September 23
Yesterday I had my first consultation with my maxillofacial surgeon. I know its early out! I just got my braces on 2 months ago and I was told to expect at least 1 -1.5 years before my teeth/bite/mouth are ready for surgery. BUT... I just needed to talk to him. All the website, journal articles, and blog research has only left me with more questions about what exactly will be happening to me personally and what I can expect as my prognosis. I also really feel that its important to encourage my healthcare providers to act as a team. To further that, I feel like if I'm on everyone's radar (or just somewhere in their patient files) they are going to watch out for me and something I may need is less likely to slip through the cracks.
So I met with the surgeon who actually put on gloves and looked at my mouth and my bite. He then sat down and reviewed my x-rays with me. And wow was that a shocker! I knew I had a dental malocclusion and I thought that I had understood why this malocclusion led to my TMJ dysfunction. But what a difference an educated discussion made on my understanding!
Turns out I will need double jaw surgery.
There are typically 4 reasons someone needs this surgery (a part from trauma) and I've got 3 of the 4! I've got the overbite, the overjet/open bite, and the asymmetry....wheee! The only one I am missing is the underbite, which would be awfully hard to have at the same time as an overbite. The Dr gave me a brochure that looks like its from the 1980's "Your Orthognathic Surgery" I'll have to upload some pages next chance I get. Essentially:
1. Serious Operation with all inherent risks
2. Inpatient hospital stay ~ 2-3 nights
3. I'll be out of work for 2-3 weeks
4. Liquid -> soft food diet for several months
5. My face/profile will change
Apparently I am still rather upset about the double jaw surgery, because I am really struggling and find myself reluctant to write tonight. But I have about 1 year to a 1.5 years before the orthodontics will have done their work and my teeth will be where they should be for the surgery, so that should be plenty of time to come to terms with everything.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
1st Adjustment of Braces
9/20/2013
Well I went back to the orthodontist for my first adjustment of my braces yesterday. They applied 1 gauge higher tensile strength wire on my top teeth and 2 gauges higher on my bottom teeth. Here is a website I found that explains the importance of the wire: All About Arch Wires. It was sore yesterday after the adjustment, but really the pain started when I woke up this morning. It feels like my whole lower jaw is swollen, to the point where I feel like it should be obvious to everyone I meet. Of course I cannot see a difference in a mirror so there is no way that anyone else can tell, but I just want to wrap my whole face in ice and stop pretending that I am a normal person today... but that won't pay the bills!
Did I mention that they placed some composite material on my molars with the braces application in July? If not...they had placed a little composite material on my molars so that with my night grinding (bruxism) I would grind away the composite and not my tooth enamel (one of the reasons most people with TMJ disorders wear night guards). Well apparently I had managed to wear it away significantly (grad school= increase stress = more night grinding) so they added a lot more composite to my molars. I know this sounds great in theory, but the composite material is all that can touch now, so its like have 2 pencil points that prop my teeth apart and my mouth open. Which brings me back to eating, one of my favorite hobbies and something I can no long do :( Can you imagine trying to chew food with a pen tip? So needless to say I am really bummed to be back on a liquid/no chew diet. Looks like I'm headed to the grocery store to stock back up on yogurt, mashed potatoes, protein powder, and pureed soups.
Now after I've complained enough, I did get some good news from the Orthodontist! I asked if it still looked like we were on track to schedule my jaw surgery next fall (2014). My reason for asking is that I graduate in May and I would really like to give my new employer a heads up that I will need to take some time off for the surgery. And Dr R said that every mouth is different . . .*usual spiel*. . . BUT that there was a chance I could be ready for surgery in the Summer or even maybe May! Which means surgery sooner, braces off sooner, new pain-free life sooner!!! My response was that if it was possible for him to crank on my teeth harder now I would take more pain today to get it all over quicker...unfortunately it doesn't work that way. But I left his office feeling a renewed sense of hope and optimism for my future life!
Well I went back to the orthodontist for my first adjustment of my braces yesterday. They applied 1 gauge higher tensile strength wire on my top teeth and 2 gauges higher on my bottom teeth. Here is a website I found that explains the importance of the wire: All About Arch Wires. It was sore yesterday after the adjustment, but really the pain started when I woke up this morning. It feels like my whole lower jaw is swollen, to the point where I feel like it should be obvious to everyone I meet. Of course I cannot see a difference in a mirror so there is no way that anyone else can tell, but I just want to wrap my whole face in ice and stop pretending that I am a normal person today... but that won't pay the bills!
Did I mention that they placed some composite material on my molars with the braces application in July? If not...they had placed a little composite material on my molars so that with my night grinding (bruxism) I would grind away the composite and not my tooth enamel (one of the reasons most people with TMJ disorders wear night guards). Well apparently I had managed to wear it away significantly (grad school= increase stress = more night grinding) so they added a lot more composite to my molars. I know this sounds great in theory, but the composite material is all that can touch now, so its like have 2 pencil points that prop my teeth apart and my mouth open. Which brings me back to eating, one of my favorite hobbies and something I can no long do :( Can you imagine trying to chew food with a pen tip? So needless to say I am really bummed to be back on a liquid/no chew diet. Looks like I'm headed to the grocery store to stock back up on yogurt, mashed potatoes, protein powder, and pureed soups.
Now after I've complained enough, I did get some good news from the Orthodontist! I asked if it still looked like we were on track to schedule my jaw surgery next fall (2014). My reason for asking is that I graduate in May and I would really like to give my new employer a heads up that I will need to take some time off for the surgery. And Dr R said that every mouth is different . . .*usual spiel*. . . BUT that there was a chance I could be ready for surgery in the Summer or even maybe May! Which means surgery sooner, braces off sooner, new pain-free life sooner!!! My response was that if it was possible for him to crank on my teeth harder now I would take more pain today to get it all over quicker...unfortunately it doesn't work that way. But I left his office feeling a renewed sense of hope and optimism for my future life! |
| Here's an (unattractive) but upward view of my teeth as closed as they can get... which is to say not at all :( |
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Feeling Much Better!
September 17
So I have been feeling MUCH better with my braces. I still have a couple really sore teeth that ache when I try to bite into something hard like a cracker (or push on them with my fingers), but overall the last week has been so much better. I go in for my first re-tightening with the orthodontist in two days and I am not looking forward to it. I guess I should make a batch of jello and mashed potatoes in anticipation. . . Did I mention how nice its been to eat anything but mashed potatoes? SO NICE!
So I have been feeling MUCH better with my braces. I still have a couple really sore teeth that ache when I try to bite into something hard like a cracker (or push on them with my fingers), but overall the last week has been so much better. I go in for my first re-tightening with the orthodontist in two days and I am not looking forward to it. I guess I should make a batch of jello and mashed potatoes in anticipation. . . Did I mention how nice its been to eat anything but mashed potatoes? SO NICE!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)