Surgery for the over 50 crowd?

[redwine]

Wonder if we could start a thread for those of us that qualify for AARP? I'm 55, female, and just starting the quest (torture?). I will be getting SARPE, braces, and will (later) have my lower jaw advanced about 10mm. I'm excited and just want to get the ball rolling! I saw a post from someone simiar to me - parents couldn't afford ortho, then I put myself second (and third & fourth) for many years. Now I'm really goona do it!

[Prof N Braces]

I had lower advancement (10 mm) 1 year ago at age 56. The ortho said I would be in braces for one year before and one year after surgery, so I am (impatiently) waiting for the end of this journey. Good luck to you and to all of us who are getting new smiles and profiles.

[redwine]

Hooray for you! And for me, too. Good to know it won't be impossible. Luckily, two years goes a lot faster for me nowadays! I, too, will be getting about 10mm. Thanks!

[carolyndowdy]

[quote="redwine"]Hooray for you! And for me, too. Good to know it won't be impossible. Luckily, two years goes a lot faster for me nowadays! I, too, will be getting about 10mm. Thanks![/quote]


I am 52. I got damon braces at 51. 10 months into braces. No surgery talk for me but I have tongue thrust that she put spikes on my bottom teeth to correct and it hurts. Trying to learn to swallow correctly at 52 is a challenge.

[Kathleen Clifford]

i had lower jaw advancement surgery 12 months ago i am having a lot of problems now. it was done in Ireland could anyone recommend someone in the UK to me for a second opinion it looks like i will be needing a second operation.

[shanewatson2487]

Dentures are prosthetic devices designed to replace natural teeth that have been removed because of decay, disease or accident. Partial dentures are replacement teeth attached to a gum-like plastic plate that replicates the natural structure of the gums. A metal brace is traditionally, added for support, but innovations include flexible technologies, to replace the metal bracing.oral sugery

[Vicki]

Good Morning! I'm 53 (going to be 54 next week) and have just passed the year mark for braces as I prepare for my double jaw surgery in the fall (don't have a date yet). I am getting quite anxious about the recovery period and have even thought of not doing it. But then I think, if I go ahead with the surgery this time next year it will be over. And if I don't do it, I'll still have the same issues as before this time next year. Easy decision - too bad it took me 3 decades to decide to do it!!!

[redwine]

[quote="Vicki"]Good Morning! I'm 53 (going to be 54 next week) and have just passed the year mark for braces as I prepare for my double jaw surgery in the fall (don't have a date yet). I am getting quite anxious about the recovery period and have even thought of not doing it. But then I think, if I go ahead with the surgery this time next year it will be over. And if I don't do it, I'll still have the same issues as before this time next year. Easy decision - too bad it took me 3 decades to decide to do it!!![/quote]

Took me forever to decide to do it as well - I had been told that the only way to fix things was to have teeth removed and repositioned. Sounded far too painful and disgusting to me! I only found out about this type of surgery a very few years ago, and I had other things occupying me at the time. So now I'm finally getting things done! I just found out yesterday that insurance will cover it, so hope to get the whole process started for real before my 56th(!) birthday in August. I totally agree - two years is a long time, but I've gone for nearly ten times longer than that being unable to eat things like apples, good bread and many other things. I am soooo looking forward to getting things moving along and doing something for me for a change. Good luck to you! I'll watch for you to post a date.

[Scout5353]

I am 59 and had double jaw surgery 3 months ago. I was told that I would have braces for 1.5 years before surgery and 1.5 years after surgery. It turned out to be more than 3 years before surgery and, hopefully, only 8-10 months afterwards. The surgery was 9 hours long (also included genioplasty, neck lift and turbinate reduction) and actually was not a bad experience. Hardly any pain afterward. I came on this site tonight to research lingering nerve damage because most of my chin and lower lip are still tingling and I'm afraid it may be permanent. No pain, just pretty annoying.

[yogapaws]

Hi Redwine!

I was braced on 1/27/12 @ 55 years. I will be 56 next week.

Orthodontist says my teeth are "responding rapidly" to treatment so I may not need to be in treatment full two years. I also questioned (resisted) removal of 2-4 teeth. Now the ortho says he doesn't think it will be necessary- I will have a little flare but I think I can deal with that.

No other surgical procedures have been mentioned/discussed.

I am really glad & grateful I can finally have this done! My daughter's care was partially funded with a professional discount (worked for an endodontist & in medical offices). Wished I had taken advantage of that for myself but now is just a better time for me!

Last thing- I was a red wine drinker before treatment- but can barely stand it now. Have you, or any other readers notice a taste change in this or other "adult beverages"?

[redwine]

Here I am, still waiting to get started. First I was told surgery was approved, then, approved pending more info. Now everyone at the ins. co. agrees I am officially APPROVED!!! So, now my ortho and surgeon are having lunch(!) on Wednesday to discuss the exact treatment plan. Wish I could join them. Anyhow, things are once again moving, paperwork-wise. Still waiting to get the teeth moving. Why do they refer to us as patients? I am definately an impatient! Last I heard, it was braces for about 6 mos., then SARPE, braces for another 12 mos., then lower jaw extended about a centimeter. Six or so months after that, I hope to be smiling, eating normally - good crusty bread and crunchy apples sound heavenly. Haven't been able to eat either one for years. One of the few good things about getting older is that time seems to pass much more quickly. I'll get a detailed plan soon, wish me luck! Hope to get started by the end of the month. Wishful thinking, I suppose...

[redwine]

Hi Redwine!

I was braced on 1/27/12 @ 55 years. I will be 56 next week.

Orthodontist says my teeth are "responding rapidly" to treatment so I may not need to be in treatment full two years. I also questioned (resisted) removal of 2-4 teeth. Now the ortho says he doesn't think it will be necessary- I will have a little flare but I think I can deal with that.

No other surgical procedures have been mentioned/discussed.

I am really glad & grateful I can finally have this done! My daughter's care was partially funded with a professional discount (worked for an endodontist & in medical offices). Wished I had taken advantage of that for myself but now is just a better time for me!

Last thing- I was a red wine drinker before treatment- but can barely stand it now. Have you, or any other readers notice a taste change in this or other "adult beverages"?

Oops, I forgot. Happy Birthday! Mine is at the end of August. I'd love to get this started before then! So, what do you drink now? I would happily give up alcohol if in return I got a mouth that functioned properly!

[powaqa]

Hi all, I've been needing surgery since i was 16 -- 40 years! I have a class III underbite. My orthodontist at the time gave my parents the choice of doing the surgery or angling my lower teeth back under my upper teeth. They chose the latter for many reasons, cost certainly was one of them. The long term affects to my facial aesthetics as well as my teeth, and consequently other aspects of my life, have been been detrimental. So, at 56, I'm looking into it, terrified and filled with questions. Am I too old? How much does this cost? How much pain is involved? Who deals with the insurance company? If insurance refuses to cover it, what will I be charged? I have a good dentist. How do I find a good surgeon -- one with technical and aesthetic skills? What will I look like afterward? How do I find an orthodontist? Who coordinates the treatment plan? Should they fix my "turkey waddle" at the same time? (seriously). It's all so bewildering I feel like my head is going to explode. (ha, that would certainly make all of this moot wouldn't it!)
I live in St. Louis, Mo.
Any comments or guidance would be appreciated.

[Scout5353]

Hi all, I've been needing surgery since i was 16 -- 40 years! I have a class III underbite. My orthodontist at the time gave my parents the choice of doing the surgery or angling my lower teeth back under my upper teeth. They chose the latter for many reasons, cost certainly was one of them. The long term affects to my facial aesthetics as well as my teeth, and consequently other aspects of my life, have been been detrimental. So, at 56, I'm looking into it, terrified and filled with questions. Am I too old? How much does this cost? How much pain is involved? Who deals with the insurance company? If insurance refuses to cover it, what will I be charged? I have a good dentist. How do I find a good surgeon -- one with technical and aesthetic skills? What will I look like afterward? How do I find an orthodontist? Who coordinates the treatment plan? Should they fix my "turkey waddle" at the same time? (seriously). It's all so bewildering I feel like my head is going to explode. (ha, that would certainly make all of this moot wouldn't it!)
I live in St. Louis, Mo.
Any comments or guidance would be appreciated.

I sent you a private message. Email me if you'd like.

[redwine]

Hi all, I've been needing surgery since i was 16 -- 40 years! I have a class III underbite. My orthodontist at the time gave my parents the choice of doing the surgery or angling my lower teeth back under my upper teeth. They chose the latter for many reasons, cost certainly was one of them. The long term affects to my facial aesthetics as well as my teeth, and consequently other aspects of my life, have been been detrimental. So, at 56, I'm looking into it, terrified and filled with questions. Am I too old? How much does this cost? How much pain is involved? Who deals with the insurance company? If insurance refuses to cover it, what will I be charged? I have a good dentist. How do I find a good surgeon -- one with technical and aesthetic skills? What will I look like afterward? How do I find an orthodontist? Who coordinates the treatment plan? Should they fix my "turkey waddle" at the same time? (seriously). It's all so bewildering I feel like my head is going to explode. (ha, that would certainly make all of this moot wouldn't it!)
I live in St. Louis, Mo.
Any comments or guidance would be appreciated.

My Dr's have been coordinating the insurance - however not all insurance covers this sort of thing. I'm paying for the braces out-of-pocket, but the SARPE & lower jaw surgery will be covered - under medical rather than dental. I expect facial features to change somewhat; mostly I'll be getting a chin! I am 55, soon to be 56 and while I am in the minority in both ortho & surgeons office, neither of them think I'm too old. Costs differ so wildly that I don't think anyone but your orthodontist & surgeon will be able to give you anything close to a good quote. I checked out a couple of orthodontists before choosing one that I liked. They took a team approach, and after they decided what they wanted to do, my guy had lunch with the surgeon to map out a plan. I picked the surgeon because my insurance plan covered him. I asked him a lot of questions before I decided to go with him. Then I had to wait for insurance to decide if they were going to cover it. Evidently my mouth was bad enough that it didn't take them long to decide it was medically necessary. I guess, in a way, I'm lucky. However, you bring up an interesting subject - that of the "turkey wattle". I'm gonna ask about that.