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POSTED UNDER Jaw Surgery REVIEWS

19 Year Old With Very Large Overbite and Jutting Front Teeth. Ontario, CA

Name: 19 Year Old With Very Large Overbite and Jutting Front Teeth. Ontario, CA
Item: Name not provided
Author: kayaree

ORIGINAL POST

I've had a severe overbite my entire life and...

kayareeOctober 17, 2015

I've had a severe overbite my entire life and haven't had the funds to even get braces. I believe the last time I went in to get my teeth and jaw looked at and x-rayed, etc, they told me I would need corrective jaw surgery to pull my bottom jaw forward. I have constant grinding and some pain when I eat at the hinges of my jaw, especially on one side. I can't close my mouth properly without forcing my lips together. This also causes me to breathe through my mouth when I sleep, and dries out my gums. I have trouble eating things the regular person wouldn't have a problem with. Instead of using my front teeth for anything, I usually use my molars. This means I can't really bite into any kind of fruit. It's a pain in the as- I mean, bottom, and as much as I'm confident in who I am and how I look, it definitely makes me feel naked in a sense. My overbite, overjet, and short bottom jaw are very noticeable. Embarrassingly, I'll even accidentally stab my significant other with my front teeth because of how much they stick out. What should I start with? Braces? Who should I go to? How will I know if this is insured? How long of a process would this be? If I could have a normal jaw and normal smile, my life would be improved beyond words. I'm ready for a change. :)

Replies (38)

Dawn7

October 17, 2015

In Nova Scotia you pay for your braces yourself( unless your personal insurance covers it, mine didn't) then you get a referral fr your ortho to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in a hospital ..the surgeon and your ortho work together to get your teeth ready for where they need to be for surgery (this can take a while) and then msi(your healthcard)covers the surgery with the oral and maxillofacial surgeon for cases that are necessary. All i paid for was my braces and all the trips to halifax as i live 4 hrs away, the rest was covered. Ontario might be different.. There may be surgeon fees or consultation fees, and pretty sure same goes in Ontario that braces are not covered under your heathcard(msi) however i do know some orthodontist do offer monthly payments. Judging by your photos you would most likely need both upper and lower jaw surgery, but i do think you need it if it causes you that many problems in your daily life. Just be aware it is a major surgery as they are cutting your jaw bones in sections and rearranging them and screwing and plating it back together. Do a lot of research beforehand. Be aware after surgery you will be elasticed shut for a period of time, need to relearn to use your jaw, and you will have braces on for another period of time after surgery, please follow all instructions post surgery such as wearing elastics and retainers, wear your retainer for life!!! your jaw can relapse. Ive been through this surgery 3 times, last 2 times were over 10 years ago so i forgot what this was like, but im 1 month post op currently. I had an overbite and openbite, you look to also have that

kayaree

October 17, 2015

Thank you for your detailed explanation and advice. I'll definitely do a lot of thinking and visit an orthodontist when I'm finally in Ontario (I'll be moving there in a couple of weeks). I have a doctor there that has been my family doctor since I was a baby - would I need to visit him and then get a referral to an ortho, who would then refer me to a surgeon? I guess the one thing that scares me is becoming a person who I'm not used to. I've been like this my whole life so this is all I've ever known and it's a part of who I am. At the very least, I'll get braces to correct my overjet, then I will probably make a decision after that if I want to continue with surgery. Of course, I have no idea what exactly I'll need until I visit my doctor.

Dawn7

October 17, 2015

You don't need the refferal to go to the orthodontist,it could be different in ontraio though?each province has different rules..here you pay the ortho out of pocket(unless you have your own personal insurance that will cover it) you'll usually pay for xrays with the otho also, so keep in mind that cost.I think usually the ortho should do the refferal for the surgeon, they usually knows who specializes in certain areas of the jaw and which one would be best for your case. Being in your 20's is a good age to get it done, any younger and your bones have not stopped growing, i know this because i had my first 2 done in my teens and both relapsed, therefore why i had it done a 3rd time 10 years later. i can honestly say though i do not regret any of these surgeries before the first 2 relapsed it made it so much easier to eat and function and it gave me confidance in my smile and took away some of the pain i had in my joint where my jaw was sitting in an awkward position and it was straining to close my lips before any surgery. i just wish i would have researched it more, knew to wait until my bones stopped growing to get it done. followed post op instructions such as wearing my retainer for life,etc. i think if you prepare yourself and fully know what your getting into, never hestitate to question the ortho or surgeon, its your face you'll be fine.i hated reading some of these reviews on here where people did not educate themselves beforehand. Recovery is hard,there are risks involved, looking at yourself for the first few month post op is hard, you will be swollen for months and cannot judge what you will look like at first.each refferal to the surgeon for each on my surgerys took 3-4 months, so keep that in mind also. again ontario might be different.

13Alexie74

October 18, 2015

Have you looked into using a Dental College in Canada? I have no idea how that works there, but in Texas a friend used the Univ of Tex at San Antonio Dental school for his children's corrective dental surgeries..Here, there is a long waiting list and you may have to partial pay based on income...also, they do procedures based on what they are studying at that time, so it can be a lot sooner if they are looking for someone with a particular problem...Good luck

kayaree

October 18, 2015

I haven't, but I'll definitely look into it. :)

drjamali

October 18, 2015

If you can take care of your braces, I can then help you with your surgery.

emilyssss

October 19, 2015

You will most likely need braces and surgery. These need to work together as a package so I don't believe it's a matter of simply starting with something. You should see an orthodontist who can refer you to a surgeon. They consult each other to get the best results.

vanessagomezottawa

October 19, 2015

Hi I'm an orthodontic dental hygienist in ottawa, ontario n have seen quite a few cases like urs over the past 15 years. Normally, the procedure is as such where I practice: U see an orthodontist who puts braces on ur teeth n lines them up prior to surgery (approx 12-18 months) n then, the oral surgeon (the orthodontist would probably refer u to one s/he works with) does the jaw surgery while ur braces r on (6 weeks initial healing time) n then u continue on with braces for about 6-months post-surgery. Then its retention time after the braces come off for many years.
I believe costs totally depend on ur insurance coverage. N as it is elective surgery people can experience long wait times for a hospital bed. Hope that helps u a bit more. Generally results r great n people r happier with their faces/jaws but its alot to go thru for sure. Having support n good health n nutrition is best for post-surg healing. All the best.

kayaree

October 19, 2015

I'm willing to wait and be patient for the results that will follow. I definitely feel it will give me much increased and much wanted self confidence, as well as joy in knowing I can eat like everyone else can, and close my mouth like everyone else. I did have a question - I've heard post-op you need to go on a liquid diet. How much weight, if any, would I lose? I'm 102 pounds and 5'2", so I'm worried I'll lose a lot. Thanks! :)

vanessagomezottawa

October 19, 2015

I find males lose about 10-15 lbs, females less so, in the first couple weeks post surg but its all gained back so I wouldnt worry about that too, too much. I have heard of patients blending their steaks n chicken n vegetables n good quality protein shakes r great too. Homeopathic arnica n quality vitamins n supplements r great ideas too. But nothing beats rest n mom cooking, stews, soups n tlc!