My son is about to obtain braces. The orthodontist told us that we should consider maxillofacial surgery as part of his treatment. He thinks the outcome would be better with the surgery but there are other options. I prize if it would be worth the physical pain he will suffer, and the anxiety I will suffer and am currently suffering due to contemplating main surgery on my child. He is undecided as to whether or not he wants to go via with it. Will someone please share their experience with me?

As a mother to a mother let me share somethings with you. My daughter had orthognathic surgery in 2005. Her upper jaw was too far back, to narrow and only her front teeth touched and her back teeth were nearly useless as they didn't touch the lowers. She told me that she "Wanted" this surgery and that it was her mouth so please let her have this. Can you tell I was terrified?



I did much research and spoke with numerous dental professionals who all told me that the pain isn't as bad as one would think. The jaw goes temporarily numb and when the feeling returns the mouth is healed. So we proceeded. Braces couldn't correct her problem.



She had braces and when her teeth were totally aligned she had jaw surgery to move her upper jaw forward, widened it, lowered in in back and pinned it back in place with titanium pins.



She wore a dental splint over her upper teeth for six weeks and had dental rubber bands holding her mouth shut for 4 days and the oral surgeon removed those and gave her lighter weight rubber bands that could be removed to eat. She was on a no chew diet for 6 weeks. She didn't have to eat only liquids but things that she could just swallow without chewing. After six weeks her splint was removed, and she got her braces off in 6 months.



Please write to me. I would love to share with your son the results. She was pretty before but now she has a gorgeous smile! She said that it wasn't that painful just annoying. She said that knowing the fantastic results she would do this again in a heart beat. She loves being able to chew and smiling a ideal smile.



Stop trying to find someone who had a bad experience. Young people do very well with this surgery. If you have a skilled surgeon who has successfully performed this surgery often then your child will have no problems. I met a couple of girls who had the same surgery by the surgeon my daughter had and the outcomes were good and so was my daughters.



Stop worrying Mama and write me. I have been where you're and can be your support. Oh and my insurance covered every penny including the surgeon bill. Not so much the braces though.