Opinions on removing braces early (after surgery) HELP

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#1 Post by **june29th** » Wed May 26, 2010 11:22 am

Long story short, I decided at the age of 20 that I wanted to go forward with the jaw surgery that I had been told about my entire orthodontic life. I first attempted to have the surgery without braces-obviously to no avail. My teeth were a little crooked on the bottom but nothing too terrible and the tops were straight. My ortho told me 8-12 months for braces then surgery so I bit the bullet and put them on. It's now been 19 months of braces and I have my surgery scheduled for June 29th

After the surgery, in August, I am moving across the country to begin law school and my ortho says that she has "a couple little tweeks" that'll have to be done after the surgery so she'll refer me to a new orthodontist in LA. Neeldess to say, I am disgusted with that response considering I didn't even care about the straightening of my teeth to begin with! They're much better now but you still can't see the differences and I really could care less about those "little tweeks".

My idea is after the surgery, sit down with my ortho and flat-out say that I'm not starting over in a new city with a new orthodontist beecause I'll have enough stress with law school, a new (huge) city, and lastly, I'm not going to have a care out there! If she balks at taking them off, I'll say that I will go to every orthodontic office I can find with cash in hand until I find someone who'll take them off (is this possible?)

I know it sounds rash and vain, but my mind is all but set. I've been on this board reading anecdotes and I'm really looking for thoughts about my dilemma/criticisms/suggestions/etc.

#2 Post by **Audra** » Wed May 26, 2010 11:52 am

I would say don't bother going ahead with the surgery then if you are not willing to finish your orthodontic treatment. To be blunt, this surgery is not easy. It's been a brutal experience to go through. If you are so set on taking the rest of your treatment so lightly, do yourself a favour and go get your braces off now.

FYI - the "tweaks" after surgery are to make sure the biting edges of your teeth meet properly so you can chew. Most people's molars don't meet after surgery. This is done by the surgeon on purpose. When you resume orthodontic treatment after surgery, you will need to be in elastics for a while to bring your molars together - or you won't be able to chew. The tweaking is about your bite (and so is surgery) rather than about straightening your teeth. You won't be "starting over", you'll be finishing up. Surely you can fit a 15-20 minute appointment in once a month until you're finished.

#3 Post by **cvn** » Wed May 26, 2010 12:01 pm

If your bite isn't correct than you're pretty likely to relapse again, which seems pretty dumb to me as you've already relapsed once. I wouldn't bother doing the surgery if you aren't willing to do the process all the way to the end.

#4 Post by **june29th** » Wed May 26, 2010 12:43 pm

Thanks for the reply Audra, you're probably right.

cvn- Either you're confused or didn't actually read my post; there's not been a relapse.

#5 Post by **cvn** » Wed May 26, 2010 1:47 pm

Sorry I read:

I first attempted to have the surgery without braces-obviously to no avail.

as you having had the surgery once already and it failing. So I did read it and my point still stands.

Braces suck, but do the thing right.

#6 Post by **queenofoverbite** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:33 pm

I dont think having braces is that big of a deal and it certainly doesnt take up a lot of time. I work full time and am a full time student and I still have 20 minutes every 3 to 5 weeks for an appointment, etc.

If you dont want it done right, then sure, ask for your braces off early. Your bite won't be "finished" and you could have a relapse or develop jaw pain, etc.

#7 Post by **chicago29** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 12:24 pm

june29th

I have to agree with others - If you have your mind made up, then get them off now and don't do the surgery. And if you do and you go against your ortho's advice and go looking for somebody to take them off, then shame on the ortho that listens to your request.

Let's look at the facts. Chances are you're only going to need braces for 4 to 8 months after surgery. SURELY you can find time to do a few ortho appointments in that timeframe. I understand there is a boatload of other "work" that goes into having braces (brushing, flossing, etc). If you're investing all this time and energy to go through all of this, surely you have to feel it is an investment worth making and maintaining?

I travel extensively for work, and my Orthodontist only works Monday to Thursday. If I can find the time, so can you...

I think you know what to do, and clearly you're an intelligent person if you're going to law school, so I know you'll make the right decision.

I wish you the best!

-Chicago29

#8 Post by **Quince** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 11:05 am

I'm in a similar situation. I've had my braces for 1.5 years and did the surgery a week ago, and I'm studying abroad in September. Of course I'd have preferred to have my braces taken off before I leave, but that's an impossibility. I'll suck it up and keep then for another year, then come back and have them taken off next summer.

I think constant communication with your orthodontist is key in our cases. My orthodontist wasn't that available, and I should have been able to remind her of my plans every single visit so as not to waste any time at all.

Anyhow, as other people have said, the surgery isn't going to be easy. I'm on day 8 and just starting to feel human again. After the surgery, you're going to focus on your recovery and you'll probably want to make sure you're doing everything right and not rushing things, so that all that pain and weakness and extreme discomfort is worth it. Also, you'll probably be so happy about getting through your surgery that you'll find the braces aren't that big of a deal anymore.

#9 Post by **pvnguyen1** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 11:51 pm

After what you go through with the surgery, braces are nothing.

#10 Post by **palht** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 12:23 am

I'm also in the same dilemma. My surgery was nearly 1 year ago, but now I still have my braces on.

This August, I have to study abroad and am thinking of removing the braces, regardless of my teeth's condition at that time.

I try to remind my ortho of my departure date whenever I come to his office. Now he and I are trying and praying hard that all my gaps will be closed by then, and a minor crossbite will be fixed. I have less than 2 months now. I really do hope that my teeth can move that fast!

#11 Post by **revolutionary** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 10:46 pm

I would listen to whatever your surgeon and orthodontist advice you, or not go through with the surgery.

I didn't need braces prior to my surgery - they just went ahead with it, and my results are fantastic - but I did need 6 weeks of surgical braces with rubber bands after, to stabilize my bite and bring my molars together.

I tried to schedule my surgery so that my bands would be off before my birthday - and thought that they would come off at my 5th surgeon visit 2 days before - but when I went to my surgeon visit that day, he told me that I needed 1 more week, and that was that - no arguments. Yeah, I was upset and disappointed that I wouldn't be brace-free for my birthday, but what was 1 week in comparison to good healing and no relapse?

IMO, schedule your surgery for a point in your life where you're able to see it through properly. Don't gamble with your face.