What medical problems does your bite typically cause you?

[pantlover]

I have a severe underbite and am just now considering getting braces and eventually jaw surgery. I've seen countless orthodontists over the years for consultations and each and every one of them said I would require surgery to correct my bite.
My bite problems typically cause a clicking sound in my jaw whenever I open wide, and my mouth naturally is always open causing me to breathe out of my mouth. I'm afraid these problems aren't enough to medically justify to insurance to cover the jaw surgery.
What other problems do you typically experience because of your bite? Maybe there are others that I'm just so used to that I'm noticing it as a problem for myself.

[gaborousseau]

I have Class 2 overbite and when I first consulted with my ortho for treatment she told me about the different options and surgery, etc etc etc because apparently since I've only been using my molars to chew food my whole life (I'm 30 years old and my top and bottom front teeth, still have the wavy pattern of new adult teeth), they're at risk of being completely "used up" in a few years as well as causing pain in my jaw joints.

My ortho's office dealt with the insurance claim, so I'm not sure what they used as medical justification, but I'm guessing it's around what I mentioned above.

Good luck!

[Nozzelnut]

Obstructive sleep apnea, TMJD, bruxism... Cracked and broken teeth. Gum recession. Cavities. The TMJD and OSA are typically covered by health insurance; if the TMJD is treated as facial or joint pain.

I had the first 3 I mentioned. The TMJD was the most painful. The OSA caused a bunch of other health problems. Luckily I didn't break any teeth with the clenching and grinding. With me it was a whole problem with individual symptoms. I just didn't have enough room for my tongue any more. I had a smaller lower jaw that restricted my upper jaw and my tongue, that restricted my breathing, that led to the bruxism, that caused my teeth and bite to shift, that caused the TMJD....

I should have treated this a decade ago.

[slewsmissy]

I have a very bad over bite. It's so bad that my surgeon even referred to it as a class 2 skeletal deformity. I have TMJD because of it and it causes non stop pain, muscle spams and it locks on occasion. From having to thrust my lower jaw forward to bite into things I also have degenerative joint disease starting in my jaw joints. I also only use my molars to chew and have no wear on any of my other teeth.

[sirwired]

What is needed to justify surgery (if covered at all... check your policy) differs by carrier. Some insurers (I was on Anthem/Empire BCBS) only require your measurements to be really off OR have a severe medical issue (of which they provide a list.) Google "[Insurance Carrier Name] orthognathic" and it should come right up.

[slewsmissy]

Sirwired is right. Different insurance companies have different requirements. I have BCBS and I believed their approval went by how far off your bite measurements were and you need one other condition that was caused by it. Like my surgeon sent in my measurements and also put in that my sleep apnea and speech problem (severe lisp) is caused by it too. It will be so nice to sleep better once my surgery is done and be able to have people understand me. I have a terrible time pronouncing words that start with a CH. I was so happy when they made it so you could order pizza online because I hated calling to order a cheese pizza!

[sirwired]

On another note, if you have BCBS you cannot substitute the policy of one BCBS for another. Each BCBS affiliate is free to use unique coverage policies. so if your coverage is under BCBS AnyTown, you can't use the coverage policy from BCBS BigCity if that's the one you find first. (There are more BCBS's than you'd think... one of my customers for my job is a BCBS that covers only the area around Harrisburg, PA; others, like Anthem, cover several large states.)

To use some examples I've seen here, BCBS NJ has a strict coverage policy (measurements AND medical issues) while Anthem BCBS does not. (Measurements-only is acceptable.)

[pantlover]

A little late, but thanks to everyone for your replies! I currently have Kaiser Permanente which my ortho says has a very good reputation of covering orthognathic surgery. Hopefully that will still be the case when i get my surgery about a year from now.

[jawa]

I have a small mandible, recessed chin, and recessed maxilla. I had lower bicuspids extracted to upright my proclined front teeth and give me a substantial overbite. I'd definitely say the worst aspect of my bite is restricted breathing. I have OSA and forward head posture. The forward head posture is starting cause pain in my neck and back. I can not wait to sleep undisturbed at night. Having the ability to stand tall without essentially choking myself with my own head will be pretty nice too.

[mouth]

Main problem was fractured teeth and sleep apnea. Insurance covered surgery cause of sleep apnea. I did not have TMJ until I was unable to use my bite block because of bite plate I needed to wear and now post SARPE surgery. I grind my teeth. Post op I am not allowed to use my Bipap machine because will potential affect suture line. I have very good medical and dental insurance however main restoration (caps) pays only 50%. Therefore over years have spent decent amt $ on my teeth. Also needed multiple bite blocks over the years.