Jaw surgery for CROSSBITE

[emily]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and browsed a few times to check an answer to my question but was not able to find it. But firstly i'd like to say it is very nice to see all the help and support on this forum, I am very glad I found it
Since I was young, Ive had a crossbite, my parents really didn't do anything about it and I always thought that my bite would be fixed by braces alone-and boy was I wrong

now I am almost twenty- and the past year I have been going to many dentists who also do orthodontics for them to help me with my problem- unfortunately, they couldn't help and advised me to see an orthodontist. I have had a few consultations with orthodontists and they have all told me that I would need jaw surgery to fix my bite- 2 years braces- (first year with braces on, midway through I would need surgery, and another year of braces).
I was wondering if there any other way to fix a crossbite other than surgery?
I heard invisalign works, but dont know too much about it

Description of my crossbite:

right side is shifted to the left and I have a crossbite on the left with the bottom midline to the left of the top by about 6-8 mm.
I have a narrow upper jaw which some say need to be surgically broken, and expanded while others say it would be expanded with braces alone
as well, they say the top would need to be moved forward and the bottom jaw moved right and back..)

I would greatly appreciate it if you guys could provide me with any information regarding my issue

Thank you very much

[Sunny]

Hi Emily and it's great you're doing so much research. What you need to find out is if your problems are a result of your bones or your teeth. If it's a bone problem, then surgery is the only way it can be corrected. If it's dental, then braces alone can do it.

If your jaw is too narrow, it depends on your jaw bone size. If it's too narrow, it will need to be operated on and 'split' and an expander used to widen it. If it's your teeth that are causing it too look narrow and there's sufficient jaw shape and bone, then the teeth can be aligned correctly in the bone to correct your bite with braces alone.

I started with two crossbites that have been fixed with a combination of of archwire types, powerchains and elastics. One side is fantastic, but the other will never be totally right due to my upper jaw being a little narrow, but surgery not being an option for me. My bite feels great and is function great.

Good luck with your research!

[mommamorin]

Hi emily,
I was told all this too at age 35 and just gave it up. My crossbite is on the right side in the back from the back molar to the tooth next to the front, hopefully that makes sense. I was excited to learn that i was a candidate for Invisalign. Although my back is still a crossbite and two of the side teeth were actually able to come over so all the teeth that show in my smile are straight, that's all I cared about. I did this starting age 51 and it only took 10 months with one refinement.

[emily]

Hi guys,
Thank you sooo very much for your quick and helpful replies, I really appreciate them
@Sunny- wow! I am so glad you were able to fix at least one side of the crossbite and are not bothered by it anymore, thats awesome! Surgery is risky and difficult decision to make- you are absolultely right, as long as your bite feels fine and teeth are now straight, why go throught the pain....and Yes, I did learn that if your crossbite is more at the back (like mommamorin said), you can have it fixed most likely without surgery- the only problem is that every orthodontist has mentioned surgery to me- not one said that I could do it any other way...even those that also do invisalign..i guess it is a bone problem since I do recall one orthodontist telling me that my jaws are like having two different peoples' as the upper is too narrow for my age and not as outward as it should be, and the bottom has grown longer to the right than it should have...so I guess it is bone.. but I will be seeing at least one more orthodontist and an oral surgeon or two to ask about my options....I have read that some orthodontists just want the money and do not care about providing other options to their clients...(?)
But my crossbite is not really at the back, it is to one side in the front and it is visible if I bite my teeth together...my friends/family say they don't really notice otherwise
so thank you very much also mommamorin about telling me your case as well, I will ask more questions and let you guys know what they say
I am so glad you made the right decisions and received great outcomes without having to go through surgery, good job!

[mommamorin]

Hi emily
As you are only 19 and if you are experiencing any headaches, ear aches, any kind of pain whatsoever, I would go for the surgery. The 3 years or so you will spend with this will be just a bleep in your lifetime and will go by before you know it. You never know what issues, if any, your misaligned jaw may cause you as you get older.
good luck!

[emily]

To be honest, I am very scared about the surgery-- i think it is so risky, who knows what could happen. After talking to the orthodontists, they told me it would be good to go with it and there isn't much risk, but I am still a bit afraid..
As well, I don't really get pain in either my ears, head or anything else.
I do get some pain in my jaw sometimes if I have talked/chewed (ex.gum) for too long..and its not really pain, more like jaw muscles being very tired and needing to rest haha..so I just stop chewing/talking...but I wouldn't say that is top priority for doing the surgery...its more about fixing my bite, leaving behind my grinding habit (I forgot to mention, I grind my teeth at night...they said I would need a nightguard, but if I do the orthodontic treatment with surgery, I won't need it as my bite will be fixed)
and having a more "symmetrical" face
I really wanted to know what would happen if I didn't go through with it, so yes, I did hear about the jaw becoming worse later in terms of eating issues, etc., but still am not 100% sure on that one...gotta ask again and be more specific...would you guys know anything about that?
How about the surgery? some things I heard about risks associated with the surgery are
-some people who didn't have tmj before may end up getting it after the surgery
-nerve can get damaged so you won't be able to feel chin/lower lip area
-any more?
thank you so much guys =)

[mzkimx3]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and browsed a few times to check an answer to my question but was not able to find it. But firstly i'd like to say it is very nice to see all the help and support on this forum, I am very glad I found it
Since I was young, Ive had a crossbite, my parents really didn't do anything about it and I always thought that my bite would be fixed by braces alone-and boy was I wrong

now I am almost twenty- and the past year I have been going to many dentists who also do orthodontics for them to help me with my problem- unfortunately, they couldn't help and advised me to see an orthodontist. I have had a few consultations with orthodontists and they have all told me that I would need jaw surgery to fix my bite- 2 years braces- (first year with braces on, midway through I would need surgery, and another year of braces).
I was wondering if there any other way to fix a crossbite other than surgery?
I heard invisalign works, but dont know too much about it

Description of my crossbite:

right side is shifted to the left and I have a crossbite on the left with the bottom midline to the left of the top by about 6-8 mm.
I have a narrow upper jaw which some say need to be surgically broken, and expanded while others say it would be expanded with braces alone
as well, they say the top would need to be moved forward and the bottom jaw moved right and back..)

I would greatly appreciate it if you guys could provide me with any information regarding my issue

Thank you very much

I just had this done Emily. If you want you can follow me under the blogs tabs. Nov 2nd i Had my palate surgically opened and widened 6mm. I will have the crossbite surgery done i think early next year as they said I am only in braces for a yr.

also for the crossbite surgery I was told ppl have said the lost feeling in their lip area for a while but it returns. And believe me I am with you on fears of surgery.

I will help you as much as I can though with my personal expirence

[emily]

Hey mzkimx3,
thank you so much! i checked out your blog, its great =)
good luck on everything
However, I did not really see/notice your crossbite in the pic..the alignment of your teeth seem fine-- you see my upper middle teeth do not align with the bottom ones...the bottom one is 6mm to the left- I guess mine is much more serious and visible lol
and mine is visible if I close my mouth as well, cuz ppl can see (at least I can) that my face is prognathic as well as bottom jaw towards the left, so my facial profile is not really symmetrical
so what type of surgery will you have? I mean, what will they reposition, etc.?
GOOODD LUCK on it!! i support u all the way through

[mzkimx3]

yes they are moving my lower jaw forward i hand overjet as well as a crossbite not sure if the expansion semi corrected it. who konws. all i remember was the ortho saying something about it lo. I do also have tmj. Until I had the surgery that gap in the front wasnt there in the top if you understand

[emily]

wow, see this is why i get nervouse lol, i had never expected i'd be needing all this work done, its crazy =)
yup, they want to move my lower jaw back and to the right, and possibly expand the upper, and move it forward
so u got the expanding done before the lower jaw surgery? how come? i thought its supposed to be done together... and how did they expand your upper? one orthodontist told me theyll crack open the roof of my mouth and widen it that way (gosh it sounds so freaky lol..)
sorry about all the questions

[mzkimx3]

to surgically expander u have the expander put in you saw what it was in my picture. my surgeon did 3 cuts to break the palate well 4. 2 on either side of the outer gum from canine to first molar, one by the two front teeth down, and finally one in the center of the palate. If u look closly at the picture there is a small hole in the device i had a small 'key' that went in and twice a day I had to 'activate' it or push this key all the way to the back of my throat opening it a lil bit each time. I had my wisdoms removed with opening my palate. I cant move my lower jaw til the teeth are in the correct position as a brace. and my uppers go in, dec 14th i had to wait for a lil bone to heal

and no worries I figured i'd write u seeing how I had some of your procedure done. I was very nervous going in now looking back it wasnt bad and believe me i never expected it either

[emily]

aww thank you soo much! I really appreciate that! :')
ya now I see we are basically going through almost the same thing
I'll let ya'll know what the next orthodontists and surgeons tell me and keep you guys updated on things
thanks sooo much again guys!

[mzkimx3]

if u need anything else emily let me know but im keeping a blog to track my progress

[emily]

will do for sure =)
ill be checking your blog as well
take care