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Overjet...getting braces, need advice!

Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 7:53 am
by Tracey82
Hey There everyone!

I'm 28 and have made the decision to get braces :D finally - well I always wanted them but long story!! Anyway I went for a consutlation with a local Ortho recently and have been booked in on monday to get Molds done. I have a significant overjet, really embarrassed about my teeth and have hated them as long as I can remember.

Previous consults (in the past 3 years) I have been told I would need Jaw surgery to correct the overjet and also braces for 2 years. However in this consult, was told I didn't need surgery, that first he would put 'expanders' in on top, and could also put in place something to push out my bottom jaw, along with normal braces aswell. Obviously I need a more detailed explanataion from him, which I will get on Monday, but just was hoping someone who may suffer with similar problem may have any advice for me!!
Thanks!!! x

I was told the same thing 2 years ago

Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 12:12 am
by mhalliden
Hello!

I was told that I ALSO needed Jaw Surgery in order to fix my teeth. I ended up NOT getting braces then.. although i WISH i did. Now it is 2 years later, I am 2 years older.

My current Ortho has not mentioned surgically breaking my jaw and therefore I love her. I think that they surgery is only to fix my over bite which is the LEAST of my worries.

Go with your gut. Having someone even MENTION breaking my jaw/eating through a tube and having an enormous amount of pain scared me away from fixing my teeth. I seriously wish I could time travel.

Not sure if this was the best advice.. just letting you know I was told the same thing.

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 1:56 am
by Tracey82
Hi mhalliden!

Thanks a million for writing back to me! It helps a lot, coz I m glad you have been told your teeth can be fixed without surgery, this is exactly what happened to me.... I was actually told 10 years ago that I needed surgery, I was told by our local health board, who treated me really badly to be honest, and basically said to me that it would cost thousands and braces wouldnt do anything for me. this put me off for years. The amount of times I wish I could turn that clock back aswell....but am gonna just keep telling myself at least Im doing it now!

I am really excited now that I can be really happy with smiling in about 2 years time!!! I know its not gonna be easy but will be so worth it. And a great thing was that I wasn't made to feel like a freak this time...

Were you told you would need any other 'appliances' expander etc?

Even the word 'appliance' scares the life outta me!!!

Thanks again for sharin your advice!

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:07 am
by I love my teeth
keep me updated on your situation! I was told 15years ago--braces and lower jaw surgery--I said no way---went on with my life, had consults about 18months ago,---no change---braces and lower jaw surgery.......so here I am 13months into braces, almost ready for surgery--which I would do almost anything to avoid!! But, It just didn't seem like there was any other way for me! so, your story intrigues me!

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 2:07 am
by Tracey82
No problem...Ill let you know how it goes at next consult which is on friday, this is when i should find out the exact treatment plan! Your nearly there with yours, you will be so happy with the result, a friend of mine had the jaw surgery last year, it wasn't as bad as it sounds she said, and thats being honest, the time flew by and her profile is perfect now. was uncomfortable more than anything , but only for a few weeks after... so dont worry!

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 9:06 am
by alimommy1
I never had an overjet problem but I did have several original consults with orthos who said I needed surgery with braces. I chose to go with one who did not say I HAD to have surgery, honestly I would deal with expansion or impants for anchorage, anything BUT surgery lol.

I am having retreatment for a problem with my bite and not one ortho mentioned surgery at all. I was 20 when I first had braces, now I'm 35. I've done a lot of research about surgical and non surgical approaches, I think it really depends whether it's a skeletal problem or if it's just a problem with the way teeth are aligned, and also the results you want. Some people are more concerned about how their smile looks, other people are paranoid about their profiles and/or facial changes.

I've noticed that a lot more adults are told they may need surgery for BEST results, but that's because orthos cannot take advantage of growth with us like they can with children and teens.

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:37 am
by Tracey82
Thanks a mill for that....I feel the same, I will deal with whatever they want to do...but would really rather not get the surgery!! I want a nice smile, I am not too bothered about my profile, as to be honest Ive never noticed it to be that bad, if my teeth can look good when i smile instead of sticking out I'll be happy, so fingers crossed! I got my molds done on friday and some xrays, I've to have more xrays next week and then the ortho said he would tell me what he plans to do.... am hoping I can get them on as soon as possible, just want to be on my way to a nice smile!!

Thanks for your help and advice!

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 12:43 pm
by Tuxkeeper
I'm 34 and got braces about a year ago. I have an "open bite" and my teeth were not straight. My ortho has been telling me from the start that I will need jaw surgery if I want to correct the open bite. It's not absolutely required, but if I want the open bite closed, then surgery is the only option. As for the teeth, a year in braces has produced a very noticeable change in straightening! I will probably be in braces for another year, maybe a little less. The surgery I am NOT looking forward to :shock: If my insurance doesn't cover it, I won't be doing it because the oral surgeon is telling me that I will be in the hospital for 2-3 days. Imagine the bill I'd get on that if insurance doesn't cover it, lol! I will be consulting with the surgeon again in the near future because my ortho is saying that the teeth are pretty close to being in position to be ready for surgery. I will let the oral surgeon's office work it out with my insurance and see what to do and where to go from there. The surgeon had told me last fall (at my first consult with him) that there is a different procedure he can do to "partially correct" the bite, and that can be done as an outpatient thing in his office and will be less traumatic than the surgery. But...it only "partially" corrects the problem. So I guess we'll see...
Good luck with your situation! Being an adult in braces is kind of weird, but I think in the end the results will be very satisfying! I was glad to find this website. It helps to know that there are quite a few others out there going through the same thing in their adult lives :)

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:48 am
by Insanity514
Hi im 16. My Ortho says that braces have a CHANCE to cure my overbite/jet. He says Im too old now for it to defintely work. What kind of brace has your ortho given you?? My alternative would be surgery but I would never go for it.

insanity

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 12:40 pm
by sadpanda
Hi Insanity -

If you're only 16, you haven't stopped growing and I don't understand why an ortho would say that treatment wouldn't work because of your age. I'm 29.5 with a large overbite and overjet (and some other problems) and my ortho says he should be able to fix them just with braces. I have all metals, upper and lower. Try getting another ortho consult or two and see if they agree with the one you have now. I'm sure at least one will give you better options.

Re: Overjet...getting braces, need advice!

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 9:19 am
by Tracey82
Hi All, sorry I hadnt updated in so long when I said I would... I went to a different Ortho.... Ive actually posted a new Topic, I got the ALF appliance, supposed to be really effective in correcting overbite, narrow arches etc... Ill keep you updated , only 5 days into treatment now and so far so good, not too painful or anything!