deep bite and over jet - surgery or compromised treatment?

[oneowl]

Hello, what a great a site! I am a 32 year old male about to get braces for the first time to correct a deep bite (covers 80% of botton) and over-jet. The ortho I went to seems very friendly and has been in my area for over 20 years so I feel confident in his opinion. I always felt like a have a short face and weak jaw due to the deep bite and finally decided to get braces. My ortho recommended jaw surgery 1st but I am not comfortable with this as a first resort so he said he said he was also able to attempt "compromised" treatment in which my appearance would be improved without having surgery or achieving optimal results. The treatment planner said that my overbite could be fixed and my overjet could be improved and camo'd to look good. I usually jet my lower teeth forward to hide my bite and would be more then happy if I could achieve this profile without surgery. Is this a realistic expectation? I understand I would have a bite plate to wear along with braces to allow back molars to grow and touch. My teeth are straight with slight crowding and no extractions would be necessary. I did have to agree to the surgery if he was unable to achieve a compromise he or I was satisfied with. Would he even recommend a compromise if he didn't think he could do it or achieve a improved result?

thank you for all opinions,

[drgnchsr36]

Hmm. I have a deep bite as well, mine is 100%, it completely covers my bottom teeth. Not once was I recommended for surgery. So, that's interesting. Might be a difference in jaws. But, the orthos that I got consultations with stated I would either need the bite plate or the buildups to prevent my teeth from hitting - but that's still a month off from now. Right now I just have top braces. But, they all stated that it could be fixed with braces alone.

Have you talked to a surgeon yet?

[oneowl]

no, i only need to see the surgeon if the orthodontist cannot achieve a look he is happy with. i hope he would not attempt it without surgery if he did not think it was possible. my teeth are actually quite straight its just my over bite and jet that i am unhappy with.

[drgnchsr36]

I would think the ortho could fix it with braces alone. If you look at my story, it has pictures and I'm hoping that it'll all be fixed within 2 years!

[Lc1987]

Hey, I have a deepbite/overbite too though my teeth pretty much totally cover my bottom teeth.
I'm having jaw surgery on mine but I also have an asymmetrical jaw & my jaw didnt grow forward enough to match my face. So they are bringing top and bottom forward and reducing my chin to match it :S

I found a video of a girl that was offered surgery but wanted just braces. Her after pic looks ace! Hopefully after seeing this you will have more confidence in your braces-only outcome...I hope so

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u_scVpXbaI