Patient Stories

• Mary lived with an open bite caused by a childhood thumb-sucking habit that affected the way she ate, spoke and interacted with others
• After completing orthodontic treatment, she learned that she would need reconstructive surgery to fix her bite and help her eat more easily
• Dr. Deepak Krishnan, DDS, and his care team prepared Mary for the complex surgery and lengthy recovery, supporting her needs with compassion and understanding
• The surgery did more than fix Mary’s bite issues—it allowed her to live freely and confidently

For much of her life, Mary had learned to adapt to the challenges caused by her bite. She stopped eating around other people. She smiled less and hid from cameras. When she laughed, she instinctively covered her mouth.

Even some of her favorite foods became difficult to enjoy.

“I could not enjoy a sandwich at all, especially if it had tomatoes,” she says. “I could not properly eat tacos, and pizza was the worst.”

Eventually, Mary decided it was time to make a change.

A complex problem that began in childhood

Mary knows her dental challenges came from sucking her thumb—a habit she had since a very young age.

“It was the only way I could get to sleep,” she says. “My parents tried to stop me, and I tried to stop myself, but I could not break the habit.”

Over time, the habit contributed to changes in her jaw and bite. She developed an open space between her teeth that made everyday activities increasingly difficult.

She had wanted braces since college, but without insurance coverage, treatment remained out of reach. Instead, she adapted her life around the problem.

She got married and had a child. Her husband knew how much she struggled with her bite and supported her desire to pursue treatment. Eventually, the couple made sacrifices to pay for orthodontic treatment out of pocket.

Then they learned that orthodontics alone would not be enough. She would also need reconstructive surgery.

Seeing Mary as more than her diagnosis

Her orthodontist referred her to UC Health oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Deepak Krishnan, DDS. When orthodontic treatment alone cannot correct issues, patients are often referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to treat conditions that affect the mouth, jaws and face.

For Mary, surgery offered a way to address the underlying cause of challenges she had lived with for decades.

But before her first official appointment, she happened to meet him at a company Christmas party.

Mary was at the party hiding her face while she ate, when a woman began talking with her and mentioned that she worked in orthodontics with Dr. Krishnan.

“I said, ‘That’s my doctor! I have my first appointment coming up!’” Mary recalls.

The woman pointed across the room and said, “He’s right over there.”

She introduced them, and for Mary, the brief encounter reinforced that she had found the right care team.

At her consultation, Dr. Krishnan diagnosed Mary with a congenital developmental deformity and explained how it had affected her jaw over time.

Before scheduling surgery, however, he made it clear that Mary first needed to stop sucking her thumb.

“He wanted me to do the work and be involved in my care,” she says.

It was a challenge to overcome but with the support of her husband and daughter, she found a new way to fall asleep. Her daughter overheard her talking about needing to stop sucking her thumb and offered a simple solution: “Mommy, if you can’t go to sleep, you need a lovey.”

So instead of sucking her thumb, Mary began hugging a pillow to fall asleep.

Three months later, she returned to tell Dr. Krishnan she had stopped. She says with a laugh that she showed him her thumbnails to prove it.”

“I knew I had the best care because he would not move forward until I was completely ready,” she says.

A complex surgery from a practiced team   

Even after making it through that first challenge, Mary was terrified about the surgery.

Dr. Krishnan had been candid with her about what to expect. The procedure would take about four hours, followed by a lengthy recovery during which she would not be able to eat normally for several weeks.

“I love food,” she says. “I was also afraid because this was going to be my longest surgery ever.”

While the surgery would be complex, it was something Dr. Krishnan saw all the time. As surgeons at a teaching institution, his team performs about 250 corrective jaw surgeries every year.

The care team helped Mary prepare not only for the procedure, but for life at home afterward. They talked with her about what foods to buy, how to prepare her home and childcare, and what she could do to support her recovery.

“They always made sure to answer all of my questions,” she says. “Dr. Krishnan was so warm and kind. He knew we would get through it.”

Mary’s surgery involved extensive planning using advanced digital technology. Dr. Krishnan used CT scans and detailed intraoral scans to carefully map out the procedure. Before surgery, he even practiced the procedure through virtual simulations, allowing the team to fine-tune their approach and plan for the best possible outcome.

“A lot of work went into her care pre-operatively to guarantee the results she had,” Dr. Krishnan says. “UC Health has become a destination for corrective jaw surgery … Our surgeons and staff take pride in our white-glove service we provide these patients.”

A new smile, a new perspective

A year later, Mary describes the surgery as life changing. But the biggest difference isn’t simply her smile—it’s her confidence.

“I am always smiling. I am taking more pictures and eating more pizza with friends,” she says. “I am more confident when I speak and feel like I can face anything with a smile. I love people and now I feel I spend more time with others. I have come out of isolation.”

Her experience also changed the way Mary sees the care she helps provide as a UC Health employee.

Before her surgery, she already believed in the people she worked alongside. But becoming a patient gave her an entirely different perspective.

“I got to see our team from the other side,” she says. “I know that anyone who receives care will be well taken care of.”

Being vulnerable and experiencing a major surgery herself also changed the way she thinks about the patients she encounters in her work.

“I had to be raw and honest myself,” she says. “Each and every person that knew what I was going through was patient with me, kind to me and made me unashamed to take care of myself.”

Now, she hopes other people who have spent years living with similar challenges will understand that they don’t have to simply accept them.

Why UC Health for oral and maxillofacial surgery

Whether treating a complicated bite issue, correcting jaw alignment or helping with recovery after injury, UC Health's oral and maxillofacial surgery team provides care that helps patients live their best.

• Personalized surgical planning: We use technology that maps out your mouth and jaw so we know exactly how to treat your condition.
• Expert care for complex conditions: Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat all conditions affecting the mouth, jaws and face, no matter how complicated.
• Support beyond the procedure: From the first consultation through recovery, we partner with patients every step of the way to help them achieve the best possible outcome.

Call 513-475-8783 to schedule your consultation.