Should I get surgery?

[tomato2010]

Hi, I'm having a difficult time deciding whether I need / want to get jaw surgery. My problem is that I have a slight gummy smile, although it's not severe. My top teeth aren't straight and they slant inwards and cover the bottom teeth a bit more than they should. I think it's a class 2 (deep) overbite(?). I never thought I had a bite problem because I have no trouble chewing. My face is a bit more asymmetrical than most but that's also not severe, but I do notice it now more as I get older and it shows up in pictures as quite severe. My face is also slightly longer than I'd like but not severe.

Most of the surgeons I have spoken to said that jaw surgery can fix my gummy smile, overbite problem, and long face. But that I'd need to shave / cut away the lower jaw as well in order to get my face a bit more symmetrical.

Originally I went to the dentist to get braces to close in the gaps for my lower teeth and to find out about fixing the asymmetry of my face. And now it seems I need surgery to get the desired outcome. If my case was severe, I would go ahead with surgery, but I feel like while I have these problems that I want to fix, it seems more for aesthetic reasons.

1. One surgeon said I should just live with the way I look and not go ahead with surgery because my case isn't severe.

2. Another surgeon said it really depends on to what degree these things bother me and that I can do it if it causes me stress.

3. Another surgeon suggested just working on the lower jaw (as in shaving the sides to make it look symmetrical) and that wouldn't be as big of a surgery as two jaw surgery.

4. Last surgeon that I met recently seems like he wants me to go ahead with the surgery to fix all the things I mentioned above.

I've been thinking about it a lot and to have had these things on my mind over the years must mean it bothers me quite a bit. I'd like to have a nice smile and not worry about these things anymore, so yes, I'm leaning towards getting the surgery. However, it's terribly scary and my mom thinks I'm being somewhat vain, but she would support me in whatever decision I make.

Lastly, I've been reading people's experiences and there are some people who mentioned having trouble breathing the first five days or so. Is it that difficult and could you die from being unable to breathe after having had a successful surgery? I guess my imagination is getting the better of me.... lately I'm even having dreams going for consultations and things related to this jaw surgery.

I posted in another site as well to get more feedback. Hope that's okay.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

[sarahorsomeone]

I had similar problems to yours, although both my top and bottom jaws were a-symmetric in opposite directions so I could only chew on one side. I also had a very gummy smile, in fact my gums were even visible without smiling (I couldn't close my lips) and a mild overbite.

Only you can know if it's worth it or not in your case, it is a big operation and you'll be in considerable discomfort for a week or more.

In my case it's one of the best things I've ever agreed too. I feel so much more confident in my appearance, I can speak much better, I can chew much better and it's made a bigger difference to my life than I ever suspected it would. Although it sounds like my case was a bit more severe.

These days life-threatening complications from this kind of surgery are very rare. If worst came to worst (and this is very unlikely) and you really couldn't breath, they'd sedate and intubate you, if necessary using a ventilator to breathe for you. However that's a very unusual scenario!

[hduggan]

On the question of breathing, my sense is that many people *feel* like they can't breathe. But they're actually able to get in enough air. I know that was true in my son's case. He had to work pretty hard to breathe, but he was never in any danger.

It's sort of like having the worst cold you've ever had - nose almost or completely clogged and lots and lots of mucus running down the back of your throat - coupled with not being able to open your mouth at all. It's not the sort of thing that kills you, but it's enough to make you feel kind of panicy.

[DRG]

It's sort of like having the worst cold you've ever had - nose almost or completely clogged and lots and lots of mucus running down the back of your throat - coupled with not being able to open your mouth at all. It's not the sort of thing that kills you, but it's enough to make you feel kind of panicy.

It just sounds so lovely when you put it that way. Who wouldn't jump at the chance to experience it?

[tomato2010]

Thank you for replying everyone. And thank you sarahorsomeone for sharing your story. I feel a whole lot better after reading that and it's nice to know you are very happy with your results.

hduggan - that sounds kind of scary lol, but it's good to have a clear idea of what it's really like and you definitely painted a clear picture. Did the nurse use a suctioning tool to clear his nose of mucous and stuff every few hours?

[hduggan]

Lots of people get through it without it bugging them all that much, but he just had a ton of mucus and a tendency to panic, so it was a little stressful for him.

Yeah, in the hospital they just hand you a suctioning tube and let you go at it

[shanalouis]

i dont know, i woke up with a breathing tube....but i could breathe well


its not so bad..dont worry

[Linnie]

My advice to anybody who considers having surgery without needing it is always the same: don't! I will have to have BSSO, and I am dreading it. Surgery always involves pain, disruption in you work and personal life and risks. There is no such thing as a sure thing. You don't know what will come out of it. Two weeks ago, I had two simple extractions done by a jaw surgeon, who insisted that I don't go to the dentist for that, to avoid complications. Well, I ended up with dry socket, bad reaction to a drug prescribed to prevent infection, and still an infection... That is my opinion.

[suzanna]

I just had this surgery on Friday and I honestly wouldn't wish it on anyone unless they absolutely, 100% required it for functional purposes. My little brother and my twin sister will also eventually be having the same surgery and I feel so bad that they'll have to go through what I'm going through right now. I've never felt so crappy in my life.

[shanalouis]

well my surgery went well, i didnt feel any pain, just numbness which wasnt too bad...i was able to walk around on the 3rd day...


the only problem is that my upper jaw is loose, i still have no idea why. its really up to you whether you want to do it or not...

[hduggan]

I agree about avoiding it if you don't have to do it. I'd also be cautious if you generally like your looks, as the surgery can cause unexpected face changes.

OTOH, if you *have* to have it for functional reasons, and the same reasons are causing you to generally dislike how you look, you're likely to be pleased with the results.

[tomato2010]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and thoughts on this surgery. It's a hard decision to make and recovery period sounds quite scary. So much to take into consideration, so much to think about... This board is great and I've gotten so much invaluable info on here. I'm going for several more consultations to get more opinions and see what happens... thanks again!