Anyone ever have jaw surgery for their underbite/overbite?

[AznAnarchy99]

How was it? Recovery and operation wise and how much was the cost before insurance.

I have a choice between doing this or removing a bottom tooth to make space for my teeth to be straightened...

 

[xSauronx]

jeebus seemes like it would be easier to get rid of the tooth

what does the surgery involve?

 

[sourceninja]

My wife went to 5 different doctors for her braces. She was told by 2 that she would need 3 teeth removed to even think about fixing her teeth/overbite.

Well those 2 doctors were wrong. I'd get at least 2 more opinions.

 

[CptObvious]

I had jaw surgery (upper and lower) last year for an underbite. I was in Korea at the time, insurance didn't pay for it, so out-of-pocket was about $11,500 US.

 

[TrueBlueLS]

Have the teeth removed if that will fix the problem. I had my jaw cut open to slide it forward. So not worth the 6 weeks I wasn't able to eat solid food.

 

[CptObvious]

jeebus seemes like it would be easier to get rid of the tooth

what does the surgery involve?

Depends on how bad the bite is, but usually cutting one or both jaws, then repositioning them with plates and screws.

 

[TecHNooB]

I had jaw surgery (upper and lower) last year for an underbite. I was in Korea at the time, insurance didn't pay for it, so out-of-pocket was about $11,500 US.

$$$$

 

[xSauronx]

Depends on how bad the bite is, but usually cutting one or both jaws, then repositioning them with plates and screws.

ick, id definitely remove a tooth first. my sisters friend just had her jaw broken and then repositioned or whatever because she never liked it....weeks of living through a straw for that shit? no thank you.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Ok so I went to two orthodontists; one that only did braces and the other braces and invisalign.

The first said my underbite is slight but it is there. He wanted to try to fix it without surgery but it was possible that I might end up needing it. He told me that I didnt need to remove any teeth to fix it. This was without xrays and pictures. He also said it was more of a two year plan.

Regular braces would cost me 3750 w/out surgery or 4250 with not counting surgery costs.

The second told me that I kind of have two choices, either surgery or a front tooth removal. He said that I have a good amount of crowding in the bottom and my teeth grew forward. He said that my underbite is ok right now but if I end up straightening my teeth, my underbite would grow so thats where the tooth removal comes in to prevent that.

Surgery allows me to keep all my front teeth (I would have to end up getting my wisdom teeth removed to even do surgery) and would have me with invisalign for 8-9 months. Basically my jaw bone is cut, moved back a bit, and a metal plate/screws would hold it in place so the bone would heal. This all would cost 5950 without the surgery costs.

No surgery would be closer to a year, but only a front tooth removal and no wisdom removal. This would cost 5150.

I dont know, I feel like the second doctor was more knowledgable and he was a invisalign "premier" provider as listed by their site. One of my friends is currently doing invisalsign with him.

 

[lxskllr]

Can't you just move your jaw forward? I had braces when young, and I was given a retainer to correct my overbite. I found it highly irritating, and I just started mentally correcting it myself, and it stuck.

 

[sourceninja]

After talking with a lot of doctors and doing about 2 years of research about my wife's teeth we can to the decision that except in the most extreme cases would a doctor recommend pulling front teeth. I'd get a 3rd opinion. Also, see if you can find a doctor who can specialize in damon braces. They work much faster then traditional braces and are a lot smaller.

My wife's overbite is noticeable, but not severe. All the doctors said they could not fix the overbite 100% without surgery, but that it would not be very noticeable with just braces as treatment (and damon braces can work without a expander or headgear)

There is nothing wrong with seeing every single doctor in your area about this. It is a life changing and expensive procedure. You should be 100% sure it's the right thing to do before you let someone remove things from your head that you can't grow back.

 

[zokudu]

Is it that bad? I have an overbite but I've never had an issue with it and never got it corrected.

 

[yllus]

I had it suggested but it sounded rather insane - literally cut my jaw off and re-fix it with screws to fix a mild overbite? Hell no unless I go into politics or something that really necessitates it.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I had it suggested but it sounded rather insane - literally cut my jaw off and re-fix it with screws to fix a mild overbite? Hell no unless I go into politics or something that really necessitates it.

Yea TBH, my underbite is pretty slight. Id say 1 to 1.1/1.2 ratio. From what the ortho said, if I fix the crowding, the underbite would be more.

I guess you're right about getting more opinions though but I feel like I really want invisalign. All of these orthos have different opinions. The first guy I went to was very much against any use of invisalign..