Nutrition Health Chat: Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 5-6 PM Eastern. Learn how vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients affect your health. Free live Q&A. Join us!
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Expert Forum)
Tongue Problems post bi-max surgery
Answered by
Michael H Kirsch, DDS - Oral Surgery, Maxillofacial, Wisdom Teeth, Bone Grafting, dental implants
Dr. Michael H. Kirsch
Caldwell - NJ
Questions in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery forum are answered by Dr. Michael H Kirsch and Dr.
Mario Tuchman. Topics covered include teeth extractions, wisdom teeth, dental implants, bone grafting, orthognathic surgery, facial bones realignment, facial trauma repair, jaw alignment, anesthesia , jaw cyst or tumor diagnosis, reconstructive jaw surgery, temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ) and TMJ surgery.
Tongue Problems post bi-max surgery
by Webbo275, Aug 14, 2008 09:08AM
Dear Sir,
In March last year I underwent a bi-maxillary facial osteotemy to correct a cross bite and severe cant on the right of my mouth. The surgery went ok after 3 attempts and my jaw wired for 6 weeks ! and the positon of the teeth and jaws are fairly good. Prior to the surgery my tongue used to drift into the gap on the right handside where the cant occured and therefore my tongue is no longer asymetrical. It is causing me lot of problems in speech as now the gap is no longer their, the tongue has re-formed leaving it feeling like their is a large mass of tongue on one side of my mouth (the right side) and is not shaped at the side (like the left side) as it should be, thus catches between my upper and lower teeth when trying to speak. The problem is most annoying, ruining my confidence, affecting my work etc etc (I could go on......)
The surgeons seem to be reluctant to do anything about it as I have been to many appointments since surgery complaining about the issue.I am hoping they will be able to remove the small amount of flesh from my tongue in order to alleviate the problem, Is this possible??? and where can this be done???
In March last year I underwent a bi-maxillary facial osteotemy to correct a cross bite and severe cant on the right of my mouth. The surgery went ok after 3 attempts and my jaw wired for 6 weeks ! and the positon of the teeth and jaws are fairly good. Prior to the surgery my tongue used to drift into the gap on the right handside where the cant occured and therefore my tongue is no longer asymetrical. It is causing me lot of problems in speech as now the gap is no longer their, the tongue has re-formed leaving it feeling like their is a large mass of tongue on one side of my mouth (the right side) and is not shaped at the side (like the left side) as it should be, thus catches between my upper and lower teeth when trying to speak. The problem is most annoying, ruining my confidence, affecting my work etc etc (I could go on......)
The surgeons seem to be reluctant to do anything about it as I have been to many appointments since surgery complaining about the issue.I am hoping they will be able to remove the small amount of flesh from my tongue in order to alleviate the problem, Is this possible??? and where can this be done???
Doctor's Answer
by Michael H Kirsch, DDS, Aug 14, 2008 07:05PM
, Aug 14, 2008 07:05PM
My suggestion is for you to first see a speech pathologist. The problem may not simply be an anatomic issue but rather a neuromuscular problem. Re-education of the the tongue muscles may completely eliminate your symptoms without the necessary risk of surgery.
Information contained within this reply is intended solely for general educational purposes and is not intended nor implied to be a medical diagnosis or treatment recommendation. This is not a substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific medical condition or question. Always seek the advice of your own doctor for medical condition. Only your doctor can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.
Information contained within this reply is intended solely for general educational purposes and is not intended nor implied to be a medical diagnosis or treatment recommendation. This is not a substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific medical condition or question. Always seek the advice of your own doctor for medical condition. Only your doctor can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.
Recent Videos
RSS
Expert Activity
Related Expert Forums
Related Communities
thankyou for your information relating to the problems I am having with my tongue post bi-maxillary osteotemy surgery, I have now an appointment to see another surgeon for a second opinion, plus a speech pathologist to look at muscle behaviour, so hopefully I am moving in the right direction.
many thanks....