Adults Braces, Jaw surgery..should I do this?? - Dental Health Message Board

US40126 · 03-07-2006, 06:16 AM

Hi everyone, I currently have some major dental issues, my teeth are crooked, crowded, etc... My jaw didn't develop right, so I have what appears to be a huge overbite. Anyway, I have been meeting with Orthodontics and yesterday I met with an oral surgeon..this is the plan they gave me. I need to have 3 or 4 teeth extracted due to the crowding and due to my lower jaw not growing properly. Then I will need to have braces for 15 months, then I would need to have lower and top jaw surgery, and then possibily more orthodontics work just to fine tune everything. I am not as concerned about the jaw surgery as I am about the braces. I work in a busy office, I have contact with people all day, it seems braces would be very embarassing for me, not to mention the retainer which will probably cause me to talk with a lispe lol. In my mind right now I am thinking that I should do it because after the 1 1/2 to 2 years i will be so much prettier, what are some of your thoughts? Any experience or advice or thoughts would be appreciated

anitak1982 · 03-07-2006, 07:05 AM

Braces today are not like yesterday's braces. They are hardly visable and if you have dental issues and people see your braces they will not think negatively but positively as seeing you getting needed work done. Braces do not have a negative stereotype. Many people of all ages get braces.

As for jaw surgery. My daughter had her upper jaw moved forward 4mm in August. She is doing wonderfully. No major issues with this except for just right after surgery which would be normal for any surgery. Your face will go temporarily numb and once the feeling returns you will not be sore anymore. So my daughter said this surgery wasn't that painful.

There are numerous help websites for Orthognathic surgery but remember some of these sites have people who post more that have problems than people who have had no problems. It can be scary to read some of the posts but it helped me be prepared for what to expect.

rkorn · 03-09-2006, 03:25 PM

Were you given any other options then surgery?

US40126 · 03-09-2006, 07:10 PM

No, my bite is so bad, surgery is the only way. I can get my teeth to look perfect but my face will still be way off. My lower jaw is back further than it should be. I met with the orthodontists on Wednesday, and he reassured all my fears, so I'm doing it!! In 2 years I should be a totally different person. I am very excited. I have always hated the way I look, just been scared to do anything about it.. I can't believe I'm finally doing it, I can't wait for the finish

Ravishing · 07-14-2006, 11:07 AM

I'm curious to know if you've had the surgery yet and what the outcome was? Any advice or information to share abotu your experience?

I met with an ortho yesterday who recommended that I go through with this procedure. I feel crazy for wanting to have surgery and am anxious about what the recovery is like. I plan on calling today to book a consult with the surgeon.

Thanks in advance for anything you can share