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^I'm not really in a position to do that, as far as I know everything cleared insurance and this is an internal form the OS needs to file with the hospital in order to schedule me there....it's aggravating because it's been stuck at this same step in the process for 3 weeks!
Don't get me wrong, my OS is highly regarded in my area and I really like him...and once I get the SARPE I'm sure I'll wish I hadn't but still, all this waiting is killing me...I just want to get it over with and be able to plan ahead for missing work, etc...
32 years old, total time in braces=30 months
-Braces and palate expander on 4/15/10
-RPE Surgery 9/15/10
-Expander removed 3/11
-Braces Removed 9/7/12
-Retainers in 9/7/12
Yeah, me too...my orthodontist has contacted them THREE times over the last 2 weeks to get the ball rolling...he's gonna be miffed at them next week when I go in for an adjustment and I *still* haven't heard from them!
32 years old, total time in braces=30 months
-Braces and palate expander on 4/15/10
-RPE Surgery 9/15/10
-Expander removed 3/11
-Braces Removed 9/7/12
-Retainers in 9/7/12
Congrats on taking the plunge! Sorry to hear about your frustration with getting your surgery scheduled. I kind of know how you feel. After my first consult with the orthodontist ( & before I could begin my ortho treatment), my general dentist and orthodontist had to confer about the specifics of my treatment plan. The ortho was dragging his feet, and the dentist's office had to call his office 3 times to get things rolling. This took 2 months...I honestly think they all take on too much!
Sorry to hear about what you had to go through w/ the spacers... I only have to get one (!) when my lower braces go on (later this month).
Good luck getting everything squared away with your treatment. Look forward to seeing your pics. Remember patience is our friend.
I'm really upset today...the oral surgeon's office called me last night and told me my insurance denied the request for the SARPE surgery. I found this incredible to believe, since my insurance ALREADY PAID $400 for the consultation AND the molds/x-Rays that the oral surgeon took back in March. But they won't pay for the SARPE...how does that make sense? The OS office said they're going to file a letter of appeal tomorrow, but that it could take ANOTHER 3-6 weeks to hear back. So I called my orthodontist and he wants to see me tomorrow to take the expander out so I don't have to be inconvenienced by it (which is nice of him) and he'll put it back in when/if the SARPE is scheduled...
Very frustrating...I'm not mad at my ortho or OS, I'm pissed at my insurance...they've covered EVERYTHING else I've ever needed them to, but not this. And if they won't pay, I refuse to get the SARPE, as I cannot afford it...argh!
32 years old, total time in braces=30 months
-Braces and palate expander on 4/15/10
-RPE Surgery 9/15/10
-Expander removed 3/11
-Braces Removed 9/7/12
-Retainers in 9/7/12
I hope it does, too...they're filing it today. They said it can take another 3-6 weeks to find out. So much for having it all done by the end of May!
Getting the expander removed today...the ortho is nice enough to realize it's a pain in the arse if I don't need it, and he'll put it back in a week before the surgery when/if it's scheduled...
32 years old, total time in braces=30 months
-Braces and palate expander on 4/15/10
-RPE Surgery 9/15/10
-Expander removed 3/11
-Braces Removed 9/7/12
-Retainers in 9/7/12
So expander is off, and ortho said if I can't get the surgery, no point in having braces, which pisses me off (not at him, at my insurance). He said he's never sent a patient to this OS office that couldn't eventually get insurance to cover it, so he's hopeful.
I go back in a month for a new wire on the bottom and hopefully news that my appeal was accepted, we shall see...it sure feels weird without the expander in there!
32 years old, total time in braces=30 months
-Braces and palate expander on 4/15/10
-RPE Surgery 9/15/10
-Expander removed 3/11
-Braces Removed 9/7/12
-Retainers in 9/7/12
Why did the ortho say no point in having braces if you can't get the surgery?
I am asking because the first ortho I consulted with recommended surgery but the ortho I went with said it was not needed. I am almost 8 months in and everything look great! I couldn't be happier.
He said that because my bite cannot be corrected without SARPE, and really, my teeth are not really crooked at all anyway...certainly not enough to warrant braces on their own. The problem is my palate is very narrow, so my bite and swallowing is messed up. Plus, only one tooth on each side of my mouth actually touches when I bite down, causing those teeth to begin to wear and crack (since it's been this way for YEARS), and this needs to be corrected with SARPE as well...
Fingers crossed that when I go back in a month for a new wire on the bottom, I'll have gotten the OK...
32 years old, total time in braces=30 months
-Braces and palate expander on 4/15/10
-RPE Surgery 9/15/10
-Expander removed 3/11
-Braces Removed 9/7/12
-Retainers in 9/7/12
I had my first adjustment yesterday...they tightened the top wire and put in new elastics. On the bottom I got a new wire and new elastics, and instead of an elastic for one of my teeth that's turned in a bit, I got a steel tie...wow, is it sore today! All of my teeth are, but that one in particular is tender! My ortho doesn't want to do too much to the top teeth until after my SARPE surgery (and we're still waiting to hear back about insurance approval)...
32 years old, total time in braces=30 months
-Braces and palate expander on 4/15/10
-RPE Surgery 9/15/10
-Expander removed 3/11
-Braces Removed 9/7/12
-Retainers in 9/7/12
I know with my insurance, they had to give you a decision on an appeal in 15 days (business days I assume). Did you get a letter explaining the denial? It should have also outlined the procedure for an appeal, as well as all of the timelines. You should also have a case manager that should be able to update you about the status. (Just in case you want to check up on things instead of waiting -- I know I'm not as patient as you seem to be!)
Good luck!
^well the insurance company told my oral surgeon an appeal could take up to 6 weeks (!) to go through...it's been 4 weeks already...I'm going to call them this week...
The annoying thing is RIGHT ON THEIR WEBPAGE it has a list of what is and isn't covered, and under the list for what *is* covered, it says "orthagnathic surgery to correct bite problems"...which is 100% WHAT I'M GETTING! So aggravating!
32 years old, total time in braces=30 months
-Braces and palate expander on 4/15/10
-RPE Surgery 9/15/10
-Expander removed 3/11
-Braces Removed 9/7/12
-Retainers in 9/7/12
but still, all this waiting is killing me...I just want to get it over with and be able to plan ahead for missing work, etc...
Hope that appeal goes through!