Has anyone had jaw surgery/orthodontic treatment

[JaYB]

I went to a private orthodontist a few months ago to find out about possible treatment, they then referred me to a NHS dental hospital.

I have just had all my x rays taken and had a consultation at the hospital and have been informed i will need both Orthognathic surgery and orthodontics.

I have been scheduled to have a consultation with a surgeon next month.

Im just wondering as the orthodontics is part of the overall treatment plan and what with the surgery being done free by the nhs , will the orthodontic treatment be on the NHS to? or will i have to have it done privately?

I wasnt told if i would have to have it done privately, but ive been checking up on the net and it looks like adults will be covered if it is needed and not for cosmetic reasons.


Any advice?

[bednobs]

do you mean brace work by orthodontics? If so, you are right in the fact there is no free orthodontics for adults, and in fact brace work is not automatically free for children (in england) any more and only a small proportion of children qualify. the only way i can see it being free is if for example you needed the orthodontistry for a medical reason

[JaYB]

Well medicaly im having upper and lower jaw surgery and was told id need orthodontics as part of the treatment, so im assuming they will be covering it to an extent as they say i am needing it for the surgery.

[jem_bob]

Hi JayB, I'm going through this treatment at the moment. I need lower jaw orthognathic surgery as I have an overbite. I was referred to the NHS by a private orthodontist as at 21, I am now too old for braces to move the jaw bone or have any effect. They will have measured the distance by which your jaws don't meet, and if it is a certain degree or higher, they will carry out the treatment free on the NHS (I only just made it into the qualifying bracket!) If they don't feel it is bad enough and purely for cosmetic reasons, they will not do it for free. I have had braces now for 11 months, they were put on for free by an NHS Orthodontist and all check-ups and tightening of the brace is done at my local hospital for free. I am expecting to have the operation in the next couple of months as my teeth are now straight (bricking it!). If you have been referred to the NHS for the operation, then you will not need to pay for any of the orthodontic treatment leading up to the operation. It will all be done at the orthodontics department at your hospital.

[jem_bob]

Oh and good luck! If you have any questions, then please ask. Believe me, I have reaserched every single aspect of this!

[daisycup]

Hello, I had this done when I was 15 (now 30) on the NHS. I had to have upper and lower jaw orthognathic surgery. I can not deny, it was painful afterwards but the most annoying thing was not being able to eat solid food for 6 weeks. A great weight loss diet though! :-). 15 years on and no problems. I looked like a hamster for 4 weeks though through all the swelling but when I went back to school a lot of people didn't recognise me as it changes your whole facial features (for the better). Good luck, you'll be fine.. both of you. x

[JaYB]

Thanks gem_bob, they did say at my consultation i would need them.

I went to see a local orthodontist thinking i would have to pay for my braces privately, thinking it would cost me �3000, only to be told i may need jaw surgery and was referred to the NHS hospital !

2 months later (friday passed), i went to the consultation and was told the best action to take would be jaw surgery and orthodontics, only they never said if i would have to pay for the braces.

I now have a consultation with a surgeon in march.

[JaYB]

jem_bob - Did you have a long wait for the braces from your 1st consultation, im really hope i wont have to wait a year or so on the list!

[jem_bob]

Thanks daisycup... I'm terrified! JayB, if you've been told that you need the operation and the NHS will perform it, they will also do your braces for free. I had my consultation with my surgeon in September '07 and had the braces fitted in February '08. So not too long a wait. I am seeing my surgeon again in early March and he will schedule me in for the op. Hope the waiting list isn't long, because you have to wear the braces until after the op. Don't want to be stuck with them when I don't even need them anymore! Good luck with it.

[JaYB]

Thats great!, im not so worried about the operation , more worried about how boring it will be recuperating.

Good luck with your operation and thanks for all the answers!

[SP0]

I'm about to undergo this surgery, it seems to be a bit botched up so far to be honest. I went for consultation a year and a half ago for my jaw and was given the name of a good orthadontist. I've been with him for the last year or so and pay privately for this. my bottom teeth are looking fabulously straight but i still have a gap on the top and my teeth. They are still a bit forward which concerns me - should i be having the op before the gap is closed and they are given a chance to lower more? I hope they are able to close the gap, he said to the surgeon he was 'trying' to close it which doesnt fill me with much confidence. The surgeon said he could fit me in in the next month, but the receptionists were quite rude once the surgeon had left and were saying that htey didnt have any spaces for 3 months so id just have to wait for my pre op preparation appointment. I contacted my orthadontist who had told me he would have me in within 7 days he said I;m in on 10th (next week)...I was thrilled. Apparently my surgery is arranged for the 19th. I have no idea what hospital it is at and still havent received a letter telling me this. I called my surgeons secretary she was also quite rude about my bothering her. She said she has no note of me as one of his patients that i must be nhs. I am paying for private orthadontistry and have never been told i am on nhs for surgery? So am rather confused. I 'm also not registered in any of the private hospitals for the surgery this month (it will be based in Manchester) I dont mean to be snotty but ill be rather peed off if they are going to stick me in an nhs ward whilst chargin me full whack? I feel quite cross at how the receptionists can be when your forking out thousands..they are funny over letting me speak to the orthadontist even though he told me if I heard nothing about op to call him. i really dont want them to be taking my brace off until my top teeth gap is all closed up as it looks quite bad still.

[melonh]

I'm having the same surgery. All on the NHS - my overbite is quite bad!
I went to my dentist in July and he referred me to the hospital, I saw them in September and they measured me and did xrays. I thought I'd have to explain all the problems I have - locking, breathing, dribbling (nice!!!) but I didn't and the orthodontist gave me the go ahead. I had to go back in October for more casts and then in December met the surgeons.
I've just had the braces fitted. I don't know quite what the timescale is but will have to have wisdom teeth out 6 months before op. I hope it will all go smoothly and be over sooner rather than later! I'm 30 and having braces wasn't exactly what I planned on!
But it is all on the NHS.
How long have other people had to wiat between the braces being fitted and the op?

[xsammix]

Ive had this surgey when i was 17, i am now nearly 22, it was the best thing i had ever had done at the time,
but now i regret it totally
one of the screws near my eye socket still hasnt heeled over and i can feel it wenever i touch near my eye, i have suffered constant headaches, and swelling of my right cheek sometimes, ive since been back to the hospital where i have been told i have 2 have another operation to take everything out, all the screws & all the plates.
if i would of knew this i wouldnt of had it done, it has knocked my confidence again totally now.

[JaYB]

Jem_bob (Dont know if you will see this , lol)

Just been to my consultation with the surgeon, orthodontist has told me my treatment will begin in may with 2 appointments taking place a week apart of each other, both 45 mins long.

Did you go through this?, what will happen over these 2 visits?


Im rubbish at asking questions at the time of things !

Just wanted out of the room as soon as poss, there was 8 people in a room no smaller than the average bedroom, all looking at me lol, it felt worse than when i performed on stage for the singing kettle!

[catriona27]

Im at the very start of this process! decision time. I feel going for it is the right option however i am 24 and want to know is there a possibilty i can get clear braces? still the fixed ones just in clear? I\'ve researched online and am well aware i would need to pay for these but my surgery is on he nhs...can this happen? id pay for them but would the nhs allow me to do that? I\'m more worried about feeling self concious with the metal ones at 24 than anything else!

[DaeDae]

Does anyone know if you can receive this surgery free on the NHS at the age of 28? And if so where and how did you manage it???

My friend is a dentist and he says im too old for NHS, but to ask around if anyone else has received this service!

I need my lower jaw corrected and most probably braces which is part of the correction process.