Splint Removal - Cause for Concern?

[tylerjwilson]

I just had my splint removed on my upper jaw after a 3 piece lefort procedure back on June 8th. This would mark 5 weeks post-op, exactly. During the recovery process, it looked like my midline was spot on the entire time, however what concerned me was that it seemed like my upper jaw was moved too far forward and that i'd have an overbite. This appears to be a mirage of the swelling now that the splint was removed, my teeth pretty much bite down on top of eachother on the very front. I thought my upper jaw would be more ahead of it than the outcome. The surgeon didn't seem too concerned, he said once my front teeth aren't touching, my back teeth should all start touching and line up the way they should.

Prior to surgery, my very very back molars were about the only thing that touched. With the 3-piece, he was able to adjust it so they all touch. I had the surgery due to severe grinding, if that helps.

I went to my orthodontist appointment that day and told him to be gentle on the top. I had 4 brackets that needed replaced due to them either breaking off during surgery, or something. Since my arch wire was cut during the surgery, I think that caused some strain on the brackets when that happened. This was relatively painless, but somewhat uncomfortable, not knowing the unknown of what could happen with any strain on the jaw yet. I'm not sure what kind of wire was put in the top, but appears to be pretty thin, to get the process started of moving the teeth back into alignment. My molar on one side was much higher than before surgery, but needless to say, I can't feel anything on the upper jaw in terms of movement. My lower jaw on the other hand, is tender from the wire being replaced...I expect this to last for another day. Not sure what to say about the midline, not sure if that will be corrected or not.

You can see in one of my pictures the tenderness of the roof of my mouth where it meets my teeth from the splint being up tight against there, hopefully this subsides within a few more days.

Does anyone see any need to be concerned? Right now, I feel miserable in the thoughts that my jaw wasn't moved far enough, or I may bite together like that for good. The ortho currently has me wearing some pretty light rubber bands from my back upper molars to my front lower canines. I still have a bit of adjustment to be done before the process is over, but I really need some encouragement as I am not going to do surgery again. Excuse my teeth color and a little bleeding on one tooth from a quick brushing, maybe too hard on the bottom.

[jaime]

There is always still more work to be done after the surgery, so no need to worry. That's why people continue to wear braces and elastics after surgery. Personally, I'm 13 months post-op and still in braces and elastics. There are 3 of us from the June 2015 thread still in braces, perfecting our bites.

[tylerjwilson]

I just wasn't sure if my upper jaw should be a little more further forward than it is, post surgery. My orthodontist said I should be done by the end of this year. He said that he had another patient who had the 3 piece lefort done and he only had 3 months of post op work. I just wasn't expecting to have to try to bring my lower jaw back after having this surgery, that was the initial problem to begin with, I had an underbite.