Metal Mouth Message Board

Just got off the phone with OS office concerning scheduling date for surgery and insurance coverage. The OS assistant mentioned something about a splint or stint or stent that will be on the occlusial surface of my lower arch for four weeks after the BSSO. In addition she mentioned something about rubber bands on the back molars for about the same time period. Now this is all rather new information to me, and was not mentioned up front so I'm interested in learning more. My question is how difficult is it to talk with this stint in place? I need to speak with a large number of people on a daily basis at work about rather technical issues. Does this stint significantly affect your speech? The second question I have is how obvious is this stint in your mouth? The OS assistant said it is on the occlusial surface of the teeth and is white. She said it is readily visible. I suppose it is just another thing to feel self concious about for a month and then it is over? What has been anyone elses experience with speech and self conciousness?
Thanks,
Big H

Hi,
I just wanted to try and help you if I could with my little knowledge of the splint. I didn't know I would be getting one until I woke up after surgery with it between my teeth holding them in the new position. After the first week, the maxillofacial surgeon took off the rubberbands holding my bottom jaw to the splint so I could speak. It is hard to pronounce certain words. I am lucky my husband can understand everything I say and can then repeat it for me. I have had the splint on the top teeth for 3 weeks now. I have an appt tomorrow and I hope they take it off. I am a very talkative person so I still speak to everyone all the time. I just watch them closely to see if they look like they understood me cuz sometimes they are completely puzzled by what I said. Hopefully you will have less trouble being understood than I do. Hope this helps a little.

You will be placed on an orthodontic splint and the rubberbands will keep your jaws together while you heal. You will have minor problems with speech. It will be like talking with your teeth closed all the time. You can practice prior to surgery.

Your teeth need to be fixated (kept together) during the healing process for 4-6 weeks. You can take the rubberbands out to eat and brush and that is it. If you are taking them off all the time so you can talk better etc., you may compromise the healing process and the result. Best recommendation is to bite the bullet and not worry about it. I would not want to schedule any speaking engagements until after the splint and rubberbands are removed.

I am retired orthodontic treatment coordinator with 35 yrs. of orthodontic experience. Many surgeries no longer require splinting. It was quite common place years ago, but not as often with todays new techniques. It depends upon the surgeon's recommendations and your problem. I have seen surgeons tell the patients they need a splint and change their mind during surgery, depending upon on the result.

Whether you wear a splint or not, the fixation or rubberbanding of the teeth will affect your speach.

Go to http://www.get-it-straight.com/surgical-ortho.html. This is a website I designed and added a section for our surgical patients. If you go all the way to the end, there are pictures of a patient in surgical rubberbands. I posted it so patients, like you, could get more information reqarding surgery. I asked our webmaster to use the proper keyword search, but I don't know if anyone can find it.

The procedure isn't tough, just annoying. You will be begging for a french fry before it is over. I know one guy who started sucking on them because he missed them so much. Make sure you eat healthy protein shakes and keep your strength up. YOur diet will be limited so keep it healthy. Juicing is great also.

P.S. Most patients do NOT lose the weight they thought they would. They eat ice cream, fattening soft foods and all kinds of drinks with sugar that can actually put weight on. Make sure you have a water pick to clean your teeth as best you can. Surgical patients usually don't brush very well until after the splint and rubberbands are removed.

Hope this helps

You will be placed on an orthodontic splint and the rubberbands will keep your jaws together while you heal. You will have minor problems with speech. It will be like talking with your teeth closed all the time. You can practice prior to surgery.

Your teeth need to be fixated (kept together) during the healing process for 4-6 weeks. You can take the rubberbands out to eat and brush and that is it. If you are taking them off all the time so you can talk better etc., you may compromise the healing process and the result. Best recommendation is to bite the bullet and not worry about it. I would not want to schedule any speaking engagements until after the splint and rubberbands are removed.

I am retired orthodontic treatment coordinator with 35 yrs. of orthodontic experience. Many surgeries no longer require splinting. It was quite common place years ago, but not as often with todays new techniques. It depends upon the surgeon's recommendations and your problem. I have seen surgeons tell the patients they need a splint and change their mind during surgery, depending upon on the result.

Whether you wear a splint or not, the fixation or rubberbanding of the teeth will affect your speach.

Go to http://www.get-it-straight.com/surgical-ortho.html. This is a website I designed and added a section for our surgical patients. If you go all the way to the end, there are pictures of a patient in surgical rubberbands. I posted it so patients, like you, could get more information reqarding surgery. I asked our webmaster to use the proper keyword search, but I don't know if anyone can find it.

The procedure isn't tough, just annoying. You will be begging for a french fry before it is over. I know one guy who started sucking on them because he missed them so much. Make sure you eat healthy protein shakes and keep your strength up. YOur diet will be limited so keep it healthy. Juicing is great also.

P.S. Most patients do NOT lose the weight they thought they would. They eat ice cream, fattening soft foods and all kinds of drinks with sugar that can actually put weight on. Make sure you have a water pick to clean your teeth as best you can. Surgical patients usually don't brush very well until after the splint and rubberbands are removed.

Hope this helps