Re: downplaying the significance of underbite..

November 18, 2003

Hi there,

I also currently have a Class III underbite (a severe one). My lower

jaw protrudes outside very much. I completely understand how you

feel. You mention people say you look angry. Well, I'm ACTUALLY very

angry over how I look, over those glances people give you because

you look different. People look at you as if you're stupid and they

try to limit their interaction with you. I'm very sad about that.

Ever since my jaw becomes noticeable that it protrudes outside

(which began when I was in high school), I became lonely, depressed,

and angry, up until this day. And my self-esteem has suffered very

much. In high school people made fun of me, call me stupid, and hit

me over how I look. It feels like being bullied. Right now I feel

very angry and feel like there's something to avenge because I

didn't have a good experience in high school. I feel very angry

indeed.

My school (I'm currently in university) becomes greatly affected.

It's like I don't care anymore about grades or doing well in

school

because I am always preoccupied with the depression and frustration.

So now I try to limit my social encounters. I put on a cap and put

it so low over my head so I don't see other people on campus and I

refrain from social activities. I also feel very uncomfortable

walking in routes that many people take and I would choose

alternative routes on campus to get to class. When doing

presentations I would also feel very awful.

I have changed into someone who is irritable, mean, angry, and

depressed. I feel very violent right now. Sometimes I want to just

kill everyone. Why is the world so mean to me? I mean, I've lived

my

youth with low self-esteem, depression, frustration, loneliness, and

anger, I see no point in going on with life.

You may say I'm not a strong enough person. But have you ever

being

bullied? It feels like that. Today I'm a very angry person. I

feel

like I have every reason to get angry.

Right now I'm on orthodontics treatment. Hopefully I can do the

surgery soon. I hope things will get better.

I'm currently 22 years old. When does the jaw stop growing? Does

anyone know?

Thank you.

> those of you who chastised me for being so frustrated about not

> having my orthognathic surgery until mostly likely after senior

high

> school..i pose a question to you- Do you ACTUALLY have a

UNDERBITE?

> Not a crossbite..or a overbite..but a Class III Underbite?

>

> Because it didn't appear to me that you understand the

significance

> of having a underbite as a teenager trying to fit into school..I,

> believe it or not..used to be a popular kid..back in elementary

> school and middle school..and unfortunately during my 8th grade

> year..my lower jaw grew out bout 3 cm while i grew about 5 inches.

> Unfortunately, due to ill-fated circumstances, my family was

forced

> to move to Oregon (from Washington)..there I went to a new high

> school as a freshman. Having a class III underbite, whether you

buy

> it or not, really hinders one from being unrestrained in their

> social pursuits. Having a underbite makes it appear as if one is

> always mad. I have, on numerous occassions, been asked if i was OK

> (as if I was realy mad about something)..and even thought that I

was

> high on drugs (I do NOT do drugs- my father is a family physician

> and I know better)..these type of things really hurt me. In Oregon

I

> had a few friends, but I never told them about my underbite. I

never

> knew if people realized I actually had a underbite. They just

seemed

> to avoid me. I do realize, as my new friends here (in Indiana) and

> my father have told me, that I shouldn't let my underbite prevent

me

> from making new friends, but that problem, that is so much easier

> said than done. Having a underbite makes one appear less

attractive,

> hard to close lips, or at least having under lip way underneath

the

> top lip, hard time chewing, can't bite all the way through a

> sandwich, harder time pronunciating quickly, breathing problems- I

> run cross country and I KNOW that I could run better with a normal

> bite- I wouldn't be so self conscious that when i was breathing

hard

> that my underbite was so noticeable..and I could breath out of my

> nose better rather than through my open mouth..I don't feel

> comfortable closing my mouth so I usually have it open

> slightly..things like this that people just don't understand. And

> then people DOWNPLAY the signifiance of having surgery. They just

> call it a mere " cosmetic " surgery. As if this is like having a

> breast implant surgery. Medical insurance don't cover orthognathic

> surgery frequently because it just isn't important enough. I mean,

> all your doing is just moving your jaw around, right? Who cares if

> one in 10,000 has a 1 cm gap between their front and bottom jaw.

Now

> living in Indiana, I have only a few friends. I don't feel

> comfortable trying to flirt with girls, even though I know I am a

> decent-looking guy. There are just millions of reasons why I would

> LOVE to have my surgery the summer going into my senior year- 1) I

> could much more easily and comfortably try to get a date with a

> girl, and go to prom with her..if she really likes me 2) It would

> help me in school..I guarantee you I would be more active in class-

> raise my hand, speak more (I refrain from speaking in class..even

> though I can easily answer questions in my English class..) 3) Be

> WAY WAY more social 4) Be happier with myself overall 5)GO out

more

> (not be afraid to go to the movies or the mall, etc.) 6) Be able

to

> push myself physically in sports (basketball and cross country)

> knowing that I won't be looked at 7) Other reasons that I can't

> think of as of now...

>

> So am I really that liberal and extreme wanting my surgery so

early?

> Am I weirdo? I just have a mere jaw setback..and I should wait til

> after college to have it right? Come on, its more important than

it

> seems..especially (buy it or not) for a developing teenager trying

> to fit in...

>

> Thank You

November 18, 2003

Most of the people here doing it for functional reasons.

Seriously, isnt it the same to have, lets say a big nose, big ears e

tc.? As having a big/small jaw.

Well good luck with your surgeries and all!

/G

> > those of you who chastised me for being so frustrated about not

> > having my orthognathic surgery until mostly likely after senior

> high

> > school..i pose a question to you- Do you ACTUALLY have a

> UNDERBITE?

> > Not a crossbite..or a overbite..but a Class III Underbite?

> >

> > Because it didn't appear to me that you understand the

> significance

> > of having a underbite as a teenager trying to fit into

school..I,

> > believe it or not..used to be a popular kid..back in elementary

> > school and middle school..and unfortunately during my 8th grade

> > year..my lower jaw grew out bout 3 cm while i grew about 5

inches.

> > Unfortunately, due to ill-fated circumstances, my family was

> forced

> > to move to Oregon (from Washington)..there I went to a new high

> > school as a freshman. Having a class III underbite, whether you

> buy

> > it or not, really hinders one from being unrestrained in their

> > social pursuits. Having a underbite makes it appear as if one is

> > always mad. I have, on numerous occassions, been asked if i was

OK

> > (as if I was realy mad about something)..and even thought that I

> was

> > high on drugs (I do NOT do drugs- my father is a family

physician

> > and I know better)..these type of things really hurt me. In

Oregon

> I

> > had a few friends, but I never told them about my underbite. I

> never

> > knew if people realized I actually had a underbite. They just

> seemed

> > to avoid me. I do realize, as my new friends here (in Indiana)

and

> > my father have told me, that I shouldn't let my underbite

prevent

> me

> > from making new friends, but that problem, that is so much

easier

> > said than done. Having a underbite makes one appear less

> attractive,

> > hard to close lips, or at least having under lip way underneath

> the

> > top lip, hard time chewing, can't bite all the way through a

> > sandwich, harder time pronunciating quickly, breathing problems-

I

> > run cross country and I KNOW that I could run better with a

normal

> > bite- I wouldn't be so self conscious that when i was breathing

> hard

> > that my underbite was so noticeable..and I could breath out of

my

> > nose better rather than through my open mouth..I don't feel

> > comfortable closing my mouth so I usually have it open

> > slightly..things like this that people just don't understand.

And

> > then people DOWNPLAY the signifiance of having surgery. They

just

> > call it a mere " cosmetic " surgery. As if this is like having a

> > breast implant surgery. Medical insurance don't cover

orthognathic

> > surgery frequently because it just isn't important enough. I

mean,

> > all your doing is just moving your jaw around, right? Who cares

if

> > one in 10,000 has a 1 cm gap between their front and bottom jaw.

> Now

> > living in Indiana, I have only a few friends. I don't feel

> > comfortable trying to flirt with girls, even though I know I am

a

> > decent-looking guy. There are just millions of reasons why I

would

> > LOVE to have my surgery the summer going into my senior year- 1)

I

> > could much more easily and comfortably try to get a date with a

> > girl, and go to prom with her..if she really likes me 2) It

would

> > help me in school..I guarantee you I would be more active in

class-

>

> > raise my hand, speak more (I refrain from speaking in

class..even

> > though I can easily answer questions in my English class..) 3)

Be

> > WAY WAY more social 4) Be happier with myself overall 5)GO out

> more

> > (not be afraid to go to the movies or the mall, etc.) 6) Be able

> to

> > push myself physically in sports (basketball and cross country)

> > knowing that I won't be looked at 7) Other reasons that I can't

> > think of as of now...

> >

> > So am I really that liberal and extreme wanting my surgery so

> early?

> > Am I weirdo? I just have a mere jaw setback..and I should wait

til

> > after college to have it right? Come on, its more important than

> it

> > seems..especially (buy it or not) for a developing teenager

trying

> > to fit in...

> >

> > Thank You

November 18, 2003

Not at all, Gosta.

A big nose won't destroy your jaws, nor cause your teeth to wear down

or develop periodontal disease. TMJD is another issue, and it's in

dispute how much these procedures can help or do more damage, but for

many people it's a considerations. There have also been some folks

who have found they had no more devilitating migraine headaches, post

op.

I do think that big ears, or a big nose, can be important to fix --

particularly if they're making you unhappy, or uncomfortable with

yourself. I also think that the " fix " for the ears is a much less

invasive procedure, and that even rhinoplasty (nose work) is not as

difficult as ortho plus orthognathic surgery, nor as invasive.

Orthognathic surgery affects not only the way you look, but the way

you breathe, eat, talk and sleep, as well. At least sometimes.

Cammie

> > > those of you who chastised me for being so frustrated about not

> > > having my orthognathic surgery until mostly likely after senior

> > high

> > > school..i pose a question to you- Do you ACTUALLY have a

> > UNDERBITE?

> > > Not a crossbite..or a overbite..but a Class III Underbite?

> > >

> > > Because it didn't appear to me that you understand the

> > significance

> > > of having a underbite as a teenager trying to fit into

> school..I,

> > > believe it or not..used to be a popular kid..back in elementary

> > > school and middle school..and unfortunately during my 8th grade

> > > year..my lower jaw grew out bout 3 cm while i grew about 5

> inches.

> > > Unfortunately, due to ill-fated circumstances, my family was

> > forced

> > > to move to Oregon (from Washington)..there I went to a new high

> > > school as a freshman. Having a class III underbite, whether you

> > buy

> > > it or not, really hinders one from being unrestrained in their

> > > social pursuits. Having a underbite makes it appear as if one

is

> > > always mad. I have, on numerous occassions, been asked if i was

> OK

> > > (as if I was realy mad about something)..and even thought that

I

> > was

> > > high on drugs (I do NOT do drugs- my father is a family

> physician

> > > and I know better)..these type of things really hurt me. In

> Oregon

> > I

> > > had a few friends, but I never told them about my underbite. I

> > never

> > > knew if people realized I actually had a underbite. They just

> > seemed

> > > to avoid me. I do realize, as my new friends here (in Indiana)

> and

> > > my father have told me, that I shouldn't let my underbite

> prevent

> > me

> > > from making new friends, but that problem, that is so much

> easier

> > > said than done. Having a underbite makes one appear less

> > attractive,

> > > hard to close lips, or at least having under lip way underneath

> > the

> > > top lip, hard time chewing, can't bite all the way through a

> > > sandwich, harder time pronunciating quickly, breathing problems-

> I

> > > run cross country and I KNOW that I could run better with a

> normal

> > > bite- I wouldn't be so self conscious that when i was breathing

> > hard

> > > that my underbite was so noticeable..and I could breath out of

> my

> > > nose better rather than through my open mouth..I don't feel

> > > comfortable closing my mouth so I usually have it open

> > > slightly..things like this that people just don't understand.

> And

> > > then people DOWNPLAY the signifiance of having surgery. They

> just

> > > call it a mere " cosmetic " surgery. As if this is like having a

> > > breast implant surgery. Medical insurance don't cover

> orthognathic

> > > surgery frequently because it just isn't important enough. I

> mean,

> > > all your doing is just moving your jaw around, right? Who cares

> if

> > > one in 10,000 has a 1 cm gap between their front and bottom

jaw.

> > Now

> > > living in Indiana, I have only a few friends. I don't feel

> > > comfortable trying to flirt with girls, even though I know I am

> a

> > > decent-looking guy. There are just millions of reasons why I

> would

> > > LOVE to have my surgery the summer going into my senior year-

1)

> I

> > > could much more easily and comfortably try to get a date with a

> > > girl, and go to prom with her..if she really likes me 2) It

> would

> > > help me in school..I guarantee you I would be more active in

> class-

> >

> > > raise my hand, speak more (I refrain from speaking in

> class..even

> > > though I can easily answer questions in my English class..) 3)

> Be

> > > WAY WAY more social 4) Be happier with myself overall 5)GO out

> > more

> > > (not be afraid to go to the movies or the mall, etc.) 6) Be

able

> > to

> > > push myself physically in sports (basketball and cross country)

> > > knowing that I won't be looked at 7) Other reasons that I can't

> > > think of as of now...

> > >

> > > So am I really that liberal and extreme wanting my surgery so

> > early?

> > > Am I weirdo? I just have a mere jaw setback..and I should wait

> til

> > > after college to have it right? Come on, its more important

than

> > it

> > > seems..especially (buy it or not) for a developing teenager

> trying

> > > to fit in...

> > >

> > > Thank You

November 18, 2003

Post Message Post Help

To: " Helen Lunn "

Date: Tue Nov 18, 2003 7:50 pm

Subject: Re: underbite

Hi I'm 15, and I'm actually having surgery tomorrow morning

(lower jaw setback). I have had braces for 4 years, and an underbite

for 3 of those years. No one never noticed that I had an underbite

until I said something to someone. People always said to me things

like I never would have known if you hadn't pointed it out. My

underbite is pretty bad, I can fit my toungue through the gap in my

teeth. I was really selfconcious about it for a while, especially

when my mom told me that my smile looked weird. She said it looked

incredibly fake, and I told her it was just the underbite. I went to

an oral surgeon, and he not only commented on how bad my bite was,

but preceded to point out all my other facial flaws. He told me my

nose drooped, my upper lip was flat, my cheek bones were not defined,

etc. It greatly impacted my self esteem. I decided the only way I

wouldn't be selfconcious anymore is if I laughed about it. Pretty

soon I started cracking jokes about my underbite. People laughed with

me, not at me. My friends now joke about it all the time, and

everyone knows about it. I am going into this surgery with incredible

support behind me from everyone I know. For me personally, I've

learned to look at my underbite as an asset, not a deformity. It

makes me different in a good way. I'm going into surgery tomorrow

with an incredibly positive mindset due to the vast amounts of

support I have from friends and family. I'm not having this surgery

for cosmetic reasons, I have learned to love the way I look with my

current jaw. I think that before you have surgery you need to figure

out why its important to you. If it will boost your selfconfidence,

then go ahead with it. Next time someone teases you, just go along

with it and

laugh, that's what I have done.

I hope I have helped you with your decision. Just figure out what you

really want, and

how surgery will affect your life. I hope this helps you.

-

ps- I have definitely told that I look intiminading and angry all the

time, but its just because of the stupid underbite.

> > those of you who chastised me for being so frustrated about not

> > having my orthognathic surgery until mostly likely after senior

> high

> > school..i pose a question to you- Do you ACTUALLY have a

> UNDERBITE?

> > Not a crossbite..or a overbite..but a Class III Underbite?

> >

> > Because it didn't appear to me that you understand the

> significance

> > of having a underbite as a teenager trying to fit into school..I,

> > believe it or not..used to be a popular kid..back in elementary

> > school and middle school..and unfortunately during my 8th grade

> > year..my lower jaw grew out bout 3 cm while i grew about 5

inches.

> > Unfortunately, due to ill-fated circumstances, my family was

> forced

> > to move to Oregon (from Washington)..there I went to a new high

> > school as a freshman. Having a class III underbite, whether you

> buy

> > it or not, really hinders one from being unrestrained in their

> > social pursuits. Having a underbite makes it appear as if one is

> > always mad. I have, on numerous occassions, been asked if i was

OK

> > (as if I was realy mad about something)..and even thought that I

> was

> > high on drugs (I do NOT do drugs- my father is a family physician

> > and I know better)..these type of things really hurt me. In

Oregon

> I

> > had a few friends, but I never told them about my underbite. I

> never

> > knew if people realized I actually had a underbite. They just

> seemed

> > to avoid me. I do realize, as my new friends here (in Indiana)

and

> > my father have told me, that I shouldn't let my underbite prevent

> me

> > from making new friends, but that problem, that is so much easier

> > said than done. Having a underbite makes one appear less

> attractive,

> > hard to close lips, or at least having under lip way underneath

> the

> > top lip, hard time chewing, can't bite all the way through a

> > sandwich, harder time pronunciating quickly, breathing problems-

I

> > run cross country and I KNOW that I could run better with a

normal

> > bite- I wouldn't be so self conscious that when i was breathing

> hard

> > that my underbite was so noticeable..and I could breath out of my

> > nose better rather than through my open mouth..I don't feel

> > comfortable closing my mouth so I usually have it open

> > slightly..things like this that people just don't understand. And

> > then people DOWNPLAY the signifiance of having surgery. They just

> > call it a mere " cosmetic " surgery. As if this is like having a

> > breast implant surgery. Medical insurance don't cover

orthognathic

> > surgery frequently because it just isn't important enough. I

mean,

> > all your doing is just moving your jaw around, right? Who cares

if

> > one in 10,000 has a 1 cm gap between their front and bottom jaw.

> Now

> > living in Indiana, I have only a few friends. I don't feel

> > comfortable trying to flirt with girls, even though I know I am a

> > decent-looking guy. There are just millions of reasons why I

would

> > LOVE to have my surgery the summer going into my senior year- 1)

I

> > could much more easily and comfortably try to get a date with a

> > girl, and go to prom with her..if she really likes me 2) It would

> > help me in school..I guarantee you I would be more active in

class-

>

> > raise my hand, speak more (I refrain from speaking in class..even

> > though I can easily answer questions in my English class..) 3) Be

> > WAY WAY more social 4) Be happier with myself overall 5)GO out

> more

> > (not be afraid to go to the movies or the mall, etc.) 6) Be able

> to

> > push myself physically in sports (basketball and cross country)

> > knowing that I won't be looked at 7) Other reasons that I can't

> > think of as of now...

> >

> > So am I really that liberal and extreme wanting my surgery so

> early?

> > Am I weirdo? I just have a mere jaw setback..and I should wait

til

> > after college to have it right? Come on, its more important than

> it

> > seems..especially (buy it or not) for a developing teenager

trying

> > to fit in...

> >

> > Thank You

November 18, 2003