Dramatic jaw changes from putting surgery off

[trossi]

Hey, I have and always have had an open bite. When I first had braces I was in high school and by the end of the braces I decided not to do jaw surgery because my teeth were straight and although i still had an open bite, my front teeth just touched my bottom teeth. ( no overbite, my top jaw doesn't even come forward of my bottom jaw)
Deciding not to deal with it back then was a big mistake.
I'm 24, so over a few years my jaw has changed completely, my midline is off now and I pretty much only chew with the back of one side. Most of my teeth don't touch at all. Along with all that, I'm getting horrible neck pain and headaches associated with my bite.
So it now looks like I'm going to have to go through it all again.
I don't know if my orthodontist just didn't realize that my bite could actually get worse, or what.
I was also informed by my new dentist (who is great and also does some orthodontics, but not cases like mine) that the four extracted teeth i had before braces, i think pre molars but i;'m not sure, shouldn't have been extracted as it will make it more difficult to align the jaws with jaw surgery.
Just want to tell you guys, if you have a bite problem and you are considering fixing it but you aren't sure, get a second opinion if they tell you it wont make a big difference, because you might end up where I am in a few years.

[RyanND]

I had braces all in highschool (4 years) and knew I was going to have to have surgery, but I didnt feel comfortable with the first surgeon I met. I went to another, and he said I would need to wait at least 4 more years before having surgery, so I had my braces taken off for 3 years, and had changes.

My jaw itself had moved from my facial structure still growing, so it was best that I had waited.

For your case, you probably could have had surgery but think if this movement was due to your facial structure growing and changing since men usually arent fully developed at 18 - you would need to re-do the surgery or not have a perfect bite afterwords, which would have made the surgery pointless I feel.


Just my 2 cents on the situation, it sucks but in the end the wait will probably have been worth it.

[jaylosonatural]

wow..that sucks...hope things work out for you

[Nathaniel]

I had braces all in highschool (4 years) and knew I was going to have to have surgery, but I didnt feel comfortable with the first surgeon I met. I went to another, and he said I would need to wait at least 4 more years before having surgery, so I had my braces taken off for 3 years, and had changes.

My jaw itself had moved from my facial structure still growing, so it was best that I had waited.

For your case, you probably could have had surgery but think if this movement was due to your facial structure growing and changing since men usually arent fully developed at 18 - you would need to re-do the surgery or not have a perfect bite afterwords, which would have made the surgery pointless I feel.


Just my 2 cents on the situation, it sucks but in the end the wait will probably have been worth it.

Agreed! it's best that you have waited.

[trossi]

Thanks for the advice everyone, they only concern that I have from waiting, is that I have worn my back teeth down and that may be a problem.

[RyanND]

There may be some wear, but the effects of it now will be much less than waiting longer. Plus they can always put a sealer on your teeth (not optimal) but thats better than having had the surgery years ago, and now having excessive tooth wear stating to happen again because your jaw grew and got worse while your jaw developed.


I guess it also depends on how bad your situation was - I have minor wear but its nothing horrible so I dont need to get my teeth sealed or anything yet.

[trossi]

There may be some wear, but the effects of it now will be much less than waiting longer. Plus they can always put a sealer on your teeth (not optimal) but thats better than having had the surgery years ago, and now having excessive tooth wear stating to happen again because your jaw grew and got worse while your jaw developed.


I guess it also depends on how bad your situation was - I have minor wear but its nothing horrible so I dont need to get my teeth sealed or anything yet.

I recall having my teeth sealed when i was younger, didn't really know what the purpose was and i didn't question it. Another issue is the pain that has developed. The orthodontist informed me that the pain may not all go away, I get really bad jaw pain, neck pain, and headaches associated with my bite. Actually a major issue that i should have stated but i didn't. I think i made this post before I found this out. I have a tongue thrusting habit that should have been corrected years ago. I don't understand how i went through braces, extractions, ear nose and throat specialists due to breathing issues, and speech therapy as a child, and no one until now has notified me of my tongue thrusting issue. I had no idea this was abnormal until my orthodontist informed me on monday that i am reverse swallowing and therefore pushing my bottom teeth forward. So now on top of everything I need to have speech therapy again to correct this tongue thrust or I'll have a relapse after surgery.