Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi all,
I'm 18 and I currently have an open bite, an underbite and a bilateral crossbite. Because I have all three I have been given the option of surgery, although I was only really told about it last year (I'm in the UK, they didn't really bother watching my jaw growth as a child). However, as far as I can tell my bites aren't particularly severe. In fact they seem quite minor?
I am aware that I have the slightly protruding jaw of an underbite, and although I would have love to have been born without this, it's only aesthetically a problem when I'm feeling down about my self. Otherwise this is my face!
I've heard that people who opt out of surgery sometimes have worse teeth/ jaw problems later in life? I'm also going to Uni next September and am nervous about being the only one with braces.

I don't know whether having the perfect bite, no chance of regret later in life or a prettier jaw compensate for having braces for such a long time, going through the surgery and having a face that just isn't me at the end of it?
It's a decision that's been upsetting me a lot, I simply have no idea what to do.

Were any of you in the same boat as me?
Advice would be SO appreciated!

While over and underbites are easy to spot in a mirror, open and crossbites are less easy to spot, as they can exist even in the face of something that looks aesthetically fine. In the case of a crossbite in particular, the teeth tend to tilt so they touch, but in a way that may not be healthy long-term.

Hey,

I'm 18 and start Uni tomorrow after only having my braces for around 3 months. This means that the majority of my uni life will be spent in braces. I don't think you've got to worry about being the only one since, at the end of the day, you've got to weigh up the positives of going through this process at your age. Many of the older adults on this forum,I think, would tell you that they have waited/prolonged/only found out they had their alterable problem and some might say they regretted it. If you leave your surgery, you might have other problems later on as your older, a few which comes to mind is strong headaches, tooth decay being more likely and general jaw aches. By having surgery at 18, you'll be set up for the rest of your life and, if you're worried about being the only one in braces, you'll have a higher chance of being the only one in an office in braces at 30 than with younger people at uni. It's a long process but ask any of those that are now post surgery and they will (hopefully) tell you that they do not regret it at all

[quote="AntWalkerCook"]Hey,

I'm 18 and start Uni tomorrow after only having my braces for around 3 months. This means that the majority of my uni life will be spent in braces. I don't think you've got to worry about being the only one since, at the end of the day, you've got to weigh up the positives of going through this process at your age. Many of the older adults on this forum,I think, would tell you that they have waited/prolonged/only found out they had their alterable problem and some might say they regretted it. If you leave your surgery, you might have other problems later on as your older, a few which comes to mind is strong headaches, tooth decay being more likely and general jaw aches. By having surgery at 18, you'll be set up for the rest of your life and, if you're worried about being the only one in braces, you'll have a higher chance of being the only one in an office in braces at 30 than with younger people at uni. It's a long process but ask any of those that are now post surgery and they will (hopefully) tell you that they do not regret it at all [/quote]

But then there's also loss of feeling, jaw problems because of the surgery, the possibility of relapse! I'm terrified of all these things. I'm scared of regretting not having the surgery when I'm older but I'm also scared of regretting having it!

I had similar concerns. To me though, those problems are all very unlikely, except for the numbness, but the numbness if permanent, is almost always only partial, and limited to a very small location. Contrast that with the GUARANTEE of remaining in your current situation, and to me the decision became easy.

Depending on the class of open bite surgery is sometimes the best method. From literature, I think that Class 3 had the best success rate (>80% stability), while class 1+2 were only at 60%.

I was on the same boat as you, wanting to do any methods that are not surgery. Initially I saw a couple orthos 6 years ago when I was 16 and all said I needed jaw surgery to correct the open bite.

After seeing my orthodontist today about my 5mm open bite, I came back with 5 more problems. Not only is the jaw not aligned in the vertical plane (open bite) but it tilts 3mm to the left and even goes into the plane of the back of my head if that makes sense. I also have a slight crossbite and crowding of the teeth and will probably require some wisdom teeth taken out! So after hearing and finding out all this it seems like a smarter idea just to have jaw surgery to fix as many of these problems in one shot rather than requiring a long process of moving the teeth around such large distances and directions which may also cause more problems with the roots of your teeth! The ortho today also mentioned that there is lots of instability and possibility of relapse trying to close an open bite with braces and conservative methods.

Whatever you decide to do, all the best with your treatment methods! I'm sure like me, you will look forward to the day you don't have to eat a ham sandwich so inconspicuously and ask for a fork and knife when eating pizza (I use the excuse thats what civilized people do xD).

getting braces ASAP kkatherine! 18 is fairly young and there will be plenty of uni students who will have braces.

Im 21, in my final year of uni and just recently got braces (2 months ago). I can tell you that i regret leaving it this late as i will be graduating end of year and will no longer be a student with braces

I remember when my orthodontist told me i will probably need surgery (Class II, overbite + weakish chin) , i was quite scared and was unsure if i should get surgery or not. My orthodontist refered me a surgeon so i could have a consultation session, where i can ask her questions relating to jaw surgery. After the consultation i decided surgery would be the best option for me as it would correct my bite + improving facial symmetry

Its best if you ask your orthodontist to refer you to a surgeon so you can get more information and be able to decide if you want surgery or not.