got a question...

This forum is for discussions relating to oral surgery for orthodontics.

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ohshegoes
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:01 pm

got a question...

#1 Post by ohshegoes »

i had my molds done for orthodontics and had my 2nd consultation with my orthodontist where we talked about surgery (since that is my main objective) he said that in his opinion my top jaw would be moved 2-3mm's up and my bottem 4-5mm forward. he referred me an oral surgeon to get a true opinion but until i get in with him i was just wondering if that amount of movement is considered worth surgery or not? i've noticed people have far more adjustment than that. i didnt know if there was a range of movement necessary for insurance to deem it a medical necessity, if that makes sense.

bracedfaced
Posts: 184
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2010 3:02 pm

Re: got a question...

#2 Post by bracedfaced »

My top jaw us being moved up 4-5mm and my lower moved forward 4-5mm. My insurance deemed it medically necessary. Hope that helps.

Bullfighter
Posts: 201
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:20 pm
Location: San Diego, CA

Re: got a question...

#3 Post by Bullfighter »

The lower jaw movement doesn't sound like a lot, but to get a stable result I've been told the teeth have to end up fairly close to vertical -- that is, they have to have good support underneath and can't just be slanted out or in to disguise an overjet, for example.

I would go ahead and check with a few oral surgeons. The adjustment on the upper sounds like it might require surgery, because an orthdontist probably can't achieve that correction just by moving your teeth.

rtxtavi02
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:02 am
Location: Iowa

Re: got a question...

#4 Post by rtxtavi02 »

ohshegoes wrote:i had my molds done for orthodontics and had my 2nd consultation with my orthodontist where we talked about surgery (since that is my main objective) he said that in his opinion my top jaw would be moved 2-3mm's up and my bottem 4-5mm forward. he referred me an oral surgeon to get a true opinion but until i get in with him i was just wondering if that amount of movement is considered worth surgery or not? i've noticed people have far more adjustment than that. i didnt know if there was a range of movement necessary for insurance to deem it a medical necessity, if that makes sense.
My surgeon moved my jaw foward 5.5 mm, but initially only planned for 4 mm. I was a candidate and it was necessary because there was no way the orthodontist could have adjusted my teeth in such a way to create functional bite; it just would have been pushing the bounds trying to lean my top teeth out and my bottom teeth in. Probably would have looked worse than my under bite in the first place.

Get at least two opinions, maybe a third if needed.

Rick
Jan 1998 - 4 Teeth Removed
May 1998 - Braces 1st Time (surgery recommended)
June 2000 - Wisdom Teeth Removed (crowded lower palate)
Dec 2008 - Braces 2nd Time (surgery recommended again)
June 2009 - Bottom Palate Expander
Mar 2011 - Lefort 1 (forward 5.5 mm with malar implants/bone grafting)

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rayray
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2011 1:54 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: got a question...

#5 Post by rayray »

[quote="ohshegoes"]i had my molds done for orthodontics and had my 2nd consultation with my orthodontist where we talked about surgery (since that is my main objective) he said that in his opinion my top jaw would be moved 2-3mm's up and my bottem 4-5mm forward. he referred me an oral surgeon to get a true opinion but until i get in with him i was just wondering if that amount of movement is considered worth surgery or not? i've noticed people have far more adjustment than that. i didnt know if there was a range of movement necessary for insurance to deem it a medical necessity, if that makes sense.[/quote]

Do you have braces on yet? I don't want to assume, but by you having only two Ortho consults, I would say no. Anyways... once you have braces on and you teeth start shifting, you oral surgery plan could change drastically. Your consults with the Oral Surgeons should be at that point, would they operate on you and how. All plans up to about 3-4 months to the surgery is speculation. It a waiting game until that point, but you won't be in the dark.

ohshegoes
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:01 pm

Re: got a question...

#6 Post by ohshegoes »

i havent had braces put on yet. i was also told i would have to extract two teeth from my lower jaw to match previous extractions to my upper. right now my lower jaw is recessed and my teeth are slanted forward.my upper jaw shows alot of gum when laughing and a bit when i'm just smiling. i've had braces twice already with significant amount of work done. however i was much younger and my parents opted for me not to have surgery so i feel like the orthodontist worked around it.

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rayray
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2011 1:54 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: got a question...

#7 Post by rayray »

[quote="ohshegoes"]i havent had braces put on yet. i was also told i would have to extract two teeth from my lower jaw to match previous extractions to my upper. right now my lower jaw is recessed and my teeth are slanted forward. my upper jaw shows alot of gum when laughing and a bit when i'm just smiling. i've had braces twice already with significant amount of work done. however i was much younger and my parents opted for me not to have surgery so i feel like the orthodontist worked around it.[/quote]

If you are going to have extractions, then I am certain your surgical plan would change. Again, you really can't expect to have an accurate surgical plan in place until about 3-4 months prior to your surgery.

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