Guest guest Posted March 20, 2004 Report Share Posted March 20, 2004 Hello! What insurance do you have? That usually makes a big difference. I have Kaiser, and never had a single problem after my Dr told me to go see the surgeon. I'm in Northern california. I had upper and lower done in sept 2002, and am having lower done again on June 4th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2004 Report Share Posted March 20, 2004 Hello! What insurance do you have? That usually makes a big difference. I have Kaiser, and never had a single problem after my Dr told me to go see the surgeon. I'm in Northern california. I had upper and lower done in sept 2002, and am having lower done again on June 4th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2004 Report Share Posted March 20, 2004 ****** BUMP please someone respond.... > hey all! > > I'm 17 and need orthognathic surgery. My lower jaw exceeds my upper > one (it's only noticeable when I smile, that's why i keep my mouth > shut most of the time...no one notices it then). I live in San > Diego and my dad has contacted like 7 doctors who refer me to other > doctors and ultimately they all refuse to take my case. > > I'm really desperate! I dunno what to do!!!!! I was in ASB last > year and we always had to take pictures, but i never smiled because > i feel so insecure about it. And it's so uncomfortable. Most of > the time I end up feeling depressed and start on some self- loathing. > > Can you guys help me out? maybe refer me to some SD doctors? I > hear this Arnett guy is really good, but I think he's a little > pricey for my family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > > Plllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssseeee help me out! please! > > ~Jadyn Floren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2004 Report Share Posted March 20, 2004 ****** BUMP please someone respond.... > hey all! > > I'm 17 and need orthognathic surgery. My lower jaw exceeds my upper > one (it's only noticeable when I smile, that's why i keep my mouth > shut most of the time...no one notices it then). I live in San > Diego and my dad has contacted like 7 doctors who refer me to other > doctors and ultimately they all refuse to take my case. > > I'm really desperate! I dunno what to do!!!!! I was in ASB last > year and we always had to take pictures, but i never smiled because > i feel so insecure about it. And it's so uncomfortable. Most of > the time I end up feeling depressed and start on some self- loathing. > > Can you guys help me out? maybe refer me to some SD doctors? I > hear this Arnett guy is really good, but I think he's a little > pricey for my family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > > Plllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssseeee help me out! please! > > ~Jadyn Floren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 Ok. Hello, and welcome. Yes. Dr. Arnett has a marvelous reputation, and yes, he is reported to be expensive. There are also many other most marvelous docs, including my own, who is in the lower half of Alabama. I gather you are in California, so my guy is probably not the one who can best help you. Now, slow down for a minute. You are 17? Are you male or female? I ask because guys usually do not finish their growth as soon as women, and that's important. You don't want to undertake this surgery until your growth is complete. As far as feeling ugly, self-loathing, and so forth -- that's not unusual, but honey, try, try, try not to let yourself get drowned in that pit. What's important is what's inside, and the external stuff can be fixed... But not before you're ready, biologically. Have you seen an orthodontist? I'd say that's where to start. And do the surgeons say WHY they don't want to treat you? There are specialists who can and will. Dental schools sometimes are really good places to find help, if you have complex problems. But mainly, don't despair. There's one person on this site who had to have 17 mm. advancement of the lower, and that's a lot. She's been through a lot of trouble to get a fix, including more than one surgical procedure, but she found some expert help at a university. Ask a lot of questions. There are docs out there who can give you better quality of life. And for heaven's sake, and yours, don't get down on yourself about it. This isn't something you've done or created, and it can be fixed and made better. Best, Cammie > > hey all! > > > > I'm 17 and need orthognathic surgery. My lower jaw exceeds my > upper > > one (it's only noticeable when I smile, that's why i keep my mouth > > shut most of the time...no one notices it then). I live in San > > Diego and my dad has contacted like 7 doctors who refer me to > other > > doctors and ultimately they all refuse to take my case. > > > > I'm really desperate! I dunno what to do!!!!! I was in ASB last > > year and we always had to take pictures, but i never smiled > because > > i feel so insecure about it. And it's so uncomfortable. Most of > > the time I end up feeling depressed and start on some self- > loathing. > > > > Can you guys help me out? maybe refer me to some SD doctors? I > > hear this Arnett guy is really good, but I think he's a little > > pricey for my family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > > > > Plllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssseeee help me out! please! > > > > ~Jadyn Floren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 Ok. Hello, and welcome. Yes. Dr. Arnett has a marvelous reputation, and yes, he is reported to be expensive. There are also many other most marvelous docs, including my own, who is in the lower half of Alabama. I gather you are in California, so my guy is probably not the one who can best help you. Now, slow down for a minute. You are 17? Are you male or female? I ask because guys usually do not finish their growth as soon as women, and that's important. You don't want to undertake this surgery until your growth is complete. As far as feeling ugly, self-loathing, and so forth -- that's not unusual, but honey, try, try, try not to let yourself get drowned in that pit. What's important is what's inside, and the external stuff can be fixed... But not before you're ready, biologically. Have you seen an orthodontist? I'd say that's where to start. And do the surgeons say WHY they don't want to treat you? There are specialists who can and will. Dental schools sometimes are really good places to find help, if you have complex problems. But mainly, don't despair. There's one person on this site who had to have 17 mm. advancement of the lower, and that's a lot. She's been through a lot of trouble to get a fix, including more than one surgical procedure, but she found some expert help at a university. Ask a lot of questions. There are docs out there who can give you better quality of life. And for heaven's sake, and yours, don't get down on yourself about it. This isn't something you've done or created, and it can be fixed and made better. Best, Cammie > > hey all! > > > > I'm 17 and need orthognathic surgery. My lower jaw exceeds my > upper > > one (it's only noticeable when I smile, that's why i keep my mouth > > shut most of the time...no one notices it then). I live in San > > Diego and my dad has contacted like 7 doctors who refer me to > other > > doctors and ultimately they all refuse to take my case. > > > > I'm really desperate! I dunno what to do!!!!! I was in ASB last > > year and we always had to take pictures, but i never smiled > because > > i feel so insecure about it. And it's so uncomfortable. Most of > > the time I end up feeling depressed and start on some self- > loathing. > > > > Can you guys help me out? maybe refer me to some SD doctors? I > > hear this Arnett guy is really good, but I think he's a little > > pricey for my family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > > > > Plllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssseeee help me out! please! > > > > ~Jadyn Floren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 Hey Cammie, Thanks for that response. It brightened up my day! I realized, after reading about that girl who had to have 17 mm advancement that maybe I don't have it so bad, since mine is only a couple mm's. I'm a girl, but most of the doctors I've been to say that I need to stop growing before they can do anything. Except for this one doctor, a harvard graduate, who said I should've gotten expanders for my upper jaw when I was a lot younger. I know doctors have differing opinions and I accept that. What I don't get is why I just can't get braces first and the surgery latter. THe doctors always say it must be done together, as a package. But then my friend, who is also 17 and a male, has a similar case as mine but his case is more severe and he already has braces and plans to undergo surgery sometime soon. I guess I'm going to have to wait until my growth is complete like some doctors have advised and I will try and work on not being so depressed about my appearance. I think it's only noticeable to me anyway...but still, with society as it is, wrapped up in beauty, cosmetic surgery television, and superficiality, it gets really hard. Thanks again Cammie. I appreciate what you've said. > > > hey all! > > > > > > I'm 17 and need orthognathic surgery. My lower jaw exceeds my > > upper > > > one (it's only noticeable when I smile, that's why i keep my > mouth > > > shut most of the time...no one notices it then). I live in San > > > Diego and my dad has contacted like 7 doctors who refer me to > > other > > > doctors and ultimately they all refuse to take my case. > > > > > > I'm really desperate! I dunno what to do!!!!! I was in ASB last > > > year and we always had to take pictures, but i never smiled > > because > > > i feel so insecure about it. And it's so uncomfortable. Most of > > > the time I end up feeling depressed and start on some self- > > loathing. > > > > > > Can you guys help me out? maybe refer me to some SD doctors? I > > > hear this Arnett guy is really good, but I think he's a little > > > pricey for my family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > > > > > > Plllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssseeee help me out! please! > > > > > > ~Jadyn Floren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2004 Report Share Posted March 22, 2004 I'm so glad I helped you feel better. It will take a lot of patience and determination to make it through this journey, but you can do it! I would tend to trust a doc who erred on the side of caution with regard to growth. Especially having heard on this site from a few folks who had surgery and then had growth spurts and had to have it redone! Yep, if they can get going with the expanders and/or headgear and/or other devices, when a child is at the right point, sometimes they can do things to avoid surgery. But if you've missed that window of opportunity, then go for the fixes that can work. Actually, I do have a young friend who's about your age. She's been in braces for a couple of years now, but her growth apparently isn't complete. (She's seen the same ortho and surgeon that I did.) She's gonna have to have wisdom teeth out -- and that can be a hold-up, too, as the bone often needs time to heal after such a disruption -- before the surgery can be done.) I think the plan for her is to remove the braces, take out the wizzies, let her heal and complete her growth (presumably put her in retainers in this meantime, for a year or more) and then put the braces back on, give the ortho about six months to get things in the right place, and then do the surgery. And one more thing that might be of interest to you is that often the ortho has to make the bite way worse, and more off, to get it in the right spot for surgery. So you may not want to wait for a year or two with your bite all out of kilter. Keep checking in, and you'll be the best-lay-informed non-dentist patient your doc has ever encountered! Cammie > Hey Cammie, > > Thanks for that response. It brightened up my day! I realized, > after reading about that girl who had to have 17 mm advancement that > maybe I don't have it so bad, since mine is only a couple mm's. > > I'm a girl, but most of the doctors I've been to say that I need to > stop growing before they can do anything. Except for this one > doctor, a harvard graduate, who said I should've gotten expanders > for my upper jaw when I was a lot younger. I know doctors have > differing opinions and I accept that. What I don't get is why I > just can't get braces first and the surgery latter. THe doctors > always say it must be done together, as a package. But then my > friend, who is also 17 and a male, has a similar case as mine but > his case is more severe and he already has braces and plans to > undergo surgery sometime soon. > > I guess I'm going to have to wait until my growth is complete like > some doctors have advised and I will try and work on not being so > depressed about my appearance. I think it's only noticeable to me > anyway...but still, with society as it is, wrapped up in beauty, > cosmetic surgery television, and superficiality, it gets really > hard. > > Thanks again Cammie. I appreciate what you've said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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