Jaw Surgery Background

No, I'm not referring to the V-line reduction. That's a popular procedure in Asian countries where one's jawline is shaved down to create a slimmer face and chin. What I mean by the title of this blog is basically jaw surgery on an Asian. Hehe. In my opinion, Asians have different bone structure and facial features. My receding mouth and chin isn't all that rare in Asians. However, most don't consider it to be a problem. I truly wonder if the other people with this type of bone structure have any of the dental/sinus issues that I experience.

In my case, I first had braces ten years ago. In hindsight, this may have been a mistake. I had to have 4 teeth removed in order to make enough room in my mouth to straighten my teeth. Later on, I also had my 4 wisdom teeth removed, the lower ones growing in completely horizontally. The x-ray on that was the weirdest thing. All my teeth were then pulled back in my mouth by the braces, possibly exacerbating my receding jaws. After my braces were removed, the lower half of my face looked shrunk in, kind of like a balloon.

Anyway, a couple years later, I noticed that my gums were receding in a few places. Receding gums on top of a receding chin line? What a bummer. Also, the roots of my teeth started feeling sensitive. But I noticed the same gum recession and subsequent "gaps" in other people's smiles, so I figured it was normal. I eventually got into the habit of flossing every day, figuring that stuck-on food bits were the culprit. Unfortunately, my gums still continued its slow recession. Was I flossing too hard? Too often? Drinking too much juice? It was frustrating not knowing. I also noticed that I was grinding my teeth at night.

Only in the last few years did I learn that grinding one's teeth can be the result of a misaligned bite. And it can also contribute to gum line recession. Why didn't any of my dentists tell me this during my regular cleanings?? And even when I brought up the fact that I was grinding my teeth at night? I was just instructed to "stop grinding," as if I could help it. Even when I wore a mouth guard every night (thanks to my own self diagnosis no less), I would still experience slight gum line recession. Finally, an orthodontist I saw explained that even the regular chewing motion can cause gum line recession if one's bite is off because it generates too much uneven pressure on the teeth. Doh!

That particular orthodontist told me I had TMJ and recommended an expensive treatment plan involving braces. He claimed the braces would be used to bring my teeth forward, and in the process cure my TMJ. In the end, I put off treatment because the orthodontist wasn't able to tell me exactly what the game plan was. He wanted me pay for a costly diagnosis session. I was like, on top of the exam fee and x-rays that I had already paid for? Nah... A year afterwards, still keeping the idea of getting braces in the back of my head, I received an email from that orthodontist's office informing me that they had sold their practice. I panicked a bit, thinking, Oh, no! There goes my hope for getting my TMJ treated! I immediately Googled a list of other TMJ dentists in the area, but let a few weeks pass before calling for a consultation. At my consult, I was told that I couldn't have possibly been diagnosed with TMJ because I was never given a CAT scan. I was also told that I didn't require any treatment for TMJ. However, the dentist did pick up on the fact that my face was oddly shaped   a moon face if you will, and highly recommended that I see an oral surgeon. My heart sank. Surgery was the last thing I wanted. I waited almost a year before making an appointment to meet with the surgeon.

This brings me to my present situation. I have recently decided to get double jaw surgery in order to fix my bite, hopefully allow my gums to heal, and treat my sleep apnea. During the surgery, I will also get my deviated septum straightened, my turbinates reduced, and my facial profile rebalanced. Yes, all these issues are connected!