måndag 19 december 2011

Overjet, surgery and braces - alternatives

I’ve read a lot on blogs and forums lately about people who are about to undergo surgery for their overjet. First and foremost I wonder why they didn’t get treatment earlier (around age seven) but that’s a topic for another blog post. Something that seems very common is to wear braces for overjet for a very long time, usually with rubber bands, after which the orthodontist gives up and says, “nope, this didn’t do anything, you’re going to need surgery”.
Functional orthodontists, however, claim that an overjet can’t be corrected with braces alone (and certainly not combined with tooth extractions) so according to them that would be a waste of time. In cases when traditional orthodontists believe they have solved the problem, they have instead created an illusion and an even worse functional problem has been produced.
You could die trying to move the teeth around in order to take care of an overjet but it’s not going to help since it’s a skeletal issue. The teeth are not to blame and should be taken out of the equation.
This is why I am an advocate for functional orthodontics. Read here what my guru Tooth975, a functional orthodontist who works for Yahoo Answers, says about this matter.
ALF, Crozat and Schwarz are all examples of functional appliances that are used to broaden the upper arch in both adults and children. They are sometimes also used to expand the upper jaw forward. The lower jaw can be brought forward by using a splint. Please note that these appliances don’t move the teeth but instead they focus on the jaws which is the right way to go! You might need braces afterwards but this final touch usually doesn’t take too long.
Here, Tooth975 explains how the lower jaw has to be guided forward by stretching the muscles. This may sound strange to somebody who hasn’t dealt with these problems themselves. The best way to explain this is that the lower jaw can sometimes “hang” too far back even though there is enough bone for a non surgical approach to work.
Furthermore, Tooth975 (I know, gotta love him, right?!) says that surgery should always be avoided if possible. Sometimes it’s necessary of course but in most cases the problem could also have been prevented if it had been dealt with at an early age.
It seems relevant to discuss if too many people are recommended to have surgery. If the only alternative presented is extraction/retraction orthodontics that only camouflages the problem and doesn’t solve it, this is a very serious matter. Recovery time after surgery is several months and there is always the risk of loss of sensation in the lower lip. Some patients lose a lot of weight because they can’t eat normally for a while. Not to mention the physical and emotional suffering involved. However, here in Sweden, this is what the county council and national health insurance are willing to cover.

34 kommentarer:

  1. Hi Elin.nice blog,more braces...do you have rubber band too?or headgear?must ask.heh..love cute girls with it.
    See you?!

    SvaraRadera
  2. I love your blog because it addresses some of the realities of adult braces. I did not have such a good experience with my braces. It continues to bother me how little real information there is out there on the internet about what braces exactly entail. My personal opinion is that it is kept a "secret" for a good reason. And, I thought I had even done good research before signing on the dotted line. I did not realize that it was almost guaranteed that I would have to wear rubber bands or elastics. For some reason, I thought only children wore those. I did not realize the constant mainteance they take; nor, did I realize the psychological and social aspects of giving up control of your mouth to an orthodontist. And, as you mention, the potential for dental "appliances." None of this I was informed of. Basically, I was led to believe that I wouldn't even know my braces were there after a couple of months and that once they are in, they are in, and you don't have to mess with them much. Nothing could have been further than the truth for me.

    SvaraRadera
  3. I wish orthodontists would give people more information about what they are going through. When I got braces to correct my overjet they said I wouldn't have to worry about anything. Half way through my 2 years of braces, they told me that I had acquired a TMJ problem (kind of like lock jaw). So, on top of my braces, the orthodontist gave me a retainer to correct that. The whole experience was miserable.

    SvaraRadera
  4. As a former adult brace wearer, here are several lessons I learned: After getting blown off time and time again by my orthodontists over several issues, I began to realize that I was just being treated like one of the children at the clinic: blown off and report to mom and dad later. However, with any adult, there is no mom and dad to report to. So, you are just blown off. I realized that the orthodontic industry has no problem using the EXACT same bedside techniques on a 48 year old as they do an 11 year old, and they think this is okay. Hey!!, there is a big difference between a child getting braces because mommy and daddy have made them and insurance picking up the tab vs. an adult getting braces because they think they are somehow improving their own mouth, and the adult picking up the tab. There are a lot of other differences with adults and children to take into consideration too. It is very scary to feel like you have little or no control over your mouth, and again, I do not believe the orthodontic industry has taken this into consideration at all with adults. Children, on the other hand, are accustomed to limited control. Sadly, about the only ills of getting adults braces that I see any orthodontist allude to, on the internet anyway, is how they will look. Give me a break. Again, this is what teens are worried about. Way more important than how they look, for most adults, is concern about control over their own mouths and lives being taken away. In my opinion braces take away a lot of control from an adult, especially when you are having issues and no one seems to care. Eating and speaking are both vital functions, and if things aren’t going right in that area, then the feeling is nothing is going right. Remember, you cannot force your orthodontist to do anything once your braces are on, you can only adamantly request. Like the author, I want adults to be aware of some of these issues. For me, they came out of nowhere.

    SvaraRadera
  5. Hi,excellent blog and thanks for your posting. The facts you have pointed is very correct. best dentist in hyderabad.

    SvaraRadera
  6. It’s true that people who have teeth overjets and overbites should have had treatment early on, but if they are in they are already adults, the thing now to consider is a quality dental clinic and dentists with good accreditation. It is good to find out that there are some alternatives like this, although not full, but for a certain percentage to avoid having to use braces.


    Melisa Guyette

    SvaraRadera
  7. I'm a 26yo male American. Yeah, shoulda had treatment when I was a kid. My dentist gave us an estimate for ortho at 7 at around $5000 and said I'd need jaw surgery even back then. Well, lets see... put food on the table, or strap some metal on my teeth?

    Now, 20 years later, my teeth are chipped and pointy and pushing out of my gums and biting into my upper palette... I suppose I have an overjet of at least 10cm. I finally make enough money to consider getting it fixed - but it will cost at ~least~ $7000 for braces alone, and $30,000 with jaw surgery. No way whatsoever am I doing the surgery, I'm happy with my facial profile just the way it is and don't want that block-head look... to say nothing of the risk of nerve damage.

    It's probably best to just get them all yanked and get dentures... at least my insurance would pay for it.

    Aaaanyway the point of that was to address your wonder at why they weren't treated as children. Shit's expensive!

    SvaraRadera
    Svar
    1. Anarchy45: This blog is written by a Swede. In Sweden (and I believe, in the UK) we get this treatment "for free". I'm sorry, I should've made this clear.

      By the way, you might not need jaw surgery. I suggest you contact a functional orthodontist in your area.

      Radera
  8. I think this post is brilliant. Nice write-up! you bring up an interesting topic. Hope on reading the blog people spread the info. Thanks for this informative post.

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    SvaraRadera
  9. Hey,excellent blog and thanks for posting. The facts you have pointed is very correct and worth reading.


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  10. This is good to know. My dad had that surgery and I was afraid that I would have to as well. I am going to talk to my surrey orthodontist about other options.

    SvaraRadera
  11. I'm glad I found this. I'm sure my wife will be happy to know there is an orthodontist in Oakville. She would love to get braces. Any suggestions?

    SvaraRadera
  12. Thank you for sharing this information! I've been curious about whether dentists or orthodontists would be the best to go to for adult braces. I know that orthodontist specialize in that, but are they more expensive?

    SvaraRadera
  13. Thanks for sharing this article, its been a really great read! There are so many things about orthodontist Edmonton that I don't really understand. I'm anxious about getting some work done. Its a lot more common to to see adults with them now days.

    SvaraRadera
  14. This is actually a pretty good idea. I think that I should probably get involved this way in orthodontics, mainly because my teeth were never fixed, and Edmonton seems like a nice place to get my teeth fixed.

    SvaraRadera
  15. Thanks so much for the information. I have been looking into getting braces for my husband for a while now and this was some great information. I will definitely be keeping this post in mind during my search for an Edmonton orthodontist. Thanks so much!

    SvaraRadera
  16. Thank you for all the info! I have been looking for all the info I can about an surgery and braces alternatives. Thanks again for all the info!

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    SvaraRadera
  17. Do they offer these alternatives at the orthodontics in Omaha, NE? I have always wanted to get my teeth fixed but hated the idea of braces.

    SvaraRadera
  18. This was a really cool read. I know that Hamilton orthodontics have been working a lot of braces with adults. Pretty cool to see people with a healthy concern for their oral health.

    SvaraRadera
  19. He has been able to help them and transform their mouths into beautiful smiles. Thanks for doing such a great work.

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    SvaraRadera
  20. This has got to be hard for a lot of people. I wonder if our orthodontist in Halifax does this?

    SvaraRadera
  21. These are some excellent things to ponder. I have been really involved with my kids getting kids braces in Edmonton and it has at times made me lose sight of the fact that I sort of need them.

    SvaraRadera
  22. I really like the post and it looks really good. I am looking to get braces myself. When I was younger I never had the money or time to get them and now I have a little bit more time on my hands and I would like to get some to fix my teeth. I know that a smile is everything and I want mine to look better. Let me know of a place that can help me out. Thanks!

    SvaraRadera
  23. I didn't know there was this much behind orthodontics. I always thought it was the teeth to blame. I am getting an orthodontist in Halifax to help with my crooked teeth. I never thought I would have to get braces as an adult, but I guess it is what it is.

    SvaraRadera
  24. I have been trying to find an orthodontist that has a great doctor. Thanks for sharing.

    SvaraRadera
  25. A wonderful post . I am really looking forward to meet a orthodontist and create beautiful, healthy smiles that will last for life time.

    SvaraRadera
  26. I will never forget going to the orthodontist for the first time as a kid. It was right before school on a Monday, and was nervous not because of the process of getting braces on, but because of what all my classmates would think. Although it was hard to deal with at first, I got used to them very quickly, and am grateful I got them put on when I did.

    http://www.dentalcarextra.com.au/services/orthodontics/

    SvaraRadera
  27. It's easy for adults to feel self-conscious about braces. They're typically seen as a teen thing. But there really isn't a need to be embarrassed. Imagine what would happen if they DIDN'T see an orthodontist. Considering the end result from that, it's probably worth it. Luckily there's lots of good orthodontists to pick form. Thanks for the post! http://www.matunasortho.com

    SvaraRadera
  28. Now a day everyone is very sensitive about their dental problem. orthodontist is doing a very good role in density line .
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