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Bone from Hip inserted into my upper jaw?

Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 5:09 pm
by starrdreamer37
Anyone had this?

So I finally went and saw a surgeon and he took xrays and apparently my upper jaw stopped growing sometime when I was small and in order to break my upper jaw and move it down there is not enough bone in teh back of my jaw to support everything. So either I go with a cadaver or use a piece of my hip bone.

Anyone had this done??

Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 5:45 pm
by ohmyjaw
Yup I had it done. I have a small scar on my hip, about 3 cm long. It was a bit sore for a few days, you will not want to sleep on that side for a week or so, and you have to keep it dry for about a week. Otherwise it is not a big deal.

Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 5:49 pm
by starrdreamer37
thanks :) I was beginning to wonder if he was a little cuckoo :P

What hurt worse? Your hip or your jaw?

So what type of malocclusion did you have? i had surgery a few years ago but did not have braces on at the time. Just lower surgery. So now he will have to redo everything (when I get braces on). But now I'm worried about insurance. My top teeth completely cover my bottom but there is no space between them. I have blue cross blue shield so we shall see I guess.

Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:17 pm
by ohmyjaw
My jaw definitely hurt worse than my hip. I had a crossbite and underbite and lip incompetence and asymmetrical lower jaw. Sorry I can't help with insurance stuff; I'm in Canada!

Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:52 pm
by Braces420
I really don't know much about insurance or how Blue Cross varies from state to state. I do have "Empire" Blue Cross Blue Shield though, an "Anthem UM" service, I don't know what any of that means. It's New York's PPO program is about all I know.

They sent me a letter, Dear sir or madam..... asking for a whole bunch of stuff from photos to study models with bite registration, numeric cephalometric analysis, a bunch of other stuff whatever. Your OS and ortho gives them the information, no worries from you.

Then paragraph 2:

"In order to be eligible for benefits relative to orthognatic surgery, it is necessary for you to provide records from the PCP, speech therapist or any recognized therapist who has treated the patient for a period of one year for functional deficits attributable to skeletal facial deformity. The records must document:

- functional deficits for at least one-year duration, which have been refractory to routine therapy such as problems with mastication, weight, malnutrition, gastrointestinal instability and speech impairment."


Maybe that could help. My situation is different so IDK, just go to doctors and ask for help, if they aren't able to help you then they'll refer you to someone who can. That right there is a reference, someone you can get to write a letter for you.

Best of luck with your insurance and surgery either way. I've been really stressed out dealing with insurance, hope you're not going through the same.

Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:59 pm
by starrdreamer37
Braces420 wrote:I really don't know much about insurance or how Blue Cross varies from state to state. I do have "Empire" Blue Cross Blue Shield though, an "Anthem UM" service, I don't know what any of that means. It's New York's PPO program is about all I know.

They sent me a letter, Dear sir or madam..... asking for a whole bunch of stuff from photos to study models with bite registration, numeric cephalometric analysis, a bunch of other stuff whatever. Your OS and ortho gives them the information, no worries from you.

Then paragraph 2:

"In order to be eligible for benefits relative to orthognatic surgery, it is necessary for you to provide records from the PCP, speech therapist or any recognized therapist who has treated the patient for a period of one year for functional deficits attributable to skeletal facial deformity. The records must document:

- functional deficits for at least one-year duration, which have been refractory to routine therapy such as problems with mastication, weight, malnutrition, gastrointestinal instability and speech impairment."


Maybe that could help. My situation is different so IDK, just go to doctors and ask for help, if they aren't able to help you then they'll refer you to someone who can. That right there is a reference, someone you can get to write a letter for you.

Best of luck with your insurance and surgery either way. I've been really stressed out dealing with insurance, hope you're not going through the same.
Thats crazy. I def didnt have to go through all that the first time.. Doc said that he has good dealings with BCBS but since my bite isnt "terrible" it might get dicey or they might deny me. But that there is a good possibility they will approve me but if they deny me then I will appeal at least once. I figure.. If its not approved, I might try a few veneers to at least improve my smile a little bit.

I'm sorry your stressed out :/ I want this so bad but my husband is kind of hesitant having me go through this again. Especially getting a hand from my hip :P He's not too thrilled with that idea. ha But my body :P So I'll try not to be too dissapointed if they say no.