Surgery coming Thursday ... AND done.

Message

#1 Post by **Clo** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 12:51 am

Hi all,

last time I posted here about my treatment starting again :

viewtopic.php?t=20690&highlight=

Now, Thursday I need to set another important step. They will install bone anchors.
As I know not a lot of our members will experience this method, I'd like to add some
more information. What they will install are not micro screws. They are rather small
plates fixed to the bone with a number of screws. A piece of this plate will stick out
of the gum so that my ortho can use this as a fixed anchor. The plates are called OBA
(ortho bone anchor). They are made by Surgi-Tec. These show what they look like :

http://www.surgi-tec.com/index.cfm?v=04.02.01
http://www.surgi-tec.com/index.cfm?v=08&operID=6

If I have this right, mine would look a bit like the "hooks and tube" version. More
exactly, they will be the Bollard bone anchor. I found some more info on this site :

http://www.angle.org/anglonline/?reques ... &page=0519

If you scroll down, picture 2, 3 and 4 show what this is all about. I will not be able
to make such pictures of mine, eh, because I'll be doing other things at that moment.
Nah, more serious, they will install these anchors in the zygoma. And that is so high
up above the molars that it will be very difficult to take a good pic of that. You can
feel this bone if you stick a finger between the first molars and the cheek and feel
as high as you can. You can feel something like a ridge, that is the zygoma bone.

End of this class. I'll report here how things went. Now I try to suppress me getting
too nervous ...

#2 Post by **Lisa65** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 4:55 am

Let's hope that Thursday is the beginning of a successful treatment for you Clo! Will you be asleep for the anchor placement, or are they using local anaesthesia? It looks a bit invasive to be done while you're awake.
I'll be thinking of you, and please let us know how it went once you are feeling better.

Lisa

#3 Post by **joplin** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:16 am

Good luck, Clo! I'll be thinking of you today. Let us know all about it when you're back!

#4 Post by **Clo** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 1:25 am

Hi !

thanks for the best wishes. They helped.

I know there are micro screws even a dentist can place. Without drilling they
can be placed in just some seconds. But not these OBA plates they gave me !
It was a real surgery that took about an hour. First they gave local anaesthesia
in the area above the molars and opposing cheeks. Within seconds I could feel
the numbness working, even my upper lip was getting numb. Isn't that some
kind of contradiction, feeling the numbness ? Anyway, after some minutes they
made me lie down and put a big cloth completely over me. Oh no, I am not
dead am I, I thought. Ah no, the cloth was green and there was a hole in it that
just was around my mouth. After some messing around with all their tools, they
were ready to start. First my right side. They pulled my lip up as much as they
could and started to cut. I could feel the point of this tool grinding along my jaw
bone. Then they kinda scraped the bone. To clean it ? Or to remove some bone
membrane ? I think it was quite bloody as they had to suck all the time. Then
they (one doc, 2 assistants) discussed where they would install the anchor. And
then they drilled. All not painful at all, but not the nicest noise one could imagine.
They had to pre-drill for the screws they used. The first screw was placed and
soon screw 2 and 3 was in there too. Some extra bending of this anchor and this
side was ready to be closed again. All that needed to be repeated for my left side.

All in all, everything went well. Like for so many things, the anticipation is worse
than the experience itself. But it wasn't easy to drive home again right after this.
They gave me ice packs to avoid swelling. They only last for about 30 minutes.
I have to drive 2 hours to be home again. Dilemma. It would be better to rest a
bit, but then I would not be able to cool the area down very well. And driving and
holding these ice packs at the same time ? I started the drive right away, drove
with one hand and used 1 pack alternating the left and right side. I managed.
The total part of my face under my eyes to chin is now swollen. Very obviously but
not too bad. Some hours after the surgery, the area became very painful, but ice
and a painkiller helped a lot.

I'll try to post a pic of this here a bit later. Now the area is too swollen to reach as
the anchors are indeed very high up there. Above the roots of the molars. And my
roots they said are very long. I just had a quick look and all that is sticking out is
a tube like many of you have on your molar bands. Now, this has some weeks to
heal. September 12, my ortho will start using these anchors. I wonder what
construction she will build to intrude my back upper teeth and move backwards
all my upper teeth.

#5 Post by **Lisa65** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 5:16 am

My goodness Clo, that sounds like a horrible ordeal! I'm surprised they did not offer to put you to sleep for the procedure!
Make sure you rest up and use those ice packs. There's bound to be some swelling and pain for a few days, but hopefully it will be worth it in the end.

Hugs xx

#6 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:48 am

For what you've had to go through, I hope that your case becomes published in a book you can keep.

#7 Post by **discomom** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 4:09 pm

Clo! OMG!! I THOUGHT I was brave having a skin graft done!! I am in awe of your bravery!!!

I am so glad that it's done and over with for you. Here's to healing quickly!! Lori

#8 Post by **Clo** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 12:10 am

Hi all,

thanks !

I will try to make a pic. But now my whole face is so swollen I can hardly clean
very well. No way I can open enough to reveal the area to take a pic. But I will
not forget it.

@ Meryaten : you are (once more) right about this jaw wrap. But I am almost
sure they would never have heard of it if I would have asked for this. I have this
feeling they have to learn here so much more. About things that can make it so
much easier for a patient.

#9 Post by **smile2006** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 6:38 am

Hey Clo- Hope this all works out for you. Wow, I looked at those links and that seems amazing that they can do such a thing. Definately would love to see a picture when the swelling comes down. Until then befriend a bag od frozen peas or corn to ice your cheeks!

#10 Post by **Eleni** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 8:49 pm

Hi Clo,

<snip> First they gave local anesthesia in the area above the molars and opposing cheeks. Within seconds I could feel the numbness working, even my upper lip was getting numb. Isn't that some kind of contradiction, feeling the numbness ?

Only you would think of that. And, yes its a contradiction.

All in all, everything went well. Like for so many things, the anticipation is worse
than the experience itself. But it wasn't easy to drive home again right after this.<snip>

I read your post with mixed feelings. One, elation that you have finally reached this stage, then cautious, as you begin to heal and maneuver through these next parts, and finally upset - did I read correctly that you drove for 2 hours following your surgery? I haven't been on the board lately, but was no one able to come with you? I nearly passed out after getting one tooth pulled and I only had to walk home about 5 blocks.

Your strength of character in the face of all this says a lot about you. Heal quickly and well. Best of luck!

#11 Post by **joplin** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:01 am

Well done, Clo! I felt dizzy just reading about your surgery - all that done while you were totally aware of all the drilling and scraping

They didn't suggest me anything less than IV sedation when I had my canines surgically dug out, so I was on cloud nine as they hacked their way into my jaw. Can't imagine being able to go through it any other way. Hats off to you!

May all the swelling and discomfort be gone soon!

#12 Post by **Clo** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:36 am

Thanks smile2006, Eleni and joplin !

Yipeeee, the swelling is getting better. I can show again my face. But the area
itself is still too swollen to have a good look or take a pic.

@ Eleni : omg, I am so happy to see your post and "feel" your presence. Thanks.

Only you would think of that.

I wonder, is that good or bad ? Do I need therapy yet ?

Oh yes, I did drive myself ! But I admit, holding the ice packs, the steering
wheel and manipulating the manual gearbox was a bit ... too much. I could have
used a third hand all right. Luckely the swelling and the pain only started when
I was home already.

Your strength of character in the face of all this says a lot about you.

This telling me says a lot about you ! Thank you soo much xxx

@ joplin : so sorry to make you feel dizzy. Maybe I could have left out some
nasty details. The worst part however was when they discussed what screws
they would use. "Are we going to use the Surgi-Tec screws that came with
the OBA's. Or are we going to use the Martin (or something like that) screws.".
Predrilling or self-tapping. Took some time before they decided. All this when
the area was open and ... bleeding (sorry again). Bwahhhhh. If I think of it,
these same people will probably need to extract my upper wisdom teeth. They
are so long rooted and so far to the back. Another "joy" is coming my way ...

#13 Post by **Chicagogal** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 9:08 am

I can't find any follow-ups to Clo. I'm having this done soon so it was extremely helpful to read in detail (and I don't plan on driving myself home!) but I want to know her after story as this has me a bit freaked. I wonder if it's possible to listen to an ipod while all this scraping and drilling is going on...

#14 Post by **Chicagogal** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 9:09 am

Nevermind, I found you Clo

and now I seem like some creeper.