I'm getting a Le Fort 1 advancement without braces next week

[toastman]

I'll keep a long story as short as I can. I got my braces off when I was 18 and I'm now 26. I always wore my retainer and my teeth have remained 90% straight.
My first visit with my surgeon, he told me what he was going to do, and mentioned that I would more than likely need braces for several months pre-surgery and several months post op. I told him there was no damn way I was going to wear those metal things in my mouth again. So after taking my molds, he went to another room . He came back with good news, saying I can undergo the upper jaw advancement without braces before, because my molds fit 90% perfect. In other words, my bite would be 90% perfect (which is fine with me!) The way he does this is by moving the upper mold in the way he plans on doing so in the surgery, and if the teeth meet properly, than you can do the surgery without braces. Apparently I'm a very rare case. He also mentioned that I could get invisalign braces after the surgery to fine tune everything to make it 100% perfect if I wanted to .

Now I'm kind of nervous doing this surgery because I have only found several people who had jaw surgery without braces, but only like 2 or 3. They seemed to be happy. But they were from old videos or posts. I would like to meet someone who has done the same procedure without braces.

Let me also say that my surgeon is one of the best in the city (Montreal) and is on the board of directors of. Maxillo-facial surgery in Quebec, and he has excellent ratings. He and his partner (who will be helping with the surgery) are in the top 10 rated oral surgeons in the city (I dunno if that means anything even haha)

[toastman]

Also when I asked him what the 10% will be, he said it is stuff that only orthos and surgeons would notice if they were to examine my mouth. Like I said I'm perfectly ok with having a 90% bite if it means no metal braces !!

I guess I'm just looking for reassurance ! Im nervous

[maxhammer]

I'd put the braces on. Sorry I can't reassure you. When messing with your face, you want to give yourself every opportunity for success. The braces allow fine tuning before and after surgery. You want the jaws to line up right and you want to minimize complications. Just my opinion, but there's a reason most surgeons require it.

Don't you think it's weird he said you needed braces, then "went in the other room" and miraculously you didn't need them anymore? I'd not only put braces on but find a new surgeon--this guy wants the money and is willing to compromise your treatment.

[toastman]

No i dont think it weird. Normally doctors play around with your molds in another room as well as examining the x rays. They dont do that in front of you. But he did last week show me what my bite would look like by showing me the molds together. It looked perfect when i examined it
He didnt come in the room and say i dont need braces, he said i can have a succesful surgery without braces. Thank you anyway for rresponding

[maxhammer]

Okay. I'm not trying to be a downer. I just think it would be a shame if you went through all this and had complications due to not wearing braces for a few months. If you don't feel that way, then you have your answer and you're ready to go.

[toastman]

[quote="maxhammer"]Okay. I'm not trying to be a downer. I just think it would be a shame if you went through all this and had complications due to not wearing braces for a few months. If you don't feel that way, then you have your answer and you're ready to go.[/quote]
You're not being a downder. I really meant it when I said I appreciated your response. I just fail too see how an experienced surgeon whos perfromed many of these surgeries would lie about the outcome. But i respec t your advice.

[Marisama]

Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

[toastman]

[quote="RYANvaughn"]Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.[/quote]
Doubt that. My teeth are. very straight and in good poistion

[maxhammer]

I just fail too see how an experienced surgeon whos perfromed many of these surgeries would lie about the outcome.

a. because he wants your money.
b. he might not be lying. he might think he can do it. but surgeries aren't precise, and even the best surgeons can be off a mm or so.
c. other

sounds like you're not doing your research. and the fact you're asking the board this question means you're not completely content in doing this without braces. when we confirm you shouldn't skimp on braces, you defend your position. so it is pretty clear to me you just don't want to be in the braces and will listen to any surgeon who says you don't have to wear them. dangerous mindset to be in.

[toastman]

[quote="maxhammer"][quote="toastman"]I just fail too see how an experienced surgeon whos perfromed many of these surgeries would lie about the outcome.[/quote]

a. because he wants your money.
b. he might not be lying. he might think he can do it. but surgeries aren't precise, and even the best surgeons can be off a mm or so.
c. other

sounds like you're not doing your research. and the fact you're asking the board this question means you're not completely content in doing this without braces. when we confirm you shouldn't skimp on braces, you defend your position. it is pretty clear to me you just don't want to be in the braces and will listen to any surgeon who says you don't have to wear them. dangerous mindset to be in.[/quote]
Lucky for me, he is one of the top surgeons in the province. Not just any surgeon. I can see where this thread is going.

[toastman]

Can a mod delete this thread please. I shouldn't have started it I'm so sorry. I will start a new thread with the results

[Linnie]

I trust that your surgeon knows what he is doing. I don't see why he would be looking for the money or the business AND risking his reputation for performing surgery in less than ideal conditions. Good luck!

[toastman]

I trust that your surgeon knows what he is doing. I don't see why he would be looking for the money or the business AND risking his reputation for performing surgery in less than ideal conditions. Good luck!

Thank you linnie that makes me feel more comfortable.

[ReoSity]

I guess if the lefort is only an impaction without any other kind of rotation and you have a class I bite than it's possible you wouldn't need pre-surgery orthodontics. But your getting an advancement right?

You have to remember though that the braces aren't worn just to move the teeth in the right position for the surgery, they're also stabilize the bite post-surgery or else your teeth can shift.

Will he at least be putting you in braces during the surgery? Every case that I've read about that didn't have them prior had surgical braces during the procedure.

It's strange though that he'd say you'll need braces and then when you refused he changed his mind.

[toastman]

I guess if the lefort is only an impaction without any other kind of rotation and you have a class I bite than it's possible you wouldn't need pre-surgery orthodontics. But your getting an advancement right?

You have to remember though that the braces aren't worn just to move the teeth in the right position for the surgery, they're also stabilize the bite post-surgery or else your teeth can shift.

Will he at least be putting you in braces during the surgery? Every case that I've read about that didn't have them prior had surgical braces during the procedure.

It's strange though that he'd say you'll need braces and then when you refused he changed his mind.

He said I would likely need braces. And i dont think braces are there to stabaliE the bite. Its the screws and plates that do that . He will use archbars to band me shut and stabaliE the bite.