Re: Confessions of an underbite

[Guest guest]

It depends on the person, but in general you can expect to be in braces for

about a

year before surgery. You'll continue to wear the braces for about six months

after

surgery to fine tune your bite. Again, it varies from person to person.

I've found that by just initiating the process I've felt better about myself. I

too am a

member of the long-faced underbite family! I've had my braces on for about 7

months and I already feel much more confident and comfortable with the way I

look. I

think it's because the braces are a visual reminder of what I'm doing for

myself.

Yes, it's a long haul and there are many appointments, but it will all be worth

it. And

one day it will be all over!

[Guest guest]

My surgeon and ortho both told me I could expect an absolute max of

three years before and after surgery in braces. I think that's the

conservative estimate they tell all their patients to demonstrate

the time commitment it can take for this whole process. Average

time before is probably more like a year to 18 months, while after

generally seems to be less than a year in braces.

Once you start on braces, chances are you won't see much of your

surgeon until the ortho thinks you're teeth are getting close to

ready for surgery. Then, there will be a pre-op appointment with

the surgeon where he/she will take a bunch of molds and measurements

of your teeth and other bone alignment. You will probably need to

have some blood tests run and may see a nutritionist, but that's

really about it, aside from regular visits to the ortho for

adjustments, which, in my case, were every six weeks.

Hope that helps.

> I want to thank everyone who offered their support to me, it

truely

> was very helpful. I know I am just at the beginning of my journey,

> and just " letting it all out " was an important first step for me.

I

> should say that although I mentioned suicide, it was in the

context

> of being very depressed in the past regarding my condition, and in

no

> way reflects my normal everyday thoughts. But I realize it might

have

> been a bit heavy for this discussion group. I just wanted to

express

> my feelings, because if I am out there hiding then there must be

at

> least a few other people in the same situation as me. Okay okay

I'll

> go to therapy!

>

> Anyways, I have my first consultation appointment at the end of

Feb.

> How long does the whole process normally take before you actually

go

> in for a lower jaw surgery? If I had to wait a month just to get a

> first appointment, I am thinking it will be a loooong wait... How

> many appointments do you need and what else do they need to do

> leading up to the actual surgery?

[Guest guest]

I think it's a longstanding rule, offered by counselors, that anybody

who mentions suicide, however casually or overdramatically, should be

taken seriously, and I do. I just hate for anyone to be, even

briefly, so miserable, especially where there is help available. So I

hope you will at least find someone knowledgeable and supportive with

whom you can talk through what's troubling you and seek help.

Now, on to things I know more about.

I'm trying to remember. I think this all started with a trip to my

periodontist in December. I saw the ortho in January. He took one

look, and said you need jaw surgery. (I cried.) We agreed at least to

go ahead with the braces, and he got them installed sometime that

month, if I'm remembering right.

I saw the oral surgeon in either February or March (his first opening

for such an appointment). He very carefully explained exactly what he

could and could not do, and how he would do it. I no longer cried,

although I think my blood pressure measured something like 200 over

100 in his office that day. " I am terrified, " I told him. He was

very, very good at reassuring me. I thought about what he'd said, and

decided to go forward with the surgery.

I wore braces for 16 months, during which time my ortho prepped me

for surgery. In about April, he told me to call the surgeon and go

ahead and schedule. The surgeon set me up for May.

My ortho got more and more worried looking as the time drew near, and

I said, " Look. We can do this in June if you'd rather, or whatever. I

do want to be sure I'm ready, and if you need more time, that will

work as well for me. "

He had a big relieved look when he told me to reschedule in June for

the surgery. Which I did, and had it at the end of the month, some 16

months into braces... I saw the surgeon a couple of times before

surgery, and probably 8-10 post op.

All went well, except that after one month's recovery I developed

shingles. My ortho had just started working on me again, but neither

he nor my surgeon wanted to touch me while I had the shingles. So

everything went on hold for a month. Then the ortho got going again,

and I was out of braces in October.

Total time: 20 months. My ortho had predicted 18-20.

Cammie

In orthognathicsurgerysupport , spyro77ca

wrote:

> I want to thank everyone who offered their support to me, it truely

> was very helpful. I know I am just at the beginning of my journey,

> and just " letting it all out " was an important first step for me. I

> should say that although I mentioned suicide, it was in the context

> of being very depressed in the past regarding my condition, and in

no

> way reflects my normal everyday thoughts. But I realize it might

have

> been a bit heavy for this discussion group. I just wanted to

express

> my feelings, because if I am out there hiding then there must be at

> least a few other people in the same situation as me. Okay okay

I'll

> go to therapy!

>

> Anyways, I have my first consultation appointment at the end of

Feb.

> How long does the whole process normally take before you actually

go

> in for a lower jaw surgery? If I had to wait a month just to get a

> first appointment, I am thinking it will be a loooong wait... How

> many appointments do you need and what else do they need to do

> leading up to the actual surgery?