Cosmetic Jaw Surgery

[soft6]

Hi Archwired. I am 25 years old and have a very unique problem that has bothered me for years and I want to get around to finally consulting / getting surgery to fix it. I have prominent cheekbones and a recessed anterior maxilla area making my midface seem very dented in with nasolabial folds while the outer corners of my face seem very prominent. Because of my recessed maxilla, my nasal base is behind my orbital rim. (Think of my facial profile from the eyes to maxilla like this: /) On top of this I also have slight bimaxillary protrusion of my incisors. I did have braces when I was younger which I think proclined my upper and lower incisors to meet. I believe I am a Class II facially. Overall, my face appear extremely weird with this combination of prominent cheekbones, recessed maxilla, and bimaxillary protrusion and I want to get braces and move my anterior maxilla forward to correct this problem. My quest will probably be mostly cosmetic, as I do not have any real functional issues except maybe teeth grinding and some joint pain near my jaw joints caused by extreme masseter hypotrophy (which has recessed a little now after I have taken to eating softer foods and avoiding harder foods (ex. jerky, etc).) I know for a fact that my airway is also tiny as I have had asthma my entire life and I snore despite being relatively skinny. I have read a little about jaw surgery and leforts and believe that my posterior maxilla is not recessed but my anterior maxilla is. I was wondering if anyone knew more about this and of any reputable surgeons in the Northern New Jersey area.

Thanks!

Frontal:
http://i.imgur.com/m550PFi.jpg


I'll try to take a profile tommorow to clarify my situation

[Daib]

I had a similar problem, (usually caused by extractions). I went to an orthotropic (they do the opposite to orthodontics, as they correct the problem) when the upper jaw is under developed, it restricts the lower jaw (it can be lengthened via headgear and widened via an expander, to allow the lower jaw to come forward) (you will evenly get locked jaw if it stays back too far, compressing the joints). It usually takes about 6 months with braces to permanently fix. Surgery only lasts about 10 years, as the jaw bone will try to repair itself and reverse the surgery.

[soft6]

Jaw surgery only lasts 10 years? Really?

[Daib]

Bones maintain them selves, they will eventually get back (physiology can not be tricked). Sounds like you have a lot of function problems, and surgery will only make it worse. Orthodontics pull teeth inwards and back with no consideration for the tongue (which shapes the jaw), air ways and jaw joints. Orthotropic's do the opposite, they make room for the tongue, airway and tongue my measuring the teeth, and finding their correct position (in relation to upper and lower jaw, skull, airways and tongue).(I went to one to reverse my orthodontic treatment, had my upper jaw widened about 7 mm (via expander)and lengthened (pulled forward) by about 10mm (via headgear) (it cannot be reversed as the tongue keeps the jaw in the arch shape).

[soft6]

[quote="Daib"]Bones maintain them selves, they will eventually get back (physiology can not be tricked). Sounds like you have a lot of function problems, and surgery will only make it worse. Orthodontics pull teeth inwards and back with no consideration for the tongue (which shapes the jaw), air ways and jaw joints. Orthotropic's do the opposite, they make room for the tongue, airway and tongue my measuring the teeth, and finding their correct position (in relation to upper and lower jaw, skull, airways and tongue).(I went to one to reverse my orthodontic treatment, had my upper jaw widened about 7 mm (via expander)and lengthened (pulled forward) by about 10mm (via headgear) (it cannot be reversed as the tongue keeps the jaw in the arch shape).[/quote]

I always thought that orthotropic appliances could only be used to help direct growth of the jaws during puberty. I never knew that they could still promote growth after puberty. Did they fracture the bones at all? So you wore headgear for six months during the day and night with braces I suppose?

[Daib]

Only 3 months for the upper jaw, and created spaces for 2 missing teeth to be replaced, then another 3 months for the lower jaw (as my upper jaw needed to be widened and lengthened first, so my lower jaw could come froward in the space created, which corrected all my jaw joint problems). My mum also had treatment to widen her jaw and grow it forward (due to missing a molar) and she is in her 60's.

[soft6]

I never had extractions though. Only braces when I was very very young to procline my upper and lower incisors like this \
/

[Daib]

If you didn't have extractions then it should be very easy to fix you jaw position. (Might even be able do it with removable appliances instead of fixed appliances like braces)

[soft6]

What orthotropics doctor did you see?

[Daib]

There are three places in New Zealand

ChangingFaces
www.growthorthodontics.com
http://www.alpersdental.co.nz/

There are lots of videos on YouTube, look up orthotropics and/or John Mew

[Daib]

you can search for orthotropics on http://orthotropics.com/ or look up local dentists who say they deal with the face, tongue, arch shape

[soft6]

[quote="Daib"]you can search for orthotropics on http://orthotropics.com/ or look up local dentists who say they deal with the face, tongue, arch shape[/quote]


DO yo uhave any before/after photos you could private message / email me? I am interested in seeing an example of what can be achieved with orthotropics in adults

[sirwired]

Bones maintain them selves, they will eventually get back (physiology can not be tricked). Sounds like you have a lot of function problems, and surgery will only make it worse. Orthodontics pull teeth inwards and back with no consideration for the tongue (which shapes the jaw), air ways and jaw joints. Orthotropic's do the opposite, they make room for the tongue, airway and tongue my measuring the teeth, and finding their correct position (in relation to upper and lower jaw, skull, airways and tongue).(I went to one to reverse my orthodontic treatment, had my upper jaw widened about 7 mm (via expander)and lengthened (pulled forward) by about 10mm (via headgear) (it cannot be reversed as the tongue keeps the jaw in the arch shape).

To be frank, all this definite "surgery always relapses, and orthodontists completely ignore this, that, and the other thing" is a lot of marketing hooey from the orthotropics people (it's all over their website.) I'm not saying "Orthotropics" never works, or that orthognathic surgery never relapses, but clearly orthognathic surgery has a pretty decent success rate. If you cut a bone, move it, and hold the pieces in place with pins and plates, the muscles can, and usually, if not always, adapt to the new position. Orthognathic surgery CAN certainly help some functional problems, just like functional appliances can help others.

Your tongue is a big slab of soft muscle. It certainly can mess up orthodontic treatment, but it's not the be all, end all, of diagnosis or treatment. There are certain deformities that simply require extractions and/or surgery.

Lastly, expanders and headgear are pretty normal orthodontic appliances; they aren't unique to "orthotropics" at all. They are appropriate for some cases, and others can only be fixed with other methods.