One Week - First Post-Op

One Week Post-Op milestone!  Feels like a split second and an eternity.  I got a little emotional while sitting in the waiting room remembering my first visit just shy of a year ago and how stressful the last appointment was.  All that in the past now, my newly minted jaw already a huge improvement from how it used to be and recovery on the downhill stretch.

While I was waiting for Dr Best the other surgeon passed by, saw me and stopped in.  I was so excited and told (mumbled and texted) him all about my progress.  He kept asking about and testing the numbness, but otherwise agreed that I was doing really well.  Dr Best arrived and I gave him the rave reviews of his team and how smooth recovery had been as a result.  He was eager to have a look at his work and before I knew it was clipping away the bands.  I had four sets of triple bands on each side and three wires holding a splint (U-shaped plastic plate with impressions to hold the teeth in place after re-positioning the jaw, ie. "tooth cast") to the uppers.  The splint was discarded forever and I was so glad to see it go.

With my jaw free he had me practice opening very slowly and carefully.  Although I couldn't feel exactly what I was doing because of the numbness it seemed smooth and painless, just stiff.  I was able to speak my first words in a week, that was startling and exciting.  He left me with a resident to continue moving and (finally!) brush my teeth.  Never thought my mouth would feel empty with only braces, but yeah... so easy without all the bands, wires and splint.  I worked up to one finger's width opening, but not quite enough to get the tooth brush inside my mouth.  A goal for next week.  With that new bands were placed; this time doubles, three on each side.   My instructions were to not lose weight and continue good hygiene.

Leaving the office I was in tremendous pain on the left side by my ear (at the jaw joint) and felt light headed.  Occasionally at night or in the morning I get a tinge of pain, but nothing like this.  As soon as I got home I took a dose of Ibuprofen and crashed, sleeping for five hours straight.  It amazes me how so little activity can have such an extreme effect.  By evening I felt better and started exploring the new set up.  Without the splint I can feel the inside of my teeth, all neatly lined up with so much space compared to before.  Most importantly, as expected it's a little easier to drink.  With a few breaks to rinse, I was finally able to get the peach smoothie down.  Now starting on more substantial soups, like lentil and polenta.

Before and after pics (sorry the close ups are a little scary).

Pre-appointment.  Still swollen, bruised and puffy.

Hooks, bands, wires and splint.  One full mouth!

Post-appt.  Less puffy, getting closer to normal.

Down to hooks and bands.

   

Day 5 & 6

Day 5

For reasons entirely unrelated to surgery I slept horribly last night (loud neighbors).  With only a few broken hours of actual sleep I was not happy in the morning and stayed low, drinking and taking the requisite meds.  By afternoon I was ready to shower and get out for a bit and took a jaunt around the neighborhood.  Being in public, albeit trying to avoid interaction, was incredibly refreshing.   With that I felt up to more and spent the rest of the day cooking soups and blending smoothies, experimenting with recipes and foods.  I will post more on that including meal plans and recipes separately.  Today introduced acai smoothies, again a treat I have really been looking forward to.

Incremental changes are exciting to see each day.  Today swelling continues to go down, however bruising is more noticeable.  It's not a huge area, around and below my chin near the incisions.  As the bruises heal the area grows and has turned bright yellow.  Very strange looking.  No change in numbness, I have resigned myself to that for awhile and will update when it progresses noticeably.  I get lots of tingles after I lie down to sleep, a good sign that my body is working on it even if it's not visible yet.  For the first time I can feel and see the end of my jaw bone and my cheek bones are starting to show better.

Even with daily changes and my extensive planning to get through recovery as quickly as possible, today was a reminder that no matter how well I am doing there is no fast track through recovery.  I can do the right things and make it easier, but it has to run the full course which is a long road.  Day by day - pay attention, adapt and wait it out.





Day 6

Today started off with my Mom departing.  She came in the night before surgery and has been immensely helpful by my side through operation day and the challenges of the first days in recovery.  Although I am set up and comfortable taking care of myself at this point, could not have managed the first few without her and the moral support has made the rest of it easier and more fun.

Swelling continues to drop.  Still more swollen on the right side.  Today I can almost see my profile and my cheeks and lip appear more natural.  I'm hoping to look close to 100% for my one week post-op tomorrow, but even how it is today I think Dr Best will be pleased.  Bruising has expanded more in the chin area, plus a slight shade on my throat where the tube was.  A dab of tinted moisturizer covers it up for the most part.

Eating was a little traumatic today.  One of the smoothies I had prepared yesterday included wheat bran for extra bulk.  Unfortunately the flakes didn't liquefy in the blending process and it wouldn't go through the tiny space in my teeth where I am able to drink.  I am hopeful after tomorrow's appointment I will be able to manage.  In the meantime, an acai smoothie with added almond butter tasted amazing.  I continue to drink every two hours, trying to keep well hydrated with small portions of substantial nutrients.

Activity is mostly back to normal, no naps or fatigue anymore.  I attribute this to my surgical team for doing a good job setting up recovery so that I didn't have prolonged pain, medication, or complications.  More or less since the afternoon of discharge my head has been clear.   Now only continuing the week of antibiotics, which don't seem to have any side effects.  At times I almost feel like nothing happened, but looking in the mirror is a reminder that how I think of myself, what I feel like and how I look are nothing alike.  Plus, I don't actually know what my new face will look like.

  

Day 3 & 4

Day 3

I woke up very tired and knew I needed some serious nutrition.  I had planned to start the regular liquid diet on Day 4, but it needed to happen sooner.  I went through my morning meds (ibuprofen for the swelling, amoxicillin for anti-bacterial, and qucertin supplement for anti-inflammatory) and had a juice, then had my first protein shake.  Cannot describe how good it tasted!  First to have normal food, second all the much needed nutrients.  Then I showered for the first time since the hospital.  It felt good to clean off all the surgical tape residue and the steam was great for my sinuses.  After all that excitement I needed a nap.

The afternoon included a brief visit to my rooftop for some fresh air and a change of view, a nice diversion.  More napping in the afternoon and more feeding.  I made my first attempt at drinking from a cup, which was very challenging at first with a numb lower lip.  I still keep towels under me to catch the occasional drip.  After a few tries I got it down, much faster than syringing and moving my lips a little helps the healing process.

The swelling has started to go down, my right side is still very large.  I have light bruising around my chin that is starting to change color.  The numbness has gotten slightly better.  My lower lip and chin area are still mostly numb except for slight sensation (can feel touch, but not a drip of liquid).  I continue icing as much as possible using bands that wrap my head and jaw and light massaging to stimulate the nerves and increase circulation.

Still not even a hint of pain.  I feel so lucky to not have had any of the nausea, congestion, bleeding or other effects any people talk about.  I sleep propped up on a few pillows, which is a little uncomfortable since I am normally a side sleeper.  Having had severe flue several times the past couple years I am used to that as well and know the difference it makes.  Especially the first few days, any tilting of my head caused pressure increase.  Very important to keep elevated.

Cleaning is essential, especially now that I have started more rich foods.  I do a saline rinse a couple times a day and brush the outside teeth carefully, avoiding sutures.  Although I can't open my mouth, my lips are still stretchy and the brush can go where it needs to.   Aquaphor has been my best friend, regular application has helped my lips heal quickly from the operation.




Day 4

Stage Two of recovery, the worst is in behind!  This morning I started with a protein shake and apple juice, which felt great.  Today's snack menu introduced pressed juice and smoothies, both of which I have been looking forward to.  Feeding sessions still take ages, small portions sip by sip.  I continue to syringe my meds to get them toward the back of my mouth instead of coating all my teeth.  My tongue is protesting the splint and feels sore around the front whether eating, swallowing or talking.  More stretching to keep my mouth active.  The numb area decreased again slightly, now covering about a finger's width inside my chin area.  The swelling went down dramatically today.  Encouraged, I stopped icing and taking ibuprofen.  The bruising has turned yellow, a good sign it will be gone within a few days.

Second big step today - I showered and got presentable to go outside for a walk.  Great to see life outside the apartment and move around more.  I'm starting to feel like myself again, only mute and swollen.

Surgery Day and Recovery Day 1 & 2

June 22, 2016

After thorough research I had compiled all the supplies needed and roughed out a menu plan for a 3 day clear liquid diet, 4 day - 2 week liquid diet, and progression to soft foods.  All preparations were in place.  My pre-op instructions cut off food, water and anything in the mouth from midnight.  I ate a monstrous dinner that evening, then had a snack and ginger tea right before midnight, then settled in for a good night's sleep.

The next morning was go time!  10:30am we departed for the hospital where I checked in at 11:30.  Shortly after I was taken up to the staging area and changed into a gown, then met with the anesthesia team.  The lead was also named Allison and she was one week older than I am!  She offered an anti-nausea patch and got me all preped.  The surgical team trickled in and by 1:30 all were assembled except Dr. Best.  A full hour passed and finally he showed up at 2:30 and I was wheeled away.  Before we got in the elevator I was out and don't remember a thing until waking up in the recovery room.  We stayed there for several hours, nurses cycled through, each being preped on my case and status.  Eventually I was all alone in the back of the recovery wing while waiting for a bed upstairs.  Around 11:30 a team came in for a CT scan, then back to sleep until vitals check.  Around 1am I was taken up to the room.  More ice, more IV fluids.  I felt no pain or discomfort, no nausea, and no congestion in my nose that many people complain about.  Allison took good car of me setting up an easy recovery.  One of the surgical residents visited before he left for the night.  All seemed to be going remarkably well.  I was all smiles, so excited to have the giant hurdle complete.




Recovery Day 1 - June 23

I woke up at 6am to the whole crew paying a visit.  It was good to see their familiar faces, but I was tired and didn't have much to say.  They gave some medications and instructions to the nurse and cleared me for discharge after meeting with the nutritionist.  That took all morning, although she was supposedly on the floor somewhere she never made an appearance, instead sending a trainee to give me a pamphlet describing a blended diet, protein intake and sample menus with recipes.  The nurse came back with my prescriptions, took off my IVs, I changed and packed up, leaving the hospital around 2pm.  A brief stop at Walgreens to fill prescriptions and finally we returned to my apartment.  I took a brief nap, and started syringing drinks and medications.  It takes about an hour to complete dosage of medication and juices.  Lots of towels for dripping, and concentration to make it smooth.  So far I have been using a 10ml syringe, inserting between my front bands and shooting to the side.  Swelling increased through the day.  I can run my hands around the jawline and have feeling everywhere, which is a good sign.  Some numbness still that makes it hard to drink regularly from a cup.  Regular icing and gentle massages see to be taking effect on the swelling.




Recovery Day 2 - June 24

Today I had more energy, started walking around a bit.  I am trying to talk more and move my lips around, but my tongue hurts when it rubs on the splint.  Other than that I still have no pain or discomfort.  The swelling has started to go down on the left side, the right side and my lower lip are still very large.  I started to feel small tingling sensations on my lip, like little champagne bubbles floating up on the sides or middle.  No bruising, even around the area on my hands where the IV's were placed.  I continue on the clear liquid diet until Day 4 where more dense beverages can be introduced.  So far much easier than expected, aside from eating taking so long.  A short nap mid morning and mid afternoon, settling in for the evening now.  Waiting for my jawline to slim down so I can see my new profile.

Pre-Surgery

At this stage I expected my surgeon to take the lead, informing me of process, guiding through and keeping open communication.  That was not the case at all.  Being a teaching hospital, UCSF operates much differently than private practice.  Essentially lacking in business skills.  The main phone system is a mess that leads to a dead end.  The office manager doesn't pick up her phone or return calls.  Trying to set this up and coordinate between a dentist, orthodontist and surgeon keeping in mind personal plans, travel arrangements, not to mention work projects was quite frustrating.  Surgery is only every other week and regular appointments on the alternating week, a very narrow window of opportunity.  Making matters worse, I was told the date wouldn't be confirmed until insurance approval went through, 6 weeks after my follow up consultation.  Basically they wouldn't speak to me until I had the pre-op appointment.  I did my best to schedule a tentative date while  making it clear that I needed more than a week's advance notice on the operation and was not willing to let my treatment plan slip due to scheduling missteps.  I had heard horror stories of treatments being delayed 3 months and having difficulty scheduling followup appointments and getting insurance approvals.  After much persistence I finally found the right approach and began making headway with key contacts.


Follow Up Surgical Consultation - May 18, 2015  

At this appointment I was seen in promptly at 9am and was out by 9:30am.  Dr Best looked at my teeth and new molds taken by my orthodontist the week prior.  He walked me through details of the the timeline and process and gave the okay.  I followed up immediately to ensure the insurance submittal went through and scheduled my follow up dental cleaning and orthodontial pre-surgical appointment anticipating the surgery date.  I don't know if it was my hounding or if I was overly worried about the process taking too long, but within two weeks it was signed off and the office contacted me to confirm.  I am on the calendar for June 22nd, Week 38 of braces.


Pre-Surgery Appointment - June 15, 2015

One week in advance the surgical team meets to review and practice the operation.  My final orthodontial appointment was the day before.  All movement is paused until after, this was only to place the surgical hooks which will be used to stabilize my jaw while banded shut.  All of my brackets have hooks built in already, the only additional hooks necessary are in between the incisors.  They are big and catch on my lip, but at this point I don't really care as I will soon have bigger problems to deal with.  Another twist - Dr Good is pregnant and will be on maternity leave in July and August.  I am glad she has been able to see me through leading up to surgery.  My follow up appointment and re-starting braces will be with a stand-in, which is a little disappointing.  At least she will get to see better results in September.  Hopefully by then I will be very close to braces off for the finished product.

Back to the surgical appointment, it took ages.  3 hours, most of which were sitting waiting for the staff to do something.  All very stressful on the heels of navigating my two weeks off work, only to continue to have numerous post-op appointments before full recovery.  Once again enforcing the fact that this is a huge time commitment and that some things can't be rushed.  In the end I had a CT scan, current photos, current molds and and any last questions answered.   Aside from the dysfunction of the office, Dr Best is capable and knows his trade.  I have full confidence all will go well.

10 month progress photos, hooks and all, two days before surgery... can't believe it's here.

 

Braces Progress

2 Months:
Eager for progress, trying to be patient while Dr Good works her magic.  My second appointment inserted rubber spacers between the back molars, after two weeks the lower rear brackets were placed and I was fully braced.  Then a longer wait til the next appointment.  I asked to go to a heavier wire, to no avail.  You can see in the close up the lower front teeth are so crowded the wire isn't even engaged on two of the brackets.  My top incisor was angled in during pre-teen braces to compensate for the over-jut.  That makes the wire look super crooked, due to the closeness a white rubber cushion was placed on the bracket below to keep it from hitting.

  


4 Months:
Getting in a groove, appointment were generally evenly spaced 5 weeks apart.  I always asked for 4 to accelerate, to no avail.  Worse still on a few occasions she did say 4 weeks, but the office would be closed or no times were available and it would end up 5 weeks after all.  Sometimes visible progress was made by the time I got home from the appointment!  My top teeth had started straightening out, evening of the wire.  The biggest challenge was the lower incisors.  To address the crowding Dr Good added coils, one on either side of my center lower tooth.  They were very painful and in contrast to the ceramic brackets very metallic and obvious.  I had to use wax constantly to reduce sores.  It didn't stick well to the coils, complicated cleaning and adding further bulk to my mouth.  Knowing that my over-jut correction involved undoing some of the work from my pre-teen braces I was prepared for my bite to get worse leading up to surgery.  I was not prepared for the horror the coils created.  Since the flanking two teeth were unattached, they got pretty crazy while the coil did its job pushing the outside teeth away.  By cruel twist of fate this occurred over the holiday season with parties, family gatherings and a prominent project opening with most of my network and VIPs.  Sigh... there is definitely a personal growth aspect to having braces.  Starting out highly self conscious, going through braces and very messed up teeth has built significant self acceptance and thickened my skin to the extent that not much about my appearance and others opinion about it could throw me now.   Appearance can help, but is secondary in any interaction.  That is a valuable lesson to internalize.

  

6 Months:
Miracle occurred and the coil was removed!  The adjacent teeth moved quickly back into place and in the following appointment clicked into the wire.  To further adjust alignment Dr Good added a power chain, which I feared was yet another coil fiasco.  Instead it was more or less a rubber band chain that hooked around each bracket.  Since it was white it actually made the brackets less visible and it was comfortable, so I was happy.  For my upper teeth the treatment plan includes veneers to increase the size of my "peg laterals", so we are creating space on either side.  That involved more coils, only this time she used a smaller size that was hardly noticeable visually or on my lips (not shown in the pics below).   The third photo shows my true jaw alignment with tongue crowded behind the teeth.

  

8 Months:
This is when I started to get anxious since my treatment plan indicated surgery 8-10 months in and I hadn't even had a followup appointment.  It was stressful to juggle work and attempt to minimize impact without having any idea how schedule would work out.  Dr Good finally gave me the go ahead at my 27 week appointment and I immediately called to set up my surgical appointment.  Finally it is happening!  Meanwhile, minor adjustments top and bottom continued.  I was up to the heavy gauge surgical wires, which meant any misalignment was painful.  Both the lower front teeth and back molars took a lot of pushing and prodding before clicking in.  The assistant tried to warn me and be gentle, but I still whimpered as my tooth felt like it was being pulled out at one point.  That was the most painful appointment (nothing a few Advil and a good night's sleep couldn't fix), but I knew it meant final adjustments were in progress.  I noticed that my upper midline has shifted slightly off, that will be corrected after surgery.  I also want to bring the uppers in as they are still slanting out slightly.  You can see the lower power chain in the second photo.  In the last photo I set my jaw forward, anticipating what it will be like.  Teeth are getting very close to final alignment!

   

Braces On

Sept 25, 2015.  My calendar calls it skull day.  Days leading up to the appointment were spent indulging in all forms of crunchy, crispy, thick, chewy foods.  Morsels of steak and caramels, savoring every bite.  I had scheduled the appointment for end of day Friday, allowing myself the weekend to adjust physically and mentally before returning to work.  

At the appointment I was very nervous.  One by one the brackets were placed, upper wire inserted, then lower wire.  Before I knew it my mouth was full!  It felt weird to run my tongue around the edges, and my lips plumed (Dr Good called it "braces botox", hehe).  I took Advil the first day as the pain hit before I even walked out the door.  The dull throbbing through my entire head continued through mid afternoon the next day, then life resumed. 

I had expected my tongue to swell and be painful as it was for the first two weeks during pre-teen braces, but instead felt nothing.  I continued eating yogurt for breakfast, soups for lunch, and soup or very soft, smooth food for dinner.  I was both encouraged and frustrated by the lack of pain, thinking that the treatment wasn't aggressive enough.  My teeth are used to moving since being in braces and a lifetime of retainers so I hoped it would go faster than expected.  After talking with Dr Good the following week I came to accept that no amount of badgering would increase her sense of urgency, that treatment would run its course.

Looking back here are the thoughts that went through my head and what I've actually experienced. 

Fear: What will my coworkers think?  My clients?  My dates?  My friends?  

Reality: I put in perspective how I would think of someone else.  I would see it as an effort toward lifetime self improvement and would respect it.  The first smile and conversation were tenuous, it took a few weeks for me to get used to it.  I quickly learned it was a barometer for trustworthiness.  If someone judged me they were not a positive part of my life anyway and their opinion mattered little.  Conversely, whenever I see someone else with braces we smile and bond.  It's not as rare as I thought, as with many things once you're looking you see them everywhere.  I've heard many stories and even talked to people going through some pretty extensive jaw surgery plans.  By the second month braces weren't even on my mind, I was able to go through life as usual and it was only when someone else noticed that I did. 

Fear: Will they hurt?

Reality: Having had braces before and having a high threshold for pain I experienced almost no discomfort.  My cheeks and lips get torn up from either being hooked or going between the wires.  Dental wax is an easy fix, I always ask for a couple packs at my appointments since I go through a lot of it.  Routine is to cap the last two brackets, top and bottom on both sides, since those have large metal hooks.  Also the lower front four teeth, since my jaw position causes extra rubbing.  Aside from that, I was sore overnight after the first four appointment.  An Advil took care of it just fine.  Occasionally a tooth will get sensitive, but that's the same with or without braces. 

Fear: Will I have difficulty eating?

Reality: For the first few weeks my diet consisted of yogurt and soup.  Since I have lots of problems eating I realized that most of the foods I like are soft foods, so it really didn't change much in terms of my meals. The one thing I miss is biting into a good hamburger. I probably could do it at home, it would just be pretty messy.  The other difficult part is dark beverages.  I love coffee, red wine, tea, tomato sauce, anything dark.  At first I cut everything.  Then I convinced myself I could have a few sips and slosh vigorously.  Then it was small cups with sloshing afterward... Then almost a normal daily cup of joe.  I had planned to do whitening after and I hope that I won't end up with spotted teeth!  

Fear: Will I be able to keep my teeth clean?

Reality:  Brushing is a necessity after every meal.  I don't snack a lot, so I generally don't need to more than that.  Most foods are easy to work around, but salads tend to be more time consuming.  Lots of brushing, rinsing, more brushing and rinsing.  For a few weeks it was hard to tell what belonged and what didn't, by now I can pretty much sense when I have more work to do.  I have had a few laughs, thinking I was all done only to smile and have a giant piece of lettuce draped across my front brackets.  Rinse, swish, brush, swish again and a close visual check are my routine.  I am also totally comfortable brushing in public as having bad teeth I am used to brushing after lunch at work or wherever I happen to need to.  For the night time routine - flossing is a pain!  The first few weeks I meticulously flossed going through the wires every night.  Since that process took half an hour, I soon stopped and found short cuts.  It is entirely possible to floss the insides of the teeth normally.  My dentist gave me a kit that had a metal rod with a pointy rubber tip that I can use to run around the gum line and go in between the teeth from the outside.  Much easier than flossing and it works just as well on the front teeth.  The back morals are tough no matter what.  I also using prescription strength fluoride weekly.  I have noticed some staining on my teeth, particularly in between the brackets and above where it's harder to brush.  I intend to whiten after it's all done and am counting on those stains being light enough that I won't end up with spotted teeth. 

Fear: Will it be worth it?

Reality: So far the pain / reward ratio is positive!  It hasn't been nearly as bad as I had thought.  Initially the 22 month estimate was overwhelming.  To be halfway through now it seems like no time at all.  Seeing incremental progress has been encouraging as each step gets closer to the end goal and my dream of the perfect smile!  If it means enough to you that you are considering it, by all means go for it. 


And with that, a few pics from Braces On Day...

Consultation Appointments

Step 1 - Dental Appointment; March 18, 2015
 
Dr Azad is extremely talented and has made the annual visits enjoyable by offering state of the art technologies, personable customer service and an office that feels more like a boutique hotel than a medical office.  Best part is the yellow chairs and the view... but I digress.  As we discussed the alignment issues I was keenly aware of, my confidence in her abilities and promise of the smile of my dreams made the journey seem inevitable. 


Step 2 - Orthodontist Consult; May 28, 2015

Dr Azad referred me to Dr Good (impossible not to trust!).  During the hour long consultation she took photos, measurements and walked me through her recommendations.  I had braces as a child, and sort of knew that the current state wasn't entirely the result of not wearing my retainers regularly.  I have a habit of shifting my jaw forward to ease lip teeth indentations / discomfort on my lower lip and speculate congested sinuses are related to a crowded tongue.  Mentioning these and other issues I suggested that my jaw may also need adjustment.  Sure enough, she indicated that Invisalign was not an option due to the severity of my case, predictable but nonetheless a huge disappointment.  The treatment plan was 8-10 months of braces, jaw surgery, followed by 8-12 months of braces.  She showed me an animated video of the process.  Although entirely new and foreign to me, she has completed many similar cases with excellent results.  Without hesitation I agreed to have molds made that day in preparation for the surgeon consultation.


Step 3 - Surgeon Consult; July 15, 2015

Dr Good referred me to Dr Bast (soon dubbed Dr Best).  This is where I began to get frustrated as the first available appointment was almost two months out.  I can take ages to make a decision, but once I do I proceed without delay and get extremely impatient.  The appointment included more photos, measurements, and study of my facial features and molds.  I was not impressed with the office as it is a teaching hospital and felt aged.  During my hour long wait to see the surgeon interns kept stepping into the room, even during my consultation.  I was already self conscious about my deformity and nervous about the prospect of a major surgery and the gawkers weren't helping.  The surgeon gave me all the disclaimers - major surgery, 3-6 week recovery, potential for permanent numbness.  I left feeling bewildered, but having begun could see the end goal.


Step 4 - Second Opinion, August 11, 2015

I consulted a second orthodontist who provided the same recommendations.  She offered Invisalign and Propel, a technology to accelerate braces, and showed me an elaborate portfolio of dozens of cases, some identical to mine.  I got very excited seeing the after photos and new it was for me.  The alternate treatments seemed risky, perhaps leaning to what I wanted to hear versus best methods.  Since I had a head start with the Good Team, I opted to go for it and scheduled the dreaded braces on appointment.

Before...

Intro

Around one year ago I visited my dentist to discuss alignment of my teeth.  I had a severe overbite and that caused difficulty eating and speaking, gum recession from bite alignment, teeth marks and sores on my lips, and general self consciousness about my appearance and facial function from the strain of closing my mouth.  Growing up it was a part of my life and although I knew it wasn't perfect I didn't have the means or vision to look into a solution until then.  At 32 years old it was a major life decision to get braces.  With lower jaw surgery as part of the treatment plan the commitment became even more significant and would not be easy.  The thought of dealing with my teeth in their current state forever became unbearable once I could see the potential improvement and freedom.  I knew I had to make the leap.

In two weeks I will undergo orthognathic surgery to correct alignment of my lower jaw (5mm Class II Malocclusion).  It is terrifying and elating all at once.  Between now and then I will post to chronicle the background from braces to pre-op, then continue in real time through the recovery and the end result.  My hope is that others going through similar situations will be encouraged and informed in their paths to a smile for a lifetime!

~Cheers