Guest guest Posted March 3, 2004 Report Share Posted March 3, 2004 Jim, It's possible that if you had braces without surgery, your bite might appear fine once the braces come off, but would be more likely to relapse over time. Your jaw bones are probably be a big part of why things are so crowded to begin with. This may be something you've heard before, but even if your motivation is cosmetic, you may very well have physiological benefits as a result of the surgery, which is not cosmetic. To me the whole, " if it ain't broke, don't fix it " thing is relative to what you consider " broke " to mean. Bone structure doesn't have to be traumatized or damaged in order to not work properly. A person can be born with it not working properly. That's why medical justification for the surgery is based on the jaw bone structure as a congenital, which basically means " born with it " , malformation. Ultimately the dicision is up to you. I can say that I was born with healthy jaw joints, but my left one is now arthritic and has been so since I was 24. From my own experience, once a TMJ goes, it's difficult if not impossible to get it back to normal. And it can be quite painful. While you may not have problems with pain now, no one can predict what the future might bring, but if you are able to proceed with the surgery now and create a healthy foundation for your jaw to work with, you'll likely decrease your chances for future problems. There are risks associated with the surgery, but it's up to you to weigh those against the benefits. Good luck. > Hi, > > I'm 27yo male & have an underbite. Last yr I visited ortho & he > straight away recommend me to have the surgery. Further consulation > with the surgeon indicates that I will need lower & upper jaw surgery. > > Originally I only want to tidy up my upper teeth – coz they're > overcrowding. However my ortho insist that braces without surgery is > a bit useless – it only make my lower teeth/jaw prominent. > > For months I've been contemplating about this surgery – but I can't > seem to make mind. Especially no one – NO ONE – ( I mean friends & > family) would like the idea of cutting the jaws.Why fix something not > broken?? > > I don't have any pain whatsoever related to my jaws – to date. So the > reason for doing – is almost purely cosmetic. To have a proper bite & > smile properly. At some point of time I have to decide- but then I > really can't decide. > > I don't want to be un-grateful with what God has given to me – but at > the same time I want to live more normal – however long that might be. > > ATM I'm inclined toward YES. By the way – anybody here do this on > cosmetic reasons?? > > What should I do? > > Thanks > Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2004 Report Share Posted March 3, 2004 Hello, Jim: Personally, I think cosmetic reasons are worthy. And yes, this question has been discussed a lot, and some folks have indeed done it for cosmetic reasons. There have also been those who have suggested that the " cosmetic " reasons are the basis of much long-term unhappiness, as in diminished feelings of self-worth, a tendency of others to prejudge what kind of person you are, based on appearance, reluctance to get involved with others, etc., etc. There are those who say that all of us have to deal with similar problems of one kind or another. (and certainly Marilyn Monroe's and Grace 's lives prove that being beautiful is no guarantee of happiness!) Do you have any problems eating? Many cannot chew, or cannot take a bite out of a sandwich, etc. Do you have any digestive problems? They can also be related. Four thoughts for you: As your surgeon what he might predict for you, long-term, without the surgery. There have been those whose joints have been ravaged by the imbalances in the bite. Also, a bad bite can be terribly destructive of the teeth. I'm not saying such will happen to you, but it's worth asking, at least, and considering the answers. Second, be careful about casually characterizing these procedures as cosmetic. I am NOT suggesting that you mislead yourself or anyone else about what's going on. But I'm telling you that if you go to an insurance company with a request for coverage for a " cosmetic " procedure, you are almost guaranteeing yourself a denial. Third, if you have any migraines, sleep apnea, etc., you may be surprised to discover just what role jaw imbalances have played in them. If you have none of these, more power to you and salud! And one more: if you are going into ortho without the surgery, be sure to ask the ortho about what he sees as the prospects for long- term retention of the changes. Consider the potential risks, and the potential benefits, and then you make up your mind. Get more opinions, if that will help. But ultimately it's up to you. It's elective surgery, so you won't die if you don't do it... Just some suggestions. And good wishes to you, whatever you decide. Cammie > Hi, > > I'm 27yo male & have an underbite. Last yr I visited ortho & he > straight away recommend me to have the surgery. Further consulation > with the surgeon indicates that I will need lower & upper jaw surgery. > > Originally I only want to tidy up my upper teeth – coz they're > overcrowding. However my ortho insist that braces without surgery is > a bit useless – it only make my lower teeth/jaw prominent. > > For months I've been contemplating about this surgery – but I can't > seem to make mind. Especially no one – NO ONE – ( I mean friends & > family) would like the idea of cutting the jaws.Why fix something not > broken?? > > I don't have any pain whatsoever related to my jaws – to date. So the > reason for doing – is almost purely cosmetic. To have a proper bite & > smile properly. At some point of time I have to decide- but then I > really can't decide. > > I don't want to be un-grateful with what God has given to me – but at > the same time I want to live more normal – however long that might be. > > ATM I'm inclined toward YES. By the way – anybody here do this on > cosmetic reasons?? > > What should I do? > > Thanks > Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2004 Report Share Posted March 3, 2004 I don't think that's particularly cosmetic, Patti. I'd argue that such wear is intensely functional -- or soon will become so. I haven't heard of medical insurance covering procedures that are solely for cosmetic purposes. Cammie > Is there ever times when insurance covers the surgery for cosmetic reasons only? For example, excessive wear on teeth? Patti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2004 Report Share Posted March 3, 2004 WOW.. what a reponse.. thanks , Cammie & for the support. Re Braces: My Ortho is quite reluctant just to tidy up the upper teeth only – he says it won't make me looks better. He suggest it to leave it alone – reason is my lower teeth will be more prominent – and that's the last thing I want !!. He also said, under bite CANNOT be corrected by the braces alone.- Is it true ?? Re Cosmetic: Well of course my ortho & surgeon won't call it cosmetic. It's only me. Now later on I thought its part cosmetic, part functional. And yes, for the last 10 years I've been unhappy with myself & tend not to socialize. Re Eating/Pain I don't have any headache, TMJ & the like so far. But as said – that's not to say I won't have it in next 10 yrs. Yep – of course I can't eat small things like sandwich, slice of tomato/cucumber, etc.. basically anything `thin'. Re Insurance: I'm based on Sydney, AUS. The ortho&surgeon & dentist will cost about $18000-20000 AUD. I will get some back from Medicare & private cover. So out of pocket will be at least 10-15k. Re teeth wear: I'm not sure ?? Although I have yellowish- colour teeth. But doc said that's because I'm consuming too much antibiotics when I was little. By the way, how would YOU know the surgeon is good? He's recommended by my ortho. It looks like now I'm going to embrace my self for starting this journey. I hope that at least my family will understand me. I know there's going to be risks involved – even death ?? Well hopefully I will make the right decision. Regards, Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2004 Report Share Posted March 4, 2004 Jim, I've been on this site, more or less, since the summer of 2001. In all that time, I have heard of exactly one death during orthognathic surgery -- and that was not a person on this site, but rather a young woman in Birmingham whose anesthesiologist screwed up and gave her the wrong gas. It can happen. But mostly these folks are super careful, well trained and have double back-up, so that they can take most excellent care of you. The truth is that you are in more danger of death during the auto trip to the hospital than while you are on the table, I think, where you will have the most careful supervision by the most highly trained experts you probably will ever have in your life. But ask your surgeon, and if you wanna know, ask him whether he's ever lost a patient. (How you interpret the answer is up to you to interpret; I know nothing about probabilities and statistics.) About the underbite... My ortho and surgeon both said I'd need the surgery to complete the treatment, and I had a 5mm lower advancement, plus 3 mm to the side. Tooth wear is not the same as discoloration from antibiotics. I didn't know I was grinding, and told my surgeon that, whereupon he said, " Either you've been grinding or you've been chewing betel nuts. " He could tell that from looking at my molars. try to remember as well whether you've had cracked or chipped teeth. Often that happens. You should probably realize, as well, that if you are to have surgery, your bite will probably get worse during the ortho prep, before it gets better. That's all part of it. For me, my ortho's recommendation meant everything. I trusted him totally. I did find some other folks who'd had work done by my surgeon's parter, then asked him how many he'd done. The answer was 1,700 plus, before he got to me... I figured that was a good sign. His manner was so calm, friendly, knowledgeable and patient that I instantly bonded with him as a patient, and he had my trust, as well. Good wishes to you. Cammie > WOW.. what a reponse.. thanks , Cammie & for the support. > > Re Braces: > My Ortho is quite reluctant just to tidy up the upper teeth only – he > says it won't make me looks better. He suggest it to leave it alone – > reason is my lower teeth will be more prominent – and that's the last > thing I want !!. He also said, under bite CANNOT be corrected by the > braces alone.- Is it true ?? > > Re Cosmetic: > Well of course my ortho & surgeon won't call it cosmetic. It's only > me. Now later on I thought its part cosmetic, part functional. And > yes, for the last 10 years I've been unhappy with myself & tend not > to socialize. > > Re Eating/Pain > I don't have any headache, TMJ & the like so far. But as > said – that's not to say I won't have it in next 10 yrs. Yep – of > course I can't eat small things like sandwich, slice of > tomato/cucumber, etc.. basically anything `thin'. > > Re Insurance: > I'm based on Sydney, AUS. The ortho&surgeon & dentist will cost about > $18000-20000 AUD. I will get some back from Medicare & private cover. > So out of pocket will be at least 10-15k. > > Re teeth wear: > I'm not sure ?? Although I have yellowish- colour teeth. But doc said > that's because I'm consuming too much antibiotics when I was little. > > By the way, how would YOU know the surgeon is good? He's recommended > by my ortho. > > It looks like now I'm going to embrace my self for starting this > journey. I hope that at least my family will understand me. I know > there's going to be risks involved – even death ?? Well hopefully I > will make the right decision. > > Regards, > Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2004 Report Share Posted March 4, 2004 Jim, I've been on this site, more or less, since the summer of 2001. In all that time, I have heard of exactly one death during orthognathic surgery -- and that was not a person on this site, but rather a young woman in Birmingham whose anesthesiologist screwed up and gave her the wrong gas. It can happen. But mostly these folks are super careful, well trained and have double back-up, so that they can take most excellent care of you. The truth is that you are in more danger of death during the auto trip to the hospital than while you are on the table, I think, where you will have the most careful supervision by the most highly trained experts you probably will ever have in your life. But ask your surgeon, and if you wanna know, ask him whether he's ever lost a patient. (How you interpret the answer is up to you to interpret; I know nothing about probabilities and statistics.) About the underbite... My ortho and surgeon both said I'd need the surgery to complete the treatment, and I had a 5mm lower advancement, plus 3 mm to the side. Tooth wear is not the same as discoloration from antibiotics. I didn't know I was grinding, and told my surgeon that, whereupon he said, " Either you've been grinding or you've been chewing betel nuts. " He could tell that from looking at my molars. try to remember as well whether you've had cracked or chipped teeth. Often that happens. You should probably realize, as well, that if you are to have surgery, your bite will probably get worse during the ortho prep, before it gets better. That's all part of it. For me, my ortho's recommendation meant everything. I trusted him totally. I did find some other folks who'd had work done by my surgeon's parter, then asked him how many he'd done. The answer was 1,700 plus, before he got to me... I figured that was a good sign. His manner was so calm, friendly, knowledgeable and patient that I instantly bonded with him as a patient, and he had my trust, as well. Good wishes to you. Cammie > WOW.. what a reponse.. thanks , Cammie & for the support. > > Re Braces: > My Ortho is quite reluctant just to tidy up the upper teeth only – he > says it won't make me looks better. He suggest it to leave it alone – > reason is my lower teeth will be more prominent – and that's the last > thing I want !!. He also said, under bite CANNOT be corrected by the > braces alone.- Is it true ?? > > Re Cosmetic: > Well of course my ortho & surgeon won't call it cosmetic. It's only > me. Now later on I thought its part cosmetic, part functional. And > yes, for the last 10 years I've been unhappy with myself & tend not > to socialize. > > Re Eating/Pain > I don't have any headache, TMJ & the like so far. But as > said – that's not to say I won't have it in next 10 yrs. Yep – of > course I can't eat small things like sandwich, slice of > tomato/cucumber, etc.. basically anything `thin'. > > Re Insurance: > I'm based on Sydney, AUS. The ortho&surgeon & dentist will cost about > $18000-20000 AUD. I will get some back from Medicare & private cover. > So out of pocket will be at least 10-15k. > > Re teeth wear: > I'm not sure ?? Although I have yellowish- colour teeth. But doc said > that's because I'm consuming too much antibiotics when I was little. > > By the way, how would YOU know the surgeon is good? He's recommended > by my ortho. > > It looks like now I'm going to embrace my self for starting this > journey. I hope that at least my family will understand me. I know > there's going to be risks involved – even death ?? Well hopefully I > will make the right decision. > > Regards, > Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2004 Report Share Posted March 4, 2004 Jim, I've been on this site, more or less, since the summer of 2001. In all that time, I have heard of exactly one death during orthognathic surgery -- and that was not a person on this site, but rather a young woman in Birmingham whose anesthesiologist screwed up and gave her the wrong gas. It can happen. But mostly these folks are super careful, well trained and have double back-up, so that they can take most excellent care of you. The truth is that you are in more danger of death during the auto trip to the hospital than while you are on the table, I think, where you will have the most careful supervision by the most highly trained experts you probably will ever have in your life. But ask your surgeon, and if you wanna know, ask him whether he's ever lost a patient. (How you interpret the answer is up to you to interpret; I know nothing about probabilities and statistics.) About the underbite... My ortho and surgeon both said I'd need the surgery to complete the treatment, and I had a 5mm lower advancement, plus 3 mm to the side. Tooth wear is not the same as discoloration from antibiotics. I didn't know I was grinding, and told my surgeon that, whereupon he said, " Either you've been grinding or you've been chewing betel nuts. " He could tell that from looking at my molars. try to remember as well whether you've had cracked or chipped teeth. Often that happens. You should probably realize, as well, that if you are to have surgery, your bite will probably get worse during the ortho prep, before it gets better. That's all part of it. For me, my ortho's recommendation meant everything. I trusted him totally. I did find some other folks who'd had work done by my surgeon's parter, then asked him how many he'd done. The answer was 1,700 plus, before he got to me... I figured that was a good sign. His manner was so calm, friendly, knowledgeable and patient that I instantly bonded with him as a patient, and he had my trust, as well. Good wishes to you. Cammie > WOW.. what a reponse.. thanks , Cammie & for the support. > > Re Braces: > My Ortho is quite reluctant just to tidy up the upper teeth only – he > says it won't make me looks better. He suggest it to leave it alone – > reason is my lower teeth will be more prominent – and that's the last > thing I want !!. He also said, under bite CANNOT be corrected by the > braces alone.- Is it true ?? > > Re Cosmetic: > Well of course my ortho & surgeon won't call it cosmetic. It's only > me. Now later on I thought its part cosmetic, part functional. And > yes, for the last 10 years I've been unhappy with myself & tend not > to socialize. > > Re Eating/Pain > I don't have any headache, TMJ & the like so far. But as > said – that's not to say I won't have it in next 10 yrs. Yep – of > course I can't eat small things like sandwich, slice of > tomato/cucumber, etc.. basically anything `thin'. > > Re Insurance: > I'm based on Sydney, AUS. The ortho&surgeon & dentist will cost about > $18000-20000 AUD. I will get some back from Medicare & private cover. > So out of pocket will be at least 10-15k. > > Re teeth wear: > I'm not sure ?? Although I have yellowish- colour teeth. But doc said > that's because I'm consuming too much antibiotics when I was little. > > By the way, how would YOU know the surgeon is good? He's recommended > by my ortho. > > It looks like now I'm going to embrace my self for starting this > journey. I hope that at least my family will understand me. I know > there's going to be risks involved – even death ?? Well hopefully I > will make the right decision. > > Regards, > Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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