Whats so bad about headgear? (girl afraid to get TADs/OBA)

[Chicagogal]

Well the time has apparently come for me to get a couple of Orthodontic Bone Anchors put in. Like so many others, I'm freaking out. Anything where a screw could go into my tooth root and do permanent damage is just a little too much for my brain to handle.

My orthodontist has been downplaying it all a bit. saying that getting them "installed" is almost instant and that it will make me so happy in the long run. But I keep reading posts and studies about gum recession, infection and bone loss and those wouldn't make me happy in the long run!

So, what's so wrong with headgear? does this method really work so much better (i haven't asked my ortho yet, but I will)? I don't want to be sitting at my desk at work in it, but have any adults been offered headgear?

[VikingGirl]

What are bone anchors? Sorry ornot being to any help, but I do not know this term

[Chicagogal]

The bone plates are anchors, usually with three to five holes for screws, attached near the area to be closed. Put in under local anasthetic for the most part.
http://www.synthes.com/html/Orthodontic ... 825.0.html

I feel like what they describe as TADs are common, but I'm having a harer time finding people with these.

[rosy22]

This sounds like TADs. What are they trying to accomplish by using these?

[farmboy]

I wore headgear for just over a year before starting my current treatment.

From what I’ve heard, the only difference between the TADs and the headgear is that the TADs don’t require patient compliance and are worn 24 hours a day (which most people with headgear don’t do, even on their best days).

It’s just me, but I wouldn’t want to have any screws placed into my bones that didn’t have to be there.

After the first week or so of getting used to it, headgear wasn’t a problem for me once the orthodontist and I got it adjusted correctly.

You never completely forget it’s there, but it works, as long as it’s worn. And yes, I often wore it in public in order to get my hours in. It is doable!

[cvn]

For what it's worth, I've had a screw set in my upper jaw under my lip above my two front teeth since my surgery in April. I still attach strong bands to it nightly to keep my bite stable, along with some other attachements and whatnot. It doesn't hurt at all, and its a big long screw-I have the pointy part poking out of the roof of my mouth about a millimeter or so. Considering this, I can't imagine tad screws would be much different in terms of comfort level.

[Chicagogal]

it's good to hear you aren't having any issues cvn.

I do think it's similar to tads, its just a bigger plate than just attatching the rubber bands to a screw, with some of them they have tubes for wires to run through as well as band hooks. I think this is what my ortho is using to even out my jaw level and close my open bite. I'm just so worried about bone loss and root damage.

[nell]

Chicagogal I am getting bone plates too (my ortho calls them 'skeletal anchorage plates'). In my case it is to move my molars back and push them deeper into the bone to close my open bite.

They will be inserted in about six months time under general anaesthesia.

From what I have heard, they are more complicated to insert than TAD screws (which can be very easily done by your ortho under local anaesthesia) but actually have lower risk of root damage as the actual screws are inserted higher(in the upper jaw) or lower in the lower jaw)than the roots (ie, not between the roots like TADs are. With TADs if you don't get it exactly right between the teeth then you can screw through the root,from my understanding).

I was told that without this type of anchorage I would be looking at osteotomy to close the open bite which I would like to avoid if possible.

good luck with their insertion - I will keep an eye on how you go!

[Chicagogal]

Nell! So glad I found you, or you found me as-it-were. My bone plates are also intended to close my open bite in much of the same way. Only, I was told that it would be under local anesthesia (or if I wanted to pay more, general). i'm pretty freaked about that part! It definitely seemed more invasive than local would call for. I'm glad to hear that there is potentially a lower risk of root damage with these. I've read studies from several years ago with mixed reviews, but anticipate it has gotten better.

i'll keep you posted on mine as it should be in the next month or so that I get plated/anchored. i'm also doing this to avoid any other type of surgery. hoping it works!!

[nell]

Chicagogal, I am not as brave as you - definitely general anaesthesia for me! I was a bit worried at first about having these plates put in, but as far as oral surgery goes it is pretty minor I have been told.

Funny, when I first went to the ortho I was just testing the water to see if I was a candidate for Invisalign (unfortunately not). At that stage I told him that wasn't interested if I had to have formal braces (now I am getting them), extractions (hoping to get by without these), or any surgical intervention. Then I agreed to banding, skeletal plate insertion, and although I do not want orthognathic surgery (and never, ever, ever would have thought that I needed it, given I thought I would just get invisalign to straighten my uppers!) I can see that there is a small possibility that i will need osteotomy!

Maybe my family is right and I am crazy to be getting braces!

I will wait to hear of your surgery - good luck!! At least these plates give really good anchorage and can now be used where orthognathic surgery was essential.

[nell]

Chicagogal, how are you getting along with your surgery? Good luck!

[Chicagogal]

Hi Nell! Thanks for asking.
I just went for my final pres-surgical consult today. The staff all seem to act like what I'm having done is no big deal compared to the rest of what they do (probably true, but it's a big deal to me!).

i'll be going in next Friday 1/21/11 for the surgery. Apparently the actual surgery time is only 30 minutes, but longer obviously if there's anesthesia prep and recovery room time. I hate that my doc gave me a choice between local and general actually. I wish he would've just forced me to do general! I'm doing local, but probably with the addition of gas so that I'm not too aware about what's going on.

I'll give you the details in a couple weeks if you're interested!

[50+]

I got 3 TADs inserted in September and I almost forget they are there and they are doing the job!! ALOT better than headgear I'd say! I had local anes and was awake the entire time. I just relaxed and let them do their job and so glad I was able to 'walk' out and not be loopy with the meds. I'd do it all over again, if I needed to, but the next time they will be touched will to have them removed!! My ortho is very pleased with how they are working as I am his "special" case! I had them inserted to help with closing gaps left form 3 molars being pulled. He has anchored them to teeth next to them to help pull the others the way he wants them to go. I hope your procedure goes smoothly. Let me know how you do! btw I had an oral surgeon do the TADs and insurance didn't cover, so didn't want to pay the extra for the general anes!

[50+]

Another thing- before they started, I filled out all the necessary paperwork just IN CASE, I started to freak out so they could give me general. I was even told I'd need to have a pregnancy test done...LOL...I'm 50+!!! LOL

[nell]

Glad they went well for you 50+ - you can't be too careful nowadays since isn't 50 the new 30 ??

Chicagogal, thanks for the update, best of luck for your surgery in the next couple of weeks, I would love to hear how you go. Hopefully it will be a breeze - be brave! (well, you are much braver than me!)