HI guys, so I've been nervously waiting for Dr A to review my final models and confirm my surgery date. Previously, I had begged the office to reserve me a date based on the promise of my ortho, even though I wasn't technically ready. So yesterday I got the call - it's all going ahead. I've gone from desperate to get the date to super nervous. My surgery is set for Oct 11. I will post pictures (but maybe after swelling has gone down a bit).
Dr Arnett's assistant Lena responded this morning to some questions i emailed last night saying i could just call her, but when I did Dr Arnett came on the line himself and made me feel so much better.
He said:
Chances of blindness from le fort (something I had read about on archwired) were 'zero'.
Parathesia or permanent numbness risk is 5% (I know this info is out there, but I wanted to hear it from him - this still scares me)
One in 20 patients will have a tooth die post-surgery. I pointed out those weren't really great odds but he said if it happens you get a root canal and bleach the tooth.
If I relapse I would pay only for hospital and anesthesia (my insurance covers hospital first time around, not sure if there's a second)
Then Lena called me right after and talked to me for ages. Basically after answering my questions, she said at this point I just have to trust him and not drive myself crazy worrying and reading. She was reassuring about giving me still a decent amount of tooth show as it is youthful (also feminine). I currently have 7mm tooth show and am having a 4.5 maxillary impaction (that may change later). I'm assuming the CCW will pull the soft tissue up a little giving me at least 3mm tooth show post-op. Anyway, I trust he knows what he's doing. As he joked to me, trying to reassure me, 'I've only done this 4000 times, so...'
Anyway, one month til I head to santa barbara for pre-op appts....
