Orthodontics/surgery cost query

Starblue

Hey, just wondering if anyone here has had braces and needed jaw surgery? The first surgeon my ortho recommended tried to rip me off (by €2000!) and I've just moved to a second one who is really nice and is going to do the op under my insurance. Anyway, the new surgeon said I'm nearly ready for the op. I only got the braces on in January and have had them tightened twice. When I got them on the ortho said they have to charge more for the braces because I had to have the operation.
I just accepted this at the time but the more I think about it the less sense it makes. I know every case is different but the fact that my teeth are straight after six months (they'll still need a bit of rejigging after op but they're pretty much perfect) suggests that it wasn't a complex case. And ortho doesn't have to remove/replace braces for op or anything so why would it cost an extra €1,500 when surgery is completely seperate? I'm paying €5,500 in total which seems outrageously expensive considering I'm only being seen every 10 weeks. Everyone I've spoken to got theirs tightened much more regularly.
I'm attending a well-known dentistry chain which has an affiliation with my insurance company (20% off) so I can't help wondering if they're whacking up the prices a bit cos they know the customer will be happy to be getting the discount. Any feedback welcomed and sorry for rambling :rolleyes:

helimachoptor

What operation are you having?

Oral Surgeon

Starblue wrote: »

Hey, just wondering if anyone here has had braces and needed jaw surgery? The first surgeon my ortho recommended tried to rip me off (by €2000!) and I've just moved to a second one who is really nice and is going to do the op under my insurance. Anyway, the new surgeon said I'm nearly ready for the op. I only got the braces on in January and have had them tightened twice. When I got them on the ortho said they have to charge more for the braces because I had to have the operation.
I just accepted this at the time but the more I think about it the less sense it makes. I know every case is different but the fact that my teeth are straight after six months (they'll still need a bit of rejigging after op but they're pretty much perfect) suggests that it wasn't a complex case. And ortho doesn't have to remove/replace braces for op or anything so why would it cost an extra €1,500 when surgery is completely seperate? I'm paying €5,500 in total which seems outrageously expensive considering I'm only being seen every 10 weeks. Everyone I've spoken to got theirs tightened much more regularly.
I'm attending a well-known dentistry chain which has an affiliation with my insurance company (20% off) so I can't help wondering if they're whacking up the prices a bit cos they know the customer will be happy to be getting the discount. Any feedback welcomed and sorry for rambling :rolleyes:

Hi OP,

I don't do orthognathic surgery myself but have assisted many cases in past jobs...
The extra €2000 could be because the surgeon was only part participating with the insurance companies, or it was to pay the anesthetist fees or the hospital fees, or just extra monies in his/her pocket... I don't know...

Regarding the ortho side of things, the planning of these joint surgery/ ortho jobs is quite significant and a lot of planning goes on behind the scenes... The initial part of the ortho is to broadly align the upper and lower arches, then surgery can be planned (the time for initial alignment depends on how crowded the teeth were to begin with.
The orthodontist in conjunction with the surgeon then makes a few precision surgical guides so that the jaws can be realigned according to the prescription and not just slapped back together- this takes time and is crucial to the treatment and a big reason why it is more expensive along with the extra training to take on a surgical case (big stakes...)
eg in cases where the top jaw needs to come forward and the bottom jaw needs to move back; a wafer bite guide is made so that when the top jaw is cut and moved- the guide holds the mobile upper jaw against the original lower jaw position- the upper jaw is then plated. then the lower jaw is sectioned and mobile and the next bite wafer holds the mobile lower jaw against the newly positioned upper jaw.... Get this wrong and it's no fun...

Then once the bones heal in the ideal positions- the orthodontist tweaks the positions of the teeth for many months....

Much more complex than a regular case....

btkm8unsl0w5r4

For clarity here is the previous thread
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=70826334

day dreamer

Hi there Starblue

Well done for deciding to go ahead with this treatment, not many have this done but the changes and improvements are remarkable.

You must remember this is a complex case, any orthodonmtic treatment that involves jaw surgery is complex and takes more time. The surgeon may feel you are ready but the orthodontist does not and until things are right for all concerned you cannot have the surgery, it just wont work out well.

On the fees issue every orthodontist charges different fees. €5500 after 20% discount seems high even for a surgical case, it seems that the chains are the more expensive option, not something that you will hear on the ads.

Starblue

Thanks a mill for the replies. I'm having a mandibular advancement (lower jaw). It seems the cost of the braces cost probably is a bit high but it's a bit late to be realising it now! I think I was blinded by the insurance discount and the fact that it's quite hard to get a price from an orthodontist without a consultation and there are only so many times you can pay out €90. Anyway, I guess one lives and learns :rolleyes:.
Oh and on surgeon I have advised the ortho and they're going to look into it themselves seperately from the insurer. I feel strangely guilty about reporting him but that's what an Irish Catholic upbringing does I suppose.

Oral Surgeon

Starblue wrote: »

Thanks a mill for the replies. I'm having a mandibular advancement (lower jaw). It seems the cost of the braces cost probably is a bit high but it's a bit late to be realising it now! I think I was blinded by the insurance discount and the fact that it's quite hard to get a price from an orthodontist without a consultation and there are only so many times you can pay out €90. Anyway, I guess one lives and learns :rolleyes:.
Oh and on surgeon I have advised the ortho and they're going to look into it themselves seperately from the insurer. I feel strangely guilty about reporting him but that's what an Irish Catholic upbringing does I suppose.

"just" one jaw involved in the surgery makes the case a little "easier"... Obvioulsy this is not simple surgery but the planning is certainly less if only one jaw needs moving, so yeah,,€€€