Dr. GP
01-12-2005, 08:29 PM
#61
AudiWorld Expert
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 31,247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nope, when we finished and I had perfect occlusion, I went through my growth spurt.
It wasn't really braces the whole time, but I started when I was 10 with a "tongue trap" since I had a thrust and it led to an open bite. Then we finished up, I had a nice bite, but I was still a little boy. At 16-17, lower jaw grew normally, upper remained recessed. It was one of those situations where nobody knew I had an underbite, only dentists would notice how my upper was too far back etc. My teeth would barely show, and I really only bit on my left 2nd molars.
So we started looking for a new orthodontist and I got braces again last year. Parents both being dentists, really didn't want me to go through surgery, but it was hopeless. We saw the dentist, Olmos, in SD. I'm sure you've heard of some of these guys. He's the guy who does jaw expansion with older patients, even though it supposedly doesn't happen. He had a "study club" that day, and a bunch of dentists were there. Some of the over-confident ones were sure they could do it sans a surgery, but Olmos didn't think so. Besides, it would take another 3 years at least!
Since 4 years ago, we saw a new orthodontist and he told us about Dr. Arnett in Santa Barbara. Probably the country's greatest oral surgeon. I had to schedule my surgery nearly a year in advance!! Anyway, my surgery ended up being very difficult because my upper jaw had VERY LITTLE bone and he told my parents after that 90-95% of other surgeons would have aborted. He used grafts from my chin (fortunately, I had A LOT of bone there, he said more than what they normally get out of the hip!!), and packed above the upper jaw after he brought it down and forward. Since i had such little bone, he had to go through the roots of a couple molars for the screws! Basically, I may need a couple root canals down the line.
You'd love to see my before and after x-rays. I had some major $hit done. My orthodontist said (he observed the surgery) it was the most difficult case he'd seen in 30 years. I'm really greatful I had such a great surgeon and was able to get this done. It's amazing to see my bite! (even though it's overcorrected, etc).
I am swollen like a monkey though. I have a monkey upper lip. Lost 22 lbs too.
So we started looking for a new orthodontist and I got braces again last year. Parents both being dentists, really didn't want me to go through surgery, but it was hopeless. We saw the dentist, Olmos, in SD. I'm sure you've heard of some of these guys. He's the guy who does jaw expansion with older patients, even though it supposedly doesn't happen. He had a "study club" that day, and a bunch of dentists were there. Some of the over-confident ones were sure they could do it sans a surgery, but Olmos didn't think so. Besides, it would take another 3 years at least!
Since 4 years ago, we saw a new orthodontist and he told us about Dr. Arnett in Santa Barbara. Probably the country's greatest oral surgeon. I had to schedule my surgery nearly a year in advance!! Anyway, my surgery ended up being very difficult because my upper jaw had VERY LITTLE bone and he told my parents after that 90-95% of other surgeons would have aborted. He used grafts from my chin (fortunately, I had A LOT of bone there, he said more than what they normally get out of the hip!!), and packed above the upper jaw after he brought it down and forward. Since i had such little bone, he had to go through the roots of a couple molars for the screws! Basically, I may need a couple root canals down the line.
You'd love to see my before and after x-rays. I had some major $hit done. My orthodontist said (he observed the surgery) it was the most difficult case he'd seen in 30 years. I'm really greatful I had such a great surgeon and was able to get this done. It's amazing to see my bite! (even though it's overcorrected, etc).
I am swollen like a monkey though. I have a monkey upper lip. Lost 22 lbs too.
01-12-2005, 08:29 PM
#62
Banned
Next week's " Ask your AW forum member" will adress Erectile Dyfunction
Have your questions ready. I'm sure we will have someone on the forum who is knowlegable to answer all our questions! Even the do it youselfers. Just kidding this was fun(ny)! PS should have been tagged OT.
01-12-2005, 08:40 PM
#64
AudiWorld Expert
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 31,247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So far so good. I'm more of a high risk case, so I may be banded shut for more than the 8 weeks
recommended. You usually go to bands at night only after 8 weeks, but I bet I'll get at least 10 weeks.
Thanks.
Thanks.
