On my way

Well I have had the braces over a week now.  I’m pretty much used to them.  Around day 6 they quit hurting so much and now they are just barely tender in the front. Next visit they are going to put more brackets on the back teeth, so it will hurt all over again. I went out and bought plenty of wax but turns out I didn’t need it. My mouth has gotten used to the braces very quickly.

I went to the dentist today and that was fun. They had to use the water fountain spray to clean my teeth since they can’t use the polisher.  At least it felt like a water fountain. My face and neck were soaked afterwards even with a towel over my face.

My next appt was set for 6 weeks… I wish it could go faster. Now that I have the braces on I am more ready than ever to have this over with.  My bite is more pronounced and it strains my lips to close them. I have to remind myself not to close my teeth (jaw strain) or my lips (makes them tired) but I forget; also I have to eat and talk! And I can’t whistle anymore! I wore braces for four years before and I just don’t remember that.

Braces on!

Got my braces on yesterday.  It took 2 1/2 hours… longer than they expected. Of course they weren’t taking into account the permanent retainer on my bottom teeth.  After sawing, drilling, wrenching, and sanding, the tech muttered something about needing dynamite.  Between that and the jamming it took to fit my brackets, I went through the wringer before I’d even gotten the braces on.

I was laying there in the chair with my sunglasses on (how nice is that to protect from the overhead spotlight!) still feeling a little surprised that I’m doing this.  I’m not second-guessing now, but it’s hard to believe that I’m actually going through with it.  By “it” I mean the eventual jaw surgery.

Anyway, here’s a picture with braces. A forced smile the only way to show my teeth.  You can see the underbite pretty well here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is more like my normal smile.  Yay for clear braces on top!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Step

I got my spacers in today. I feel like I’ve made the first tiny step in a irreversible journey.

Before pics

I’m getting my braces on next week! Here are some pictures of before everything. The surgery will be moving the top jaw out and the lower jaw back a little. They will be correcting an underbite and crossbite.

Smiling with my teeth closed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Same here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not a great pic but you can see how far back my top jaw is in this photo…

 

 

 

 

 

 

…as opposed to this random girl’s.  When your teeth meet correctly the top teeth will overlap slightly with the bottom ones.

Ah finally… figured out how to make my pictures show up in a stack instead of in a rows!  Still learning how this blogging thing works…

Starting Out

Okay, so here I go.  I hope to have double jaw (orthognathic) surgery before the year is out. I got the letter on Friday that my first request to the insurance was approved. Tomorrow morning, first thing, I will call my orthodontist and tell them the good news. I’ll get appointments for braces as soon as I can. The sooner on, the sooner off. 

It’s hard to believe that I am actually going forward with this. I have wanted the surgery since 17 when I first got braces. A lot of people have asked me if I really wanted to – and I say definitely, if it works out! And years ago it was harder than it is now. You would have to have your jaws wired shut for 6 weeks. Now they’re just rubber-banded for maybe half that. Now I have a better support system for recovery. I have a work environment that will be flexible with me.  

I have read a lot of blogs and websites in preparing myself for this. I’ve read about some hard recoveries and scary risks. But each person said afterwards that it was all worth it. I’m banking on that. I’m counting on the fact that the end result will be worth the pain. That I won’t regret getting braces again. That I won’t mind the stress prepping for three weeks off work. That I make it through a swollen face and liquid diets and multiple visits to the orthodontist & surgeon.

 I have found others’ blogs invaluable as I researched jaw surgery.  Hopefully this can be helpful to someone else.