Realigning my jaws.. painful?

Hey guys!

I went to my orthodentist last tuesday and was told that I need a jaw realignment (my bottom jaw is smaller than my upeer jaw) and have to put braces for 18 months. I didn't expect that I have to have a jaw-realignment for me to have braces(first aim).

I am so scared at the moment and can't decide whether to undergo a surgery or just have this unaligned jaws for life. My mom is so worried that I might lose my lips' feelings and frankly told me that she can't see me in pain and stuff ( and I hate it as well i she worried to much but my dad is like no comment). So basically she's hinting that I shouldn't take this surgery.

However, behind these problems, is the more improved appearance and possibly more confident me. Hm..

So guys, have you had a jaw-extension surgery? What were your experiences? Please share it to me. Please.

Hmm do you have overbite? I didn't need to have surgery, my orthodontist made a special brace which slid my bottow jaw forward a little bit, and over a few months (8 or 9) it went into place. Im not sure exactly what it was called, but ask him about that.

I had this surgery in December, and I'm going to be truthful, when I share my experience, so here goes....


Well for me it's been a loooooooong treatment. I had brace treatment started when I was 14 (late 2004) and am now 18, with another month left to go. And one has to have a further 6 months of specific treatment before they do the op itself.
I had to have my wisdoms wipped out under general first. That was in March. The main operation I stayed in for two nights. By this time it was December, so you get the idea...this isn't as quick a fix as you'd think. I lost a lot of blood and had a scarely low blood pressure, however these were kind of due to me and so aren't regular. At first it's not that bad- the first hour I was still knocked out afterwards, then I came round and had almost constant suction due to the blood flow. After that I managed to spit out the blood into a bowl. At this point I couldn't acknowledge the swelling and was in little pain as I was on codeine, paracetamol and patient-controlled morphine, which I used ALOT.
By the next morning I could be assisted by the nurses to the toilet (was still on what they call a 'Step-down' unit) where I saw the swelling. Basically my face has zero shape and my lips were somewhat discoloured. I also couldn't feel anything in my mouth or around my chin or lips, due to the local anaesthetic and nerves affected.
It was only when I was taken off the morphine after around 24 hours that the discomfort set in- my face continued to get bigger for several days and the best description I could give is that I looked like Quagmire off Family Guy. No joke.
I hadn't eaten for 48 hours by the time I got home on day 3 but frankly I didn't feel like it. I was nauseaus and dribbling blood for a further 3 days and could barely stand. I was also constipated due to drugs and couldn't communicate to anyone, hence from day 2 onwards I just sort of cried, though it was more just like eye-leakage due to the lack of facial movement.
It really was just extremely runny liquids for atleast two weeks, because apart from anything else, I couldn't open my mouth wide enough to get food in. I total I lost about 3/4 of a stone and am yet to gain all of it back. For the first week post-op, once the anaesthetic was wearing off I found sleeping through the night difficult and would awake sobbing, so my dad would literally cover my face in ice packs to soothe the pain. And for the first week I couldn't even bare to look at myself in the mirror.

Two and a half months later I had only just begun chewing very gently again, wasn't allowed to play sports and cannot feel half of my chin. I couldn't still not fully open my jaw and my gums were taught from where the stitches only fell out a little while ago.

I now am just a month away from completed treatment and I couldn't be happier. I'm still careful with eating very hard foods and occasionally get a jaw ache, but very mild. I also still have a tiny amount of reduced sensation on one side of my chin and lip but I barely notice that.

Despite all the this I do not regret having the op, as my teeth are aligned and various side effects of my overbite have now disappeared. However it was a horrible process and involved a lot of crying and discomfort, moreso than pain. The swelling takes a while to come down too.

I'd say think carefully as to whether you really want this doing- I had a rather miserable Christmas due to it and missed 2 weeks of school on top of the holidays, plus tonnes of days for lengthy appointments. Oh and I had to wear loads of red elastic bands to stop my opening too wide.

So yes....a brief account of my op. Feel free to ask away...

I was offered some form of jaw-breaking surgery before I got a brace. I'm not sure what it was for exactly, but my orthodontist just said I COULD have it rather than needing it.

Will your orthodontist still give you a brace if you decline the surgery? Looking at Luce-eeeee's account above, I'm very very glad I didn't agree to it

One word to summarise your experience: Bravery! And I really adore individuals like you who undergo to this processes for your own improvement. But unfortunately, I dont have the guts to do it.

I have been thinking of it lately and I am not sure whether to go for it or just live with this for the rest of my life. Im in year 12 and I really need to go to school, play sports, have a social life (no offence) and go to work. I need to get my grades and don't want them to slip. But thanks for your little life story anyway.

I will inform you about my decisioin when I meet my dentist (not the ortho).

Thanks!

Hmm do you have overbite? I didn't need to have surgery, my orthodontist made a special brace which slid my bottow jaw forward a little bit, and over a few months (8 or 9) it went into place. Im not sure exactly what it was called, but ask him about that.

feel free to ask me anything.

twin-block..

But it is hideous. You can't speak properly and I can't have that at the mo due to me being elected as headboy - need to speak lots.

@rant:I don't know. I really just want the braces. No operation.

hmm, I had this when i was 11/12 so I guess its a different situation for you