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Dentistry/jaw surgery - malocclusion - lip closure problems

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Expert: - 12/26/2009


Question

OPG xray
I am a 23 year old male. I had thumb-sucking habit till I was in High school and hence my upper teeth were protruding. 5 years back I had a jaw surgery and some teeth were removed and bones were shifted in my jaws. Since then my upper and lower teeth touch. That is on my left side the lower teeth are behind upper up to one of the incisors and from then on it's my lower teeth which is in front of the upper teeth. My lower lips is also slightly sticking out and I am unable to close my lips properly as I am forced to bring my upper lip way down to touch my lower lip. This always keeps me conscious about my lips. If I have to close my lips I have to make something like "ooo" and only then my lips touch with lesser pain. If I leave my lips freely without controlling them I am unable to speak properly especially feeling difficult to say "ma" "pa" and other similar words that require the two lips to touch each other.  

Answer
Manikandan - I am sorry to hear about a result which was less than acceptable.  From the xray you provided, it is obvious, at least from the xray, that the upper and lower jaws were either not aligned properly at the time of surgery or there was poor healing, allowing the jaw to move.  It appears that your upper jaw is aligned with your nose, but the lower jaw is off center to the right.  Again, without a picture of you, it is a little difficult for me to be sure, but it looks, from the xray, that your chin is off center to the right.  

Well, saying all that above, what are your choices to correct the problems.  There really is only one choice to fully correct the problem, you need the surgery redone and the bones aligned properly.  Most likely only the lower jaw will need surgery this time, which would allow a proper jaw alignment correcting the problmes with the bite and the lips.  You need to contact the surgeon who operated on you and ask for an evaluation.  I hope the surgeon is understanding.  I you have any additional questions, feel free to contact me again.

Joel S. Teig, DMD, Diplomate ABOMS, retired

Expertise

I am a board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and I am available to answer questions related to tooth extractions, implant insertion, facial recontruction, facial and oral tumor removal, TMJ dysfunction and various successful treatments, including surgery if all else fails, and occlusal discrepancy requiring orthognathic or jaw surgery.

Experience

Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon practicine for over 20 years. Assistant Clincal Professor and State University School of Dentistry.

Organizations
American Dental Association, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Education/Credentials
BA -University of Connecticut DMD - University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine

Awards and Honors
National Honor Society (OKU), Philadelphia County Dental Society, Mosby Book Award, Oral Surgery Honors, Summa Cum Laude

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