Is Underbite Surgery worth it?

[slimfast]

Hello everyone, im new here, I'm 16, and i just got braces about a week ago. The ortho says i need them for a year, then upper jaw advancement surgery for my underbite, then hav braces for one more year. The ortho says the upper jaw only because my face looks kinda flat, sunked in, and she showed me how surgery could correct it.

The procedure in the surgery looks kinda scary though. Are those screws/bolts for the upper jaw gonna last, are they secure? So what if a ball (I play soccer) goes right to my upper jaw or someone punches me there or any similar situation happens, could it fall right off? I dont wanna end up with no upper jaw at all. And as I get older, could it fall off? And would the surgery really help my flat, sunken in looking face at all? I'd appreciate any help, Thanks.

[mikeg]

It depends.. if you don't have issues with speech, chewing, tmj pain, etc than the surgery may not be worth it for you... but a class 3 underbite usually gives you some of those...

Sounds like you probably have a minor underbite....

it's really up to you...

[slimfast]

Thanks mike,
sorry, i guess that sorta wasnt the question i was asking (I sorta already think its worth it, but not too confident yet), I was just wondering on the security of those bolts/screws they put for my upper jaw to reconnect after advanced forward.

Im sorta afraid it can fall off if I get in any sort of minor accident. So are they secure?

Id appreciate experiences from people who've had upper jaw advancement surgery done on them. Thanks.

[mikeg]

gotcha.. ya I wouldn't worry about it.. the procedure is very concise....

There are quite a few of popular football players over time that have had jaw surgery and hasn't affected them....

it could be a life changer for sure for anyone whose bite is off...

[smylex]

This brings into question what kind of activities that you're engaging in that would risk you getting punched in the first place.

The screws and plates are there to help assist in keeping the bones in place while the bones heal up and fuse back together. If you're thinking that you're going to be dealing with the screws and plates being the only thing that is keeping everything together in perpetuity (forever), you're completely forgetting how the body works to heal itself. You can expect to not be playing soccer for quite a while until you heal back up, so I don't think you're going to have to worry about that.

[boatsink]

The main thing I am concerned about is your age. At 16 you will likely still continue to grow. If you were to have surgery at 17, the chances of relapse are greater. I went in for consultation at 17 and the oral surgeon advised against it. I waited 7 years and decided to pursue surgery again. Comparing old records to my current one did show growth between the years. I have read special cases were surgery is performed on young teenagers, but it is d/t severe oral impairments r/t bone development. These cases are anticipated to have further surgery later in life. Best of luck.

[mikeg]

I agree with boatsink. You are young indeed.

My bite is off on my back teeth (class 3) and orthodontist/surgeons have told me that it is textbook for teeth/jaws to shift up until about 30.

Stability is high importance in any treatment, whether surgery or braces.