Support Needed for Post-Surgery Braces

In January 2024, I had surgery on my jaws to alleviate obstructive sleep apnea. Maxillomandibular advancement surgery , or MMA, is a process in which the surgeon cuts both jaws and moves them forward, keeping them in place with several titanium plates and screws. The goal is to open up the throat for better breathing while asleep. The surgery took 7.5 hours. I went into it both scared and excited—MMA is the last hope for someone who can't tolerate CPAP or doesn't qualify for the Inspire implant, and it took almost a decade to get to this point. My breathing and snoring had gotten so bad, it was time to do something drastic. Something drastic with an over-90 percent success rate, that is.

The photo above was shortly after I woke up in my hospital room post-surgery. I knew the second I was awake that my breathing was significantly better. The following months were a roller coaster of extreme pain, numbness, and liquid meals. Now, 437 days post-surgery, I still have some numbness, but it's so much better than it was and I have absolutely no regrets. Who knew that breathing was so awesome!!

Most who go through MMA get braces while recovering from the operation. But this didn't seem necessary for me since just a couple of years before the operation, I wore braces for nearly two years to straighten my teeth—another painful process that was totally worth it. My bite was what it should be for the first time in my life, and nerve pain I'd experienced due to cross bites for years disappeared.

Unfortunately, since my surgery, my teeth have been moving. My bite has changed so much that I now have TMJ—thankfully not painful at this point, but it causes super loud popping in my jaw.

A trip to my orthodontist last November confirmed that I need braces again. This time it will be for only a year, but even though I started a new full-time job in February and have dental insurance, it's still beyond my budget and will be for a while. I thought I could wait until I could save up, but the permanent retainer on my top teeth has bent and one of my teeth has moved so much it is pointing out at a 45-degree angle, and my bottom front teeth are all sloping over to the right. I need braces soon or that year will turn into two, and the price will continue to go up.

Here's the estimate that the orthodontist gave me in November 2024. The price for braces has gone up just like everything else.

So, here I am, humbly asking for your help. Asking for help is not easy for me, but I can't see how else I can make this happen. This isn't a life or death thing, but I know it's necessary for a healthy bite. I appreciate anything you can donate to help. Thank you so much for your consideration.