Opinions & Advice for my situation. Braces + Ortho Surgery

[Devour]

Hello,

After coming back from the ortho with some bad news, I decided to do some research and found this forum and decided I would post my situation here for some insight.

So coming back today from the Ortho, the news is, is that they strongly recommend that I get braces and then have surgery done because I have a crossbite. My jaw is not aligned properly and you can actually notice in pictures that I take that my lower jaw is jutted to the right, while the upper one is a little to the left (making my face asymmetrical). I wouldn't call it super severe but enough to have a bit of clicking/popping and sometimes a small jaw locking. Sometimes it is uncomfortable to open my mouth very wide.

The Ortho said I will need braces for the first year, and then prepare for surgery somewhere in between, have the surgery and continue with the braces for another year or so, totaling that to about 3 years.

I will be 23 years old this year so I have been dealing with this issue for awhile now. I have went to other Orthos when I was younger and they all said I needed surgery and braces, but I was very young then so decided not to do it but did extract a lot of teeth back then. I have a very small jaw so I only have 24 teeth while the average person should have 32 (I think). But even extracting those teeth to help my teeth grow, this issue has come back to haunt me again now that I am older. I did have retainers when I was younger, but never braces.

This brings me to my next issue. Having braces and surgery will cost me a total of $16,000 CAD. I'm a recent university graduate and have dental covered by my school, but it apparently does not cover braces, so I have no coverage for that. And I also don't have coverage for the oral surgery. Getting just braces alone will cost me $6500 (and that is only straightening my teeth, doesn't do anything for my jaw). This is a really expensive procedure that I have to really consider if I 'need' to do it.

I wouldn't mind doing the surgery, it doesn't scare me or anything but having braces really bother me. I'm pretty conscious about being seen with it on.

Do you guys recommend me going through with it and getting the procedure done? Would you guys do it if you guys were in my position? I think the main thing right now is the cost of everything. Do you think I need to do it?

Thanks for your time.

[justjenn]

I can relate to a degree. My mom took me to see an ortho when I was younger (maybe 16) and I was told that I needed braces due to crooked teeth and needed to have jaw surgery due to a bad overbite. Back then, I was too scared and decided not to do it cause I didn't want to go through the surgery. Now I'm almost 29, have had braces on for about 8-10 weeks and will be having jaw surgery for a bad overbite at some point. I was actually quite self conscious about the braces before I got them, but they don't bother me. Also, most people don't even realize I have them. I even sometimes forget that I have them as well unless I'm eating.

I tell you all this to say, if you're uncomfortable with the way it looks and feels, do it. It'll be one of the best decisions you'll ever make. I'm so happy that I made the decision and can already see things happening.

Good luck and I wish you the best.

[Sunny]

Devour if you need surgery to correct your bite, you'd be best to wait till you can afford the complete treatment. Otherwise you risk having to pay twice for braces as there's a good chance you won't be satisfied if you have treatment without surgery.

If you're not sure what is best for you, consult with some more ortho's to check if there are any alternative treatment options.

[Devour]

Thanks for the responses.

I can afford the treatment, I just don't know if I want to spend so much on something that I might not "need". I'm not going to say it doesn't bother me when I see pictures and it has resulted me in always taking pictures on a specific side.

I have some TMJ going on and wondering if it would get worse if I don't go through with it? And will my bite get worse since I'm already 23?

[smylex]

Have you checked with your physician? In extreme bite cases, orthognathic surgery is covered under medical insurance when it's deemed a necessity, including for TMJ dysfunction.

[Sunny]

Devour you'd be best to visit a few more ortho's and here what treatments they recommend. Plus discuss with them any concerns you have ... for and against surgery. Hopefully this will help you decide if this is something you need.

Good luck!

[emily]

Hey Devour,

I have almost the exact same issue as you! except my crossbite is towards my left side...i was just wondering if you had seen any orthodontists, are there any you would recommend? I read the $16000 "CAD" you put in your post.. and I live in Canada as well...in Toronto
I am currently trying to choose between some I saw..the price for my braces alone (no surgery) which the diff. orthos told me ranged from over $8000- minimum $6300
Thanks =)