Alisa's Jaw Surgery Fund
Donation protected
Hi! Thanks for looking in to my fundraiser page for my orthognathic surgery!
A brief explanation:
I have a severe medical issue with my jaw joint which makes eating and speaking very difficult and painful. I need surgery to correct the problem. Without surgery the complications will grow and become even more debilitating, painful, and irreversible.
This surgery is very expensive and is not covered by insurance at all, so I’m left in need of some assistance!
The long explanation:
When I was born I had a congenital oral defect called anklyoglossia, or “tongue tie.” Although it was surgically corrected when I was seven years old, it contributed to a slight under-development of my lower jaw.
When I was slightly older, my orthodontist attempted to correct my overbite with braces and rubber bands. The bands were intended to move my lower teeth forward, but much like trying to build a house beyond where the foundation lies, my teeth were unable to move any farther than where their supporting bone tissue ended. This contributed to pulling my entire lower jaw forward of where it should rest on a healthy individual.
Currently, at age 25, I have a few issues involving my temporomandibular (jaw) joint. Although you can’t tell just from looking at me, x-rays show that my lower jaw is slightly smaller and shorter than my upper jaw, which makes it impossible for me to align my teeth and jaw joint properly at the same time. The x-rays also show a slight dislocation of my lower jaw from its socket in my skull.
Due to the dislocation, when I open my mouth my jaw joint does something like this:
As opposed to how a normal person’s jaw joint functions:
[Photo credit: DrBradEli.com (click for animations!)]
Because of this misalignment, the only way for me to physically place my jaws in a position to allow me to speak, chew, bite a banana, etc. is to over-extend my lower jaw forward, so that my lower teeth meet my upper teeth. This is what’s exacerbating my temporomandibular disease (TMD).
TMD impacts my ability to eat certain types of food (particularly hard or crunchy foods, apples, and sandwiches), eat/chew anything for a normal period of time, or to spend a day talking with my clients without being in pain. It frequently clicks or gets stuck in an odd position. I also have limited range of motion when opening my mouth, a weak bite, and constant headaches and neck problems because of muscle tension and joint stiffness.
The surgery my doctors have recommended is called a “mandibular osteotomy.” The procedure involves precisely cutting my lower jaw bone on either side to break it, realign it, then secure it in a healthy, normal, and functional posture. The jaw bone is accessed via a method similar to a wisdom tooth extraction, through the inside of the mouth (as opposed to making any incisions in the face or neck). Correcting the size and shape of my lower jaw will relieve the pressure and strain on my TM joint, allowing my jaw to settle into its natural position and function normally.
[Photo credit: accorde.com]
If I do not have this surgery, by the time I reach my mid-thirties I will have developed TMJ arthritis; joint degeneration, inflammation, calcification, and bone spurs; a greater loss in my range of motion; a weaker bite; and therefore even more inability to eat and speak, and significantly more pain. Further, having the surgery later than my mid-twenties (now!) may contribute to issues with healing, and will likely not correct the problem soon enough to prevent the aforementioned complications.
In short, this surgery is essential to my health and quality of life, and needs to be done imminently.
My surgeon is talented, and comes highly recommended, but his contract does not allow for payment plans or financial aid; all costs must be paid in full prior to the surgery. Unfortunately, insurance providers have a block all across Washington State against TMJ and orthognathic surgeries, so nothing is covered at all. It’s beyond my financial means to pay for the procedure out of pocket. Other insurance companies will not offer plans that might cover a portion of this type of procedure to any patients, but especially those who have pre-existing conditions like myself.
This procedure will cost $10,380. That doesn’t include time I will have to take off of work (I don’t have sick leave since I’m self-employed), hotel fees for my family to stay in Seattle with me during my recovery, travel expenses, or any potential complications that may occur after the procedure. It’s a daunting number!
It’s for these reasons that I’ve turned to my community to help me achieve the feat of raising enough money to cover the surgery.
I’m an understanding and empathetic person, and I know that the economy and financial situations for all of us are very challenging right now. I’m not going to ask anyone for a huge donation, though anything you want to and are able to contribute would mean the world to me. Even $1 can add up quickly with lots of other $1's!
Thanks so much for reading!
--Alisa
A brief explanation:
I have a severe medical issue with my jaw joint which makes eating and speaking very difficult and painful. I need surgery to correct the problem. Without surgery the complications will grow and become even more debilitating, painful, and irreversible.
This surgery is very expensive and is not covered by insurance at all, so I’m left in need of some assistance!
The long explanation:
When I was born I had a congenital oral defect called anklyoglossia, or “tongue tie.” Although it was surgically corrected when I was seven years old, it contributed to a slight under-development of my lower jaw.
When I was slightly older, my orthodontist attempted to correct my overbite with braces and rubber bands. The bands were intended to move my lower teeth forward, but much like trying to build a house beyond where the foundation lies, my teeth were unable to move any farther than where their supporting bone tissue ended. This contributed to pulling my entire lower jaw forward of where it should rest on a healthy individual.
Currently, at age 25, I have a few issues involving my temporomandibular (jaw) joint. Although you can’t tell just from looking at me, x-rays show that my lower jaw is slightly smaller and shorter than my upper jaw, which makes it impossible for me to align my teeth and jaw joint properly at the same time. The x-rays also show a slight dislocation of my lower jaw from its socket in my skull.
Due to the dislocation, when I open my mouth my jaw joint does something like this:
As opposed to how a normal person’s jaw joint functions:
[Photo credit: DrBradEli.com (click for animations!)]Because of this misalignment, the only way for me to physically place my jaws in a position to allow me to speak, chew, bite a banana, etc. is to over-extend my lower jaw forward, so that my lower teeth meet my upper teeth. This is what’s exacerbating my temporomandibular disease (TMD).
TMD impacts my ability to eat certain types of food (particularly hard or crunchy foods, apples, and sandwiches), eat/chew anything for a normal period of time, or to spend a day talking with my clients without being in pain. It frequently clicks or gets stuck in an odd position. I also have limited range of motion when opening my mouth, a weak bite, and constant headaches and neck problems because of muscle tension and joint stiffness.
The surgery my doctors have recommended is called a “mandibular osteotomy.” The procedure involves precisely cutting my lower jaw bone on either side to break it, realign it, then secure it in a healthy, normal, and functional posture. The jaw bone is accessed via a method similar to a wisdom tooth extraction, through the inside of the mouth (as opposed to making any incisions in the face or neck). Correcting the size and shape of my lower jaw will relieve the pressure and strain on my TM joint, allowing my jaw to settle into its natural position and function normally.
[Photo credit: accorde.com]If I do not have this surgery, by the time I reach my mid-thirties I will have developed TMJ arthritis; joint degeneration, inflammation, calcification, and bone spurs; a greater loss in my range of motion; a weaker bite; and therefore even more inability to eat and speak, and significantly more pain. Further, having the surgery later than my mid-twenties (now!) may contribute to issues with healing, and will likely not correct the problem soon enough to prevent the aforementioned complications.
In short, this surgery is essential to my health and quality of life, and needs to be done imminently.
My surgeon is talented, and comes highly recommended, but his contract does not allow for payment plans or financial aid; all costs must be paid in full prior to the surgery. Unfortunately, insurance providers have a block all across Washington State against TMJ and orthognathic surgeries, so nothing is covered at all. It’s beyond my financial means to pay for the procedure out of pocket. Other insurance companies will not offer plans that might cover a portion of this type of procedure to any patients, but especially those who have pre-existing conditions like myself.
This procedure will cost $10,380. That doesn’t include time I will have to take off of work (I don’t have sick leave since I’m self-employed), hotel fees for my family to stay in Seattle with me during my recovery, travel expenses, or any potential complications that may occur after the procedure. It’s a daunting number!
It’s for these reasons that I’ve turned to my community to help me achieve the feat of raising enough money to cover the surgery.
I’m an understanding and empathetic person, and I know that the economy and financial situations for all of us are very challenging right now. I’m not going to ask anyone for a huge donation, though anything you want to and are able to contribute would mean the world to me. Even $1 can add up quickly with lots of other $1's!
Thanks so much for reading!
--Alisa
Organizer
Alisa Taylor
Organizer
Port Angeles, WA