'There are no shortcuts to this game' is the lesson that surgery patients will learn the hard way a decade later. Because surgery don't stretch soft tissue.
Hi! I had jaw surgery in 2017, when I was 25. I had a class II malocclusion (very small and backward jaw, plus small and narrow upper maxilla).
I have always had a very small mouth and have been treated by dentists all my life. As a child I had a palatal expander put in and 4 premolars removed; as a teenager I had braces and had to have the 2 upper canines forced out. As an adult, I was still having issues: my back molars didn't align so I could not chew properly. Also, my front teeth were so apart I couldn't really bite food like apples.
Also I experienced inflammation of the trigeminal nerve a few times.
I looked for more natural solutions to my problem, but back then I couldn't find anything reliable, so I went for the surgery.
I must say, it was a huuuuuge improvement. I developed muscles in my jaw I did not know I had 😂 I was finally able to bite and chew properly. And I hadn't a single episode of trigeminal nerve inflammation ever since.
And yet... And yet I'm not fully satisfied. I discovered your blog this morning and I'm very curious.
I think what is missing in my case is a proper adaptation of my head soft tissues. While I think my appearence improved esthetically with the surgery, I think my mouth moves in a strange way since, like in an unnatural way. Also, my upper maxilla still feels and looks a bit "backwards", like it cannot support my cheekbones as it should and my eyes are very sunken (which I think are related issues).
In September I went to my surgeon because I had started to have a TMJ issue and he prescribed me a flat plane splint. I've been wearing it for over a month now and I must say I find the issues with my TMJ quite improved (not cured yet, though, but I've been told it takes time).
In recent years, I have become more aware of the importance of the muscle fascias and I regretted not having had a post-surgery physiotherapist treat me properly to help my muscles adjust better to the new position. In fact, I had (and still have) muscle tension at TMJ and I think that was what caused my problem.
I wonder at this point if the splint is sufficient and if it will help my upper maxilla to expand further...
I was wondering... how is it possible for the splint to allow the upper arch to expand if it is fitted to my teeth? Wouldn't it keep my teeth fixed in place, exactly where they are?
The jaw surgery subreddits and jaw surgery facebook groups have tons of people 5+ years out who are “crushing” it and doing way better in almost all aspects. TMJ isn’t the only reason for jaw surgery but that seems to be the focus here. Airway expansion with a good surgeon can be life changing. There are risks like anything else, but nothing really replaces the changes you can achieve with surgery
The jaw surgery subreddit and jaw surgery facebook groups have tons of people 5+ years out who are “crushing” it and doing way better in almost all aspects. TMJ isn’t the only reason for jaw surgery. Airway expansion with a good surgeon can be life changing. There are risks like anything else, but nothing really replaces the changes you can achieve with surgery
i find that there's a bit too much going on in that photo to conclude anything.. angle is slightly different, on the right side he is clearly sucking the tongue to the roof of the mouth and engaging muscles, etc
For me true change is almost always accompanies by what i call the 'windtunnel' look.
Where the skull almost looks like it was remodeled to look more aerodynamic like a car.. here is an example https://share.cleanshot.com/rs3pMSCz
I dont see that here... so i am skeptical there is any true change
Hi! I had jaw surgery in 2017, when I was 25. I had a class II malocclusion (very small and backward jaw, plus small and narrow upper maxilla).
I have always had a very small mouth and have been treated by dentists all my life. As a child I had a palatal expander put in and 4 premolars removed; as a teenager I had braces and had to have the 2 upper canines forced out. As an adult, I was still having issues: my back molars didn't align so I could not chew properly. Also, my front teeth were so apart I couldn't really bite food like apples.
Also I experienced inflammation of the trigeminal nerve a few times.
I looked for more natural solutions to my problem, but back then I couldn't find anything reliable, so I went for the surgery.
I must say, it was a huuuuuge improvement. I developed muscles in my jaw I did not know I had 😂 I was finally able to bite and chew properly. And I hadn't a single episode of trigeminal nerve inflammation ever since.
And yet... And yet I'm not fully satisfied. I discovered your blog this morning and I'm very curious.
I think what is missing in my case is a proper adaptation of my head soft tissues. While I think my appearence improved esthetically with the surgery, I think my mouth moves in a strange way since, like in an unnatural way. Also, my upper maxilla still feels and looks a bit "backwards", like it cannot support my cheekbones as it should and my eyes are very sunken (which I think are related issues).
In September I went to my surgeon because I had started to have a TMJ issue and he prescribed me a flat plane splint. I've been wearing it for over a month now and I must say I find the issues with my TMJ quite improved (not cured yet, though, but I've been told it takes time).
In recent years, I have become more aware of the importance of the muscle fascias and I regretted not having had a post-surgery physiotherapist treat me properly to help my muscles adjust better to the new position. In fact, I had (and still have) muscle tension at TMJ and I think that was what caused my problem.
I wonder at this point if the splint is sufficient and if it will help my upper maxilla to expand further...
yes the upper splint will stretch the soft tissue and upper arch will expand.
Maxilla will reposition over time.
Flat plane spint is much slower than rubber mouthguard so id do both at the same time
I was wondering... how is it possible for the splint to allow the upper arch to expand if it is fitted to my teeth? Wouldn't it keep my teeth fixed in place, exactly where they are?
Maybe I'm missing something...
oh sorry...i just noticed i wrote 'upper splint' when i meant to write 'lower splint'.
I never used upper splints. Only lower. And when i mention flat plane splints as an option i only refer to lower ones.
And yes an 'upper splint' will prevent the upper arch from expanding.
Thank you, that's what I thought.
It's still helping a lot with my TMJ issues, though...
yes im not surprised... by locking the upper jaw with the splint u still allow the lower jaw to expand.
And so i wouldnt be surprised if the soft tissue is stretching b/c of that
The jaw surgery subreddits and jaw surgery facebook groups have tons of people 5+ years out who are “crushing” it and doing way better in almost all aspects. TMJ isn’t the only reason for jaw surgery but that seems to be the focus here. Airway expansion with a good surgeon can be life changing. There are risks like anything else, but nothing really replaces the changes you can achieve with surgery
The jaw surgery subreddit and jaw surgery facebook groups have tons of people 5+ years out who are “crushing” it and doing way better in almost all aspects. TMJ isn’t the only reason for jaw surgery. Airway expansion with a good surgeon can be life changing. There are risks like anything else, but nothing really replaces the changes you can achieve with surgery
In the first picture it is clearly visible how his neck straightened out. Wouldn’t that be a good thing?
i find that there's a bit too much going on in that photo to conclude anything.. angle is slightly different, on the right side he is clearly sucking the tongue to the roof of the mouth and engaging muscles, etc
For me true change is almost always accompanies by what i call the 'windtunnel' look.
Where the skull almost looks like it was remodeled to look more aerodynamic like a car.. here is an example https://share.cleanshot.com/rs3pMSCz
I dont see that here... so i am skeptical there is any true change
https://www.reddit.com/r/jawsurgery/comments/1cclr6k/airway_post_op/
what do you think about this post for example. also improvement in neck statics visible.
im honestly not sure.. could be.
With everything i understand based on things ive experienced myself id be very surprised if surgery resulted in something that was good long-term.
But hell.. stranger things have happened :)
how did that guy achieve those results.
i see your point.