1, 2, 3, jump!

This has been a good week for my teeth. I saw my OD, who adjusted some upper wires, I think, to further pop out my front 2 teeth. He also crimped the lower wires on a back molar to help push it into proper place.

Each night around 3 am I have awoken to dental pain, and though not fierce enough to warrant pain meds, it is a constant ache.

In general, I'm a long term thinker, some might argue to the point of dysfunction. When my doubts plague much of my waking moments, it can be hard to remember that distant picture of health. At my last appintment, when I saw how well my molds fit together I almost cried. It was a tangible reminder that this difficult journey is all worth it. Yeah for molds!

Other good news to share? I chatted with my surgeon on Friday. He arranged to import my digital profile into the Dolphin software. We'll review it together at my pre-op appt on Oct 6th. I doubt I can put into words how amusing this discussion was. Here is my surgeon, giving me instructions for emailing him a photograph. It's just my face. I'm no beauty queen, it's totally legit, and I am an ultra-conservative kind a gal, but let's just say it was awkward.

Thank you Dr. C for accommodting my request.

I am really starting to grow excited about surgery. Finally! I feel some pressure to complete all those projects I assigned myself in August (what was I thinking?!), though no one but me will really notice. Also, the volunteer work I do has kicked into gear, and I'm finding it difficult to relinquish control over projects I've nurtured for a few months. It's been another opportunity to "die to self", that is, to let go of my prideful ambitions. It's easy to write that last sentence but terribly difficult to live it.

To close this post, I want to share an anecdote. My husband is the love of my life...so I asked him if he wants me to freeze some meals in advance. You know to help him while he nurses me and cares for our very active children. He said, "Nah, don't worry, you won't be able to eat much, and the children don't eat that much, I'll be fine, thanks." Now, my spouse is the sweetest, most noble, loving husband a girl could pray for, but I gave him one of "those looks". A look that said, "I don't care if you feed our toddlers pb&j for 2 weeks, but I will need F-O-O-D!"

Next week I am connecting with my inner Julia Child & our extra freezer. A girl has got to eat.

do I really need to stock up on Zip n Squeezes?

I am getting my supplies in order this weekend, and wondering if I really need to order the ZnS. They sound really helpful, but could I live without them? What do y'all think?

On a related note, does anyone have extra jaw surgery stuff there willing to recycle? I'll be glad to reimburse you through pay pal or something.

Thanks in advance!

a great overview of Orthognathic surgery

As my surgery quickly approaches, I'm re-reading the available medical articles on orthognathic surgery, specifically anything on "Class II + long face syndrome + Leforte". I am still uncertain how to predict & accept how the upper jaw surgery will change my face. This morning's google search turned up the following website. The pictures are quite clear, and provide an excellent overview of orthognathic surgery types.

http://reynoldsoralfacial.com/oral_surgery_loveland_co/rec_orthognathic_surgery.html

Be sure to scroll all the way down!

more tweaks

A quick post to journal about my adjustment:




I am SO glad I scheduled an extra appointment with the OD. Today's 10 minute power chain exchange morphed into a 90 minute wire-bending party. Everything took so much longer than any of us had anticipated. I dashed out of the office at one point, retrieved my youngest toddler from a friend's house ( thank you dear Laura), and then sat her down in the chair with me for the last 30 minutes. The office staff absolutely dotted on my sweet Buttercup. Phew, my morning was completely shot, but at least my teeth are once again on the move.


Both steel wires were removed. New bends and such, new power chain, and a special something or other was added to widen my lower arch as much as is possible. It's painful but bearable. My OD also took a set of molds - and I may go in again next week for more tweaking.



I don't really understand why two weeks ago, the office was like, yeah, we'll see you in 5 weeks for your hooks, and now they are moving so much it translates to 1 appt a week. Oh, well.



At this point, I am ready for the whole orthodontic process to be over. That said, I'm not interested in postponing surgery. I'd rather wear braces for a year while pregnant than postpone that 3rd baby another six months....SweetPea needs another playmate to help her eat all that chocolate frosting. :)

It's also time I stop putting so much thought into my teeth. In the end, I'll become dust again no matter how perfect my bite is!

I am proud of my homemade birthday cake. I used a recipe from my grandmother's old Fannie Farmer cook book. It's a classic, with a torn binding and food spots throughout! SweetPea helped with each step, and based on the mess we created, I think she truly enjoyed her birthday.

My feelings are mixed. Today, I am once again apprehensive about surgery. After months of this self-focused jaw study, the good news, it that all I need to feel better is a glance at a bad picture. This one shows how my recessed chin follows me everywhere. Ha ha... I am immensely thankful that there is a re-/solution in the near future.

Dentofacial deformities

taken from Correction of dentofacial deformities with orthognathic surgery: Outcome of treatment with special reference to costs, benefits and risks by Karin Panula

"2.3.1. Psychosocial profiles of patients and their expectations regarding orthognathic surgery

Orthognathic surgery is a complex process leading to changes in the appearance and functions of the dentofacial structures, including respiration, swallowing, speech and mastication. These alterations take place in a single moment during the operation in contrast to the traditional orthodontics in children, which produces small, gradual changes during growth. Thus, orthognathic surgery may seriously challenge the patient's capacity to adapt. This adaptation may be easier if the psychosocial indications and implications are thoroughly evaluated prior to any treatment and also during the presurgical phase. "

I have been talking up my forthcoming surgery to just about everyone I see. It's been theraputic, kinda, though I think my need to tell everyone is to control how they'll react to my new face. Perhaps the new me will not look that different. And then everyone will really think I am crazy!

Besides the physical aspects of jaw surgery, this quote often comes to mind when I perceive an expression that says, "So, what's the big deal? Why are you talking about that jaw stuff again?"

No one has actually said this to me. :)

Certainly, this journey has given me more compassion for others in a state of waiting. My single friends, who long to be married, must grow weary of the "you dating anyone?"question. My childless friends, who long to care for children, must grow weary of the "are you getting any help?" questions. We all have some needy area in our lives. My hope this week is that when I find myself wallowing in self pity (which, trust me, I can do with the best of 'em!) I will seek true comfort...and be open to provide comfort to others.

scary braces

I think I scared off all my readers with the palin pic. I sure hope not...'cause while I was really psyched by her speech a week ago (though by no means blind to her weaknesses), this is still a blog about Babies and Braces. :)

Just spoke with my surgeon today. He listened to my concerns (again), and confirmed our dates are set for October. He was fine with the recent movements my ortho made to wires, bite, etc.

After some discussion, he explained why their office doesn't use the Dolphin imaging program to generate my new face. Don't have a server for it. Hmm. We brainstormed that the Ortho dept at MUSC, which does use this software, should be able to help us. We'll see. I know in the end it's the surgeon's hands I'm trusting, but I'd like one more peep at my proposed face. Of all the details of surgery this freaks me out the most.

Maybe it's better not to see the future? Maybe the future would freak me out more? When my hip bones rotated forward post baby girl #1, it was really weird. My pregnancy weight came off quickly, and one day I felt courageous enough to try on my skinny jeans. Surprise they fit, just not cross my hip bones. After another 9 months of body sculpting and nursing, I gave 'em to goodwill. They just didn't look the same as they had before la bambina.

And la bambina now? She turns three next week. Here is a snapshot of her on her way to the first day of preschool. I just had to dress her in my first sewing project...a very fine pair indeed.

Steel wires are back

I had a good adjustment yesterday. New steel wires were placed on both U/Ls. My OD shaved the wires near my front two teeth to "pop them out". He also put an upper type wire on my lowers, trying to pull the back molars out to a wider arch. When the technician cut the back wires, I swore I heard a molar shatter...thankfully, it only felt like it did. I'm beginning to think "regular ol' plastic surgery" would be way better than what I've agreed to.

Beware anytime you hear the words "torque" and "molar" in the same sentence. Owieee!

I pushed for one more adjustment appointment before my surgical wires are placed, just to make sure everyone is on the same page. Too much has been arranged at this point to risk moving my surgery date again. :)

I snapped some pictures yesterday which show how my two jaws line up Before surgery. The persistent gap was much improved going into my appointment, but within minutes of my teeth being strapped onto the steel wires, it opened back up again. Argh...It's true what everyone says, it gets worse before it gets better.

Orthognathic surgery before & after

This week I’ve been thinking A LOT about Before and After.

What will After look like? Feel like?

I have been pouring over the usual suspects (other blogs & archwired) to prepare for surgery. I named this blog Babies and Braces because that’s where I am right now. Most of my analogies link these two ideas. I feel just I did when I was 34 weeks pregnant with my first baby. Every physical sensation (i.e. chewing anything) reminds me that the Big Day is coming very soon. Excitement and anxiety collide in my waking thoughts. Just like reading birth stories helped me prepare for my labor, so has seeing others’ After photos. Thank you y'all for bravely posting your shots of swollen cheeks, bloody noses, and bizarre elastic configurations. Will I be as brave?

Here are links to a few of the Before & Afters I admired. (Of course, there are others, but I focused on the easy-to-navigate-pages for this post). If you have one to add to the list, please note it in the comments. I hope this will serve as a quick reference instead of scrolling through the yahoo group photos.

· Karl http://www.thisisjustwrong.com/
· Rachel http://breakrachelsface.blogspot.com/2008/08/one-woman-two-faces.html
· Kelsie http://orthognathicsx.blogspot.com/2007/03/looking-back.html
· Leah http://leahsjawsurgery.blogspot.com/2008/05/last-post-before-surgery.html
· Amie http://amiesjaw.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html
· Lisa http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/npfieldhockey/jaw%20surgeries/?action=view&current=ca25e93b.pbw
· Tori http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=27353&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15
· Arvensis http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=27529&highlight=pics