Metal Mouth Message Board

Hello,

I'm curious about how long it took ( or it is taking) for people before deciding to have surgery.

I was told to consider SARPE by my ortho. a few days ago, and I'm a bit overwhelmed since

I have so much to learn on the subject and even longer before deciding whether I would want

to have it or not.

I'm very glad to have found this forum. Thanks in advance.

About 4 months after my dentist suggested I should look into it. I went to two oral surgeons and had evaluations done by both.

I ummed and ahhed about it for about a year! I did a lot of research and read countless blogs and this encouraged me to go for it. I felt 'prepared'. I think the final push was when the health insurance company didn't hesitate to agree to pay for it - a sign that it was needed!

I was first told I needed it when I was 15 and decided to go through with it when I was just about to turn 23!

I knew something was wrong with my jaw in my late teens, found out I needed surgery in my early twenties when I realised my bite was getting progressively worse, buried my head in the sand for six or seven years, finally acknowledged that it was STILL getting worse and got about half a dozen 'second' opinions from a mix of orthos, surgeons and dentists, both private and NHS. Every single one recommended surgery and the fact it was available on the NHS told me this is a condition that needs attention, not just a cosmetic fix. Now I'm SO annoyed I didn't go for it a decade ago.

I was told by my orthodontist as a teenager that I would need jaw surgery because of the uneven way my jaws grew. I thought about it for the next 10 years but was too afraid to do anything about. Finally I decided that I wasn't getting any younger and my jaws weren't getting any better (in fact, they were getting worse), so I took the plunge and started my journey, getting braces put on for the second time. There have been a few bumps and unforeseen circumstances along the way that have caused it to take longer than usual, but I'm glad I'm finally nearing the end now. This has been one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it has also made me a stronger person for having gone through it.

from being referred to an NHS Ortho and starting my treatment was 9 months - 3 months of that was the waiting list to start treatent so i woudl say it took about 6 months of appointments and research before i said yes. My treatment will probably be 24 months of fixed braces and double jaw surgery.

My advice would be take your time - its a big decision and can be quite stressul.

Absolutely ages! I'm NHS. I think I had my first appointment at the hospital with a consultant in January - but I'd been waiting since maybe July to actually get that appointment! I'm now due to have my braces put on in August but I'm still not entirely sure. It's actually a bad thing for me! If I'd have just had the braces on I'd obviously go through with it, but it's a three month wait since I signed the consent forms and so I've had plenty of chances to think against it

I appreciate your responses.

I've decided to give myself two years of research.

I got the ball rolling as soon as I knew I was covered by insurance. Never looked back

i knew i needed to have it done when i was 12. I'm just now going through with it because my teeth have gotten worse and i have insurance that will cover it finally. So.... 15 years.

I found out when I was 15 that I needed jaw surgery but my bite wasn't as bad. Avoided the idea for about 9 years and this year I am very excited to get it done, it will be 10 years later! I think you need to mentally be ready for something like this. I have no worries right now but even a year ago, I never would have thought I would go through with it.