is a 6mm underbite 'bad'

[oimysizex]

everyones always moaning (my family) that i don't need surgery. It makes me think I shouldn't have it, however, this surgery is on the NHS and everyone in england/uk knows how hard it is to get orthodontic treatment as a child, let alone an adult, if I didnt need it they wouldnt say i needed it? would they?

even if it wasn't needed its too late to go back now. It just makes me feel bad that im having this done and my case isn't as severe however, I do have severe TMJ. My bite has always been class 3, ive gone from having a crossbite to an underbite.

I'm just sick of being made to feel guilty because of this.

[oimysizex]

This is my bite currently. Does this warrent surgery

[Anna5]

Dearest oimysizex,

Honestly, I think your bite does warrant surgery. Moreover, you have severe TMJ, so it is important for your health to get your bite fixed. And you are right that now it is too late to back out, because your ortho has aligned everything in preparation for the surgery, eg probably made your bite worse than it was before.
I feel sad that your family members make you feel guilty, instead of supporting you in this difficult decision/ journey you are going through....
Of course it is completely up to you, how you feel about it, whether you want surgery or not, but I would say go for it. I think you won't regret it.
Your family is probably not bad, but just concerned about you and find you beautiful the way you are (and I am sure you are beautiful!) and don't see the need to change, but they should understand that you have the right to make your own decision and that your case does warrant surgery for health reasons, otherwise the NHS won't cover it.
I wish you all the very best, and if you don't get the support you need from your family members, WE are al here to support you!

Loving greetings from Anna

[sirwired]

If I was in your place, I'd get the surgery without hesitation. That's a big gap, and aesthetics aside, that can't be healthy long-term to have your teeth so far apart.

[boodles8]

I concur, the bite warrants surgery, especially in light of your TMJ. I'm so sorry to hear your family makes you feel bad about it. I know I would have struggled making it through without my family's support.

Families are certainly important, but in your case, you can't rely on them. Do you have other people you can go to for support? Friends, relatives other than these you refer to, etc? I think you should get some positive voices around you, people who will agree with you that you need and can do this, who believe in the success of the surgery, who will be willing to help if your family isn't.

The previous poster has a point that it's a little late to back out now, and anyway, no ortho could camouflage that bite. I promise you you won't regret the surgery, and I think your family will come around to see the value of it after you are through.

[oimysizex]

I've always been adamant from the start that surgery would be my route. its only recently, people make remarks, 'oh i can't tell anything is wrong' or 'its not that bad' but it is, its not the look that worries me the most, its the jaw locking, cracking, popping, headaches that worries me, i often wake up grinding my teeth which i know isn't good.

thank you for your kind words, in fact my own boss is more supportive, hes always asking me have i heard any news of surgery date and reassuring me everything will be worth it ( he had it over 18 years ago, his went wrong though!!!!)
Any time i bring it up with my mum, as I don't drive, I will need transport there she just ignores it and changes the subject, I'm only 20, so I live at home still. I know shes probably just worried about me and scared but there is no need for her to just ignore it as it will be happening very soon.
sorry for going on but, this is the only place that has given me comfort in the 2 years of braces, answering all my questions and fears etc.

I thank you all for your replies and support, it is really nice to know that some people are actually supportive, i know its needs doing now and I don't want to back out of it (I cant anyway) I just wish my family would actually be there for me!!

[TreadLightly]

I'm sure the feedback above has been great but just think about this. If you're truly considering the potential for surgery then the most important opinion to get is one of a trusted dentist (or other doctor in that field). Though on the bright side with all the information you are getting from the forum you can walk in and know exactly what to inquire about so you know that you're getting EXACTLY what you need addressed.

[samoorelaw]

Please see an oral surgeon so he/she can better advise you. In my layman's opinion, having had an underbite corrected by surgery myself, I would say that your bite does warrant surgery. Best of luck to you, and just ignore people: no reason to feel guilty for ranting to improve your health.

[Featheryy1221]

I know when I first started talking about how I wanted to get braces, my mom would say things like, "your teeth aren't that bad though." Because she really didn't think they were that horrible. My mom had braces when she was young, so she knew about how braces are and worried I'd have a bad time. But then she realized how much having crooked teeth affected me and how much I really wanted to go through braces and her responses changed. Now she's one of my biggest supporters, commenting on how my teeth are getting straight and how nice they'll look when I'm all done.
For me, all it took was a talk and my mom could see how much I wanted to do this. Maybe you could just talk to your mom and tell her that you really want to do surgery and all the benefits from it. As others have mentioned, she's probably worried about side-affects or worried how you'll look afterwards. If she keeps brushing the topic off, see if you can get a friend that could help you by driving you to your surgery.
I think you'll end up loving your results from it. And if I were you, I'd definitely go for it.
Good luck!

[oimysizex]

hey again!!

to the people saying i should see an oral surgeon, I AM having surgery it is all arranged, just waiting on a date, im having BSSO thats why i said i can't back out now.
I just hope between now and a month or 2 my mum will be supportive!
On average, wherever I have read waiting times on NHS are around 3-4 months; and i've been on it over 2 months, my ortho said ill be waiting a few months, so im hoping its before october.

I suppose my mum will just have to get used to it lol

[Beebop]

Good luck with your surgery! Your bite is very very similar to mine pre surgery, and I had similar issues to you (plus people saying why are you doing it, you look fine... Only the person with the issue or people that have had it get it!).

I had a slightly recessed maxilla with asymmetry so had upper advancement / rotation and lower bsso setback with a genioplasty to balance everything out. I'm now five months post op and so far glad I did it, benefits outweigh the risks!

Hope all goes well

[DrJasonKTam]

The "need" for surgery depends on a number of factors, including whether you are having any discomfort or difficulty in function. There are many people who have 6mm underbites and function just fine. That being said, to correct a 6mm underbite like yours, it would appear that surgery is required. Glad to hear you are having it arranged and hope you can round up more support for it. Good luck!

[Ciara]

Oh good luck! I'm glad to hear you will be getting surgery. I hope your family will come around and be more supportive.

[kelse]

Hi, I am 38 and braces for surgery. I was offered it as a teenager & declined. I have spent my adult life being happy, but self conscious of my profile and avoiding photographs. At a routine check up my dentist advised me that my bite was damaging my teeth and I would probably lose teeth over 5-10 years! This wad a big shock & I was referred for orthodontics. Here I am 9 months later & nearly in a position to go ahead with surgery. I wish I had gone ahead when I eas younger but am so grateful for the nhs treatment I am receiving now. Go for it - it is nobody's business but yours. Good luck x