X-rays

So I finally got a hold of the before x-rays, unfortunately they could not give me original copies but just print-outs. They are therefore not the best quality, but you get the idea. Here's a side view:

And a close-up:

Sorry for the graininess!

Here's a front-on:

And wisdom teeth:

You can see the three wisdom teeth that will have to get taken out.

As you can see from the photos, only the very back teeth actually touch. My bottom jaw is also too far forward and doesn't align with my top jaw. I'm really looking forward to getting this fixed!!

My grill

It is now Monday evening, braces went on Wednesday morning. I am pretty much used to them already which is good! They are not as bulky as i thought they were going to be. Here is an extremely flattering picture:

And closer:

Argh, I can't wait until they are fixed!

These were taken today and my teeth have already moved a little bit. The right canine was too far back to be attached so I guess they are going to move all the other teeth out of the way before moving it forward. I'm pretty sure that it has been pushed further into my mouth since the braces have been on... but I guess things sometimes have to get worse before they get better!

In terms of pain... the first day was fine for the first half, and then they reeeeally started to hurt in the afternoon. I just took some ibuprofen regularly to keep the ache at bay and they seemed to be fine. I had to keep taking it on the second day too but after that it was okay. The front teeth, canines and incisors, are still very sore, I can't use them to bite into anything unless it is very soft. The back teeth are all fine, except for the bottom left side - the second premolar and first molar are still sore. I think they have actually been squashed into my mouth as there is not enough room. I'm hoping this isn't permanent...

Cleaning the things is a mission in itself, it takes me at least 15min in the evening.. brushing, using the little picker thing in between the teeth, and then mouthwash. I haven't worked out how to floss yet, but the picker thing seems to be doing the job quite nicely. I only do this in the evening, brushing and mouthwash in the morning. I think my gums are looking healthier which is good.

Next update will probably be after July 4th, that's when I'm going in again to get the wire changed, etc.. I have a whole set of exams to get through before then so wish me luck!

Top view:

Bottom view:

Metal band:

T-minus 13 hours...

...til I'm braced up and ready to go! I'm supposed to be studying but I'm waaaay too excited to do anything. Hence, this post. I also have to fit sleep into there somewhere but I don't know how that's going to happen!

Today it hit me - this is the last day I will have with this smile. It's only going to get better (or worse) from this point on until I have (hopefully!) perfect teeth. So here's a picture for good measure:

I tried to get one of me smiling but it just wasn't happening... I don't have a photo smile! Well I do, but my mouth is closed. Maybe I'll be able to get one on the way to the hospital tomorrow morning. Here's hoping!

Squeeeeeee!

Spacers!

On Wednesday I had spacers put in. Four on the bottom and two on the top. This is to make space for the bands that will go around the second to last teeth, apparently they just stabilise the braces a bit (which I'm going to need with the surgery). Anyway, some photos are below.

I was expecting it to hurt putting them in but it didn't bother me at all. It didn't even hurt after they were put in. Dr. P said that it would be an uncomfortable sensation, a bit like having popcorn stuck between my teeth. I haven't really found this a problem though, I don't feel them. They did start to ache in the afternoon after they were put in, probably due to the teeth starting to move. It is now Saturday and they have definitely settle down a bit! The only one that continues to hurt a bit is the bottom left, but I think this area is really crowded so that's probably why.

My braces go on next Wednesday, this is giving a week for the spacers to work their magic. I'm getting pretty excited... But also a bit nervous! Luckily I am at an age where a lot of my friends have already had braces, they have been so good with advice.

This is the bottom - you can see my wisdom teeth poking through at the back. I have three, both bottom ones and one on the top. They are getting taken out some time in August.

Top left - you can see the hole where one of my teeth was taken out, they seem to be healing quite nicely.

Top right - same again, hole from where one of my premolars was taken out.

Only a few more days to go until I'm a metal mouth... I'll try and get some photos up asap but I won't make any promises as it's the last week of uni and I'm going to be super busy! Eeeeeeh!

Update on tooth extraction

It's been two weeks today since I had my top premolars out.... They seem to have pretty much healed, to be honest they were pretty much back to normal within a week. I still have to be careful when I'm eating particularly hard food that it doesn't jar up into the gap and stab my gums, that still hurts.. but whether that's due to it not being healed yet or just general gum sensitivity I'm not too sure.

I am pretty sure that my open bite has actually reduced with those two teeth out which is interesting... I wonder if it will change again while the braces are working their magic.

There are 4 weeks to go until the spacers go in and 5 weeks to go until my braces get put on! I'm really excited! I know it's going to be pretty awful but I guess I'm just excited to have everything finally moving.

On another note, it is ANZAC day here in New Zealand. Mum and I went to the Dawn Parade at the Auckland Museum and it was amazing (as usual) - I love the spirit of ANZAC day, seeing all the returned soldiers always brings a tear to the eye! Especially when they have the bagpipes playing in the background... We will remember them.

The First Post

Hello Everyone!
My name is Kelsie, and I have started this blog because I want to document my journey through orthognathic surgery. This is mainly for myself to reflect back on and hopefully to help other people through the same experience. I have been putting it off for a while, mainly because I wanted to start this blog at the same time that everything started happening. Well, today marks that day.

Before I start, I will go into some detail about what my situation is and how my orthodontist and surgeon have decided to fix it. (This is all on the About Me page too)

I have a class III malocclusion (an underbite) and an anterior open bite (my teeth touch at the back but are open at the front). I also have a lot of crowding, especially in the upper jaw.

Treatment proposed: First comes an extraction of the upper second premolars so that when the braces are put on my teeth will have room to move. The braces and elastic bands will then be put on, and remain on for 18 months. Then comes the surgery… A bimaxillary osteotomy. This basically means upper and lower (hence the ‘bi’) jaw surgery. My top jaw will undergo a LeFort I Osteotomy, while my lower jaw will undergo a Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy (BSSO). The braces remain on for the surgery and 6 more months to stabilise. And then all that’s left is months in retainers. Here’s a link to explain the surgeries in more detail: http://www.maxfac.com/facial/jaw.html

At least 6 months before the surgery I will also need to have my 3 wisdom teeth taken out. This is so the bone has healed and is less prone to fracture.

I have had x-rays and pictures taken, and also some moulds, I am hoping to get copies of these so I can post them. There’s nothing more useful that some before photos! 

***

Now that I have told you my story, I can update you on where I am actually up to.

Today I had my teeth extraction. I feel super guilty about ripping out two perfectly good teeth, even in the name of a straight smile. However, I did it, and I did not complain!

It actually wasn’t too bad. The local stung a bit going in but only on the insides of the teeth. After that, I didn’t feel a thing. For those that have never experienced tooth extraction – it is a very weird sensation. It doesn’t hurt, at ALL, but when they are wiggling the tooth trying to get it loose.. and then it suddenly jolts out, it’s very very weird.

So now I feel all hillbilly with my missing teeth and fat lips… but I survived! And here’s a picture:

Okay maybe I lied about the ‘perfect’.. spot the cavity starting!

And here’s the view inside my mouth, apologies for the up-nose shot.. The crowding can be seen really well here:

***

I also made a visit to my orthodontist today and he has booked me in to get braces on the 30th May. This is what I’ve been waiting for, once they get the ball rolling then it’s all go. So… woohoo!