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

[nell]

Hope surgery was a breeze Chicagogal and that you are recovering well!

[Chicagogal]

Nell! Not sure if you've had your surgery yet but I do NOT, I repeat NOT recommend doing this without at least versed sedation. I had local and some gas that I didn't feel any effect of and it was not a good time. No one should have to see the drill coming toward their face and blood and bone chips and I could vaguely feel the screwdriver turn and actually yelled "ouch". I tried to keep my eyes squeezed shut, but it's hard to help blinking and that was pretty horific. I've also kind of screwed myself (no pun intended) for the removal, now that insurance knows that I don't "require" sedation. I'm going to have to get them out the same way in a few months and I'm already anxious.

I was also quite a sight getting my meds afterward with a mouth full of bloody gauze. Fairly certain that everyone at the pharmacy though my boyfriend had beaten me up, it got me to the front of the line though

As far as recovery, it was similar to wisdom teeth as they said. I was done being swollen in a week, though when I went in for my post op he mentioned why one side was more sore, apparently they didn't get it placed right the first time and had to drill more holes. awesome. getting force put on them at the ortho was pretty painful as well, but I do have to say the results have been FAST.

[peckabel]

I have just had sarpe surgery and tads inserted, and by having them put in I am avoiding having further surgery to correct my open bite, so I am happy with this option. I am finding them uncomfortable at the moment I think because of all of my swelling from surgery.
My questions is though should I be knocked out to have them removed? I am a bit of a wuss when it comes to teeth stuff, I got knocked out to have my wisdom teeth removed. The OS said its completely up to me if I want them out in the chair or not, but I am unsure. What do you all recommend? Is it traumatising having them removed?

[Chicagogal]

Not sure about australia, but in the US it was easy to find out which kinds of anesthesia insurance covers, the surgeons office definitely knows the cost of each kind, so it's just a matter of finding out if it's covered; and, if it's not, if it's worth it to you to not be aware of what's going on.

These bone plates are much more invasive than TADs to put in, but TAD removal sounds just as awful so I think some "twilight" type of sedation would be good if you can get it. I'm not sure I'd want the recovery time of going all the way under (which you could determine from your sarpe experience).

[nell]

Hi Chicagogal, great to hear from you.

I am definitely having this done under general anaesthesia! Your account of the ordeal just reinforced to me why I made that decision!!! In fact, I have not heard of anyone here having them under local. You are very brave to go through all that! Makes me shudder...

I am so glad to hear that recovery-wise it was much like wisdom teeth (not that that surgery was pleasant) and I can see how fast your movement has been, wow!

I am still not quite ready for the plates - will see how the ortho thinks my teeth are going at the next appointment!

Hopefully you can work out some way to have the plates removed under general anaesthesia, although I am sure that it will be a LOT easier than going in, since you don't generally have to do any drilling (apparently after cutting the gums you only have to unscrew them which is relatively painless). I will have mine removed under GA. Luckily here where I live the treating doctor is the one who decides what surgery/anaesthesia is appropriate, not the insurance company!

Best of luck with the rest of your ortho work. Will post when I get mine done

[Chicagogal]

Well less than 5 months later and apparently they're done with the bone plates (?!) I'm dreading having them taken out, only because of recovery time and bone healing time (residual arthritic type pain), ugh. But I suppose better that they worked quickly! I kind of want to ask if he really needed them since it was so fast haha. Probably better than having to wear headgear 24/7 I suppose.

back to the surgeon!!