Advice needed

[Marian]

In brief I had my braces put on 3 and a half years ago with a view to having surgery to rectify a 9mm overbite. Since then I had the first op, but my jaw on one side just didn't heal at all, so I then had to have a second op involving a bone graft from my chin, with the grafted bone being placed in my jaw to promote healing.

This second op was 3 month ago.

To say I am ready for the braces to come off is an understatement. My ortho wants to do some further work, but I just want to draw a line under the whole thing. I still have a 3mm overbite but am very happy with the way my teeth are now - I just think that I want to move on now and stop thinking about my teeth!!

Any ideas how I pursuade the ortho to take the braces off rather than going on indefinitely for perfection?

Any ideas gratefully received

[Marian]

By the way - I should have said that I am 43

[CaliforniaKid]

I don't understand the question. Braces are voluntary, if you are satisfied with the results and don't believe you'll relapse - you should inform your ortho how you feel. it's your $$$. from what i've learned most people keep their braces on for 6 months after surgery, but maybe some surgeons work differently?

[keeponsmiling]

Marian I share your frustration! My surgery was in February and afterwards everyone agreed my bite looked great and I'd soon be out of braces and there was no way it'd take the whole six months post-op that they'd predicted. Then they said maybe they'd come off 'September-ish', then they said last week I'd have another 'couple of appointments or so' - totally underestimating their own (NHS) workloads so when you try to get an appointment for six weeks' time they're fully booked for at least eight weeks. And all the time they're just fussing over one tooth that's rotated very very slightly, and another that's about 1mm higher in the gum than it ought to be. I feel like yelling at them that I JUST DON'T CARE!!! But I know that I won't do that, and that I'll just carry on being annoyed until they're finally done with me - which I guess is what you're doing. Hang on in there - the end really is coming. Hope your second surgery proved successful.

[Marian]

Hi Keeponsmiling

It sounds like you feel exactly like me - people at work say "just say you want the braces off" but you and I both know you can't request that - the orthos just don't work that way.

Saying that, when I had my last ortho appt I said that I needed to talk to her about taking the braces off - I said that I really had had enough and that I wanted to draw a line under it all and get on with my life - she agreed!!! I have my next appt on 25th July and then braces off 23rd August.

I am trying not to get too excited because, as you say, they tend to change their mind. I think I will cry if she does that and I'm sure she doesn't want a 43 year old going to pieces in her surgery!! What my husband would do if this date moved I wouldn't even want to imagine!!

[boatsink]

Marian! September Buddy!
I also too have my braces on still! I kept my braces on longer than anticipated post-surgery. My ortho didn't force me to keep them on longer, nor should any ortho, but merely recommended for stability's sake. So I decided to go on several more months to make sure everything is stable and to see if my midline can be further adjusted. At this point everything seems stable and my midline looks to be off by 0.5mm. 0.5 mm is too insignificant for me to care and so I set my debracing date for tomorrow! I'm so excited.

I'm sorry you had to go through multiple surgeries. I hope aside from the debracing issues, all else is well? Take care!

[keeponsmiling]

Congrats on getting your debrace dates! Boatsink - how does it feel? Marian - just over three weeks! You must be thrilled after the long haul you've had. Hope it all goes well.