Hi everyone, two weeks ago tomorrow I had SARPE and my gap is now at about 4mm, but it looks like it's only expanding toward my left side.
I'm really worried, has anyone else had this happen?
What do they do to fix it? (more surgery???)
I'm going to try to get in to see my surgeon tomorrow, I hope this isn't going wrong!
Worried, -Kris
I've Got a Lopsided Gap after SARPE
Moderator: bbsadmin
Of course I can't say with certainty, but I wouldn't get worked up at all. You can't evaluate how your gap is expanding by looking at the teeth. Your front incisors are going nuts right now, and they're going to migrate each and every day until they once again are married in harmony (hopefully in perfect alignment with your jaw).
If you had uneven expansion, this is a concern, but the teeth wouldn't be the indicator for that. You'd literally have one side of the jaw protruding or rescinding in contrast to the other half, which I can't imagine is even possible only 2 weeks post-surgery. Also, if you had uneven expansion, you would be able to see one side of the expansion device with less "threads" than the other side. This would indicate a failure in the expander, which from the readings I've done does happen, albeit it is very rare.
By all means, stop in to your OS to ensure it is nothing serious, but don't work yourself up into a frenzy. Concentrate on your recovery for now
Best of luck!
-Chicago29
If you had uneven expansion, this is a concern, but the teeth wouldn't be the indicator for that. You'd literally have one side of the jaw protruding or rescinding in contrast to the other half, which I can't imagine is even possible only 2 weeks post-surgery. Also, if you had uneven expansion, you would be able to see one side of the expansion device with less "threads" than the other side. This would indicate a failure in the expander, which from the readings I've done does happen, albeit it is very rare.
By all means, stop in to your OS to ensure it is nothing serious, but don't work yourself up into a frenzy. Concentrate on your recovery for now
Best of luck!
-Chicago29
-
Bonneville
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:51 pm
Thank you for your reply, and your reassurance!
That makes me feel better, additionally, I will be able to see my surgeon tomorrow before work, so I can get some more of my questions answered then.
Like, is my TMJ area supposed to be sore, especially when opening wide like when yawning.
Overall though, I'm very pleased with my recovery and progress thus far.
I only used Percocet for 3 days, I returned to work exactly one week post-op, and I haven't needed ibuprofen for the last 3 days or so.
Luckily the swelling never got too bad, I was pretty diligent with the ice packs for the first few days. And sleeping propped up.
It is hard getting used to the complete numbness of the upper teeth, and eating is a challenge,
I'm learning each day what works and what really really doesn't. (pizza
)
Anyway, thanks for the support, I'll let you know what the surgeon tells me tomorrow.
-K
That makes me feel better, additionally, I will be able to see my surgeon tomorrow before work, so I can get some more of my questions answered then.
Like, is my TMJ area supposed to be sore, especially when opening wide like when yawning.
Overall though, I'm very pleased with my recovery and progress thus far.
I only used Percocet for 3 days, I returned to work exactly one week post-op, and I haven't needed ibuprofen for the last 3 days or so.
Luckily the swelling never got too bad, I was pretty diligent with the ice packs for the first few days. And sleeping propped up.
It is hard getting used to the complete numbness of the upper teeth, and eating is a challenge,
I'm learning each day what works and what really really doesn't. (pizza
)Anyway, thanks for the support, I'll let you know what the surgeon tells me tomorrow.
-K