1. My surgeon was actually referred to me by my orthodontist who already knew him and had worked with him before, which was an ideal situation for all of us.

2. My underbite was severe enough that only a few of my teeth touched when I bit together, which made chewing very inefficient and could have led to greater problems down the road.

3. Yes, he mentioned there’s always a chance it won’t be covered, but cases as severe as mine usually aren’t a problem.

4. As for the actual surgery, I had to pay a $300 deductible before hospitalization, but my insurance covered most of it, and the full financial breakdown is here: http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/faq/

5. I had my wisdom teeth extracted and my braces put on.

6. The above two are the most common, but I was also on the borderline of needing a palate expansion, which it turned out I didn’t need to get in the end.

7. I’m sure that varies from insurance company to company, especially based on the procedure.

8. I had made up my mind that I wanted to get it done, and some of the risks definitely concerned me, but didn’t stop me.

10. As far as I know, I was banded shut to prevent the jaw from moving out of place and ensure a full and fast recovery.

11. He walked me through the entire procedure and even showed me on a model bite and skull what was going to happen. I don’t remember anything specifically about grafting, but he was open to any and all questions.

12. That I don’t know, as this was my only major surgery.

13. I was lucky to have the full support of my family and friends throughout the process, and I’m glad the Jaw Surgery Blog is providing some of the same support to others.

2. Why did you decide to have your surgery?

3. Did the surgeon discuss the degree of malocclusion with you explaining that the surgery might not be covered?

4. Did you have to prepay for your procedures?

5. What procedures did you have completed prior to the surgery?

6. Typically, how many preparatory procedures are required?

7. If preparatory procedures are necessary, did the insurance company pay for the work?

8. Is there anything “pre” surgery that would have given you pause to not consider having the procedure done?

10. Why did the surgeon wire (or use arch bars) on you?

11. Did the surgeon discuss implants and grafting materials that he was using?

12. What fracture management has a similar procedural approach?

13. Since you developed your blog and are clearly interested in supporting individuals planning on surgery, what about your emotional support?

If you have any questions or want to share your experience, come join us on the forums:

http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/