Author Topic: Long Face/Bimax  (Read 3140 times)

DubShark

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Long Face/Bimax
« on: April 30, 2020, 01:59:34 PM »
I am pretty sure I suffer from long face syndrome and cranial distortion that I got from mouth breathing my entire life.

I gurgle in my sleep, have had bad ear and sinus infections, get jaw pain, etc.

I think my bite is technically okay because my back molars touch. I previously had a serious serious overbite that is covered up because I lost my 2 front teeth playing basketball and they angled the new caps in better.

Please tell me which operations would be right for me. One large part of my goal in getting this done is aesthetic purposes. I am thinking that simple plastic surgery will not suffice. I don't know if I am eligible for bimax with insurance though. If that is the best option I will get it somehow. I will go abroad if I have to.

https://imgur.com/a/AxkAgp7#QGWkYvA

https://imgur.com/a/Spgiehs#LFvsstj

What steps should I be taking right now? I want to get these issues fixed ASAP and get on with my life. I don't need to be pretty but I need to at least not look like I have down syndrome half the time. Plus, the myriad of health issues I've had stemming from this is ridiculous. I can't even put my tongue on my roof of my mouth for long without jaw pain.

GJ

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Re: Long Face/Bimax
« Reply #1 on: April 30, 2020, 02:39:28 PM »
You say you're doing it for aesthetic purposes mostly, but it sounds like your physical problems are serious and a more legit reason. I always base looks on whether I'd think twice seeing the person on the street, and I wouldn't, so I think you fall within normal. But yes, you do have jaw issues.

Both jaws actually look recessed. I think you can move the upper forward about 3mm, then rotate the entire complex CCW. You could probably get away with a larger genio 5 to 7mm to address the vertical dimension of the lower face. I personally wouldn't shorten the lower third via the chin because by it being on the longer side it's balancing out your long midface. It looks like you have some room with your bite, too -- seems to be a few mm overjet, so you could get a little advancement there.

The beard is making it hard to see everything.

Where are you located?

First step is to consult the best surgeons and orthos in your area. Get their opinions, share the cephs, etc.
Millimeters are miles on the face.

Post bimax

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Re: Long Face/Bimax
« Reply #2 on: April 30, 2020, 02:47:37 PM »
It's possible you have a deviated septum.  Have you been evaluated for that?

Aesthetically you could do with a genioplasty. hard to say much about jaw surgery without CEPH xrays.  I'm guessing you are skeletal class 2 since you had overjet before they retroclined your new incisors, so a BSSO may be in the cards for you.  Need xrays though

DubShark

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Re: Long Face/Bimax
« Reply #3 on: April 30, 2020, 03:54:50 PM »
I probably do have a deviated septum. I am sure that is the case too. My brother has always said that to me too.

https://imgur.com/a/gLnVYi7

https://imgur.com/a/cW6FMOZ

Here are some more photos of my face without beard and in motion. And yea I am open to anything. I just want to get this process started as fast as possible.

I was in the Air Force for the last 9 years. Of course, they wouldn't bother doing anything about it and they always wrote of my chronic cough and jaw complaints as normal. Now that I'm out I'm stuck with VA health care and no dental so I have no clue how to get the ball rolling and get on with my life.

kavan

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Re: Long Face/Bimax
« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2020, 04:44:02 PM »
I am pretty sure I suffer from long face syndrome and cranial distortion that I got from mouth breathing my entire life.

I gurgle in my sleep, have had bad ear and sinus infections, get jaw pain, etc.

I think my bite is technically okay because my back molars touch. I previously had a serious serious overbite that is covered up because I lost my 2 front teeth playing basketball and they angled the new caps in better.

Please tell me which operations would be right for me. One large part of my goal in getting this done is aesthetic purposes. I am thinking that simple plastic surgery will not suffice. I don't know if I am eligible for bimax with insurance though. If that is the best option I will get it somehow. I will go abroad if I have to.

https://imgur.com/a/AxkAgp7#QGWkYvA

https://imgur.com/a/Spgiehs#LFvsstj

What steps should I be taking right now? I want to get these issues fixed ASAP and get on with my life. I don't need to be pretty but I need to at least not look like I have down syndrome half the time. Plus, the myriad of health issues I've had stemming from this is ridiculous. I can't even put my tongue on my roof of my mouth for long without jaw pain.

From your chin contour, you look like you might have skeletal anterior open bite, especially if your back molars touched and your front teeth didn't before you got caps to your front teeth. So, first step would get a diaganosis from a maxfax
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DubShark

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Re: Long Face/Bimax
« Reply #5 on: April 30, 2020, 04:53:53 PM »
When I should be looking into getting dental coverage for this? After the scans?

Post bimax

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Re: Long Face/Bimax
« Reply #6 on: April 30, 2020, 05:01:29 PM »
I probably do have a deviated septum. I am sure that is the case too. My brother has always said that to me too.

https://imgur.com/a/gLnVYi7

https://imgur.com/a/cW6FMOZ

Here are some more photos of my face without beard and in motion. And yea I am open to anything. I just want to get this process started as fast as possible.

I was in the Air Force for the last 9 years. Of course, they wouldn't bother doing anything about it and they always wrote of my chronic cough and jaw complaints as normal. Now that I'm out I'm stuck with VA health care and no dental so I have no clue how to get the ball rolling and get on with my life.

So it looks like the VA does cover orthognathic surgery if you end up going that route.  However, you should be aware that the top surgeons do not accept insurance for their surgical fees since they charge a higher rate than insurance companies will pay.  Assuming you're approved, insurance will help cover the hospital costs; which can be extreme in their own right.

In general for a native bimax you're looking at 25-50k depending on the surgeon.  Genioplasty 4-7k.  Orthodontic work is also about 4-7k.  So you should seek a consultation, but be aware of what you're getting into.

EDIT:  Only some vets can apply insurance to private docs.  I'm not too familiar with the VA process so take the above with a grain of salt.

kavan

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Re: Long Face/Bimax
« Reply #7 on: April 30, 2020, 05:01:36 PM »
When I should be looking into getting dental coverage for this? After the scans?

I don't know much about insurance.
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Post bimax

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Re: Long Face/Bimax
« Reply #8 on: April 30, 2020, 05:03:18 PM »
When I should be looking into getting dental coverage for this? After the scans?

Your insurance may reimburse the consultation.  They'll take your insurance info when you go to the consult.

DubShark

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Re: Long Face/Bimax
« Reply #9 on: April 30, 2020, 05:33:14 PM »
So chances are either way I will be paying a lot of money. I'm fine with that.

Is standard protocol to have braces on for a significant amount of time before the operation? Could they do the op and then braces?

GJ

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Re: Long Face/Bimax
« Reply #10 on: April 30, 2020, 05:40:50 PM »
So chances are either way I will be paying a lot of money. I'm fine with that.

Is standard protocol to have braces on for a significant amount of time before the operation? Could they do the op and then braces?

Surgery first is possible, but isn't the protocol in the US. You'll have more luck with that in Europe.
IMO it has less accuracy, but I guess that is debatable.
Millimeters are miles on the face.

DubShark

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Re: Long Face/Bimax
« Reply #11 on: May 07, 2020, 03:50:44 PM »
So I was able to get a Cone Beam Scan. I am currently traveling so it was with a random office. I have the files from the scan to send to the surgeon I'm going to consult with.

Is there a way to get a ceph from this? Is there a way for me to share this with one of you to analyze it?

kavan

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Re: Long Face/Bimax
« Reply #12 on: May 07, 2020, 05:52:40 PM »
Who told you to get a cone beam and not a ceph?

You look like you have a significant case of skeletal anterior open bite and not really 'long face'.

On each post, you can attach photo files (attachments and other options, you will see) OR you can upload on IMGUR.
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DubShark

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Re: Long Face/Bimax
« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2020, 06:42:32 PM »
A doctor who I consulted with. He seemed pretty willing to do a bimax based on my photos and the complaints I had. He was also willing to do surgery first. Do I need to get a ceph too?

And yea. I can't really self diagnose. My molars do line up. The only thing I know for sure is I was was a mouth breather and I had an adenoid face.

kavan

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Re: Long Face/Bimax
« Reply #14 on: May 07, 2020, 08:38:40 PM »
A doctor who I consulted with. He seemed pretty willing to do a bimax based on my photos and the complaints I had. He was also willing to do surgery first. Do I need to get a ceph too?

And yea. I can't really self diagnose. My molars do line up. The only thing I know for sure is I was was a mouth breather and I had an adenoid face.

Cephs are easier to look at for people on here.
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