I am not really sure how to approach this, so any advice would be appreciated. I am a class III with a bilateral crossbite. I got Damon braces last December and my teeth have moved a ton so far. They predicted I would have them on 2 years, but I think I may be ahead of schedule.
So here is my dilemma...
I addressed my concerns with my Ortho during my intitial consultation as far as fixing my bite orthodontically without surgery and the difference surgery might make. I am starting to notice more and more which direction she is going with my teeth, i.e. flaring my bottom teeth in so that I don't have the crossbite anymore. I spoke to her again about possibly going to see a surgeon just to get a consult (her husband shares the office and he is a maxo surgeon), but she kind of brushed the idea aside and kept saying how confident she was in what my result would be with just braces.
I was wearing crossbite bands and a few weeks ago, I started wearing my bands differently to start moving my top teeth forward instead of out. Eventually, this will just about elimiate my underbite; however, I am having some issues now. I never had jaw pain or popping before, but after three weeks of wearing my bands differently to "move my jaws", I am having more discomfort and jaw popping.
I am going to schedule a consultation with an outside maxo surgeon to get an opinion, but I have no idea how to approach this with her. I don't want to offend her, b/c I am confident that she knows what she is doing, but I also think there are other issues that need to be addressed.
Any advice?
Advice
Moderator: bbsadmin
Hi, I understand if you like her that you don't want to offend her, but there's a bigger issue here.
I, along with many people here are wearing braces for the 2nd time due to the fact that although our teeth were straightened the first time, the jaw issue wasn't addressed.
Remember, YOU are the paying customer and whatever concerns/goals you have should be addressed by the ortho. If your ortho just brushes them aside, then you owe it to yourself to get an opinion from an OS. Maybe more than one OS opinion. If they are honest and confident in what they are doing, it should not be an issue.
When I started my second ortho treatment(done only because I needed jaw surgery), my ortho was so excited that I was a surgical case. Then when it boiled down to me not being able to afford the surgery here w/his choice of surgeon, he said it would be fine for me to just have had orthodontics. Anyone can look at my pre-surg pics and see that I clearly had a major jaw issue. He was clearly trying to be in control and play God and I think many orthos are that way.
After I had my surgery, I found a new ortho.
I'm sorry if I sound harsh but I really hate to see when someone who may need surgery be made to feel like they don't need it by their ortho's advice and only have to go through this whole process again years later.
It never hurts to get a second, third, fourth, etc opinion and definitely one from an OS
I, along with many people here are wearing braces for the 2nd time due to the fact that although our teeth were straightened the first time, the jaw issue wasn't addressed.
Remember, YOU are the paying customer and whatever concerns/goals you have should be addressed by the ortho. If your ortho just brushes them aside, then you owe it to yourself to get an opinion from an OS. Maybe more than one OS opinion. If they are honest and confident in what they are doing, it should not be an issue.
When I started my second ortho treatment(done only because I needed jaw surgery), my ortho was so excited that I was a surgical case. Then when it boiled down to me not being able to afford the surgery here w/his choice of surgeon, he said it would be fine for me to just have had orthodontics. Anyone can look at my pre-surg pics and see that I clearly had a major jaw issue. He was clearly trying to be in control and play God and I think many orthos are that way.
After I had my surgery, I found a new ortho.
I'm sorry if I sound harsh but I really hate to see when someone who may need surgery be made to feel like they don't need it by their ortho's advice and only have to go through this whole process again years later.
It never hurts to get a second, third, fourth, etc opinion and definitely one from an OS
October 8, 2008 Lefort1(6mm impaction), BSSO, Genioplasty, Turbinectomies, Partial septoplasty, gum recontoring
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eveningninja
- Posts: 124
- Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 11:27 pm
Thank you both for your responses. Ozzysmom, I didn't think you were being harsh at all and I totally agree with your perspective. I keep telling myself that I shouldn't feel bad about going over her head, because I want it done right...the first time around. Every orthodontist that I have been to has said the same thing right off the bat and that is that I would most likely be a surgery case. My cosmetic dentist said the same thing as well when I first went to him. And like I said, the jaw popping/ jaw discomfort is getting worse each day that I wear the bands this way.
The moral support here was the push I needed to just go ahead with it.
I guess what makes it a little more difficult for me is that her husband is an OS and it would be so easy to work with both of them since they have a dual office. I went to see him before getting my braces on for wisdom teeth removal. I don't know why neither of them recommended me doing a consult with him then.
The moral support here was the push I needed to just go ahead with it.
I guess what makes it a little more difficult for me is that her husband is an OS and it would be so easy to work with both of them since they have a dual office. I went to see him before getting my braces on for wisdom teeth removal. I don't know why neither of them recommended me doing a consult with him then.