Jaw Surgery Forums » Pre-Surgery Questions

Splint before braces, before surgery

(9 posts)

  1. kristink
    Member

    hey everyone! Sooooooo glad that this blog and the forum exist!!! I am 30 yrs old and am in my decision process re: jaw surgery and braces. I had braces for 4 years in hs and my parents didn't want me to have the surgery then because they thought it was "cruel" to do to a child...now at 30 I hate the way my mouth looks (overbite and smaller chin, asymmetry on both jaws and my right upper jaw literally grew crooked down so my right side is straight and my left side is gummy) and my jaw is constantly sore w/headaches all the time and my teeth are crooked again. But I also have reservations because I am an actress and I don't want this to effect that, but at the same time I look super young so if anything maybe braces will help lol! Plus my ortho said I could get lingual but I am still not sure how that works w/jaw surgery since you are banded together afterwards. I have a job that has good insurance so basically this is why I am actually considering it, even though I wish I didn't have to work this office job for 24 more months to make it happen.

    Sorry for the rambling!!! So my question is: has anyone had to wear a splint pre-braces? My ortho wants me to wear it to heal my jaw a little bit and ease the tension and then move to braces after 2-4 months of 24/7 splint wearing, and then surgery. I got the splint yesterday and it is HUGE! I thought it would be a lot smaller-I would love to hear from someone who had the same situation and would be able to say if the splint helped at all. Already after wearing it overnight and last night my face is a little swollen so I guess it is helping me to have a better bite in the back, but my front teeth don't touch now and I am a little concerned about that. The ortho said not to worry and just get used to it but I am kind of worried.

    Thanks so much!

    Posted 1 year ago #

  2. kristink
    Member

    I wanted to add too that my splint is not one of the ones that is in your mouth until removed by the orthodontist-it is kind of like a mouth guard that's bigger than an the invisilign braces but not as bulky as a standard mouth guard. I'm supposed to take it out when I eat.
    thanks!

    Posted 1 year ago #

  3. Brandon
    Site Administrator

    How has the splint been going Kristin, getting any better?

    I haven't heard of the splint before braces, but what you explained seems to make sense. If you have any doubts, it's always good to get a second opinion from another doctor in your area.

    Maybe someone else on here will see this that had a similar experience.

    I'm Brandon, the creator of JawSurgeryBlog.com. I personally had upper and lower jaw surgery on October 30, 2007. Thankfully, everything went beautifully, so I'm trying to make sure everyone else's surgery goes smoothly as well!

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Corrective-Jaw-Surgery/114627165257701
    Posted 1 year ago #

  4. kristink
    Member

    Hey Brandon! Thanks for the reply. Wow-it's only been one week and already I can tell a major difference. A couple of people said they can tell my face is also shifting slightly too into alignment. I have had virtually no neck pain, but still am having some headaches but nothing quite as bad as before. It's a little hard to eat hard stuff even though I haven't even gotten braces yet, because I'm biting down in a new position. Plus the whole left inside of my mouth is kind of chewed up and sore because I mostly favored the right side since those teeth fit. So weird how all of this really works! For years I was trying to find an answer to why my head always hurt and to think how connected the jaw really is to EVERYTHING is just amazing.
    I am hoping since I have had such a turn around in only a week that the braces can go on sooner!
    Thanks!

    Posted 1 year ago #

  5. Brandon
    Site Administrator

    Excellent, so glad to hear, Kristin!

    Yeah, it is amazing how much everything is connected in our bodies, and this is an excellent example.

    Good luck with the splint, and keep us updated on the braces...

    Posted 1 year ago #

  6. Duckfan76
    Member

    I am currently wearing a splint 24/7 prior to braces. Ive been in the splint since Apr 10 and now its August and I get the braces next month. The splint made a difference, but still have muscles tightness thats difficult to control. Am nervous about going from splint to perminate braces with a arch expander on it.

    Just my experience.
    Michael

    Posted 1 year ago #

  7. kjcall
    Member

    Glad to know I'm not the only one...j/k :). I have had my braces on about 15 months now, but before that, I went through 4 different splints in the space of 2 years! The first few weren't very helpful b/c they were just from a dentist, not an orthodontist or oral surgeon. Sadly even great dentists don't know how to always fix a "bite"...that's another can of worms. AFter seeing 3+ dentists for horrible pain/tmj popping, etc. They determined I had an open bite and needed surgery, etc. Long story short my surgery is about a month away and I am still wearing my current splint even as I type. ;) I have the kind of bite where my whole jaw literally siezes up on the right side if I keep my splint out too long. (like if I eat and forget to put it in and start talking, etc) I LOVE my splint but can't wait to be free of it. SPlint therapy has changed my life though, and kept me somewhat stable and pain free over the past few yrs. It will help your teeth send the message to your brain for your muscles to relax. Every time you are hitting incorrectly due to malocclusion it messes w/nerve signals to brain, causing more pain, spasm, etc. in your jaws...splint helps to temporarily relieve that by providing contact for all your teeth, making them hit evenly. The problem is that the malocclusion is still there, so when I eat the pain comes back unless I eat really soft foods....SO excited to get the surgery and start healing and functioning again! I am 30 yrs old and spent a decade of my life with debilitating jaw pain so I am ready! Anyway, depending on what stage of ortho. you are in, you can have an upper or lower splint. I've had both but mostly lower. Right now it's upper and I do say I prefer it better, b/c it's smaller and doesn't interfere with my tongue like the lower did. The lower one was so bulky it made my jaw muscle spasms worse b/c my tongue was always moving around it b/c it didn't have complete space to move and relax. But either way they did a great job of getting my tmj to calm down. IT is essential to get those muscles/joints to relax before you get any braces, etc. It may take longer overall but it's worth it and most people have noticeable relief once they get even the tiniest support for their jaws. Good luck!

    Posted 1 year ago #

  8. ElizabethAnn
    Member

    I just had a consultation with my orthodontist and the recommendation from both him, as well as my oral surgeon, is a splint pre braces! So good to know that others have gone through this. I have an open bite as well and very tight muscles in my face, my jaw is never relaxed. I also have asymmetry which makes me chew only on the left side which has caused terrible wearing. Apparently this will help my muscles relax and eventually make it so all my teeth hit evenly :) Hopefully it works sooner than later, I just want the ball rolling so I can get the surgery!

    Posted 1 year ago #

  9. Demi
    Member

    I wanted to tell you that I wore a splint for a whole year before I could ever get my braces. I was getting so discouraged because I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere on my journey. And here I am fixing to be 21 and still has braces. I just had my jaw surgery December 16, 2010 so I know I will probably be getting them off soon. But because of my TMJ I had to wear that stupid splint and couldn't begin the process. Good luck to ya.

    Posted 1 year ago #

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