Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi folks,

I am 9 days post BSSO + wisdom tooth extraction on my lower jaw.

I was initially very pleased with how things were looking but now that the swelling has gone down some, I can have a better look at my teeth and I'm horrified to see that I have a gap between my top teeth and my bottom teeth at the front (central and lateral incisors). It's almost like my lower jaw has been put back too much
My molars seem to have good occlusion though.

I've had my first post-op checkup and the surgeon and orthodontist are very pleased. They mentioned an overjet and I know they measured the gap between my top and bottom teeth but I'm unsure as to how big the gap is.

I don't want to end up looking worse than I did before....no chin and sticking out teeth

Orthodontist said I could well have my braces off in 4 months!

Is it common to have this gap after surgery? How will they fix it? Will elastics do the trick?

Hi

There is still 4 months for ur braces so still early to judge until the final results so u have to be patient.

Best of luck

Too soon to tell sparkles, patience is your friend

I'm not long out either and at the moment I have nearly and edge to edge at the front after bsso set back and lefort 1 advancement. But both my surgeon and ortho we pleased so they know where it will end up, they are the experts!

Good luck and don't worry. If it helps, I had an underbite that was almost corrected with just braces, so I know the amount of movement that can be achieved with the braces

A slight overjet is perfectly normal. In fact, you don't want the tips of the front teeth touching; it would impede your molars meshing properly. Post-surgery/braces, I think there might be 1mm or so between the backs of my top teeth and the front of my lowers. Both the oral surgeon and my ortho are thrilled.

In any case, the whole point of post-surgery ortho is to finish the fine tweaks that simply aren't possible during surgery.

THANK YOU! so much for your replies.
Unfortunately, patience is not my forte

I'm feeling better about it all today. I have 2 elastics (one either side) on just now, the orthodontist said it was to help stop my jaw going back to where it was but they are definitely doing something to my teeth because my teeth are so in an orthodontic work way (if that makes sense).

I should see my usual orthodontist tomorrow and shall be asking

Thanks again!

Definitely give it more time! 9 days is WAY too early to tell anything, and I know you're probably freaking out (I know I was). As others have said, a slight overjet is fine. Trust your surgeon and orthodontist in the meantime. If they are smiling and saying everything looks good, it's because it does!

I had my second post-op checkup with the orthodontist this morning

He said a 'normal' overjet is 2mm - 3mm. Last week when he measured me, I was 3.5mm and they were really happy with that, especially considering I also need to have my top left central incisor replaced with an implant.

I told him all my concerns today and he was lovely

He measured again today and I am at 4mm. He's given me a new configuration of elastics which should bring my teeth back to the 3.5mm mark.

But basically, they are very pleased with how things are and I just have to adjust to going from the size of underbite that I had, to what is now classed as a normal bite. It's going to take a while to get my head round it but he reckons once my tooth is restored and the swelling all goes down then it'll all look brilliant

If anyone else is reading this worried about he same issue, I am now 6 weeks post op and my overjet is now measuring 3mm! All looking good

Glad to hear the overbite is coming back to 3mm and hope you are feeling better after your op