still waiting

[HelenUK]

Hi Guys

Just an update on my situation really, I'm 27 years old with an overbite being treated on the NHS in yorkshire.

So it's been a while since I posted on here, I've now had braces for nearly 2 years and still am waiting for the go-ahead to book a surgery date. 2 years ago I had 4 pre-molars removed and metal self-ligating braces fitted. I had a lot of crowding initially. My teeth were straightened and gaps closed.

Late last year my orthodontist said I was ready for surgery, so we did models, measurements, photos and xrays, and booked in for a joint clinic with the surgeon and orthodontist for January this year. At this appointment my ortho said that they'd checked my models and my teeth still didn't match, and so would need some more orthodontics for another 3-6 months before surgery. They did decide during this appointment that I'll be having both jaws operated on, moving my upper jaw up 2mm and forward 2mm, and then moving my lower jaw to match, about 10mm forward.

So since then I've had another appointment, where my orthodontist changed my top wire and put little springs on the wire between brackets, to create gaps behind my upper canines. It seems strange that we spent so long with springs to close gaps a little further back, to now be creating them! I'm confident that my ortho knows exactly what she's doing though.

I hope that my update might help anyone that's in a similar situation, I remember all through my treatment wondering what would be happening next and how long it would all take. I'd love to hear how you're all getting on too.

Helen

[meeks]

Hi Helen,

I am also going to be getting jaw surgery in Yorkshire this year. I have to say your post has me slightly worried! I have had my braces on now for 14 months and am approaching my final wire. I think at the next appointment my ortho wants to start booking in appointments at the joint clinic. I have pinned my hopes on having the surgery done this summer and am hoping there will be no complications.

It feels like such a long process sometimes. I am 28 now and really hope to have everything done before i hit 30! I hope your teeth move quickly to create your gaps.

Which hospital are you at?

[HelenUK]

Hi meeks,

thanks for your reply. It is all really frustrating - at the beginning I thought it would all go so smoothly, that i'd be having surgery after 18 months of braces and that it would all be finished within 2 years. I guess I should have listened to both time estimates and not just the shortest. I try to be patient, as theres really no rush and i want the best outcome rather than the quickest. I had a final wire last year, but then my last wisdom tooth grew and so then that one was bracketed, i went back to a thin wire, and it took another few months to bring the last tooth into place. during this time the gaps reopened, and so had to be closed again. Hopefully i'm nearly there now.

I'm at barnsley hospital for my braces, but my surgery will be at sheffield.