Author Topic: Relapse and next steps?  (Read 6388 times)

Breakkate

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Relapse and next steps?
« on: May 10, 2017, 07:36:14 AM »
So I had my lower jaw advanced (I had 10mm over jet) and my top jaw impacted about 4 years ago. First photo is my profile pre-op. Unfortunately I suffered with condylar resorption and my jaw relapsed almost back to where it was (8mm). As a weird side effect my teeth don't meet at all on one side now (and my bottom lip and chin suffered nerve damage as a nice bonus!). They can't do my jaw surgery again due to condylar resorption. They have suggested braces to try to make a small difference to my overjet and to fix the fact my teeth don't meet on one side as well as genioplasty to balance out my face. What do you think? I also realise the bump and size of my nose is less than ideal (also slightly wonky from the front). I'm having my surgery on NHS so not sure whether I should mention about my nose? The surgeon did mention to me as an aside that it's wonky.


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LetterForYou

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Re: Relapse and next steps?
« Reply #1 on: May 10, 2017, 09:37:59 PM »
Hi Breakkate,
I had a similar procedure about 25 years ago - maxillar reduction and mandibular lengthening and absolute relapse within a few years. No one knows why I relapsed. It could be due to mouth breathing or tongue thrusting. I will even look into condylar resorption as a few specialists observed bone loss in my face. My next step is to see an ENT to find out why I can't breathe through my nose.

Orthodontists seem very keen to apply braces again, which would realign the teeth into a nice arch on the top, but they can't guarantee my jaws will improve their position.

I was offered a genioplasty, which I had a few years ago, and that did improve my profile. Since having this done, my chin muscles do twist awkwardly when I speak or smile. And there is a deep groove between my bottom teeth (behind my lip) and where the chin begins. Other than that, I am happy with the result.  See attached pic. I also had some nerve damage following the orthognathic surgery, and the surgeon fixed it during the genioplasty.

It has been disappointing to relapse as it was such a time consuming, painful and expensive exercise to have orthognathic surgery on both jaws and wear braces for so long. I hope the ENT will have some answers for me.

Hope this helps.

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marcus3415

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Re: Relapse and next steps?
« Reply #2 on: May 11, 2017, 09:15:39 AM »
Pretty common. I pray to God it doesn't happen to me, although I am worried it will. Like 20% usually--I'm already showing signs.

slysurfz

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Re: Relapse and next steps?
« Reply #3 on: May 11, 2017, 09:35:20 AM »
Were you wired shut after the surgery?

Most of the relapse patients I have talked to were wired shut and that's how the surgery was done in the past. Nowadays they don't wire you shut .

This is not a research based finding, just something that i have heard from some docs when I asked them about relapse and I am asking coz I am curious.



Breakkate

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Re: Relapse and next steps?
« Reply #4 on: May 11, 2017, 10:34:07 AM »
They actually told me it was extremely uncommon and that I'm just very unlucky. I was actually banded shut, but the bands on one side snapped pretty soon after surgery and no one thought it was urgent enough to fix it. I privately think this is why my teeth don't meet on one side but have been told that's not way.. maybe to avoid blame! It sucks because I'm not sure what to do next


Were you wired shut after the surgery?

Most of the relapse patients I have talked to were wired shut and that's how the surgery was done in the past. Nowadays they don't wire you shut .

This is not a research based finding, just something that i have heard from some docs when I asked them about relapse and I am asking coz I am curious.