Hi Everyone!
Oh, I have so many questions, for anyone who has the time to answer. I am so confused.
Growing up, I never had any bite issues, but I had some minor jaw problems starting in my early teens. Unfortunately, I had my bicuspids extracted (all 4) when I was about 14, and then had 2 years of braces which made my jaw problems significantly worse. (She was a Harvard trained orthodontist, and said having my bicuspids pulled would help my jaw because it would create more room in my mouth. Whops.) Anyway, at 19 I began treatment with an ALF doctor who put me in the Twin Block. After just 2 weeks my jaw went from clicking on both the left and right every single time I opened my mouth, to not clicking at all. Unfortunately, because the appliance was so impossibly cumbersome, I started clenching at night (which had never been a problem before), and subsequently had horrible headaches and facial pain. The ALF doctor I was working with sent me to another doctor, who sent me to another doctor, who sent me to another.....
The issue is that after the Twin Block corrected the clicking, but started causing other issues, I went from appliance to appliance and now my teeth don't fit together. I have been wearing an appliance (of some sort) on my lower teeth for 9 years. (Holy s**t, I know, I know.) I am super comfortable in the one that I am currently wearing (I don't even know that it is there), but I realize that I am only buying time until I start having issues with my lower teeth and gums.
About 7 years ago, I started meeting with surgeons, but as soon as they started talking about the surgery and having a face full of titanium I basically shut down. I am at the point where I finally realize that I need to do something, and am trying to compile a list of surgeons to meet with. (Prior to this, I consulted with a bunch of "no names" (for lack of a better way to put it), and also with Dr. Eugene Keller at the Mayo.) I am extremely concerned with aesthetics, so besides going to see Arnett/Gunson and Schendel, is there anyone else that I should be scheduling a consult with? I would prefer to stay in the US, but would consider going elsewhere for the right surgeon.
Any feedback would be super appreciated. Thanks!