Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi everyone
i have posted before,describing my extreme underbite...which besides the bad effect of my appearence,also brings me sometimes headaches when i am eating.I think that i had come to a point where i cant tolerate this thing anymore.For 2,5 years i am thinking of this surgery (i am 22,havent begun treatment yet).The problem is that i have zero support.Many times i said "yes, am going to do it" but everyone in the family was against me,so i stopped.I am very tired of thinking of this surgery everyday.Does it affect my personal life?A lot.The biggest problem for me isnt the assymetry,but the smile...i am really in a difficult position when i smile.Sorry if this topic is a little pointless,but only u can understand me.

john21,

I can totally understand your post. I waited for many years before getting serious about my underbite and asymmetry.

Have you seen an Ortho or Oral Surgeon? If they agree on your condition and can give you a plan for correction, that me be the support that you need to get started. If you can get over that that first hurdle and get going, it will give you a lot of momemtum.

Besides, you have us !

Lo

hey John, i was 18 when i finally bit the bullet and started the ball rolling towards braces and surgery. I remember that day really well, it was just another college day, but when i got home it hit me then that my underbite had nagged me every day for years, so i got up, walked over to my dad and told him right there and then that i know he doesn't agree with it but that i'm going to go ahead with the surgery anyway. i had also tried talking to friends and relatives to win support but they just didn't have it in them to support me with my decision. This decision is only something you can do by yourself, no-one is going to push you to do this because its your body.

Fast forward two years and i'd gladly say getting braces has been one of the best decisions of my life.

I'm sure you'll find all the support you need on this forum, just as i have.

Hi John,

I had no support either. My mother eventually warmed up to the idea somewhat (but that was after I was well in to ortho treatment). My dad was totally opposed to any type of surgery, told me all kinds of things could go wrong, I would regret it, etc etc. It was all nonsense - he didn't do any research of course, and I did tons. I also had to pay for the whole thing myself - around $13 000 CDN for braces and surgery.

I know it's easier said than done, but sometimes you have to put your foot down and just do what's right for you. I have never agreed with my parents on anything, so for me it was pretty normal to say "well, I don't care what you think, I am doing it anyway" because I have said that every day for my whole life. Maybe your family will understand a bit better when they get used to the idea, maybe they won't. But in the end, if you really want the surgery, you may just have to go ahead without their support.

I would go and schedule a consultation or two - once you take that first step, the rest gets easier.

Thanks for the support guys.Highlando,i have visited an orthodontist ,as well as an oral surgeon.The orthodontist make me think very positive,he said that these type of surgery nowdays happen frequently,and always with success.The oral surgeon was very expirienced,he had done 400 prochedures in his life,he said that probably only the lower jaw need setback.I must also say that i am willing to go through this by having ONLY lower jaw surgery.My uppper jaw is ok so i don intend to have surgery on a normal jaw.And if i will be told something like i i have to cut the tongue to fit in the mouth,then absolutely i aint gonna do this.

john,

Good for you, getting your research done! Do you know you many mm's your setback would be? Maybe not as much as you think.

All I can say is that I had BSSO 3 months ago and I've been completely back to normal (functionally and aesthetically) for at least a month. It was so much easier to have the surgery than all the months spent stressing leading up to it. I did wear braces for 18 months prior to surgery, but the time went by fast!

If you have a good surgeon that says you need the surgery and you can swing it financially, I'd get the process started rather than waiting and having it at the back of your mind for years. Btw, my surgery was covered completely under my medical insurance.

Lo

John.,...I tell people that they really need to decide it this is going to make them feel better as a person, about them selves as well as health/medical wise...its a very big decision...4 1/2 weeks ago today I had upper/lower and genio done....I cant say that its been easy...because It absolutely wasnt...Im still on liquid diet and it sucks,,,,I get many muscle spasams and still having lots of nerve pain in my chin and between my upper lip and nose....I also have no feeling in parts of my face...but on the other hand I know someone who had just the lower done...she recovered really fast and looks awesome with no complications...Its different with each person....in the end it has to be your decision and yours only....if you make the decision then stick to you guns and eventually in the end...people will see its going to be ok!!!

I think the setback is about 10-12mm.It is big setback yes,but teh ortho said about lower only,and the OS said probably the lower,but must see te x-ray to tell for sure.Nervouscrissy i imagine that what u did is far from simple,cause u done three prochedures.i wish u smooth recovery.

Highlando,how much was your movement?Is your speech,and the way u chew normal?I mean u can bite hard food like apples easy?i am asking that because,besides the headaches that sometimes i have,i dont have any difficulties in function

Hi John - hang in there guy, and if you really, really want to improve your quality of life and believe that jaw surgery would benefit you, then by all means, GO FOR IT!!!! I had upper, lower, and genio done for a protruding maxilla, and underdeveloped mandible leading to severe TMJ problems for the last 20 years. I am 45 years old, and had the whole orthognathic surgery done almost 6 months ago.......recovery was painful but not intolerable, and although I still have some nerve pain and numbness in parts of my mandible around my chin & lower lip, it's ok......in fact, it's wonderful..... because for the first time in 30 YEARS, my teeth and bite align perfectly and it took years off my appearance. I'm still recovering.......I still wear braces.....I just had a TPA inserted last week that I'm having difficulty adjusting to, but I DO SEE the light at the end of the tunnel.....one day this will all be over, and I will chew, eat, swallow and talk w/o chronic pain, stiffness, and muscle fatigue.

Do lots of research on the type of procedure you may need and go into the whole process fully informed. Even if you don't feel you have moral support regarding surgery, only YOU can make the final determination if it's something you need to do and want to do.

Good luck to you,
Katie A

Hi John,

I had my lower jaw moved about 5mm to the left and moved back about 2 mm's. It doesn't seem like a lot of movement, but you can sure see the difference in my pictures! I will try to post some before and afters soon.

I would clench my jaw at night and since it was asymmetrical, this uneven muscle pull could have caused my headaches. The experts don't really know. I can bite into hard things - Fritos, bread. I haven't done apples as I still have my bottom braces and I don't want to tear the brackets off. But if I didn't have the lower braces, I expect that I could eat whatever I wanted to.

I tended to only chew on one side and my teeth had bascially "fallen over" to one side. I guess this could be described as an inability to chew correctly, because this was put as a reason on the pre-authorization request for surgery.

My speech is back to normal and one reason it was different for awhile was because of slight swelling. I did have to get used to my tongue hitting different teeth differently. Hard to explain, but my bite was really changed. I could still be understood just fine, though.

Take care,

Lo

HI John21,

As an underbiter myself, I know what it feels like... basically, the point is we want to look normal but needs $$$ to achieve that and the trauma/inconvenience of braces and surgery.

Trust me, go ahead and do whatever u can (part time jobs etc to get cash) or bug ur parents to fork the $$ and get ur jaw done. U'll be relieved of this problem once and for all. I think the biggest problem to overcome in life starts with getting a healty self-esteem.. and we underbiters will always be short in that area. My regret was not having the courage to go thru this process during late teens due to probable $$ issues (which might be a slight struggle). After nearly 30 yrs with this sight, I can finally heave a huge sigh of relief knowing something's gonna be done!!

Thanks sgguy for your support.You are absolutely right about the self-esteem.Look,let's take the aesthetics side.I don't think of course that underbiters,or any other with jaw deformity are the ugliest persons,of course not.The worst for me is the self-esteem,that i am always aware of my jaw,and thinking it especially when talking or smilling.This is the worst i think,the feelings i have for this.And correcting it is for me like a dream which can come true,if everything goes well

Hi John

I had upper and lower jaw surgery in February 2007 and for many years before I contemplated having the surgery. I was not happy with my smile and also the pain I would get from my jaw. I had an overbite.

I started looking into surgery in 2003, but my family were against it saying that all manner of things could go wrong and why would I want to mess around with my facial appearance. These sort of thoughts can put you off and worry you and it did me. I would get really scared of the thought of something going wrong and messing my jaw up.

But.. I had to go for it. I was initially under the NHS, but later was able to get the jaw surgery on my insurance - I had to pay for the braces though. I had a great orthodontist and oral surgeon who put me at ease all the time and gradually my family came round to the idea and they knew I was serious about it.. coz I absolutely did not relish the thought of braces for (iwas told) up to 2 years but you know, you get used to them after a while and its almost like they are not there.

My parents were there for me when I had the surgery and although they were abit shocked by my appearance immediately after surgery(with the swelling).. they could already see I was much happier .. although they worried that I couldn't eat properly. As time progressed obviously things improved since my surgery I've emigrated and started a new life in another country and guess what I'm smiling all the time!!

This surgery was the best thing I had done!!.. all my numbness has gone and actually went rather quick and just have to wear retainers at night now, otherwise I've almost forgot I had surgery and braces. Believe me its well worth all the time you have to prepare for it!

Go for it, but you have to do it for yourself. I know its hard when it feels like everyones against it but believe me..its one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Best wishes to you!
Adam:)

That is the definition of suffering, John.

Go out there and do what you need to do to begin your journey to happiness. Visit that orthodontist so they can give you an idea of the costs. Have them refer you to a good surgeon. Then talk to your insurance company to make sure it's covered. The last thing would be to plan a date for the surgery (sometime in between braces.. and sometime when you have at least 3-4 weeks off of work/school).

You don't deserve to suffer anymore man. Do what you have to do!

AdamK,

Kudos to you for taking the necessary step to achieve ur personal goal...it's our similar aim...let's work towards that