Guest guest Posted December 29, 2002 Report Share Posted December 29, 2002 A few years back, when I had my first consultation with a surgeon, he mentioned that rigid fixation would be used in my lower jaw surgery. I had read that this wasn't always the case. It is said that individuals used to have to have their mouths wired shut during a portion of the healing process, and that rigid fixation was meant to alleviate this. However, I see some members on here who have had their mouths wired shutpost-op. If rigid fixation is the common practice now used, then why would this be? Is it due to more involved prcoedures that involve both the upper and lower jaw? Or am I merely misinterpreting all of this? Also, he mentioned that the plates that are used to hold the bones in place would eventually naturally degrade within me. Is this correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2002 Report Share Posted December 29, 2002 I " m having lower jaw surgery this next week and it's my understanding that I'll be fitted with 2 small titanium plates and screws to span the gap between the bone cuts. I will slso be wired shut for about 10 days as my surgeon put it " For added stability " . He told me that some doctor's do not wire shut their patients and even still that some use rubber bands instead of wire. I asked him about the rubber bands and he replied that initially the wire would be better because it would not " pull " your jaws together right after surgery. I will expect to be fitted with rubber bands at some point he says. As far as the plates and screws, those will never dissolve but will remain intact throughout your life. He told me that titanium is an " invisable " metal to the body and in fact the bone will grow and form around this metal like it was not even there. However, he is the only doctor I have asked about this and I do trust his expert opinion but I would like to get further info on this subject. I recently posted a message with this question. Hope this helps.... > A few years back, when I had my first consultation with a surgeon, he > mentioned that rigid fixation would be used in my lower jaw surgery. > I had read that this wasn't always the case. It is said that > individuals used to have to have their mouths wired shut during a > portion of the healing process, and that rigid fixation was meant to > alleviate this. > > However, I see some members on here who have had their mouths wired > shutpost-op. > > If rigid fixation is the common practice now used, then why would > this be? Is it due to more involved prcoedures that involve both the > upper and lower jaw? Or am I merely misinterpreting all of this? > > Also, he mentioned that the plates that are used to hold the bones in > place would eventually naturally degrade within me. Is this correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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