Hi all, I am 51 and am considering having jaw surgery on my lower jaw as I have a 7 mm overjet. I currently have braces (as of last Tuesday - yay!) but my orthodontist has said that I will probably need to have the lower jaw moved forward to compensate for my overbite as it is skeletal and cant be wholly corrected with braces ( Class II, division 1 malocclusion as they say in the orthodontic world). We will be waiting till the braces have done the aligning until we make a decision. My parents didn't believe in orthodontics ( guess it wasn't considered as socially necessary as in the US?) although I suspect they could have afforded it. Anywayz, I am now (well and truly) an adult so I am paying for it all myself. I was going to do it when I was 35 but chickened out when I saw the periodontist's scalpel! However, aside from the regret of wearing my back teeth right down and the looming heightened potential of tooth loss due to gum recession (presumably exacerbated via the braces), I am really glad to be doing this now because I am so appreciative. I have already started to note a difference in my front teeth (where I have snaggles and crowding etc.) and strangely my smile appears to me to be wider - or is this just wishful thinking? I talked to my orthodontist on the phone after panicking on Friday as I was in pain and couldnt imagine how I was going to cope with having braces on for two years. She was lovely, very supportive and encouraging (although I am probably helping to pay for next trip to Europe!)
I am just wondering about how painful the surgery is and what types of food you can eat etc. Do they chuck you out of hospital straight away or keep you in until you can look after yourself? Should I arrange to stay with a friend? Do they guarantee that you will not lose sensation in your lips or mouth?
Appreciate any input!
Is the Surgery worth it?
Moderator: bbsadmin
Re: Is the Surgery worth it?
I am a 52 year male that has a very simliar experience. I lost a tooth and had to have an implant back in October 2010. Was told the implant would not last and I would lose more teeth if I didn't get them straightened. So off to the Ortho I went. He put me in braces in November 2010 and at the time told me braces would help but that I would also have to have lower jaw surgery. And so the journey began. I am now nearly 13 weeks Post Op. Had my surgery on June 27, 2012. Still in braces and just last week went back to Ortho to begin post surgery adjustments. I can share plenty. Where would you like to start?
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Fullyembraced
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2012 11:55 pm
Re: Is the Surgery worth it?
Well,
I would really like to know since you seem to have been referred to orthodontics on the basis of functionality - prior to all this starting did you have any probs with your appearance? Also if you could tell me what your "diagnosis" was - did you have crooked teeth? I am doing this mainly because I want my smile and face to look better. But I also have had some signs of sleep apnoea ( my dentist diagnosed this) due to constricted airway, snoring, mouth breathing etc. As I mentioned of course I also have worn down the teeth at the back although my teeth grinding habit was no doubt exacerbated by my stressful job (which I have now left). So tell me about the surgery. I have read some posts on facebook (jaw surgery group) where people have had upper and lower and also genioplasty. Seems a lot! I wonder if having something like this is harder when you are older and people keep saying "Oh you've lived with it this long" etc etc. Someone who has had the surgery also said that she was not treated well by nurses as they considered that she was having unnecessary surgery that's "just cosmetic". I noticed that a lot of people who are critical or surprised have had braces when they were teenagers and their parents paid for it all!
A few more questions. How long were you off work and did people notice a big difference in your appearance? Were you in a lot of pain? How did you eat? How long were you in hospital? What happened when you left hospital - did you have someone to look after you? Whereabouts are you based?
OK. Thanks so much for getting back to me -
FE
I would really like to know since you seem to have been referred to orthodontics on the basis of functionality - prior to all this starting did you have any probs with your appearance? Also if you could tell me what your "diagnosis" was - did you have crooked teeth? I am doing this mainly because I want my smile and face to look better. But I also have had some signs of sleep apnoea ( my dentist diagnosed this) due to constricted airway, snoring, mouth breathing etc. As I mentioned of course I also have worn down the teeth at the back although my teeth grinding habit was no doubt exacerbated by my stressful job (which I have now left). So tell me about the surgery. I have read some posts on facebook (jaw surgery group) where people have had upper and lower and also genioplasty. Seems a lot! I wonder if having something like this is harder when you are older and people keep saying "Oh you've lived with it this long" etc etc. Someone who has had the surgery also said that she was not treated well by nurses as they considered that she was having unnecessary surgery that's "just cosmetic". I noticed that a lot of people who are critical or surprised have had braces when they were teenagers and their parents paid for it all!
A few more questions. How long were you off work and did people notice a big difference in your appearance? Were you in a lot of pain? How did you eat? How long were you in hospital? What happened when you left hospital - did you have someone to look after you? Whereabouts are you based?
OK. Thanks so much for getting back to me -
FE
Re: Is the Surgery worth it?
hello Fullyembraced, I can sort of relate to you. I also went through a period of thinking is this all worth it.
I am younger than you, 18 years of age and I have a different problem than yours, I have a crossbite, & tmj and I will be having lower jaw surgery and genioplasty. However my ortho said to me that they may be reviewing my need for upper jaw surgery for further down the line.
I think you're the only one who can really decide if its really worth it. If you really want to go through with this then do so, you can afford it, so why not?! It doesn't matter about age, there is a lot of people on here that have had surgery/orthodontics at an older age! You did mention you had sleep apneoa, which ive heard surgery can fix this? If so you're not really doing it just for cosmetic reasons alone.
I've decided to go ahead with it because of cosmetic and functional reasons!
As for staying in the hospital, my oral surgeon said to me I'd be in for 3-5 days, however, may well be different for you, these are things you are going to have to discuss with your ortho/surgeon. My ortho also told me that, EVERYONE will have some form of numbness because the nerve is bruised however in some patients, this can last for weeks/months/years or even ever!!!
How long is your estimated treatment time?
I am younger than you, 18 years of age and I have a different problem than yours, I have a crossbite, & tmj and I will be having lower jaw surgery and genioplasty. However my ortho said to me that they may be reviewing my need for upper jaw surgery for further down the line.
I think you're the only one who can really decide if its really worth it. If you really want to go through with this then do so, you can afford it, so why not?! It doesn't matter about age, there is a lot of people on here that have had surgery/orthodontics at an older age! You did mention you had sleep apneoa, which ive heard surgery can fix this? If so you're not really doing it just for cosmetic reasons alone.
I've decided to go ahead with it because of cosmetic and functional reasons!
As for staying in the hospital, my oral surgeon said to me I'd be in for 3-5 days, however, may well be different for you, these are things you are going to have to discuss with your ortho/surgeon. My ortho also told me that, EVERYONE will have some form of numbness because the nerve is bruised however in some patients, this can last for weeks/months/years or even ever!!!
How long is your estimated treatment time?
Been in braces foreverrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
Re: Is the Surgery worth it?
Fullyembraced,
I will share my personal experience in hope that is helps you in some way. I am a 52 year old male based in the U.S. I never had braces as a child but have since learned all my corrections could have been done without surgery if I had started in my teens. As I said, I never had any trouble with my teeth in my first 50 years. It all started with cracking a tooth and having to get an implant in the Fall of 2010. My teeth were slightly crooked my whole life but I had lived with them for 50 years, so never thought about braces, let alone surgery. Then I cracked and lost a tooth. Have also been told I have fractures on several other teeth and hoping to have them crowned after braces in hopes that saves them.
I had braces put on November 2010 and knew at the time someday I had to have surgery for my bottom jaw, which was extended 9 millimeters. I did not have the genioplasty as I felt less was more. I never had any concerns with my appearance prior to surgery and now even after surgery I have no issues in terms of how my jaw looked with the overbite and now how my chin now looks like with my jaw moved forward. Quite frankly, my appearance did not bother me pre-surgery and has not changed post-surgery. So I had zero cosmetic motivation for the surgery. Looking back, that has been a big factor in my understanding of "was it worth it". Had I been motivated to change my physical appearance to move my jaw forward, I think the negative things would have been much easier to accept.
I did not worry about the surgey until the day my Ortho said I was ready. And then I freaked out. Not sure why, but my anxiety got the best of me. My advice - do not let that happen to you. Be prepared and know at they are helping you! When it's time for surgery, it's time for surgery and get on with it and your life. That would have helped me.
I went on a scheduled family vacation as soon as Ortho said go, and we ended up coming home early so I could move the scheduled surgery date up and get on with it. The surgery was at 7:00 AM on Wednesday, June 27 and took about 2 hours. I was in the hospital for one night and released to go home the following afternoon. That was a Thursday around 4:00 PM. I do not remember much of the next 2 or 3 days, not because of pain meds but more of putting myself into a restful and sleeping state to get through percevied trauma of the first days. Looking back it was not that bad. I had not slept much the week before surgery (worrying) so I was sleeping 18 hours a day for the first 2-3 days when I got home. I was on a recliner as I was told I had to be upright to limit the swelling. I was banded completey shut for 9 days. I wore ice packs and drank Boost and Encore through a straw. I never had the least bit of pain as I was completely numb on my cheeks, and lower gums, lip, and chin. On July 6th I had my bands cut off and the fact that I was no longer tightly shut was a huge mental boost. That is when I started to get back to some bit of normal. I began excercising again, I went back to work on Monday, July 9 and began eating mushed food (in a food processor). That included pizza with water, Chinese food grinded into mush, mashed potatoes, soups, yogurt, cottage cheese......
I also noticed my tongue was numb and that had the effect of constantly having a metal taste in my mouth. My Oral Surgeon warned me about the numbess of the lip and chin, but not the tongue. The stretching of the nerves in the jaw bone causing the lip and chin numbness is common and I was warned of the possibility of permanent numbness, but a numb tongue is uncommon. The nerve for the tongue was stretched during retraction for the surgery and to date it has been the most negative thing in this whole ordeal.
At the end of 6 weeks I was allowed to begin eating solid food but that was a problem and continues to be, with the numbness in my lower lip. When I chew, I bite my lip. I am now at nearly 13 weeks and have been released by my surgeon (nothing more he can do) to go back to my Ortho. My surgeon is optimistic I will regain feeling in my tongue. The numbness is only on one side and in his measurements he can tell the numb area is decresasing in size. But the metal taste continues and that is the problem. There is no numbness on the top or bottom of my tongue and that is good becasue if there was, it would impact my speech.
The numbness in my lower lip and chin has gone away in my right side nearly 90%. The left side of my lower lip and chin has continued to remain numb but just in the last 3 weeks I have had tingling sensations. That is postive news as it is a sign the nerve is trying to regenerate. I have been told that 13 weeks is a long time to have numbness and be prepared for less than a full revoery. I think I can begin to feel some pressure wehn applied to my lip and chin, but I do not feel hot and cold and sharp pricks to that area. But I remain, optimistic, hopeful and postive that the feeling returns. And I am learning to live with it. I see my oral surgeon one more time in 3 weeks to take one last measurement of the numbness.... but it is more for his learning than my benefit, as there is nothing more he can do for me. The older we are the longer the nerve takes to heal and the more risk of permanent numbness there is.
I am now starting back with my Ortho to make post surgery adjustments. I am wearing bands and hoping that I have no more than a year to go in braces. I can eat nearly anything (except peanuts, steak, ....hard things). I have never had any pain. The surgery was far less troublesome than all the worry I did beforehand. My Surgeon and Ortho are pleased with the results. The metal taste is bothersome. The numbness is a problem, but I can learn to accept wehn there is no other choice or alternative. Biting my lip when I chew is a problem but hoping final braces alignment corrects that.
I work hard to stay postive and patient. My surgeon confessed the last time that he failed to make sure I understood how long the total healing process is (it is 12 months!) and to reaffirm all the positive things I am gaining (saving my teeth, ability to have the implant, straightned teeth, no TMJ worries, no dentures later in life....). I am optimistic and hopeful andknow that I have the best doctors that truly want to help me. I have reset my expectations to the 12 motnh healing cycle. I am defnitely self concious when I speak and eat in public and hoping healing and time diminishes that.
Would I do it all over again? Ask me in a year and I think I will say, YES.
Hope this helps. Please share your journey with me.
All the best,
Bomb
I will share my personal experience in hope that is helps you in some way. I am a 52 year old male based in the U.S. I never had braces as a child but have since learned all my corrections could have been done without surgery if I had started in my teens. As I said, I never had any trouble with my teeth in my first 50 years. It all started with cracking a tooth and having to get an implant in the Fall of 2010. My teeth were slightly crooked my whole life but I had lived with them for 50 years, so never thought about braces, let alone surgery. Then I cracked and lost a tooth. Have also been told I have fractures on several other teeth and hoping to have them crowned after braces in hopes that saves them.
I had braces put on November 2010 and knew at the time someday I had to have surgery for my bottom jaw, which was extended 9 millimeters. I did not have the genioplasty as I felt less was more. I never had any concerns with my appearance prior to surgery and now even after surgery I have no issues in terms of how my jaw looked with the overbite and now how my chin now looks like with my jaw moved forward. Quite frankly, my appearance did not bother me pre-surgery and has not changed post-surgery. So I had zero cosmetic motivation for the surgery. Looking back, that has been a big factor in my understanding of "was it worth it". Had I been motivated to change my physical appearance to move my jaw forward, I think the negative things would have been much easier to accept.
I did not worry about the surgey until the day my Ortho said I was ready. And then I freaked out. Not sure why, but my anxiety got the best of me. My advice - do not let that happen to you. Be prepared and know at they are helping you! When it's time for surgery, it's time for surgery and get on with it and your life. That would have helped me.
I went on a scheduled family vacation as soon as Ortho said go, and we ended up coming home early so I could move the scheduled surgery date up and get on with it. The surgery was at 7:00 AM on Wednesday, June 27 and took about 2 hours. I was in the hospital for one night and released to go home the following afternoon. That was a Thursday around 4:00 PM. I do not remember much of the next 2 or 3 days, not because of pain meds but more of putting myself into a restful and sleeping state to get through percevied trauma of the first days. Looking back it was not that bad. I had not slept much the week before surgery (worrying) so I was sleeping 18 hours a day for the first 2-3 days when I got home. I was on a recliner as I was told I had to be upright to limit the swelling. I was banded completey shut for 9 days. I wore ice packs and drank Boost and Encore through a straw. I never had the least bit of pain as I was completely numb on my cheeks, and lower gums, lip, and chin. On July 6th I had my bands cut off and the fact that I was no longer tightly shut was a huge mental boost. That is when I started to get back to some bit of normal. I began excercising again, I went back to work on Monday, July 9 and began eating mushed food (in a food processor). That included pizza with water, Chinese food grinded into mush, mashed potatoes, soups, yogurt, cottage cheese......
I also noticed my tongue was numb and that had the effect of constantly having a metal taste in my mouth. My Oral Surgeon warned me about the numbess of the lip and chin, but not the tongue. The stretching of the nerves in the jaw bone causing the lip and chin numbness is common and I was warned of the possibility of permanent numbness, but a numb tongue is uncommon. The nerve for the tongue was stretched during retraction for the surgery and to date it has been the most negative thing in this whole ordeal.
At the end of 6 weeks I was allowed to begin eating solid food but that was a problem and continues to be, with the numbness in my lower lip. When I chew, I bite my lip. I am now at nearly 13 weeks and have been released by my surgeon (nothing more he can do) to go back to my Ortho. My surgeon is optimistic I will regain feeling in my tongue. The numbness is only on one side and in his measurements he can tell the numb area is decresasing in size. But the metal taste continues and that is the problem. There is no numbness on the top or bottom of my tongue and that is good becasue if there was, it would impact my speech.
The numbness in my lower lip and chin has gone away in my right side nearly 90%. The left side of my lower lip and chin has continued to remain numb but just in the last 3 weeks I have had tingling sensations. That is postive news as it is a sign the nerve is trying to regenerate. I have been told that 13 weeks is a long time to have numbness and be prepared for less than a full revoery. I think I can begin to feel some pressure wehn applied to my lip and chin, but I do not feel hot and cold and sharp pricks to that area. But I remain, optimistic, hopeful and postive that the feeling returns. And I am learning to live with it. I see my oral surgeon one more time in 3 weeks to take one last measurement of the numbness.... but it is more for his learning than my benefit, as there is nothing more he can do for me. The older we are the longer the nerve takes to heal and the more risk of permanent numbness there is.
I am now starting back with my Ortho to make post surgery adjustments. I am wearing bands and hoping that I have no more than a year to go in braces. I can eat nearly anything (except peanuts, steak, ....hard things). I have never had any pain. The surgery was far less troublesome than all the worry I did beforehand. My Surgeon and Ortho are pleased with the results. The metal taste is bothersome. The numbness is a problem, but I can learn to accept wehn there is no other choice or alternative. Biting my lip when I chew is a problem but hoping final braces alignment corrects that.
I work hard to stay postive and patient. My surgeon confessed the last time that he failed to make sure I understood how long the total healing process is (it is 12 months!) and to reaffirm all the positive things I am gaining (saving my teeth, ability to have the implant, straightned teeth, no TMJ worries, no dentures later in life....). I am optimistic and hopeful andknow that I have the best doctors that truly want to help me. I have reset my expectations to the 12 motnh healing cycle. I am defnitely self concious when I speak and eat in public and hoping healing and time diminishes that.
Would I do it all over again? Ask me in a year and I think I will say, YES.
Hope this helps. Please share your journey with me.
All the best,
Bomb
Re: Is the Surgery worth it?
Few addditional comments.....I did have great home support. That is critical in my opinion. I also applaud any and all that have gone through this. Oimysizex, I am happy for you and wish you the best. You are wise to do this at a young age, for many reasons. The best is you will have the benefit for many years!
Interesting side note...I too had minor sleep apnea. Since the surgey it has gone away. No more snoring!
Let me know how I can help in any way. Success!
Interesting side note...I too had minor sleep apnea. Since the surgey it has gone away. No more snoring!
Let me know how I can help in any way. Success!
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Fullyembraced
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2012 11:55 pm
Re: Is the Surgery worth it?
Hi guys! Thanks for your input. It is so great to have support in this way. All my life I have been very self-conscious about my appearance, although others have told me I am attractive. Often, I just don't feel it and I feel like I don't smile as much as I could or want to, due to my embarrassment regarding my teeth. It may have been easier to do all this earlier on, but I don't think I was ready. I also think that a lot of the technology (including diagnostic technology) has changed, so perhaps that's a bonus. My original treatment plan involved 2 jaw surgery and 6 extractions (10 or so years ago) so this is a lot less dramatic, although still substantial. (braces upper and lower, lower jaw surgery once teeth are aligned, 24 months active treatment time) I will talk to the orthodontist regarding why my initial plan was different. I thought about using the original ortho, but he is close to retiring now and I wanted to use a female ortho., I will be having the same surgeon and apparently the operation has reduced from 6 hours(!) to 40 minutes. That seems a huge difference and part of the reason I didn't do it back then was because I don't think its a good idea to be under for that long, especially for something that is elective. I guess they have really improved their technique and the operation is much more popular. Still it is a serious thing to do and no-one should undertake it lightly.
My ortho has done some computer modelling and she doesn't believe I need the SAME ( I think its called SARP in the US - Surgically Assisted Mandibular Expansion) as there is enough bone to move the teeth outwards, so that is a huge relief (certainly didn't fancy the idea of winding my jaw out like an anchovy tin!) Apparently people are sometimes offered a "cosmetic" extraction of the upper molars to create the illusion of vertical jaw symmetry. However, my ortho has said that this can look "terrible" so I would be very reluctant to pursue something that isn't really reversible - hard to put them back in! I was very glad not to have any extractions, but I will have a chat with her regarding the original ortho's plan, as it is curious that hers is so different.
So, Bomb is your partner pleased that your snoring has disappeared? I have always been very self-conscious regarding my snoring and I am reluctant to share a room or a bed because of it. I am neither overweight, nor a big drinker so GPs don't see me a big sleep apnoea risk. As mentioned, my dentist was right on the money with that, as she must be well versed in the problems of jaws and airways. I was a bit concerned to hear of your numbness problems, bomb as that sounds difficult, but you seem to have a good attitude. OIMYsisex, its good that you are doing this now and I hope that you have lots of family and social support - that's important.
My ortho has done some computer modelling and she doesn't believe I need the SAME ( I think its called SARP in the US - Surgically Assisted Mandibular Expansion) as there is enough bone to move the teeth outwards, so that is a huge relief (certainly didn't fancy the idea of winding my jaw out like an anchovy tin!) Apparently people are sometimes offered a "cosmetic" extraction of the upper molars to create the illusion of vertical jaw symmetry. However, my ortho has said that this can look "terrible" so I would be very reluctant to pursue something that isn't really reversible - hard to put them back in! I was very glad not to have any extractions, but I will have a chat with her regarding the original ortho's plan, as it is curious that hers is so different.
So, Bomb is your partner pleased that your snoring has disappeared? I have always been very self-conscious regarding my snoring and I am reluctant to share a room or a bed because of it. I am neither overweight, nor a big drinker so GPs don't see me a big sleep apnoea risk. As mentioned, my dentist was right on the money with that, as she must be well versed in the problems of jaws and airways. I was a bit concerned to hear of your numbness problems, bomb as that sounds difficult, but you seem to have a good attitude. OIMYsisex, its good that you are doing this now and I hope that you have lots of family and social support - that's important.
Re: Is the Surgery worth it?
Yes my partner wife is thrilled I no longer snore. She really can't believe it. I will tell you the numbness is a bummer. Especially the tongue. Not becaue of the loss of feeling, but rather the taste and sensation it creates in my mouth. The numb chin is not big deal at all. Can live with it forever. The numb lip is bothersome in the fact that I bite it when I chew. But I still have healing time ahead and I am hopeful, positive and optimistic it all comes back. Good luck and best wishes. Let us know how it goes!!!
Re: Is the Surgery worth it?
Fully,
You still hanging in there?
You still hanging in there?
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Fullyembraced
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2012 11:55 pm
Re: Is the Surgery worth it?
Yes, I have 2 essays due and I am working on a very large watercolour which has tired me out as I had to stretch it on the floor while I finished the first washes- now its on the wall for the details, so that is much better.
I am contemplating not getting health insurance as the premiums would be more than the surgery costs. So I will self-insure - need to do my sums. Medicare wouldn't cover it. Anyway, I suppose that it is very different in the US?
FE
I am contemplating not getting health insurance as the premiums would be more than the surgery costs. So I will self-insure - need to do my sums. Medicare wouldn't cover it. Anyway, I suppose that it is very different in the US?
FE
Re: Is the Surgery worth it?
Yes - very different. In the US the private sector provides health insurance. So the company you work for provides health insurance as a benefit of wowrking for them. Most large companies, self insure, meaning the company pays the vast majority of the cost (+80%) after an annual deductible is met ($3000). So the surgery cost me about $3500. If all works out, it will be worth it.
All the best to you and stay in touch.
All the best to you and stay in touch.