduled for a surgical consult with an oral surgeon in Marin next Thursday and than June 20th I’m scheduled to see a guy down in Santa Barbara. Chances are I will go with the surgeon in Santa Barbara as he is known all around the country and comes highly recommended.

I’m including some pics. Normally I wouldn’t post something like this but I want you all to see what I’m working with and just how much work my mouth needs.

[znewton]

Anybody?

[treevernal]

Hey Zach! Welcome to Archwired! I, too am having the same things (sans genio) done starting with braces this fall! I'll be going to see Arnett in Santa Barbara, you'll like Arnett/Gunson a lot, the consult is amazing and truly an eye-opener.

I like your blog so far, I look forward to following it! I am going to have a blog when I start this fall as well

Best of luck to you!

Dan

[Marisama]

Gunson/Arnett offer a thorough consult and I'm sure you'll be impressed. They even made comments on my head tilt, which I was completely unaware of.