Expander out

So on the 21st I had that dreaded expander removed. It kinda hurt having removed but Im so thankful, I dont talk with a lisp anymore. I have had two different elastic combos and the newest is actually four different sets. On my right top i go to tooth three to bottom tooth three then fron top tooth four to bottom tooth four. Then on my left side im from top 3 to three and four bottom then overlap from top four to bottom four five. All stage two elastics(kangaroo). Fun fun....Ive seen some big changes in my teeth, my bottoms look great.
Ohhhh the other pleasurable thing i had done was they sanded inbetween my bottom teeth, now thas was fun...I dont go back until the 24th, Im excited to let my sister see my teeth!

Sarpe After

So I had the Sarpe surgery done on Thursday morning. There was a slight change in plans the day before my surgery as the Oral surgeon consulted with my Ortho and decided I would only get cut on one side of my palate(Left) The right side had room and my top front teeth and bottom align up fairly well. The sarpe will help create room on the left side to pull down that canine, that right now there is no room for. Anyhows I was in the Operating room and out in recovery after about an hour. I immediately had pain in my mouth, they gave me morphine intravenously at least twice.
The first twenty four hours I felt tired but could not sleep, at least soundly that is. I could tell when some of the swelling went down that I had some more room in my palate already. When I ate I could feel that my oral surgeon had turned my expander already. I recieved a call the next day Friday where the OS told me I was to turn the expander twice a day and to see them on Monday. I "think" Im turning it, but I cantbe sure honestly. It doesnt seem complicated but I just cant tell.
So today is day three, I didnt take any narcotic today and feel somewhat ok. Im taking my antibiotic, and mouthwash as prescribed though. Im off for an additional week and will be stir crazy. On a side note Im glad no one at work can see my swollen cheek, and the semi black eye i have formed. Id rather spend a week doing something fun, but what can ya do? No pictures as my teeth I think look like heck...

RPE is going to be the death of me

So I ended up with this expander a week early. A few days after my last appointment, I somehow broke a wire off? Anyhows the tec was afraid to readd coil and whatnot as it may cause shifting of my teeth, and then affect the mold they took for the expander. So almost a week goes by and my teeth are moving like crazy(so i think) Afraid I call the Ortho and see if its possible to have the expander put in early*(what was i thinking). Anyhows I have one molar that is overly sensitive to the touch and guess where the expander sits upon? Yup that tooh, I literally was in tears and I still dont think its seated properly. Doc says it will be fine though(I hope so).

I cant really eat anything as everything I do eat goes right to the roof of my mouth, where its trapped by the expander(very annoying) I have lots of excess slobber and sound totally retarded(refarded). I have yet to have any real second thoughts on this braces journey, until yesterday when I got this expander. I was very tempted to turn around and tell them to take it out*seriously)

Anyhows It will be ok I know this, and am totally suprised at what the body will except as normal. I mean when I got the braces I thought " Ill never get use to these things" Now I feel their a part of me, elastics and all. I know shortly I may never grow to except it completely, but It will get easier. Now the SARPE is scheduled for next Thursday, Ill check in then...

Second Adjustment Updates

I think It was a second adjustment, I had my mold taken for the Rpe surgery coming up on the 28th. I go back on the 27th to have the device installed. Im pretty apprehensive about it as its going to affix to one of my most sensitive teeth. I did try to inquire on just what type of Sarp surgery I was going to have(ie lefort or no?) And sadly no one at the orthodontist had a clue what I was talking about? No one is overly friendly anyhow:-( Thats a whole nother story.
So I did have my wire changed, and alot of coils added to the bottom row of teeth, the assistant said that my bottoms are straightning up quite nicely. They are really killing me today, my bottom are much more sensitive to pain then my top teeth, why that is I have no clue. The Ortho didnt change much up top becuase I had the mold done, so dont want to mess that up prior to the surgery. I will update with a new picture soon.Thanks for reading...

Nothing exciting just updating

Ive got a good two weeks at least until the next adjustment. Ive been wearing my bands like an addict. Only time there out is when I'm eating or brushing my teeth. I'm finding I'm clenching my teeth when I sleep, or at least it feels that way when I wake up in the mornings. It actually feels odd to not have them in my mouth now! I can tell its working whatever its supposed to do, my bite seems a bit off. Im finding it harder to eat on the right side, nad dont seem to be chewing food as well. Im down a few lbs as of late, the foods I seem to like are bad for braces or just dont seem worth the hassle. Guess thats gotta be good right?

For the next adjustment Im supposed to have the mold for my rpe made, im getitng a tad nervous about all that. Im also job seeking, so what happens if I land a new job that doesnt cover all this surgery that I all ready have pre approved? Do I pass up an opportunity? Ugh life is grand isnt it? Ill update soon, really Im not Debbie downer, this whole braces thing is pretty much ok;-)

Just checking in

Im not sure why I even keep this log, no one even reads it...LOL..Guess im hoping to see changes myself. I see some but nothing earth shattering, it is pretty early into treatment though. Ive been wearing my elastics like clockwork, taking them out only to eat and brush my teeth. Im wondering how much time off I may need with this Sarp surgery, will I need someone at home with me when its done? I feel like a stalker on archwired, I was all freaked out when it went down again for a few days. Ive read that alot of people dont start elastics till a decent time in braces, wonder why Im in them so soon? I trust my ortho as he is "The best" I hear, I just wish I new more KWIM? I have not had much pain with my adjustment, not sure if thats good or not? At least when it hurt I knew it was becuase my teeth were moving. It could be I guess because I started right off the bat with coils and a bunch of nasty mean things, so when they just replace them it sill feels normal. I dunno.....Ill check back in soon~

First Adjustment and update

So on Thursday I had my first adjustment. I think I had some great improvements and alot of new space added, due to my lovely powechains and coils. The ortho doesnt talk alot to me, so im not sure if he was delighted but I was. I had my wire replaced, I think with the same size, some more coils added to the bottom and again another on my top left. Lastly I had some elastics added to my number three top and bottom and then from my right top numer three to my right bottom 3 and 4 . The Ortho thinks that at my next visit they will take my molding for the RPE device(fun fun). That usually takes about two weeks to come back. My outpatient surgery is tentatively set for May 28, 2009 at 0600 hrs. With the placement of the RPE on the wednesday before the surgery. I would like to tell you more about exactly is in my mouth but I just dont know? Ive included some pics so you can see my changes if possible, with and without elastics.
Thanks for looking~sephanie

Braced and Late update

So Ive been braced now for a little over two weeks. And let me tell you it has been no fun. The first few days were really bad for me, and I thought I had a relatively high pain tolerance. I got the clear on top and the stainless on the bottom. Im not quite sure what else was put on, I did hear the doc say somethings but I do not know what they meant. I can eat relatively better now, still no gum or chewy things more so Im afraid of hurting things.

After doing some research I think I have some coils, which I believe are meant to create space. I have one tooth on the top that is literally loose right now. Im not sure exactly like I stated I was in a little shock during the intital installation. I have attached some pics, of course they are two weeks old. I believe I have had some movement along the bottom front teeth. I go back on the 1st Ill update then~

"spacers" well its not plural its only one

So Im not really sure who came up with this bright, painful idea. First, I would like to mention that NO one from my Ortho office once mentioned their would be any discomfort with this "in and out" procedure. I just happen to be a frequent "googler" and found many many people said this was the worse part of getting braces. Today was my day. I ask the tech(i didn't get her name), if it would have any pain associated. This is what she replied "well some liken it to having a piece of chicken stuck in between their teeth". Yeah I think, that doesnt even begin to explain what was about to happen.

The assistant says "your only getting four", cool sign me up(right, four cant be that bad) So she takes a lookey inside my vacant mouth and walla, Im only going to get one at this time as two other molars are MIA and the third is currently under construction with my temp bridge. So she shows me this little "o" plastic ring looking thing(NO WORRIES I THINK) Holy shit....is all I can say..YOWZERS

A picture of the small harmless looking device is above, please note those are not my teeth(there are too many of them). My one tooth hurts, but thankfully I cant chew on that side anyhow:-) I go back one week from today to get my braces! I will also have a mold made of my palate for the expander, then the surgery prob around my b-day. Yay happy b-day to me:-\

Spacers Tomorrow

Today I got my last filling, Imsoexcited to have that portion of my mouth taken care of. I will be completley done with the regular dentist except for cleanings and the suchafter my permanent bridge comes in. Dr. Porter thinks It will be about two weeks, Im hoping sooner.

So tomorrow is my Ortho appointment to have spacers added. From what I read it is NOT a pleasant experience. I think you wear those for a week, then you go back to be braced and fitted for the expander . Im not sure in what order mine will go as I did opt for the Sarpe surgery.

I'll update more tomorrow after the Appointment.

Feeling better~Sorta

So if that gum issue wasnt enough, I woke up on Friday and felt like a mac truck had hit me. I attempted to go to work, but left shortly therafter. I literally sleot for twenty four hourse, and felt midly better to go to ashleys baby shower. While there I saw Dr. Porter she took a lookie in my mouth and prescribed something for my gums. After the shower I was to beat to wait for it to get filled. Welp this morning I wake up to a cold sore..c'mon cut me some slack. Ya know? Anyhows thats all for my whiney thread...

Yowchy

So this am I woke up to a partial fat lip on my left side. I was icing it for approx two hours.Ok not icing but; consuming fat free fudgesicles. The swelling has gone down now, and I think Its all gone now. However the Zoom stuff did a number on my upper gums. The sensitivity is almost gone, but Im afraid to continue bleaching at least for a few days. Again Im very excitied about the brigter shade and even the number it did to my soft tissue on my gums, I still recommend it!

Zoom Teeth Whitening!!!!

So today I went into see Dr. Porter, I was scheduled for two fillings and a try in, on my temporary bridge. Did the fillings and then we had a change of plans. We discussed how my teeth whitening was going, and well it apparently wasnt going anywhere. So we decided to do the zoom procedure and I have to see I'm amazed at the results. The only side affect I have experienced is the sensitivity, the occasional jolts you get will stop you dead in your tracks. I will say that those do not outweigh the positive of this procedure. Next week, I will go back and then match the bridge up, and fix my last cavity. ! WOOOO HOOO...Ill try to post some before and after pics soon.

Im Getting Braces

Ok if you couldn't tell by the title of my blog, im getting braces. Yuppers,,32 almost 33 and now is the time I decide to get them:-) Anyhows my teeth have always caused me problems, and I've never taken care of them properly(bad I know) Ive always feared the dentist, having things taken care of only reactively not proactively. My brothers lovely girlfriend Ashley rangled me in to her wonderful dentist Dr. Porter from Beville Dental(plug) Wonderful women, very caring and she made me feel at ease. In fact all of the staff are nice and helpful. Im not even sure how braces even came up in conversation but after a few appointment's in hand I left with a referral to Dr. Lacompte.

Fast forward to a week later I go and see Dr. Lacompte, our local Port Orange Orthodontist. He takes all of the wonderful photos of my jaws, studies them and discuss's my options and what braces treatment could do for me. In laymans terms I think if I can even recall them properly, I have a cross bite, and an overly small palate. The palate causes my teeth to crowd and well my bite is off(matches the rest of me:-)). Dr Lacompte suggests to "hit a home run" on my treatment he would suggest the two surgerys, one is a mandibular setback, and the other a palate expansion. And yes they sound just as scary to me as they do to you reading them. Dr. Lacompte states he can straighten my teeth and would be a very large improvement without the surgery but the unresolved issues will remain and the teeth "could" resort to their old ways. He suggests I go see the oral surgeon for an evaluation. Oh and without surgery my braces treatment will be close $5500 and with surgery it will be $6500. The oral surgery is actually covered under my medical insurance, thankfully. As my dental insurance coverage is $1,000 a yr and I spent that in one appointment with Dr. Porter. Thank you county for the $1,000 towards my braces:-)

Today I see the surgeon, great guy down to earth. He reviews all my pictures and states I for sure need the SARPE surgery, in case your wondering what that means it's, surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion . The SARPE surgery is the first surgery I will get and I may not need the second one, however as we progress we can better tell which way Im heading. My initial concerns about the surgery are the following.

1) the gap that is created in your front teeth, Its supposed to do that and is fixed but hello, Im trying to fix things not make them worse.

2) The surgery will change your face features, drastically..NO...but still..Im nervous.

3) The possible pain, i think I have a high pain tolerance, but drugs are good right?

4) I dont like drooling on myself!

I see Dr. Lacompte I think next week, I will prob have spacers added and the wonderful RPE device, which is followed by the surgery a few days later(this is all up in the air schedule wise until the two doctors discuss me). The oral surgeon is getting the pre approval from my medical insurance, should be less then a week till the green light. But back to the regular dentist, Im still finishing up a temporary bridge. Agggh its all moving so quickly. Ill update soon.