Today!

It has been three years since my first sarpe surgery and my full restoration was just completed 2 weeks ago..it has a been a long, sometime painful and tiring process and I am glad it is now done! I love my new smile!  I still have some numbness and I am still getting used to my new teeth and jaw .  My upper jaw definitely feels odd especially when I use a electric toothbrush.  So here is what I will post as my final pic!

Merry Christmas to me!

Just a quick photo update...

Here is a before any surgery or anything at all.. and a recent pic from July of this year... this was about 6 months post surgery and only about 2 weeks after having my braces removed.

Removing the stitch..

So I paid a visit to the surgeon yesterday..the one stitch that he used that was not a fall out kind was infected and had to be removed.

One of the residents came in and checked everything out and gave me the shots to get me all numb..well I definitely have some feeling back.  Those shots brought some tears to my eyes...the procedure was pretty quick..Dr Taub came in and got the stitch out and showed it to me and then stitched me closed...this one will fall out in a week or so.

Another update is my latest visit to the dentist.  I was told that I would eventually need to have my crowns replaced since crowns cannot be moved orthodontically..so I thought we would do each quadrant ..a few at a time..well it turns out in order to have my bite right they all have to be done at the same time!!!  This does not excite me at all..I guess I will be glad to get them all done and be over with it..but pretty much all of my back teeth are crowns..I won't even begin to tell you the  cost...the first prep appt will be 5-6 hours in the chair...

On my visit a few weeks ago they took pictures , measurements and molds, they will send all of that to the lab where they will figure out my perfect bite and what crowns need to be replaced etc etc..maybe they won't be all of them that need to be replaced but I am not holding my breath...

Every time I think the end is in sight  it gets pushed back a little further...my plan would be to have this started this year and finished In Jan when new ins and health care spending money kicks in...

Time for an update..

Time to check in and give an update..I am now 9 months post op...This week i begin the journey orf replacing my crown..which I have many of..sicne crown cannot be moved orthodontically they have to be replaced if my bite is to close correctly..So the process begins..I will start with two this week and work my way around each quadrant..hoepfully done by early next year..

Feeling in most of my face is back..my chin is still pretty tingle..i can feel everything but not quite normally yet...

I did see Dr Taub the surgeon about 2 weeks ago and the only non dissolvable stick in my mouth is absessed and needs to be removed..it is kind of about my two front teeth - as he put it when he sewed my nose back in place..so he will have to give me a local and take it ou..it does not bother me at all..probably because my gums form the middle to the right side are still petty numb.

My teeth and gums on the right are still pretty numb and i pretty much do all my chewing on the right.

I cut my hair pretty short a few months ago so everyone tells me how great my hair cut looks but I am not quite sure they realize how different my face looks.

The journey is almost over!

My braces came off today!

What an exciting day! I had a 100 appointment to be debonded ..it was pretty quick and painless..and that first brushing and look in the mirror.. was pretty cool! I went back to work for a few hours and was just walking around smiling at everyone..I am very happy with the results.

I think when I get back from vacation I will get a teeth whitening and my front teeth rebounded . I have clear retainers which I have to wear as much as possible .

I am off the n vacations n and so glad my braces are off in time . I still have some numb sport and numb teeth but getting a little better every day.

I have a date for braces to be removed!!!

I finally have a date when my braces will be removed!

They will be remove don June 29th..the day before we leave on vacation and head to Spain for 2 weeks to Celebrate our 10th Anniversary and for Wayne to Run with the Bulls!  yes he rally is dong it..so he says right now...

My bite is just slightly off but it is really due to the fact that my right side is still pretty numb and tight.  I am stretching a few times a day and wearing a band t night and doing exercises while I have the band on to build up the strength in my Jaw.  I can open about 2 1/2 finger wide right now..Dr Taub wans to see me at  least three when I go back to see him in September.

My right side is still pretty number and my teeth still feel pretty weak..I tried to eat a nut yesterday and it was quite the chore..I am hoping once the braces come off my teeth will settle back in and feel stronger and  as the numbness continues to go away I will be able to eat more and more.

So excited that this day is so close!

18 Weeks Post Op

Sorry for such a long delay between updates...i guess either not much to report or life has gotten in the way...I think a little of both. 

I had an Appt with the orthodontist on May 1st- he put in my sure smile wire..had a 7am Appointment- not sure why I did that to myself again..it wasn't too bad...but at 7am nothing is good...  I asked how many more wires and he said he had one more but he wasn't sure if he was gong to use that one- so this may be the last wire!

He seems to think that my bottom jaw is shifting and my mid line is off...which s the all important factor of the perfect alignment and smile.  So I have a whole new configuration of rubber bands to wear at night..6 Bands total- Almost feels like being wired shut again..oh the nightmares...but after a little over a week I can tell it is shifting back to where it belongs.  My right side is still pretty numb and I am not chewing on that side at all so it is definitely tighter than the left side which I think makes it seem like it is shifting..but being the medical professional I am , i am sure it is just the tightness.

The same day I saw Dr Tunjay I also saw Dr Taub in the afternoon - really for just a visit...he is completely happy with how everything looks and not at all worried about my mid line.. he says Tunjay is looking at tiny millimeters that he can fix orthodontically and I am looking at the bigger picture and I think you look great!  he did tell me I need to do more exercises to get my mouth open wider-  about three fingers wide is the goal..and to really push and stretch...he said you can't really hurt anything at this point so just push yourself...I am at a little more than 2 fingers now...3 seems  crazy wide!   I won't see him again for another 4 months..just for another check in..

I go back to Dr Tunjay on The 30th for ??/ I am not sure what? tightening?  check up?  I have not asked but would really love my braces to be off before my trip to Spain on June 30th but it is coming up very quickly!  We will be celebrating out 10th anniversary while in Spain!

One very exciting development !  I took my first bite of something without actually having to cut it up!  My teeth are still pretty week so having to bite something and pull or tear it is something I am not quite ready for yet but this was a soft soft pretzel with egg and cheese inside( made by the amish at the Reading Terminal Market) DELICIOUS!  they are so soft I was able to bite right through and enjoy it!  Looking forward to the day of biting into an apple or a piece of pizza again!

I did post my first full face pic to Facebook in over a year and a half...This is from Easter-  Out for a walk with my mom..my smile is still wonky but getting there...