Metal Mouth Message Board

I don't exactly have an underbite... my teeth meet exactly. Looking at my profile, I could benefit from orthognathic surgery (the very suggestion made me put off visiting another orthodontist for 18 years!)

But I'm not going with the surgery and am going to get either collagen/restylane injection in my upper lip following my braces treatment. The jaw change from surgery would really be very minimal, and I don't really want an Extreme Makeover.

Has anyone else decided "no, thanks... surgery's not for me and I'll just go with the straight teeth, thanks!"

Oh yes, realize that this board may not be the best. I've seen the great results people who've had the surgery have had.

Three orthos have recommended surgery, but will admit I am rather scared of surgery, plus have no TMJ or medical issues.

I have in part. My ortho recommended two surgeries plus braces in my ideal treatment plan. I had surgery to expand my palate (SARME/SARPE), but did not have the other surgery, which was less urgent, more painful and disruptive, and which would correct my crossbite/ realign my jaw a little to the left. I didn't do it because of 1. the expense (my whole treatment with only one surgery is still about 15k australian) 2. the pain and disruption of an additional, more serious, surgery.

And I'm fine with my decision

I rejected surgery for similar reasons to you. I was scared stiff of going under the knife, particularly where my head is concerned, and I was also nervous about the potential length of downtime. That said, I acknowledge the fantastic results surgery has achieved for various people on this board.

I was a mild underbite case (since made good with braces only), but my main problem was a decent sized lateral (posterior) open bite on both sides. I could stick the tip of my tongue through the gaps and touch the inside of my cheek on the other side. The main objective of surgery would have been to close those gaps. My ortho said with braces alone I'd get around 90% improvement (as opposed to better with surgery), but that was enough for me.

I've had to wear elastics in various configurations for the last almost 4 months and the results have been pretty good. Even my ortho is pleased which is heartening for me. It's always difficult knowing if you've made the right call, but I think I may have.

Hi,

I've just joined the site, so this is my first post! Have just got back from my orthodontist clinic, and will be getting my braces in January (will prob wear them for 9 months before surgery).

I first had the opportunity to have surgery when I was 19, but decided against it, for many reasons - I played the flute a lot and was worried that losing sensation in my lips would affect this; I was going away to University and didn't want to start a new stage of life with being self-conscious about braces (most of my friends had just disposed of theirs!); most of all, I thought that I had come to terms with the way I looked (I have a very open bite, which means I have a long lower jaw and long face) and that people would accept me the way I was. I have to say that as I got older (I'm nearly 26 now) I become very unhappy about this decision - whilst the people I care about have always been totally accepting of my appearance, I find it hard when people comment on the way I look when I go out etc. Everyone knows how superficial the pub / club environment is, but believing that you are genuinely ugly can make it many times worse! It was ultimately the self-confidence issue that made me go back to the hospital and sign up to the waiting list (it took two years - the NHS is wonderful, but very slow!)

Now I'm really excited about changing things. If I could have the choice again, I'd definitely have done it when I was 19, but although I've been unhappy at times over the past five years, I think I'm in a much more stable state now to cope with the treatment - two years really doesn't seem that long, and I have a wonderfully supportive boyfriend to keep me smiling whilst I'm sporting braces / bruises

It sounds like in your case the surgery would make relatively little difference to your appearance, and I agree that having someone change your bone structure is a huge step to take! I think my advice to anyone being offered surgical treatment would be to consider how you will feel in a few years time - you don't want to regret going for it whilst you had the chance!

Hi Littlespark!

You're background sounds identical to mine!!!

When i was 19 I went to see a surgeon in London, who recommended braces and a lower advancement / possibly also with a genioplasty. At the time I don't think I could have coped with braces at uni, however I was very unhappy with my profile, so I went ahead with only the genioplasty.

I have since been v happy with my face and don't regret doing the genioplasty at the time.

However, i'm now 25, and realised that the surgeon wasn't lying when he said I really should sort my teeth and bite out. I have had headaches since about 17yrs old, and these are possibly attributed to my bad bite.

So just over a month ago, I started braces, and will have the lower advancement in about 12 months time. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and yes although I should have done the whole lot all at once, I don't think I would have coped back then.

I feel much happier and more able to go through this braces/surgery journey now that i'm a bit older and the whole braces thing doesn't bother me so much! Doesn't seem to bother my girlfriend, so why should it bother me!

Do you know what surgery you'll be getting?

Look forward to hearing from you on the board, i've found this site to be sooo helpful and supportive and its definately useful to know i'm not the only one who's got braces in the UK!

See ya
Dave

Thanks Daveyboy - very welcoming to get a reply so quickly! I've nosed around this site quite a bit over the past month and there are so many useful / funny threads that a lot of my questions were answered before I'd even thought of them properly!

Are you having treatment privately or on the NHS (a very British question)? I was wondering if you have metal braces or ceramics - I can only get metal at the hospital I'm at, which was a worry at first. I'll wait and see what they're like! I haven't seen that many adults round here wearing braces, which either means that we're pioneers, or that they're just not that noticable - both good things, really!

As far as surgery goes, I'm not yet clued up with the technical terms. My lower jaw will be repositioned (lifted and up back, which I think involves taking out a piece), and possibly the upper, although I'm less clear on how this works! I may have my chin reduced as well - it depends on how balanced my jawline is once my bite is restored. Anyway, I can explain it in a less rambly manner once treatment has started properly next month!

I was really worried about telling my boyfriend at first - it's not easy to admit to someone who finds you attractive that you aren't happy with your own face! However, he isn't making an issue out of it at all, beyond making sure I'm not worried, which in itself makes me more laid back - exactly as you said!

Am a bit excited about joining this group - have written two very long posts! Will moderate self in future

5 years ago, I chickened out. Took off the braces and had straight teeth.

I moved across the country(to GA) and needed a retainer fixed. My OD said lets do it right. I am now 7 days post op from LF1, BSSO and genio. Wow. no pain easy surgery. The worst, as everyone else says, is the anticipation. So far the difference is remarkable. Go for it, it will be worth it.

Denise wrote:Your decision needs to be based on your ultimate goal. Do you want perfection, is there an underlying problem to be corrected or are you just gonna be happy with beautiful straight teeth?

Straight teeth!

My teen orthodontist consult freaked me out so badly I didn't go back for 20 years. I really wish they wouldn't throw the whole "you need jaw surgery" diagnosis at you first thing. It put me off getting any needed orthodontic work at all.

I hear the flute SPAMMERS LIKE ME out there. I was a broadcaster for more than ten years. Was pleased to find that nobody on the phone can tell I've had braces put on.

valster wrote:
My teen orthodontist consult freaked me out so badly I didn't go back for 20 years. I really wish they wouldn't throw the whole "you need jaw surgery" diagnosis at you first thing. It put me off getting any needed orthodontic work at all.

If you think that's bad, the ortho I consulted as a teen said he couldn't do anything for a bite like mine and that I'd most likely lose all my teeth by the time I was 40. It took me 35 years to pluck up the courage to have another consult.

I found this site just before the big day. The things I read helped an awful lot. As I said earlier, nerves are the worst part. It was really nice to read what to expect and what others had gone through.

I am now to the part where the chin and lips tingle, but can't really feel anything. I guess that will pass with time.