What will the new year bring?

My husband and I were talking yesterday about everything that has gone on this year. It seems like so much and so many changes. One of the best things is that I have met so many wonderful people. You guys are all so great.
Then, I realized the best thing of all… I won't have to say that my surgery will be next year anymore. Woo hoo! Things really are moving along! Come on 2008! We are ready for you!

Happy New Year everyone, be safe and enjoy!!!

Holiday

I know everyone is so busy these days but, I wanted to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I hope you are all enjoying your families or however you may be celebrating.
Take care everyone!!

Broken Bracket

Well, I had to go back to the Ortho, sooner than I anticipated. I broke my first bracket. It's funny though. Wednesday night I did all of my teeth cleaning rituals before I went to bed and didn't notice anything but, when I woke up Thursday morning, the bracket was hanging on the wire. It was the last one back on my left side. Then when I went to brush my teeth Thursday morning, the little bugger fell right off into my mouth. So I bagged it and brought it with me on my trip. Then, they actually cleaned it and used the same one. I'm glad I thought to bring it with me… gold star for me!! I'm still not sure how it fell off though. Deb, the Tech, did tell me that it happens to the back ones a lot. I guess I'll have to try and be more careful.
Have a great weekend everyone.

Lastest update

Okay, so I had my appt. My teeth are a little sore right now, the front two are burning a bit. Dr. Post repositioned a bracket on my #4 tooth. He put in an 016 Niti on bottom and an 016 stainless steel on top. I am so glad about the top one. He made some bends in it to help with the gap. He also put a power chain back on the front two teeth. I’d really like a full power chain across all of them because when he was closing the front gap it made other gaps on the sides.
Because my bottom teeth are pretty crowded, the tech., Candy asked if he had mentioned doing reproximation on them. Has anyone ever heard of this? I’m going to have to research that one. He has never mentioned it to me before.

You know what really bothers me lately, my smile. I hate to complain because my teeth are really looking so much better; I’m even getting compliments on them, braces and all. My smile though, just looks forced. It’s not an easy natural smile. I guess in time it will look better, I hope.
Funny story: my lips have been extremely chapped lately (go figure) and when they got done working on me this morning, my lips were actually swollen. So I went out to the receptionist to make my next appt. feeling a little embarrassed. She said Oh, you look great. I say, yeah swollen lips and all. Her reply, it makes you look voluptuous. Is that a good thing?

I forgot to tell you, I finally met the local woman that had the same surgery as me. It was so nice to see her progress in person.

Also, if Nat is still reading my blog, please let me know. I hope your doing well.

Still here...

Still here, but not much happening. I go tomorrow morning at 8:30 for my next Ortho. appt. I am really hoping to go back into the stainless steel wires. I also hope he puts a bend in it so I can get rid of this gap once and for all.
I'm trying to decide on a color scheme. I really think the red and green have made my teeth look yellow. The blue made them look much more white. I'm thinking I'll probably go that route again.
I'm still on meds for the sinus infection , I hope this round really clears things up.

Cool news: My family and I went skiing for the first time ever on Saturday. It was so much fun. I am so sore, but I figure it was pretty good exercise. My youngest daughter picked up on it immediately and was flying down the mountain. This is something we definitely have to try again. We have gotten over 2 feet of snow in the last week, should make for a long winter.

I was really looking at my bite this weekend. In the beginning, my open bite was so bad, I could bite down and still fit a finger into my mouth. Now I can't. I love seeing progress.

I'll post a new pic tomorrow. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Buddy

I figured with all of this cat talk lately, I should share a picture of our cat, Buddy with you. What a personality he has. Very high maintenance. He is really good when someone's not feeling well though. He laid with me for hours after my last surgery. I know the pictures don't even compare to Shontell's, I'll have to work on that one.

On another note, I have another call into the doctor. The sinus infection is back. I haven't even been off of the antibiotics very long. Unbelievable. I'm not sure if I mentioned it before but, I have already had sinus surgery too. I had it exactly 1 year before my SARPE. I thought it worked, I guess not. So, if I have this next surgery in June too, it will be three years straight of recuperating in June. Third times a charm they say, I hope so!

Holiday Bling

So I went to the Ortho. with my daughter yesterday so I could get my holiday bling. What do you think? Looking at this picture, everything looks so out of whack!
When I first sat down, Heather looked to see when I was supposed to have my regular appt., for a split second, I think she was thinking I might be able to have my adjustment early but, that's all it lasted. She said yeah, still too soon. Oh well, I'll go back on the 18th and get the real work done then. It'll give me a chance to catch up and wish them all Happy Holidays.
Hope you all have a great weekend! I'm heading to the mall to go shopping, wish me luck!



Just wanted to share my girls with you. They bring such joy to my life!

Not much happening

Still no changes, but I wanted to say hello to all of my blog buddies. Tomorrow my daughter has an Ortho. appt. so, I called to see if I could come in just to get my ligs changed. My daughter really wants me to do the red and green with her and my next appt. isn't until the 18th so tomorrow works out well. I'll take some new pics to show off my holiday spirit.
Have you all seen Brandy's bare smile? Absolutely amazing! She gives us all something to look forward to.

Feeling better

Well, I am feeling much better, the antibiotics are definitely doing their job. Thanksgiving was good, busy and loud. I'm getting some much needed down time this week. I'm really glad I'm not hosting Christmas dinner. Phew!

As far as the teeth go, nothing, nadda, zilch! I've got nothing to share. It seems as though I have hit a plateau. December 18th, can't come fast enough. I desperately want the stainless steel wires back in so I can finally see some movement again. I feel like we're wasting time here. I was hoping for a lot more movement than this before my January appt. with the OS.
My daughter has an appt. on Dec. 6th, I thought about asking them if they would change my ligs too so I could go red and green with her.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to wish all of my friends a Happy Thanksgiving. Thanks for helping me get through some really tough times. You are the BEST!!!

Mmmm, I am so looking forward to dinner tomorrow!

Sinus Infection

I had a doctor's appt. yesterday afternoon for a regular physical. It actually worked out pretty well though. I was feeling much worse by the time I got there. She said I definitely have a sinus infection. My first one post op. I started the antibiotics last night and I took more this morning and I'm actually feeling a little better right now. Not great, but better.
If I hadn't had that regular appt. scheduled, I'm sure I would have just tried to get through the holiday. I'm so glad it worked out for the better.
The teeth are still the same. Oh how I wish things could move along faster.

Owwwwww!

Wow, my mouth was incredibly sore for a few days. The bottom braces have definitely been tougher to get used to. I bought this stuff called Orabase Soothe -N- Seal, it was pretty expensive. Well, don't waste your money. It puts a seal over any mouth sores that you have and then the seal get caught on the brackets and just pulls at the sores. Oh, it hurt so bad. Things are much better with my mouth today though. On another note, I have a horrible cold. I'm congested, my throat is sore and I just generally feel lousy. I have been trying to take extra Vitamin C and Airborne in hopes of getting rid of it before Thanksgiving. I am hosting this year, 15 people. I have a hundred things to do and no energy to get it done.

As far as the teeth go, nothing much is changing. I didn't suspect anything would. I am hoping at my next appt., I can go back into the stainless steel wires. That's when I get some movement! I can't wait for my lips to close without having to think about it. With the bottom braces now on, it just makes it that much worse.

RPE FREE

Today was the BIG day. Everything went really well. The expander came out so easy, with very minor pain. I wouldn’t even really call it pain. Some of my teeth are still a little sensitive so, when he was using his little “plier” like appliance, I felt a little pressure/sensitivity. Nothing more. The real shock came when my tongue found the roof of my mouth. WOW!! It is so big in there. The sides of the roof of my mouth were a little sensitive the first few hours but now, it’s feeling good. Next, they placed the brackets on my bottom teeth which was the easy part. Then, they put in my TPA. I was dreading it. It’s funny because Heather put bands on my bottom teeth and two more on my top teeth after Dr. Post took out the expander and I guess she forgot that I was having a TPA put in because she had to take the top bands back off to weld the piece on that the TPA goes in. I tried telling her that maybe we should just forget about the TPA altogether but, she said we could until the “big cheese” found out. So, the TPA is in and it isn’t nearly as bad as the expander. I mean, I would much rather have nothing but, I guess I can do it. I was hoping I would be talking and swallowing normal again right away but, I definitely think it’s going to take me a few days. My tongue is a little confused right now. We just got done having dinner, swallowing food was so strange. It felt like it was going down way to easy. It didn’t have to go up and over or around an expander anymore. I already have a big sore in my mouth. I actually think my mouth is going to have a tougher time getting used to the bottom braces more than the top. Oh, I hope they toughen up quick.
The disappointing part of the day was, I had to go back to a nickel titanium wire instead of the stainless steel. That means, the triangle gap isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. I tried to tell him I was in a race with someone to see who’s closed first! He laughed , but didn’t budge. So I got an 014 NiTi on the bottom and an 018 Niti on the top. UGH!! Should I concede now?!?!
So… here are the newest pics. Heather says I look good in blue so, that’s what I went with. Next appt. is on December 18th. My daughter and I will be getting red and green together.
I’ll post again in the next day or two to let you all know how things are going.

Last Pics before RPE removal

Finally, these are the last pics before my RPE removal tomorrow.
I also think that my pallet looks a little square.

The countdown....

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about my appointment on Tuesday. The spacers aren’t really bothering me anymore, just the tip of my tongue hurts from playing with the elastics so much.
It will be so weird to talk and eat again without this contraption being in my mouth. It feels so good to be hitting a milestone, so to speak. It's nice to know I have finished this little part of my long journey.
I'll try and post a couple of new pics so we can see the difference right before the RPE removal and then after. I'll bet the roof of my mouth will feel sooo big!

What a nice appointment

What a nice appointment I had. It was just for the bottom spacers, but it ended up being a nice long visit. Heather, who I think is so pleasant, put my spacers in. In between, we got chit chatting about kids, husbands and life in general. Then we talked about my progress and she brought up my "before" pictures on the computer. It's nice to share the excitement with the people who really know what you have been through to get there. As much as they can anyways. It's not like all of us, who have actually lived it.
Then another one of the girls came over, the new one, I think her name is Candy. Anyways, she joined our conversation too. We ended by discussing my next appt. Heather says taking the RPE out is a lot of pressure, but no pain and that it usually comes out faster than it went in. She tells me it will feel really weird. She said that one little boy asked her if they could put it back in. He just got used to it I guess. Funny how our bodies just adjust. Even hearing that, I still can't wait to get it removed.
I also hope the bottom teeth move as quickly as the top ones have. I'm not sure if the top ones moved so quickly because of the surgery or if that's just how things happen. When I was younger and not as wise, I had a molar pulled and all of my bottom teeth have shifted filling in that gap. So, now they will have to be pulled quite a ways back to get my midlines to line up correctly.
My bottom teeth are a little sore today. I hate that feeling you get, like you have a big ol' piece of steak or something that you NEED to get out.
6 more days!!!!

Spacer Day, again!

Today is spacer day! I dread the thought of getting them in, I find them irritating. On the other hand though, it's progress!
1 more week until my BIG appointment. I can't even imagine how it will feel to have this dreadful RPE removed. I can't wait.
Things have pretty much been the same for me lately. Sometimes I still feel that tingly feeling in my front teeth. The triangle gap is still there. I really have to take a picture to see if it's closing at all. I don't see any difference but my husband seems to think it has closed a tiny bit. The wires in the back are really poking me lately, I'm going to see if they can clip them today while I am there.
Also, my OS told me to make an appointment in January to see him, so I have scheduled this for January 17th. I hope by that time I will have made enough progress to tentatively set a date for my second surgery. I am hoping for May or early June.
I'll post again later after my appointment to let you know if anything significant happened.

What a great Halloween

What a beautiful day it was for us. With temp's in the 60's, the kids really enjoyed their evening. My daughter and her friends set out to make their own costumes this year. After many ideas, they decided on being M&M's. My daughter is the red one.
I also had to share a picture of my nephew. His Mom beat leukemia a few years ago and was given a 5% chance of conceiving. He is our miracle baby.

My poor lips!!

So, I couldn't take it anymore. I know I have mentioned my lips before but, this time I just couldn't stand it.
On Friday my lips felt so incredibly chapped and the burning was pretty intense. I can't for the life of me, figure out why.
I called my OS and spoke with Jaime. She tells me that they recommend taht I go to the health food store to pick up a salve with comfrey and calendula in it. She says this stuff is great for the lips.
So, after work on Friday, that was the first place I stopped. I plastered my lips with the stuff Friday night, all day Saturday and again Saturday night. It did nothing!
I talked to my Mom about it on Sunday. She works for my dermatologist so, first thing Monday morning she checked his schedule and he had a cancellation for Monday evening.

After telling him my history, he almost looked stumped as to why my lips would still be bothering me. He has recommended that I use Hydrocortisone ointment 4x a day for 4 days and then 2x a day for 2 days. He said stop all of the other chap sticks that I've been using and only use Vaseline in between the hydrocortisone. I woke up this morning and my lips weren't great but, they didn't burn as bad as they have been and they also didn't seem as swollen.
So, I'll see where this gets me. I really want them to be feeling better before my BIG appt. on the 13th.

Good News

I brought my daughter to the Ortho yesterday afternoon. While she was getting her adjustment, I asked Dr. Post if he had any idea when I would be getting my bottom braces on. He actually came over to where I was sitting so he could take a look at my top teeth. I guess he felt like everything looked okay because, he said let's put them on when you come to your next visit on the 13th. WHOO HOO!!! PROGRESS!!
So, on the 13th I will be having my expander removed, my TPA placed and my bottom braces put on. It will be a 2 hour appt. I am sure that my mouth and jaw will be quite sore but, I always try to embrace the pain. It always means we're moving forward.

Oh, I also wanted to add that my daughter and I each got a slush puppie yesterday (an icy flavored drink). The cold actually bothered my gums and front teeth. I was so excited because things have been pretty numb still.

I feel like today is a good day. Things are headed in the right direction!

Thanks

Just wanted to thank everyone out there. I appreciate all of your comments and I love being able to read all of your blogs. It is so nice knowing that I'm not alone through all of this. Some days get tough and sometimes just reading that someone else went through the same thing, makes me feel better.
It's funny, when I speak to my husband or family about what's going on. I'll be like, Shontell did this or Michelle had that happen or yeah, I read about it in Amy or Brandy's blog. It's like I know you all. Somehow, you all have become my friends, even though I've never met you. Maybe someday we will.
So, I just wanted you all to know what a difference you have made to me! Thank you!!

I also wanted to say to my local ortho/surgery buddy, thanks for the e-mails Kortne!!

The lastest pic

To me, it doesn't look like much has changed. 21 more days until this dreaded expander comes out!!!! Not that I'm counting or anything!

I spoke to the other girl that I told you about earlier that had the same surgery and goes to my Ortho. She told me she has her bottom braces on. Now the Ortho. told me he didn't want mine on while I had the expander in. He said that would be too much all at once. What's up with that?? I say, bring em' on!

Crest Glide Threader Floss - the best thing since sliced bread!!

Has anyone tried this yet?? I had to share. I tried this for the first time Saturday night. I can't believe how much it cut down on my flossing time. This stuff rocks!!

I think I need to relax!

I never got a chance to upload my pic, I'll try really hard to do it tonight. My husband is a police officer and he's been on the night shift for the last 6 months, so I feel like a single parent most of the time.
This weekend is really big for the city I live in. Have you ever heard of the pumpkin festival? If you haven't, here'e the link http://www.pumpkinfestival.org/ The city attempts to break the record every year for the most jack-o-lanterns. Our biggest year has been 28,952. I think Boston has beaten us once and they are huge compared to us. It's actually really busy, it generally brings about 80,000 people to our small city of less than 25,000. It is a beautiful sight, everywhere you look in our downtown area, it's lit up with all different carved creations. So, this means I won't see much of my husband, again!

Anyways, back to the teeth. They were actually really sore yesterday but things seem to be pretty good this morning. It seems like right after I have an adjustment, I always have to use wax again. The insides of the back of my cheeks were all torn up again. I haven't really noticed the top of my front teeth closing at all but, I think I should take that picture to really do some comparing. The bottoms have actually separated just a tiny bit. He wrapped that wire around my two front teeth this time but it definitely doesn't do the same job as the good ole power chain does.

So, a comment he made to the new girl has been weighing on me pretty heavily. I had asked him if the braces would be pushing my teeth back at all because I feel like I have to really work at closing my lips. His response was, no. That there really wasn't any room to move them back and that's where the surgery would come in to play. Then the new girl asked what I would be having, and he told her and then added, and a possible advancement. An advancement would mean my lower jaw too! When I signed up for this journey, we ONLY discussed the upper jaw. When he showed me his measurements that he drew up on the x-rays before I had the SARPE, it was only the upper jaw that was discussed.
Then last night, I was reading Amy's whole blog and she mentions that her O.S. says that the upper jaw can't be moved back, that it's the lower jaw that has to be moved forward. So now I am incredibly confused and feeling a little anxious about not knowing what will be happening in my future. Has anyone ever heard of an upper jaw being moved back?? This is what my OS put on the Ins. Paperwork: LeFort I Osteotomy to shorten my posterior maxilla.
Okay, I think I need to breath and give it some more time, then maybe after the holidays, we can see where things stand.
Thanks for listening!!!

Lastest update

My appt. today was okay. A little good news and a little bad. The office was quite busy so, I was a little worried I wouldn’t get the time I so desperately felt that I needed. I met the new girl today (I can’t remember her name, sorry). She has only been there for 3 weeks. I was worried because she wouldn’t know everything I have been through but, she was actually really good. I wonder if she sensed my apprehension because she explained to me that she had worked with an orthodontist for 10 years prior to coming here.
So after I chatted with her for a little bit and she removed my old wire, Dr. Post came over. He is so good. He knows I have been very interested in everything he is doing, so today he gave me a mirror so I could watch what he was doing while he explained it. He put in a 018 stainless steel wire today. He made a few bends in it to help close that triangle gap in between my upper front teeth. He actually had me feel the difference between the nickel titanium wire and the stainless steel. The first one you could bend or wiggle around but it always went back to its original form. The stainless steel stays right where he bends it. So he said from here on out, that’s what I will be having.
Then we discussed the Expander. The good news of the day is that we can remove it at my next appt. Now for the bad news… I have to have a TPA put in its place. UGH!!!! He tells me this won’t be a big deal but, I really don’t want anything. I know he is just being careful; it just doesn’t make any sense to me why all of the other people that I chat with don’t have to have one. The girl that was helping him said that the TPA will help so there won’t be any chance of collapse. I guess the saying goes, better safe than sorry.
I actually asked for orange ligs today, I thought orange would be a good color for this time of year, but the new girl said there weren’t any orange power chains to match so burgundy was my second choice. Then he didn’t even put a power chain on just a wire twisting the two front teeth together. It actually looks a little funny because she could only fit a lig on one front tooth because of that wire. So I have the burgundy color on every tooth except for one front one. Maybe I’ll tell people it’s for Halloween.
My teeth are a little achy right now but, that usually means good things! So it’s the waiting game once again. I’ll post my newest picture tomorrow.

Lastest pic

Just wanted to give an updated pic before my next appt. Not sure what he will do tomorrow. Sometimes I feel like I build myself up for these appt's and there's no way the appt. could live up to what I want.

I'm still hoping for an expected removal date for my expander... I'll post again tomorrow night to let you all know what happens. Until then.

Jaw pain...

I've noticed lately that my jaw is really bothering me. I have always had some trouble but, the last few weeks has been a little worse. My muscles are extremely tight and I find myself waking up with a headache lately. I don't have a good bite right now and I wonder if it's my jaw trying to find a comfortable place to sit.
I've also noticed and haven't mentioned before but, even since my surgery, I clench my teeth/jaw from time to time without even meaning to. It happened a lot more right after surgery. But now, I'll be eating or talking to someone and all of a sudden without notice, I'll clench. Sometimes I even bite my cheeks or tongue when it happens. I think it has to be a muscle thing going on. Has anyone ever experienced this?
Prior to my surgery, I was treated for a number of sinus infections. I was on antibiotics and steroids all the time. Now, I haven't had one for a while but, when I did get one I was always very congested and couldn't breath through my nose at all. Lately, I've had an incredible amount of pressure around my eyes, forehead and temples. When I bend over, the pressure is horrible. I'm breathing through my nose pretty well though. So now, I'm wondering if it's a sinus infection but not the one's I am used to getting. I just don't know… maybe I'll give it a few more days before I call the doctor.

There's a girl that goes to my Ortho's office that had the same surgery as me about a month earlier. I have never met her but, I did get her number and I have called her on a few occasions just to see how she is doing. She actually e-mailed me on Friday and said that she had her expander removed and a TPA put in it's place. Hmmm. Now I'm wondering what my Ortho has in store for me. I actually mentioned the TPA to him at my last appt. just to see if he would consider it so I could get this expander out sooner. His reply was that he occasionally uses them. Then he went on to say I could have my expander removed in early November. I hope I don't have to have a TPA put in at this stage of the game.
I guess I'll just sit tight and wait patiently for my appt. on Tuesday. Then the answers will come… I hope!!

Ho Hum

Things are still about the same... Yesterday I did notice some tingling in the area of my 4 front teeth again. I haven't felt this for a little while or at least I haven't noticed it but, it was definitely there yesterday. It made me feel better, because I at least feel like something is happening. Healing hopefully.
I also noticed a new sore on the inside of my right cheek. It's in a place that hasn't bothered me before which, led me to believe things must be shifting around in there.
I had a weird dream the other night that the Ortho. took my expander out and my teeth
wiggled and then moved all out of place again. I guess as much as I want this thing out, it has brought some stability to me through this process.
I have been wondering lately how the Ortho will remove my expander. It seems like some of you have just had the wires cut and the bands stay on and others have had their bands removed. I'll have to ask him about this on the 16th so I can prepare myself for what lies ahead. I guess I don't really care either way, I would like the bands removed but, getting this thing out is all that matters. I can't wait to be able to eat Thanksgiving dinner without it. Mmmm!
So, I still have the triangle gap in my front teeth. I actually see the potential for the bottom of my front teeth to start overlapping. They were pretty even but, I see that one is a little more out than the other one. Does that make sense? The power chain is pulling them together but the bottom is as together as they can be without starting to crowd.
I guess he'll address this on the 16th too.
Today is Friday for me, I took tomorrow off and I have off Monday too. A nice long weekend ahead. Now if I can just relax and stop thinking about what's ahead!

Still patiently waiting

I've been fighting off a cold for the last few days, finally I'm feeling a bit better. I figured I would give a more detailed update today.
Since my SARPE, I feel that my gums are a little numb still. The most noticeable spots are around my 4 front teeth. A little bit above my front teeth on the outside but, mostly on the inside behind my front teeth. My right lateral incisor is still quite sensitive too. I very rarely chew on my right side (which I didn't prior to surgery either) but, when I try to, that tooth feels very very sensitive. Something has to be happening with the nerves in that area.
I still don't really bite into anything with my front teeth. I did try a few soft things just to test them out but, they are still quite sensitive and not as stable as I would like them to be.
I know things take time and I'm still only 4 months post op. I'm just anxious for things to start feeling 100%.
I think my biggest concern right now is my open bite. It seems to have gotten so much bigger since surgery. I didn't even realize how bad it had gotten until I compared the pictures. I'm hoping a stronger wire is going to help with it. I see the Ortho on the 16th and he told me at my last visit that he would be putting in a stainless steel wire this time. Has anyone had any open bite issues?
I hope that one day I won't have to cut everything up and eat it with a fork and knife. I went apple picking this weekend and it was so horrible not being able to take a bite out of a freshly picked apple. Maybe next year!!
I'm trying to look on the bright side this week. Although, I don't have a date to have my expander removed, he did say the beginning of November. I was thinking, even if I got an appt. to go back 4 weeks after my appt. on the 16th, that would only be 6 more weeks to deal with it. I can handle that (I think). So, I'm shooting to have it out on November 13th or sooner. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for me!!!

New Pics!!!

Well, I haven't posted since last week, my daughter plays soccer and it seems as though I haven't had an extra minute for myself. I know, I know poor excuse. I told myelf I would be better about this and I will try a little harder from now on.
I've been a little down lately. I feel like nothing more is changing and I can't wait to have this stupid expander out!
I know I mentioned this before but, my lips are still really hurting me. They always burn and feel incredibly chapped. It seems like it doesn't matter how much chapstick I put on them, they still hurt. When I was at the Ortho's office the other day, Heather told me it was probably due to the fact that I am a mouth breather. I'm sure this is part of it because I know for a fact when I wake up my lips and mouth are dryer than the sahara.
Okay, I received my pics from the Ortho's office sooner than I expected so, I'm going to post a few before and after's. I am just learning this whole blogging thing but, I'm hoping to have all of my pics posted to a link soon. Maybe some of my other Ortho. buddies will help me with this task. Shontell???
I also wanted to tell Shontell CONGRATS on having your expander removed!!! It must feel sooo good!!! I can't wait!!!

Gotta love the wire!

Boy were my teeth killing me. I couldn't wait for her to put that wire back on. My husband was really surprised. He was saying how he thought it would feel good not having it on. Just the opposite! It made me wonder what it would feel like when after everything I need done is completed, will it hurt like that when my braces are removed. Hmm. I guess I can relax... don't need to worry about that one for a while!
So my gap has closed except for the triangle like hole up by my gumline. I know it's better than the gap but, I'm not fancying this much either. Sometimes spit bubbles or whatever I am drinking tries to shoot out of it. Gross!!! I asked about it when I went to the Ortho's office. She told me it would probably stay that way until he puts in a square wire. Anyone know when that comes?? I was hoping the stainless steel one would do the trick.
I also think that my open bite has gotten worse. I'm almost 4 months post op. from my SARPE, did anyone else have trouble biting and using their front teeth at this stage of the game. They still seem so sensitive and unstable. Maybe I should stop being such a worrywart and just bite!
I'll have to post a few new pics so you can see my triangle.

For now, I'll just go back to counting the days till my next appt. 26 and counting.....

Nice and Clean

Today, I went to the dentist to have my teeth cleaned. Part of me was a little nervous because things are still a little sensitive but, the other part of me couldn't wait to have a good cleaning. So, off I went to the Ortho's office to have my wire and power chain removed. My Ortho's office was actually closed today because he is opening another office. One of the girls stayed on to do a few things at my office so it was going to work out well for me today... or so I thought. After I got there, she told me she was having childcare issues and wouldn't be able to put my wire back in today. UGH!!!! So I have to go back tomorrow morning at 7:15. My teeth are already screaming they want the wire back on!!!! It really hurts without it, more than I thought it would.
The cleaning went well. It was a new girl, very quiet. I think I made her a little nervous. She kept asking if I was okay. She asked if it was okay for me to open up my mouth for that long. I guess the best part of the day though was that she said I was doing a good job.

While I was at the Orthos office today, I asked if I could have a copy of my before pictures. She said she would have them ready for me at my next appt. on Oct. 16, so I'll make sure to post those then.

Does anyone have any trouble with sore lips. My lips feel like they are always incredibly chapped and burning. I asked at my appt. today and she said it is probably because I am a mouth breather and my lips get very dry. I do use alot of chapstick but it doesn't seem to be helping much. Any ideas???

My husband and a group of our friends that I don't see often went to go see the Patriots game last night. We tailgated beforehand and I barely ate anything. I just feel like I must look quite ridiculous when I eat. This expander takes any enjoyment out of eating and I also feel like since my surgery, that chewing is just weird. It's hard for me to explain but, it's just not right.
I always put my hand in front of my mouth when I chew too.

Okay, Okay, enough whining for now. I hope my Ortho. buddies are all doing well.

Duh!!!!

I forgot to tell you... Next appointment is October 16th!!

Owwww!!!

I woke up this morning with a headache and my front teeth were quite sore. I forgot to mention yesterday that they also tied one of my right molars (number 4) somehow so that it gets pushed up into the gum a little. Not sure exactly how they do this but, it aches!
I'm tired so, I know it wasn't a good nights sleep.

I think I need some ibuprofen!

Ortho. update

Okay, so I really enjoyed my appointment today. I felt like I really got some questions answered that have been weighing on me.
I first wanted to start off though by telling you who my Oral Surgeon and my Orthodontist are. I haven’t done this yet and I feel it is important to tell you who the people are that are making such an impact on my life. My O.S. is Dr. Weldon, he is one of the most compassionate people I have ever met. My Ortho. is Dr. Post, he has made me feel like I am his only patient. He continues to make me feel very special and he truly makes me feel like we are on this journey together and that he also truly cares about the outcome as much as I do.
Okay, on to my treatment.
My first question to Dr. Post today was, "Why wasn't my expander tied off?" He told me that years ago he used to do that, but hasn't in quite a while. He feels it's definitely not necessary and has never had a problem with not tying them off.
Next, I asked about getting my bottom braces on. He told me he wanted to wait while he focused on my top teeth. He tells me we have a lot of work to do up there first. This was a little disappointing because I feel like we’re wasting time but, I have faith in his decisions.
I then asked the biggest question of the day… When will my expander come out??? He started to say late November, early December. I told him I was really hoping to have it out right before Thanksgiving, which would be 6 LONG months. He thought for a moment calculating the time and then said… Let’s take it out early November! He said he just wants to make sure that my bone has had enough time to heal before he removes it.
Woo Hoo!!!! I finally have a timeframe to look forward to.
So today, I had an 018 Nickel Titanium wire put on and a power chain that goes across my 4 front teeth. (numbers 7 – 10) I’m a little sore right now. My small power chain that I had on last time didn’t really bother me much, I think because things were still a little numb from my surgery. So, although it means I have some discomfort, it does mean that things are healing. He tells me next time I will get a stainless steel wire and that will start to really move things together.

My countdown begins…

A couple of new pics

Just thought I would post a couple of my newest pics. My Ortho. appt. is tomorrow, I can't wait!! I'll post after the appt. to let you know how it went.

I haven't posted in a few days because things have pretty much stayed the same. The only thing I have noticed is that while the powerchain has certainly helped with the gap between my two front teeth, it seems to be making gaps elsewhere. Funny how I always seem to have something that bothers me. I guess I just need to be more patient.
My next appt. is coming up on Tuesday the 11th. I have a few questions for him. First, I want to ask him about why my expander was never tied off. It seems as though everyone I have spoken to has had their expander tied off after expansion was completed. I'm a little worried and I am hoping that everything has stayed put. I think it has but... I still better ask. Secondly, I just want to confirm with him that my expander will be coming out within a 2 1/2 month timeframe. I know he originally told me 6 months and it's only been 3 1/2, I'm just getting anxious. I want this thing out so bad. I hate the way I speak with it and eating since this thing has been in has been honestly, very unenjoyable! My tongue is almost always sore.
On a good note though, I really am still amazed at how fast my teeth have all been moving. I try sometimes to visualize what they will look like. Anything has to be better than the crooked mess they were.
I still wish my next surgery was coming up sooner. I am hoping for spring instead of next summer. I want to mention this to my Ortho. too. I wonder if his other adult patients are as anxious as me?? My youngest daughter has braces and I never hear her looking forward to her next appt. like I do.
I'll post with a new pic soon.

Okay... this is the gap, the top one is right after expansion was done. The bottom one is from last Sunday.

Weird tingly feeling

After I had the powerchain put on, I noticed a lot of movement immediately. If I didn't take a new picture every Sunday, I would have thought nothing more was happening but, it actually has moved a little more. Not much though.

Now I'm thinking though, something must be happening because my two front teeth are really tingling. It almost feels like when you hit your finger and you can feel it pulsing. Strange, but hopefully it means things are still moving!

I am going to try and post a couple of pictures. One right after expansion and one from last week.

I can't believe how much all of my teeth have moved.

POWERCHAIN

I wasn't even sure exactly what this was but, I knew I wanted one if it helped with this enormous gap. On August 14th, my Ortho put a small powerchain (it looks like 2 elastics (ligs) connected like this) 0-0 on my two front teeth.
I took some ibuprofen right after leaving and then again before bed. I honestly didn't have much pain at all. It was amazing though. It actually moved my teeth within hours. Don't get me wrong, I still have the gap but, it's not nearly as big.

My next appointment is on September 11th and I will start posting with alot more detail then. I have just started this blog and really regret not doing it from the beginning.

Getting wired

On July 11th, my Ortho wired my upper teeth. I chose pink ligs, I thought that would be fun. Things went pretty smooth and I remember thinking, this isn't so bad.
Well, I woke up in the morning and my mouth was completely raw. I didn't think I needed wax.
I recommend salt water rinses, and LOTS of wax. At least until your mouth get's toughened up.

Cranking the RPE

On June 8th I (well my husband) started cranking my RPE twice a day. Once in the morning and once at night. Aside from pressure, it wasn't painful.
I stopped expanding on June 20th. My gap was HUGE! Or at least I thought so.

Healing after surgery

The first few days were pretty tough. My lips were so swollen I thought they would burst. As the days went by though, things got increasingly better. I tried very hard to eat and drink as much as I could. I lost about 11 pounds in total.

By the end of the following week, aside from being tired, I was feeling pretty good.

Surgery Day!!

So I went in for my surgery on June 1st. I had to be at the hospital at 6:30am. I was so happy about that. I didn't want to sit around and wait.

The staff was wonderful and I really like my surgeon.
My OS told me the surgery went well. The only complication I had was the OS had troble keeping my jaw in place after the surgery so he ended up having to wire it.

I was home by 1:00pm that same afternoon.

The Dreaded RPE

On May 24, 2007 I had the dreaded RPE (rapid pallet expander) cemented in. It was horrible. I left feeling so panicked. I felt like I couldn't even swallow without gagging. I couldn't even imagine eating with this thing.