SERIOUSLY Considering Upper Jaw Surgery

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Hey i have a gummy smile and I am seriously considering getting JUST upper jaw Surgery. Im scared to talk to my ortho about it because last time we discussed Surgery it was both upper and lower jaws I went to a consult and the guy was dumb and scary and he didint seem like he knew what he was talking about. The seocnd was a really nice lady who said it wasnt worth breaking my lower jaw for 3mm of overbite. But this time I'm not even concerned with the overbite in this surgery, just the gummy smile attached is a picture of my natural smile. I try to force myself to smile without a gummy smile and it hurts to force myself to smile without a gummy smile.

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Here is my gummy smile that bothers me.

[deepbeep]

There is a risk of losing sensitivity with lower jaw. Just upper i guess.

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

So should I get the upper jaw only? since the braces doing the overbite perfectly fine?

[BaliGirl]

I can totally understand your hesitation to get lower jaw surgery - I would not want it for myself due to the risk of nerve damage.

Since you've gotten 2 differing opinions already, it might be worth getting a third surgeon's opinion to either break the tie or propose something new entirely. Perhaps this can help with your decision and also ensure you get the best possible result taking into account both functionality and esthetics.

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

my insurance would only cover it if I got lower jaw Surgery too but I def DON'T want that

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

or at least I dont think it would, I could always save up for it but then again I have the braces on now and I def dont want to be be wearing braces for the next 25 years until I could afford it though I could probably afford it in 8 years. But still the way my treatmentt is now I guess its too late although maybe if they DID do upper jaw surgery maybe they can place the jaw back in so the bite is still perfect.

[crooked rory]

Insurance is so weird, isn't it? I have not yet got to the point of consulting with anyone about it yet, but I am considering surgery as I often think my chin profile juts out too much. Oh, there is the issue of an underbite too. Anyway, I looked, and according to plan documentation (NYS Empire plan for local government employees through United Healthcare) and they would cover it so long as it was not done for cosmetic reasons. I think that means I would likely need second opinions to satisfy the insurance company.

Hopefully this does not come off as insensitive, but I can see why you are considering it. I know I would not be happy with it if that way my smile.

[coffeecupcakes]

If you're pushing the lower jaw back but you're scared of nerve damage, maybe you can ask for an IRVO?

(There are two types of cuts. IRVO and BSSO. With an IRVO, the chance of nerve damage is significantly less because they don't have to go anywhere near the nerve line. This is what I had and I woke up with 0 nerve damage, I could immediately feel my lips/jaw . Unfortunately an IRVO is only used to push back the jaw, not advance it.)

(A BSSO is a different cut where they can advance/detract the jaw, and use screws to hold the jaw in place. It appears to be the 'popular' method. 3 mm is a tiny movement so I don't think you should be afraid of nerve damage. It's pretty unlikely, and if there was any, it'd be a small patch probably... )

[belistic10]

i have a bit of a gummy smile but i am kinda waiting to see if it bothers me later or not, then i guess i will decide later whether i have surgery. I dont know too much else about the options/risks etc but if it bothers you i would go for it

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

IDK maybe I should talk to my orthodontist since it's still pretty early SPAM SPAM SPAMMING. Maybe ask her alternatives of the gummy smile thing i mean its hard to train myself not to smile with my natural gumy smile. Sometimes if I smile too much for too long it hurts because im smiling a LOT but trying to force it not to show the gumy smile. If that makes any sense. Or maybe eventually I can get used to it. I feel like I am pulling muscles in my face LOL.