Hi dvdrdiscs,
From what I've heard the course is just an informational session regarding the surgery and safe practices before and after the surgery.
The surgeon stated that in order to schedule the surgery, you need to be almost ready. Therefore I cannot schedule the surgery until 2-3 months before then. It depends on how busy your surgery center is, my advice would be ask the surgeon what the lead time is.
Have approval from Aetna, considering Kaiser
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I didn't have braces yet when I first saw the surgeon and was approved.
It might depend on which Kaiser you go to, I went to Kaiser Oakland, they are backed up about 6 months, so I called at the beginning of June they had appointments available for end of November/ beginning of December. I tried to get it close to Christmas so I wouldn't have to take so much time off work but they were pretty booked up around that time. I ended up with a December 15 date.
My orthodontist is aware of the lead time to some degree, but of course estimates conservatively. My ortho said I was surgery ready middle of September. I called to see if they had any appointments for surgery available sooner and the woman laughed at me (in a nice way of course). It was okay though, my orthodontist spent the next few months refining my teeth further--the surgeon was very impressed with how well my bite looked by the time of my surgery.
It might depend on which Kaiser you go to, I went to Kaiser Oakland, they are backed up about 6 months, so I called at the beginning of June they had appointments available for end of November/ beginning of December. I tried to get it close to Christmas so I wouldn't have to take so much time off work but they were pretty booked up around that time. I ended up with a December 15 date.
My orthodontist is aware of the lead time to some degree, but of course estimates conservatively. My ortho said I was surgery ready middle of September. I called to see if they had any appointments for surgery available sooner and the woman laughed at me (in a nice way of course). It was okay though, my orthodontist spent the next few months refining my teeth further--the surgeon was very impressed with how well my bite looked by the time of my surgery.
Well I had my consultation today and I am assuming everything has gone through and I'm approved. The surgeon didn't really ask me anything that would seem like he's gauging whether the surgery is a necessity. He just asked why I opted for braces in the first place. I gave some BS functioning problem even though it was probably mainly cosmetics. Then he examined me and went briefly into the process of jaw surgery.
He said I'm actually ready for surgery right now and he could schedule me for May-ish. But his only issue is the existing open space on my lower jaw at both bicuspids. He doesn't want to do surgery to correct the bite, and then find out later that those space will close, thus altering the anticipated change after surgery. So I have to go back to my orthodontist now and see what the plan is with the open space.
He said I'm actually ready for surgery right now and he could schedule me for May-ish. But his only issue is the existing open space on my lower jaw at both bicuspids. He doesn't want to do surgery to correct the bite, and then find out later that those space will close, thus altering the anticipated change after surgery. So I have to go back to my orthodontist now and see what the plan is with the open space.
Oh they can double up on the chains? I think I'll ask them to do that to speed it up. Pain and discomfort isn't a problem for me. My only concern is how that space will close. There really isn't much crowding in other areas so I don't know how other teeth can shift over to close the space without causing another gap.
Dr. O'Ryan
I'm also considering using Dr. O'Ryan at Kaiser. Can you share with me the name of your orthodontist? Do you recommend him/her?
Thanks for the help!
Thanks for the help!