Depression and orthodontics procedure

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#1 Post by **yeahyeahyeah** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 7:09 pm

I have an anterior open bite class 3 with a crossbite. I have recently undergone SARPE to correct the crossbite. This has been a successful procedure, my upper jaw looks a lot better. However my open bite still remains; in addition to that I need bottom jaw realignment as my bottom jaw slants out of place to the left hand side.

It has been causing me great depression, because an open bite means my teeth do not touch, so I cannot smile using them. And secondly with an assymetrical jawline, I am basically less attractive.

I am wondering if this is common amongst others going through this? I am 24, so it hits me harder.

#2 Post by **enigma** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 12:02 pm

Sorry to hear that your feeling low right now,
Personally I wouldn't say how I looked made me feel depressed but at various stages in my life I have felt that my low self esteem has effected me.
I had double jaw surgery on the 25th January. and I feel it has definately made me feel more confident in myself.
Although you descibe feeling depressed I wonder is it just how you look thats getting you down?
Surgery is great and I feel for me a positive thing.
I hope your feeling better soon xxx

#3 Post by **Marisama** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 12:07 pm

I have a very similar problem. I have asymmetry and a crossbite. It's called "unilateral condylar hyperplasia" This affects TMJ quite negatively and causes them to click and be painful. I certainly understand your esteem struggles and coping with asymmetry is not fun. I am waiting to graduate college this month and start working and get on insurance. I want to have double jaw surgery to level my bite and get some relief from my pain. Good luck with everything and know that you're not alone.

#4 Post by **daffodil** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 8:07 pm

I suspect this is common. I finally decided to have the surgery because I don't want to lose all my teeth early, but because of my severe overbite and asymmetry, I hate having my picture taken. For whatever reason, when I look in the mirror, I think that I'm attractive, but whenever I see a picture of myself, I notice the overbite and asymmetry and I'm horrified.

#5 Post by **Marisama** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 9:30 pm

I hate having my picture taken. For whatever reason, when I look in the mirror, I think that I'm attractive, but whenever I see a picture of myself, I notice the overbite and asymmetry and I'm horrified.

I know exactly what you're talking about. I can't stand taking pictures but I like the way I look in the mirror. It's crazy. I'm hoping surgery will help with this. I cannot wait to get surgery even though I know it's going to be hard and it is pretty scary. It's nice to meet people who understand what life is like with asymmetry.

#6 Post by **tdawg7669** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 8:10 am

I have a similar problem. I have a crossbite, overjet, and anterior openbite. I also like the way I look in the mirror but not in pictures.

I think I have discovered the reason. When we look at ourselves in the mirror, we tilt our head and make a forced facial expression to compensate for our skeletal discrepancies. However pictures capture us at our natural resting state.

I am just starting my journey towards fixing this mess, but I am happy to be able to put this all behind me eventually. Thankfully I am only 20 so recovery should be alright and I will be fixing the problem early.

#7 Post by **revolutionary** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 9:06 am

Hey guys,

I just had a severe underbite corrected with surgery last month. I struggled with severe, chronic depression and insecurity about it (my jaw and smile were ALL I could think about)... I was really miserable. I also hated pictures (yet spent WAY too much time looking in the mirror trying to figure out what angle I could at best look decent from and blah blah blah) and found every way to avoid them from hiding behind people to covering my mouth and looking like I was sneezing. I just felt so deformed. I was always making sure no one was looking at me from the side, and even covering my mouth when I talked, not just smiled. And maybe it sounds superficial but my god it's our faces we're talking about. The first things people see about us. And hey, if we don't like our own smile.... What can we really love about ourselves?

So I had the surgery and it's honestly the best thing I've ever done for myself. Even while still being a little swollen (I'm 3 weeks post op), my confidence and happiness in general has exposed exponentially. Even while I have these weird (one of my professors described them as either "outer space/sci fi" or "retro" lol) rubber bands holding my jaws closed, I'm constantly laughing and smiling and I don't feel like I have to hide it or duck or cover my mouth. I feel a lot more social and outgoing and just more positive and motivated in general.

This has completely transformed me, and the most uncomfortable days post-op were FAR better than my worst days before I knew I was having the surgery. It was all worth it, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

#8 Post by **tdawg7669** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 9:10 am

Thank you, you make me feel better about my situation. Knowing that surgery is possibly in my future(hopefully, as long as it is covered), I find myself thinking about my jaw ALL THE TIME. 24/7. I have even wished I was never born at some points. If I could I would just fast forward a year to surgery date just so I can finally get this deformity fixed.

#9 Post by **marycotter5678** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 10:32 am

Hi. I'm sorry to hear that. Although you can't change your situation right this minute, there are things you can do for depression besides prescription pills. I suggest seeing a Naturopathic Doctor. They can give you things like 5-HTP, GABA, etc etc.

#10 Post by **yeahyeahyeah** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 9:07 am

It is really reassuring to see that I am not alone in feeling this way.

I have noticed that a few of you have tossed the word "deformity" around. This is EXACTLY how I feel when I think about my own problem. Last night,I was telling a friend "you probably can't notice it, but I know I have the problem, and it kills me knowing that I am not my best self at 24.". Sometimes because of it, when I am out socialising I just think I am some ugly freak due to it.

Also, it is very interesting to see how you guys talk about being camera shy, I am exactly the same for exactly the same reasons mentioned. Picture has to be at a certain angle, I have to make a certain facial expression etc etc...even then half of them look sesame. It's so annoying, not being able to smile with the teeth, but with a closed cheesy smile kills me, especially when I see others who can.

Revolutionary, it is great to hear things improved for you, do you have before - after photos? I cling onto the hope that my self-confidence will improve after the second set of ops are done. Will be undergoing lower jaw surgery sometime later this year. One thing that I really hate with this is how a lot of people downplay it, I mean "what the flower, it is my face here that is slightly disfigured? How can it not be a big thing?", and then treat you as quack because of your depression. I remember after getting SARPE, the actual procedure was no way as bad as the mental anguish prior to it...my orthodontists I find are not very empathetic towards patients who suffer low self esteem due to this. They treat it like a "trivial matter"

Hi. I'm sorry to hear that. Although you can't change your situation right this minute, there are things you can do for depression besides prescription pills. I suggest seeing a Naturopathic Doctor. They can give you things like 5-HTP, GABA, etc etc.

Really want to avoid this due to the fear of becoming addicted to prescription drugs for a fix. Right now, I guess a lot of my depression is stemming from frustration of having the problem - I really just want a day where I can relax in front of the camera and share a really nice smile with the world without getting paranoid with respect to how I am posing.

Sucks.

#11 Post by **marycotter5678** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 10:05 am

I wanted to avoid "prescription" anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs as well. That's why I went to a Naturopathic Doctor - they work with herbs, supplements, acupuncture, etc etc to get your mood in order. Those are not addictive. I have to say that it has really helped me and knowing how important a positive attitude is to recovery, I highly recommend it to others.