Another newbie

[Guest guest]

Hey there,

I'm another new recruit to this fabulous group! I have been watching

the posts for the last few weeks and it has certainly helped me

prepare for and learn more about what I am going to get myself in

for, and it's wonderful to see how supportive everyone is.

My history - I had 3 sets of braces growing up (between the ages of 7

and 18), including the 'round the back of your neck' type and the

standard metal ones. I was on my 'final' treatment wearing a

retainer, but then unfortunately my orthodontist lost his life in a

white water rafting accident, and I guess I never pursued further

treatment (I thought I was pretty much finished).

I have an identical twin, and she had the 1st 2 sets of braces, but

her teeth were corrected nicely (and still are!). While my ortho had

told us we had 'mirror teeth', my lower jaw has always been

smaller which is why I had more trouble.

Fast forward to 17 years later ( I am now 34!), and my front teeth

have just pushed out and out, and now they are at a sharp angle, and

I have a 10mm overbite. So finally I went BACK to an ortho, and am

now told my problem is completely 'skeletal', so that bringing the

lower jaw forward, and having braces is the only option (apparently

my tongue and lips will just continue to push my front teeth out and

they could end up competely non-functional). My bottom teeth also hit

my upper palate causing quite a bit of pain.

The timescale is a year of orthodontics, lower jar surgery, followed

by 6 months to a year of braces. I have found a great ortho, who has

very kindly agreed to me using Invisalign for the year preceding

surgery (which has cost me quite a bit more - but after 3 sets of

braces already I really want to minimize how much time I have to wear

them). I'll then get braces for the surgery and afterwards.

I am on to surgeon number 3 (for initial consults), my first one was

great but not 'in network', and the 2nd was more of an oral surgeon,

wisdom teeth etc, and of course I wanted to go with someone who does

this all the time. I was close to getting another one who has been

recommended by this group, but he is suddenly 'out of network', so

now I am going to go to a UCSF surgeon who is highly recommended, BUT

I can't get to see him for my initial consult until August.

I have had the nasty spacers on my bottom front teeth already, had

filing done, and am now wearing a retainer to keep them in position

until my Invisalign arrives - they can take around 6 weeks. So

surgery should be May/June next year - all going well!

I live in San Francisco and all my family are in New Zealand, so I

may even consider getting my Mum over to play nurse - but that is a

while off yet. I do have some friends here who already have kindly

offered to help out which is really sweet. Certainly sounds like you

need good care from all of your posts.

I'm very curious to hear about how much your face can change with

this type of surgery, and must admit it is a nice 'perk' that my smile

will be much better, my 'double chin' will be less prominent and that

my side profile will be more defined. However it is kind of funny to

think that this will probably make my twin and I look quite a lot

less alike! Have any other twins had this surgery??

So big rave from me - I look forward to keeping up to date with this

group and following everyone's progress.

Take care!!

Josie

[Guest guest]

Hi Josie,

Iam new also. I went back as far as I was able and read the old

posts. I am learning alot, however, it is taking a long time. I

figured the more I learned of other people's experiences the better

equipped to ask good solid questions of my doctors. I currently am

traveling 3 1/2 hrs. one way to see mine. I am a very complex case

for the small town in which I live. This is my second go-round with

braces. I have a 7mm overbite that braces alone would never have

corrected. We are planning on a lower jaw advancement and genioplasty.

Good luck and keep us posted.

> Hey there,

>

> I'm another new recruit to this fabulous group! I have been

watching

> the posts for the last few weeks and it has certainly helped me

> prepare for and learn more about what I am going to get myself in

> for, and it's wonderful to see how supportive everyone is.

>

> My history - I had 3 sets of braces growing up (between the ages of

7

> and 18), including the 'round the back of your neck' type and the

> standard metal ones. I was on my 'final' treatment wearing a

> retainer, but then unfortunately my orthodontist lost his life in a

> white water rafting accident, and I guess I never pursued further

> treatment (I thought I was pretty much finished).

>

> I have an identical twin, and she had the 1st 2 sets of braces, but

> her teeth were corrected nicely (and still are!). While my ortho

had

> told us we had 'mirror teeth', my lower jaw has always been

> smaller which is why I had more trouble.

>

> Fast forward to 17 years later ( I am now 34!), and my front teeth

> have just pushed out and out, and now they are at a sharp angle, and

> I have a 10mm overbite. So finally I went BACK to an ortho, and am

> now told my problem is completely 'skeletal', so that bringing the

> lower jaw forward, and having braces is the only option (apparently

> my tongue and lips will just continue to push my front teeth out and

> they could end up competely non-functional). My bottom teeth also

hit

> my upper palate causing quite a bit of pain.

>

> The timescale is a year of orthodontics, lower jar surgery,

followed

> by 6 months to a year of braces. I have found a great ortho, who

has

> very kindly agreed to me using Invisalign for the year preceding

> surgery (which has cost me quite a bit more - but after 3 sets of

> braces already I really want to minimize how much time I have to

wear

> them). I'll then get braces for the surgery and afterwards.

>

> I am on to surgeon number 3 (for initial consults), my first one

was

> great but not 'in network', and the 2nd was more of an oral

surgeon,

> wisdom teeth etc, and of course I wanted to go with someone who

does

> this all the time. I was close to getting another one who has been

> recommended by this group, but he is suddenly 'out of network', so

> now I am going to go to a UCSF surgeon who is highly recommended,

BUT

> I can't get to see him for my initial consult until August.

>

> I have had the nasty spacers on my bottom front teeth already, had

> filing done, and am now wearing a retainer to keep them in position

> until my Invisalign arrives - they can take around 6 weeks. So

> surgery should be May/June next year - all going well!

>

> I live in San Francisco and all my family are in New Zealand, so I

> may even consider getting my Mum over to play nurse - but that is a

> while off yet. I do have some friends here who already have kindly

> offered to help out which is really sweet. Certainly sounds like

you

> need good care from all of your posts.

>

> I'm very curious to hear about how much your face can change with

> this type of surgery, and must admit it is a nice 'perk' that my

smile

> will be much better, my 'double chin' will be less prominent and

that

> my side profile will be more defined. However it is kind of funny

to

> think that this will probably make my twin and I look quite a lot

> less alike! Have any other twins had this surgery??

>

> So big rave from me - I look forward to keeping up to date with

this

> group and following everyone's progress.

>

> Take care!!

>

> Josie

[Guest guest]

Hi Josie! And thanks for posting. That's fascinating -- about your

twin not needing what you apparently have to have. I'll bet some

orthos would love to do a study on you guys.

I don't envy you three rounds of braces, though. So sorry.

But maybe this time will be the charm for you!

Hope so.

Cammie

[Guest guest]

welcome to the group Elena glad to have you with us. EvaSee what's free at AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Gill and Eva for welcoming me.

In the latest book I've read, beyond chocolate one of the steps is to

support yourself, and I think these kind of chat rooms are great for

that. I'm a member of another forum too and they've really helped me

since november to stick with IE and not give up when it felt like it

wasn't working and they've given me loads of tips that've helped. I

thought it would be good to get another groups perspective.

Thanks again,

Elenna

xxx

[Guest guest]

Thanks Gill and Eva for welcoming me.

In the latest book I've read, beyond chocolate one of the steps is to

support yourself, and I think these kind of chat rooms are great for

that. I'm a member of another forum too and they've really helped me

since november to stick with IE and not give up when it felt like it

wasn't working and they've given me loads of tips that've helped. I

thought it would be good to get another groups perspective.

Thanks again,

Elenna

xxx

[Guest guest]

Thanks Gill and Eva for welcoming me.

In the latest book I've read, beyond chocolate one of the steps is to

support yourself, and I think these kind of chat rooms are great for

that. I'm a member of another forum too and they've really helped me

since november to stick with IE and not give up when it felt like it

wasn't working and they've given me loads of tips that've helped. I

thought it would be good to get another groups perspective.

Thanks again,

Elenna

xxx

[Guest guest]

your welcome Elena EvaSee what's free at AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

your welcome Elena EvaSee what's free at AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

your welcome Elena EvaSee what's free at AOL.com.