Ready for Surgery?

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#1 Post by **Scott19** » Tue May 23, 2006 6:50 pm

I have a question that ive been thinking alot about lately...

When does the Orthodontist decide it's time for the patient to have surgery? For example.. Do all the teeth have to be closed of all gaps, or does the top teeth have to be in a certain alignment with the bottom?

Any help would be appreciated as my ortho is'nt giving much of a clue as to when i will be ready for surgery, Thanks

#2 Post by **nvcarissa** » Tue May 23, 2006 11:26 pm

My ortho was really looking for my lower and upper bites to line up. You will start to get an idea of when time is getting close, though mine was a bit cagey. For me, I was looking at time issues. I am a political organizer and I really needed my summer and fall to be clear for the primary and general election cycle, so I made it pretty obvious to him that I hoped to have the surgery done in May or June. At first he was non-commital, but as it got closer and I asked again if it could be done in May or June, he said, "It looks like we can manage that." He also told me that sometimes a person won't look like they are ready and then all of a sudden they are.

How long have you been braced and what sort of time frame did your ortho give you in the first place? Mine told me 12-18 months in braces, then surgery, then another 6-8 months. I will be getting my surgery just at about the 13 month mark, so I may not be in these puppies for a full two years, even though that is what I am figuring so that I am not disappointed.

#3 Post by **Scott19** » Sun May 28, 2006 8:12 pm

Initially he had guessed 1 year in braces but because my teeth were already so straight he said it may take 9 months, and 6-8 months after surgery, this month i believe is the 9th month in braces.

I had asked him how much time he thought was left and replied..maybe 9 more months, so im praying that he misunderstood my question, any thoughts?

#4 Post by **nvcarissa** » Mon May 29, 2006 7:39 am

I would ask him straight up, "When does it look like I will be ready for surgery? Are we looking at another month or two? Longer?"

Like I said, I had to sort of keep the pressure on my ortho. He knew that I was very anxious to get this done AND that I had a life and a job that would require everyone in it knowing when and for how long I would be off the radar screen. Don't be afraid to ask your ortho a direct question. You are paying him.

#5 Post by **Teigyr** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 2:47 pm

With me, it was estimated I'd be in braces for 12 months then have surgery. I was in braces 9 months! I have some teeth that need work but my orthodontist wanted more space so he decided to finish those teeth after surgery.

I think they want your teeth to be level (ie if they are leaning in or out) and they want them lined up as good as they will get before.

My orthodontist, in December, wouldn't commit to an '06 surgery. In March he said I would be ready in two months. I had surgery on 5/09. I know it's frustrating though!!!

Right now my teeth don't really touch so much in back. They are lined up pretty well but there is some finishing work to be done, of course. They look good though

#6 Post by **nvcarissa** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 11:18 pm

My orthodontist, in December, wouldn't commit to an '06 surgery. In March he said I would be ready in two months.

My ortho said to me that can happen sometimes. He has had patients that looked like it would be a while before they would be ready for surgery, and then suddenly, everything got into place and surgery was scheduled asap.