^^^Put on a Happy Face^^^

So for all of you medical term techies here is what the orthodontist deemed me at my initial consult...

Crowded teeth, overbite, overjet, incorrect fit of teeth, jaw joint issues.  Oral Surgeon consult is estimating cost for...Lefort 1, Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomies of the Mandible, Surgical Splints and genioplasty invovling two night stay at Hospital.

Insurance sent request for medical records last week that my oral surgeon is faxing over so hopefully I will hear something soon. I should probably order my oral surgeon records so I have them available for appeal if possible. When I receive those records I can post the medical issues that they listed.  For those of you in the states w/ our "private" insurance plans the total cost with braces included is approximated around $35k if they decline coverage (in my situation) and w/ my insurance plan it will be around $18k if they accept it. I have a high deductible and all oral surgery is out-of-network, so that's that! :)

Now on to the interesting...back in my teens I had an ex-boyfriend that said I looked like Droopy Dog. What a winner. Anyway, the sad thing is I knew what he was talking about. I have this circle around my mouth that has gotten more noticeable w/ age and when wearing makeup. I always assumed it was because of my gums and teeth but my Oral Surgeon said it was because I had over-exercised those muscles around my mouth in order to try to close my lips and it left that circle around my mouth. I guess I never realized all the muscles in my face. I have grown up with migraine headaches and muscle tension in my face and this is why. I just assumed it was only the joints but we can cause much tension in those facial muscles as well.  So, now I just let loose and let it all hang open! It's really interesting stuff. You should research it!!! My sister who turned the big 4-0 this year got this funny lil' DVD called Hapy Face Yoga. It's seriously yoga for your face. I watched a video on you tube and it's hilarious. My husband caught me in the act of doing this "facial exercise" and just shook his head. I'm curious on these results....what if it could help relieve tension in the face as well? I'm going to try it after surgery.

Well, have a great week and don't forget to put on a Happy Face! :)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoNeuAloVlU

In the Middle..Where you at?...In the Middle...

Okay, so I'm probably going about this all wrong but I decided to start a blog on my "jaw journey" that has already begun. Better late than never???

I feel old and have absolutely no idea how to 'blog' but I'm just here to broadcast my jaw journey in the hope that I can help others in the same boat and get support at the same time.

I won't catch you up-to-date right now because...well, just because...but I'll give you the low-down of it and I'll post more as I go along. I'm in the boring phase right now anyway.

So, here it is: I'm a 32 (well on Saturday) yr. old stay @ home mom with two small kids (5 and 2) and a supporting husband of nine years. I have always been insecure of my mouth and gummy smile but never realized the medical issues involved until I really starting diggin' this passed summer after a regular dental exam. My dentist mentioned the "J" word and I confidently said I didn't need Jaw Surgery as I was "okay" with how I looked. I got home and started "googling" and found out that so many medical issues I've dealt with my entire life could be related to my misaligned jaws! I was amazed.

I am a major "type A" personality and this issue became my focus all summer. I've calmed down some now but when it's time to fight insurance (in the very near future) I'm sure I'll have guns a-blazin'!!! To cut this down to a small size.. two dental, two orthodontic,and two oral consults later I am in the process of my Orthognathic Jaw Surgery Journey.

I have a deviated septum in my nose with polyps that are in the way of me being able to breathe through my nose...Upper Jaw Surgery will help correct this along with my gummy smile. Lower Jaw Surgery will correct my underdeveloped jaw and chin to help support my bite and my big fat tongue to lay better so I can breath at night w/out sleep apnea. I also have what the oral surgeon called a "cant" where my bite is lower on one side than the other. It's wearing my teeth on one side down and I tend to tilt my head to the side to compensate. You'll notice it in my pictures when I get around to posting them. I never realized that but it's in almost ALL my pics.

Right now I only have four teeth that touch when I bite together so I tear all of my food up in little bites to eat.

So far insurance hasn't covered anything and we've paid for braces and all the appointments out of pocket. I have an exclusion in my insurance that says it won't cover this unless diagnosed 30 days from birth...This is our next big battle as I have LOTS and LOTS of medical issues that could possibly relate to this. I'll get to that in another post.

Well, thanks so much for being a part of my bloggety blog blog and if you have any questions I hope I can help. Thanks for your support as well. I'll post some pics w/ and w/out braces soon. XOXOXOXO E

*side note* I went to do spell check and orthognathic came up w/ no spelling suggestions...doesn't that just make you angry?????? sigh....:)