Splint before surgery

Message

#1 Post by **lethonflowers41** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 6:47 am

Hi. This is my first post. I have been going through the braces thing for the third time in my life. I had the expansive surgery back last April. And we are now preparing for the second surgery, which will be both upper and lower. However, my dentist notified me that I will have to wear a splint before surgery to loosen my jaw muscles. Has anyone ever heard of this before? Or does anyone know how long this splint will be worn before surgery is done? I just want my surgery done NOW (despite some of stories noting the pain and lack of sleep)!

Thanks all.

#2 Post by **Delag** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:01 pm

My ortho is a TMJ specialist....and I have a bit of a bother with that pesky problem. I wore a splint before being braced to see if my jaw *could* find normal position (it did). I will also wear a splint before surgery to line up the jaw again- I assume (ok, really hope) this will help make recovery faster. I still don't quite understand how a splint will work with braces as the one I had before was quite large, but I am sure my ortho has some sadistic trick up his sleeve *sigh*. As to how long you will need to wear it.....my jaw found it's place in about 3 weeks. This was fast according to my ortho - he said it can take up to 6 months, but he always likes to paint the worst case. My best guess (totaly unprofessional) would be a couple of months max. Keep me updated on anytning you learn!

#3 Post by **lethonflowers41** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:11 am

Thanks you guys. I'll keep you updated if I find anything else out about this splint, but if I have to wait six months for this surgery because of this splint, I'm going to be a very unhappy girl.

#4 Post by **lethonflowers41** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 6:16 am

Ha. I wish I knew. I feel like I have been doing this forever. Currently, I am in the precision stages of the braces, you know real fine tuning and then my splint (allegedly), but for how long I don't know. I had my expansive surgery last April and I thought the two surgeries were supposed to be a year apart, but it looks like I could be looking at surgery into June. That will be about a year after I had my expander removed. Just wish there was an end in sight....

#5 Post by **CeramicLisa** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:48 pm

It'll end one day.

Just have to keep trudging forth. I learned at the beginning to just trust my doctors and do what they tell me, because they are honestly wanting to make me healthy and pretty.