POSTED UNDER Jaw Surgery REVIEWS
Taming the Chin 42yo Jaw Surgery - Brisbane, AU
ORIGINAL POST
I have a 'deficient maxilla' or 'maxillary...
danonJune 30, 2015
$25,000
I have a 'deficient maxilla' or 'maxillary deficiency'. My bite was corrected in adolescence but the imbalance in my jaws is not aesthetically pleasing. I've always been very self conscious about my smile and about my profile. My lower jaw is very prominent and I've developed some habits whereby I will avoid closing my teeth together for aesthetic reasons, or make a strange shape with my lips when i look in a mirror in an attempt to improve my reflection. These are automatic habits now and I'm only aware of it if someone points it out.
I have had orthodontic amd oral surgery consults. The plan is 9 months of pre-surgical braces unless he has to remove ten in which case or will be more like 18 months before surgery.
The oral surgeon indicated a lefort osteotomy with significant down fracture and advancement - needing an illiac bone graft. Yikes. He thought we could avoid lower jaw surgery although the orthodontist pointed out to me that the final plan will depend on what can be achieved with orthodontics.
I'll keep you posted.
Step one tomorrow - braces go on.
I have had orthodontic amd oral surgery consults. The plan is 9 months of pre-surgical braces unless he has to remove ten in which case or will be more like 18 months before surgery.
The oral surgeon indicated a lefort osteotomy with significant down fracture and advancement - needing an illiac bone graft. Yikes. He thought we could avoid lower jaw surgery although the orthodontist pointed out to me that the final plan will depend on what can be achieved with orthodontics.
I'll keep you posted.
Step one tomorrow - braces go on.
Replies (10)
June 30, 2015
Sorry for the typos!
* 9 months of braces unless the ortho has to remove teeth (not ten) in which case it (not or) will be 18 months or so.
* 9 months of braces unless the ortho has to remove teeth (not ten) in which case it (not or) will be 18 months or so.
June 30, 2015
Thanks for sharing your story and good luck! It will all be worth it in the end im sure.. 18 months with braces shouldnt be too bad (it will be my 5th year with mine next month!!) i just had double jaw surgery to fix my class III underbite and, although its been quite a slow recovery, was not as bad as i expected. However, i didnt have to have an iliac bone graft. That sounds very extensive! But im sure they know what theyre doing and you will be fine! X
July 1, 2015
Thanks Beckiboo, i just read about your surgery. It sounds like you are healing well so that's great! I'm terrified that ill have to the double jaw surgery (rather than upper only) but seeing your results and recovery is very reassuring!
August 12, 2015
Hi Danon,
my jaw has a very similar problem to yours and I'll be having my wisdom teeth removed, braces and bimaxillary treatment for the next 2 years. In your post you quoted $25,000 for the treatment. Is that the amount before claiming from private health insurance or just out-of-pocket expenses?
my jaw has a very similar problem to yours and I'll be having my wisdom teeth removed, braces and bimaxillary treatment for the next 2 years. In your post you quoted $25,000 for the treatment. Is that the amount before claiming from private health insurance or just out-of-pocket expenses?
August 17, 2015
How did you find a surgeon who will operate for cosmetic purposes when your bite is correct? I am finding surgeons only do surgery if the bite is not correct.
UPDATED FROM danon
Braces are go!
danonJuly 1, 2015
Got the braces installed today. There's not a lot to say except DONT EAT TUNA! That stuff gets caught up everywhere!
The process was painless -
1. Removed my spacers
2. Fitted molar rings (anchors around my last molars)
3. Cemented the rings
4. RINSE AND SPIT! The cement is full of fluoride. Ick.
5. Painted stuff on my teeth, fitted brackets to each lower tooth, and cured the glue with a heat light. He had a dental hygienist cure the last four on the bottom and prep the top arch, saw another patient during that time and came back and fitted the top brackets.
Seems a busy practice - lots of demands on his time.
6. RINSE AND SPIT!!!
7. He fitted the arch wire to and bottom.
All done. Very friendly but professional. Big chat with the dental nurse on the way out who gave me a little bag full of helpful goodies like wax etc.
No pain or even particular discomfort at the moment. He assured me that this will change over the next few days before settling.
The process was painless -
1. Removed my spacers
2. Fitted molar rings (anchors around my last molars)
3. Cemented the rings
4. RINSE AND SPIT! The cement is full of fluoride. Ick.
5. Painted stuff on my teeth, fitted brackets to each lower tooth, and cured the glue with a heat light. He had a dental hygienist cure the last four on the bottom and prep the top arch, saw another patient during that time and came back and fitted the top brackets.
Seems a busy practice - lots of demands on his time.
6. RINSE AND SPIT!!!
7. He fitted the arch wire to and bottom.
All done. Very friendly but professional. Big chat with the dental nurse on the way out who gave me a little bag full of helpful goodies like wax etc.
No pain or even particular discomfort at the moment. He assured me that this will change over the next few days before settling.
Replies (1)
July 8, 2015
Adjusting to the braces sucked pretty bad for about 5 days - a big part of that wad the fact i had a migraine for 3 days as well. Mainly minced cheeks was the problem - no tooth pain though :) and now just a week later no pain at all.
Thanks for sharing your journey with us. I hope this community can be a great resource for you, please let us know how it goes with the braces!