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51
Aesthetics / Re: Can somebody please help me figure out if I should get CCW rotation?
« Last post by kavan on October 11, 2024, 04:44:31 PM »
I'm considering bimax surgery for cosmetic reasons.

I went to the orthodontist today and was able to get a CBCT scan done. They let me take pictures of it.

Here's a link to a photo gallery with my CBCT scans and facial photos:
https://imgchest.com/p/ljyqdonne72

The first 2 photos are side view / front view from the CBCT scan. The last 2 photos are side view / front view of myself, taken with my phone camera.

The orthodontist noted that I have:

  • "vertical maxillary deficiency"
    "midline deviation"
    "moderate" overcrowding of the upper teeth
    "severe" overcrowding of the lower teeth
    "overjet"

I've asked other people about this and they all tell me that I have "short face syndrome". Apparently, one of the dead giveaways of "short face syndrome" is that your upper teeth are not completely exposed when smiling. Whenever I smile, only the bottom half of my front teeth are visible, and my mouth takes on the shape of a trapezoid, instead of a crescent. Downgrafting would presumably push my maxilla downwards, which would expose my upper teeth, and change the shape of my smile.

Here is a link to 2 photos of my teeth when smiling:
https://imgchest.com/p/qe4graa9oyj


My chin is weak when viewed from the side, but when I'm "jutting", i.e., pushing my jaw forwards as far as possible, it massively improves my appearance.

Here's a link to 2 photos of myself from the side, demonstrating how jutting improves my side profile:
https://imgchest.com/p/n87wrarbqyx


I've learned so far that I would need to advance my mandible, as well as downgrafting the maxilla to improve my upper tooth show.

What I can't seem to find out is if I should try to get a linear advancement of both jaws, or CCW advancement.

My end goal is a face that is vertically lengthened and forward-grown in appearance, that looks natural and harmonious.

Thank you.

Part 1.

RE: 'Other people told me I had short face 'SYNDROME'.

Looks like these 'other people' don't distinguish between a syndrome and a cosmetic issue.

The key word here is 'COSMETIC' as in 'for COSMETIC reasons'.
The key word here is NOT 'SYNDROME' as in 'short face syndrome'.

In terms of linear distance relationships where (horizontal) lines are drawn through some select landmarks of the face and the (vertical) distance between the parts is looked at (division of '1/3rds'), you have pretty much 'equal' divisions.

In terms of the frontal view, subjectively, you look pretty good and you also would/could/do pretty good to yourself when jutting out your jaw. So, on a spectrum of 'funny looking' to 'attractive', you veer on the attractive side. A SYDROMATIC person would veer more in the direction of 'funny looking' than 'attractive'.

In terms of both QUANTITATIVE (objective) distance relationships and also QUALITATIVE (subjective) impressions, you are NOT 'sydromatic'. Having a cosmetic issue that could be improved on (via maxfax surgery) does NOT mean the issue is within the spectrum of 'syndromatic'.

The ortho's assessment as to the deficiency, deviations and issues with the teeth as it relates to the smile is correct. But that does NOT confirm what WTF these 'other people' assess to the spectrum of 'syndromatic'.

So, I want to get THAT part out of out of your head before I give my take.
--------------------------------------------
Part 2:

RE: '...should I try to get a linear advancement of both jaws, or CCW advancement.'

I can't answer the question as you ask it. Because, although you SAY you 'understand' you need a MAXILLARY DOWNGRAFT, if you really understood you needed a maxillary downgraft, linear advancement would not be one of the choices to ask about BECAUSE linear advancement doesn't include any downgrafts. It just advances both jaws pretty much equally.

What I CAN say here is that you would benefit from a MAXILLARY DOWNGRAFT, in particular, the type that downgrafts the OVERALL maxilla which pushes the whole thing down in which there is MORE upper tooth show (the entire upper arch) and a longer lower '1/3rd' of the face so the lower jaw area and the chin cast longer on the face. Hence, although you don't have 'short face SYNDROME', cosmetically, you would look better with a longer lower 1/3rd.

An OVERALL maxillary downgraft elongates the ENTIRE maxilla and increases the vertical length of the face whether or not it has 0 rotation or 'net' CCW or CW. For example a 0 rotation overall maxilla downgraft elongates the entire lower '1/3rd' of the face and so do overall maxillary downgrafts with either net CCW or net CW. They ALL address the goal of more vertical length.

A 0 rotation overall downgraft would elongate down equally. One with 'net' CCW rotation would benefit someone needing more 'uptilt' to the chin area and one with net CW rotation would benefit someone needing more 'down tilt' to the chin. Although all will vertically elongate the lower face/ chin area by pushing the area down from above, the choice of net rotation would depend on whether or not the person would benefit more from more of an uptilt to the chin or a down tilt. It would also depend on whether or not the person needed a an uptilt or down tilt to the upper front teeth. Since, your chin already is in an uptilt position and your front upper teeth have an OVERJET, double jaw advancement over a  a net CCW-r could exaggerate that. An overall max-downgraft with net CW would give the chin more a a down tilt and also decrease the overjet. It would address/correct the ORIENTATION of both the maxilla and mandible and also your goal of more lower face elongation.

The entirety of the surgery would include advancement of both jaws in addition to DROPPING THEM DOWN FROM ABOVE (overall maxillary downgraft) AND correcting the bite/teeth. So, I do think net CW-r would work better for you because both the teeth AND the chin get a down tilt with the net CW- overall maxillary down graft. That is to say, advancement of both jaws would look better on you if the overall maxillary downgraft was a net-CW.

Also, your photo of 'jutting out your jaw' looks more like a morph than a jut. Either way, neither a morph nor a jaw jut predict surgery outcomes. But it does convey you would look better with both vertical elongation of the lower '1/3rd' of the face in addition to lower jaw advancement. Since your chin is tipped up in the before and tipped down in the after, that jives with what I said: 'overall maxillary downgraft with net CW-r'.

Hence your question of: '..should I try to get a linear advancement of both jaws, or CCW advancement.' can't answered as you ask because the solution involves NEITHER CCW-r nor linear advancement. It involves an overall  maxillary down graft (that spans the entire maxilla) and one with net CW-r.


52
Aesthetics / Can somebody please help me figure out if I should get CCW rotation?
« Last post by DarrenG on October 10, 2024, 07:59:01 PM »
I'm considering bimax surgery for cosmetic reasons.

I went to the orthodontist today and was able to get a CBCT scan done. They let me take pictures of it.

Here's a link to a photo gallery with my CBCT scans and facial photos:
https://imgchest.com/p/ljyqdonne72

The first 2 photos are side view / front view from the CBCT scan. The last 2 photos are side view / front view of myself, taken with my phone camera.

The orthodontist noted that I have:

  • "vertical maxillary deficiency"
    "midline deviation"
    "moderate" overcrowding of the upper teeth
    "severe" overcrowding of the lower teeth
    "overjet"

I've asked other people about this and they all tell me that I have "short face syndrome". Apparently, one of the dead giveaways of "short face syndrome" is that your upper teeth are not completely exposed when smiling. Whenever I smile, only the bottom half of my front teeth are visible, and my mouth takes on the shape of a trapezoid, instead of a crescent. Downgrafting would presumably push my maxilla downwards, which would expose my upper teeth, and change the shape of my smile.

Here is a link to 2 photos of my teeth when smiling:
https://imgchest.com/p/qe4graa9oyj


My chin is weak when viewed from the side, but when I'm "jutting", i.e., pushing my jaw forwards as far as possible, it massively improves my appearance.

Here's a link to 2 photos of myself from the side, demonstrating how jutting improves my side profile:
https://imgchest.com/p/n87wrarbqyx


I've learned so far that I would need to advance my mandible, as well as downgrafting the maxilla to improve my upper tooth show.

What I can't seem to find out is if I should try to get a linear advancement of both jaws, or CCW advancement.

My end goal is a face that is vertically lengthened and forward-grown in appearance, that looks natural and harmonious.

Thank you.
53
Aesthetics / Re: Are there surgeons who will do an upper impaction instead of a downgraft?
« Last post by Dot on October 03, 2024, 01:19:23 PM »
Don’t do it you will look weird when smiling and talking I had unnecessary anterior impaction and I’m needing revision to bring some tooth show back
54
Aesthetics / Re: Do I have a class II bite?
« Last post by kavan on September 29, 2024, 10:37:03 AM »
Solid advice. Thanks Kavan! Somehow, without hearing it here, I probably would have overlooked this and wasted some money on consults that would have been dead-ends.

Best of luck to you in finding a replacement surgeon on the same page of the treatment protocol explained in prior plan.
55
Aesthetics / Re: Do I have a class II bite?
« Last post by Nikolai on September 28, 2024, 06:47:20 AM »
Quote
my advice would be to establish beforehand whether or not the surgeon performs the 'high lefort 1'. If not, than POOF goes the cost of the consult

Solid advice. Thanks Kavan! Somehow, without hearing it here, I probably would have overlooked this and wasted some money on consults that would have been dead-ends.
56
Aesthetics / Re: Do I have a class II bite?
« Last post by kavan on September 27, 2024, 12:35:28 PM »
Thanks again Kavan. While I realized I only got that treatment plan documented because of insurance, I really took everything in there at face value, and didn't ever consider the 'wiggle room' scenario for getting insurance to potentially go for it - too bad they still didn't budge. Also thank you for your opinion on his treatment plan overall; I am keeping this original plan in mind as I go seek out a surgeon to work with, and hoping the 'high lefort' is not too much of a rarity outside of his former practice.

I think a high lefort, which is somewhat of a 'modified' Lefort 1, might also be somewhat of a 'rarity' because it has some similarities with another type of lefort which is also 'modified' to advance forward parts of the upper midface including the bones that support the under eye area (orbital rims) which is hard to find because the doctor known for performing it also retired.

When looking for another surgeon, my advice would be to establish beforehand whether or not the surgeon performs the 'high lefort 1'. If not, than POOF goes the cost of the consult for them to tell you stuff like 'I don't do that because this that and the other thing'. It is not uncommon for doctors to advise against procedures they 'don't do because of this that and the other thing' when the procedure might take more skill and experience they have to do it. So, you need first find out if the doctor does it. If he does, he should advice you on what ever the risks are in his hands/experience.
57
Aesthetics / Re: Do I have a class II bite?
« Last post by Nikolai on September 26, 2024, 02:38:28 PM »
Thanks again Kavan. While I realized I only got that treatment plan documented because of insurance, I really took everything in there at face value, and didn't ever consider the 'wiggle room' scenario for getting insurance to potentially go for it - too bad they still didn't budge. Also thank you for your opinion on his treatment plan overall; I am keeping this original plan in mind as I go seek out a surgeon to work with, and hoping the 'high lefort' is not too much of a rarity outside of his former practice.
58
Aesthetics / Re: Do I have a class II bite?
« Last post by kavan on September 26, 2024, 08:13:38 AM »
 Your answer to #2 confirms what I thought the situation with assigning class had to do with it.

The doctor was trying to help you to get the insurance coverage in a circumstance where he (also) wanted to correct the recessive upper midface that stays behind with the usual Lefort 1. The high Lefort advancement of bones below eye but above the part of maxilla usually moved in lefort 1 and also addition of bone paste conveyed that.

He knew the area he needed to correct (upper midface recession) was needed to aesthetically blend in with the double jaw surgery lest your upper midface look more recessive after DJS advancement via relative comparison. He also knew that part was basically an 'add on' for aesthetics only because its alteration was not needed to correct the bite.

He may have had some 'wiggle room'--kind of like my example of error range-- for listing as class 2 because that class is one insurance covers for correction. Correction of a class 1 usually isn't. So, he worded his proposal (that included aesthetic corrections to upper midface) to work into a correction of a class 2 deformity. It was to help you get insurance coverage.

His proposal yields some very USEFUL info as to what type of correction to pursue first; a HIGH LEFORT 1 that advances the recession of the upper midface. DJS in range of 7mm or so for both jaws (linear advancement) and bone paste to blend in any residual step-offs to the 'eyebone area' that could arrise for the High Lefort 1. By the way, his proposal of both the Lefort and BSSO being advanced in the SAME/similar range confirms you are close enough to class 1 that both could be advanced equally.

So, mystery solved as to most likely reason for the class 2 assignment rather than the class 1.





Hi Kavan, thanks for the rundown and the example to demonstrate it! And as for the questions you had for me:

1. I was not a minor when I consulted.
2. I was looking to get the surgery at least partially covered by insurance since I couldn't afford the full price tag of surgery back then.

Unfortunately, insurance fully denied the coverage request and deemed this as an elective/cosmetic-only procedure, and I was too stupid at the time to realize I had options to get a loan or finance the surgery, so I never went through with it, which I regret as it's 6 years later now and also that doctor has retired. Seems like insurance coverage for me will never be an option, but I've since (somewhat) overcome the financial barrier between myself and these procedures, which is why I'm starting to reinvestigate my situation and try to get some new consultations booked, but I'm also trying to understand the geometric side of all of this myself so I can better understand my current bone jaw/teeth and also the outcome of any treatment plan.
59
Aesthetics / Re: Do I have a class II bite?
« Last post by Nikolai on September 26, 2024, 04:50:53 AM »
Hi Kavan, thanks for the rundown and the example to demonstrate it! And as for the questions you had for me:

1. I was not a minor when I consulted.
2. I was looking to get the surgery at least partially covered by insurance since I couldn't afford the full price tag of surgery back then.

Unfortunately, insurance fully denied the coverage request and deemed this as an elective/cosmetic-only procedure, and I was too stupid at the time to realize I had options to get a loan or finance the surgery, so I never went through with it, which I regret as it's 6 years later now and also that doctor has retired. Seems like insurance coverage for me will never be an option, but I've since (somewhat) overcome the financial barrier between myself and these procedures, which is why I'm starting to reinvestigate my situation and try to get some new consultations booked, but I'm also trying to understand the geometric side of all of this myself so I can better understand my current bone jaw/teeth and also the outcome of any treatment plan.
60
Aesthetics / Re: Do I have a class II bite?
« Last post by kavan on September 25, 2024, 02:10:54 PM »
Basically, you are saying you don't want to second guess the doctor's (angle classification). But when you ask; 'Do I have a class 2 bite?', you're asking others to. What I can tell you is why it's hard to pin point the class either by APPROXIMATING the angle measures or just looking at it visually.

Based on one of the angle (ANB) measures they look at to determine class pattern, it's too close for me to call the class. That's because I approximate the landmarks and hold a handheld protractor to the screen. When it's not actually a ceph that also shows the soft tissue orientation, the error range gets higher. For example, an ANB measure of 2 degrees is within the norm to call class I and an ANB measure more than 4 degrees is within the norm of class 2. So, if I do an angle measure by APPROXIMATING the landmark point for the angle on an X ray that is not really a ceph showing soft tissue orientation and my error range is 3 degrees and I measure an ANB angle on it, the angle I measure needs to exceed my error range to call the class.

Let's say, I approximated an angle measure of 8 degrees on an X ray (someone else's). A 3 degree range of error would kick up 3 possibilities of: 8 degrees, 5 degrees and 11 degrees. In that case, it doesn't matter which one it is to assign the class because all are class 2 ANB angles when the error range is factored in. Also, someone would be able to see the X ray LOOKED LIKE Class 2 even if they didn't measure the angles. So, when the angle measured EXCEEDS the possible range of error and all the possibilities are within the class range, it's more straight forward to call a class 2 and SEE it on the X ray.

So, in your case, you're not seeing a large enough angle that LOOKS LIKE or is an obvious class two. Fair enough, the class 2 isn't obvious in your case when you VISUALLY APPROXIMATE what a class 2 looks like.

In your case, my error range EXCEEDED the ANB angle I measured (approximated). I approximated about a 2 degree angle. But factoring in an error range of 3 deg, the correct angle could range from 2 degrees, 5 degrees and negative 1 degrees. So, if the correct one is 2 degrees, then it's class 1. If the correct one is 5 degrees, then it's class 2 and if the correct one is negative 1 degree, then it's class 3. So, I can't call the class in your case in the way I approximate. However, even though I'm approximating angles, what my error range CONFIRMS is WHY the Class 2 isn't visually obvious on the X ray. So, I understand why it doesn't look like a class 2. There are 3 possibilities and one of them is class 2.

Another GLITCH here in terms of angles is that a ceph gives more information than the X ray here. There's another landmark point; 'S' (sella) that a ceph shows which is needed for angle measures SNA and SNB which is another reason I can't target your class. However the salient focus point here is the doctor's observations of an upper midface deformity and also double jaw recession.

Now, as to the doctor's write up, it is very patient or layperson friendly and explanatory. Furthermore he's proposing to correct a MIDFACE DEFORMITY which is much more important to focus on rather than what the angle classification  is. The fact that he's doing a HIGH Lefort (bringing forward your UNDER EYEBONE area) and also proposing to augment further with with hydroxyapatite ('bone paste')  means he is meaning to correct a pretty salient midface deformity in addition to balancing both jaws and the bite.

Now I have some QUESTIONS to YOU.

1: Were you a MINOR (under 18) when you consulted. Or was approval from a guardian needed even if you were over 18?

2: Were you wanting INSURANCE to pay for the surgery?


Looks to me that he was a GOOD GUY wanting to HELP you with a pretty salient midface deformity and double jaw recession and needing a party other than you to approve and/or pay for it.
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