SARPE Surgery

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#106 Post by **decisionmade** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 3:44 pm

hi mic! YAHOO!!I know how great it feels to be told you can finally stop turning that torture device!..Maybe your teeth will natually go together like mine in the next few weeks unless that is prevented by already being braced..i have no idea how that works...but wow even though it was only this morning that I was braced..unless I am imagining things (which is entirely possible at this point) my two front teeth have come even closer together and i'm definately throwing a virtual party when they do finally touch!!

It is soo hard to be patient with this whole process and I too have sad times..As positive as I try to be most of the time- when alone sometimes I just erupt in tears..I think sometimes the anxiety, pain, and the emotion of it all just builds up..and even though family and friends are supportive..they just dont "Get it" and it becomes so tedius tryng to explain whats up with your smile and why you are doing this...anyway..guess you've inspired a little venting on my end too..which, by the way I think is a good thing..everyone needs a good venting session as long as they can still stay focussed on the goal..

so enyway..Be proud of yourself!- through this whole process thus far I've discovered I'm much stronger than i thought and i'm sure you've discovered that as well!. .. and congrats again at reaching a new phase of treatment!

#107 Post by **mic26** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 4:14 pm

DM,

Thanks for the support. Now that the "facts" have set in, 6 months will go by fast. I mean, it's already been 6 weeks since the surgery.

So, I'm trying to be positive. I don't know how the whole braces thing and closing the gap works. But it didn't sound like the gap would be closing until the ortho wanted it to close. So I guess we'll see.

Good luck with your braces DM. I swear I saw movement the first day too. By the end of the 1st week, by teeth were looking pretty good.

Have a great weekend all

#108 Post by **katemm06** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 10:13 pm

Hi Mic,

I'm so glad your completely done with turning! One phase of treatment is now over for you!

I know how you feel though about dealing with peoples' reactions to the gap. It is so hard to have this huge gap in your mouth and still have to interact with others, especially those who react in a strange or rude manner to you.

It's really hard for me to be patient about the length of treatment too. I really want my gap closed! I can handle having the expander in for a while, but for me the gap is just so frustrating. It is closing, but it still seems like it's not fast enough. My orthodontist is claiming that the gap will be much smaller by the end of October, so I'm definently counting the days

Here is the latest picture update: http://community.webshots.com/user/katemm06

Enjoy your weekend

#109 Post by **mic26** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:13 pm

Hello Kate and DM,

I just got back from my follow up with the oral surgeon. He took an x-ray of my mouth to see how the bone is growing and filling in. As of right now, there hasn't been any bone growth. He said that it should start to grow and fill in between the gap, but to give it more time since it's only been 1 week since I stopped turning. I go back for another x-ray in a month, and if the bone hasn't started to grow, he said I'd have to have a bone graft operation to fill in the space. He said they'd take bone from my tibia (shin bone) and put it in the space. I hope the bones start growing!

It's going ok though. I feel like each week I'm improving, either with my speach or my ability to eat, or my ability to accept the outcome of my treatment as it progresses. My husband keeps telling me that I look fine and asks why I get so down sometimes...I told him he just doesn't get it. He tries though.

I think that some of the feeling is coming back, there are certain teeth that are super sensitive and certain parts of my gums that feel all tingly. It comes and goes...weird.

Anyways, hope all is well with everyone. Take care!

#110 Post by **decisionmade** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 3:15 pm

hi Kate and Mic26,..Mic - it is so interesting to me how thngs are handled so differently among surgeons and orthodontists..after I stopped turning no one even wanted to see me for 6 weeks within which my teeth naturall but SLOWLY moved together as the bone growth occured...and i never had a any more xrays taken...well anyway i am on my day 6 with braces!! and things have MUCH improved..i actually ate pizza today ..and didn't even have to cut it up..well except for the crust of course:) I've seen some change already and the space between my teeth is now less than the width of a fingernail..so close!..and I agree with you that although people mean well..even loved ones..they just don't get it all..so hard to explain all of the aspects of this journey..physical, emotional etc...
i, too think I am finally getting some feeling back..but its such a small amount but a bit of a tingle in my gums when touched...well off to brush...AGAIN!! take care

#111 Post by **katemm06** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:34 pm

Hi DM and Mic,

Hope your both doing well. It takes a lot of time for the gap to close, especially when it's a really big one. But I would be surprised Mic if you do not notice some small difference in the next few weeks. Hopefully you won't have to get the bone grafting surgery done, since that sounds kind of complicated.

I can tell mine is closing by rubbing my tongue over it. I get my top braces on in a little over 2 weeks, and I think the braces will probaly have to help close the gap. I'm really confused about the braces because my oral surgeon said that if the orthodontist puts the wire on, he will cut it off himself! My oral surgeon made me schedule an appointment immediately after I get the braces on. I never really feel like I know what's going on with this process until after each appointment is over. But I guess that is just a part of the package.

DM, I haven't had any xrays taken since surgery either. Although my oral surgeon did take a lot of digital pics. I'm glad your braces are working out for you and now you can eat pizza! The worst thing about braces are the sores. I get them really bad on my bottom teeth. The wax helps a lot. It heals the sores overnight, although they usually come back in a few days. I haven't had my bottom braces adjusted since early August, so it will be really nice to get that done soon

Have a great weekend

#112 Post by **katemm06** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 9:39 am

When I woke up today, I was so excited because I could tell my gap got even smaller! The last picture I took was on Tuesday and now on Saturday there is even more of a noticeable difference. This is so awesome!!!!

I'm so happy! I couldn't wait to share with you guys!

Take care

#113 Post by **decisionmade** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 9:56 am

GREAT NEWS Katemm06!!!!..What a good feeling..If you are like me your smile will start looking bigger and bigger as those teeth slowly fill in.....your OS probably means that he doesn't want to use artificial means to close the gap before letting nature takes its course thouroughly..it is my undertanding that the teeth moving together naturally during the weeks after expansion is a sign of the new bone growth happening and you wouldn't want to rush the teeth until the supporting structure is healthy...

Anyway, Its really wonderful news! I am getting more used to these braces every day. Today is my 35th birthday and I am so happy I'm on my way to perfect teeth by 37!...and if my calculations are correct I have a little less than 3 more months w/my expander..all depeding on how the straightening goes however since my orth says my teeth must be straight beofre she'll take it out...

Have a great day!

PS cake goes down real easy with these braces!

#114 Post by **mic26** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:19 pm

Hi guys,

It's been a while since I've checked in, things have been busy this last week. I have had some good news that I wanted to share as well. First, I must say how glad I am that the gap is closing Kate...there is hope for me... And I'm glad that you are adjusting to braces DM...I still have a hard time eating pizza.

So on to my good news. I went to the ortho's today and to my surprise he wanted to take the expander out! He replaced it with a TPA (trans palatal applicance). The TPA keeps my width, it allows for a small amount of relapse and keeps me free from the expander! Although, this process was sheer torture to go through. My ortho appointment was 2 1/2 hours long!

First they had to cut the expander and try to pull the bands off my molars. It felt like my teeth were being pried from my head. It hurt sooooo soooo bad! I even cried a little. Then they took a mold of my mouth...and the mold got stuck on my brackets and wouldn't come off. It took about 10 minutes of wiggling and pulling to get it off. Then the expander was put back in until the TPA was made. Then I was fitted with the TPA and then the TPA came out and then back in, out again for some adjustments, in again to make sure it fit, out again to apply the cement, then finally in. It was such a wonderful feeling to have the roof of my mouth free....like a moment of heaven! My teeth hurt really bad tonight, but that's ok...I'm free!

I was just so excited that I had to tell...sorry for the long post. The gap is still as huge as ever, but that's ok. I can sort of hide the gap. Anyways, guys, thanks again for all of your kind words of encouragement and for empathizing with me. I'll talk to ya all later

#115 Post by **decisionmade** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 5:26 am

hi Mic26! tht is wonderful news and I am very jealous! i'll be keeping my expander for the entire 6 mos. plus..not to be taken out till my teeth have substantialy straightened..I'm glad my ortho is playing it safe in terms of relapse but yet I am so wanting this thing OUT....so congrats to you!

I was wondering what the process of removal was..eeek! that I won't be looking forward to but the end result will be worth it..and at least I'll be prepeared through reading your post.

Katemm I bet you are continuing to see the gap close and guess what? I woke up this morning with NO SPACE!!!..My teeth felt particularly sensative last night and i found myself grinding them a bit and aha I looked in the mirror and yippee! My teeh have never sat so perfectly next to eachother without the overlap I had to start with..I am psyched!
have a great weekend everyone!

#116 Post by **katemm06** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 3:19 pm

DM & Mic~ I'm so happy for both of you

It seems like all of us got some really good news within the same time frame!

The only time my expander really bothers me is when I eat pizza or other things with Mozarella cheese. It all gets stuck on the roof of my mouth. But now you won't have that problem anymore Mic!!!

Oh and by the way, Happy Belated Birthday DM! That's amazing that your gap closed so soon after the braces. Mabey the same thing will happen for me too when I get my top braces on a week from tomorrow.

Congrats again!!!!

#117 Post by **mic26** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 7:28 pm

Hey guys,

DM, the process was so brutal because my teeth were so extremely sensitive. I don't know why, and the ortho didn't know why either. But to even touch my teeth KILLED! The expander was so hard to remove because the cementing agent they used really glued the bands to my teeth. They ortho used some kind of drill to cut the metal bands off, then they used plier type things to try and free the bands from my teeth. It was not fun...but I lived through it and now I can talk and eat a few more foods. My teeth still seem sore and tender. I am still eating soft foods. Ibuprofen helped a lot and I also ended up taking a pain pill the night after I got the expander removed. I'm okay now, just still sensitive.

It's funny you should mention Mozarella cheese, Kate. My husband and I went out to eat at Olive Garden a few weeks ago (when I still had the expander). I thought I could handle eating noodles and such, but it took me forever! The cheese kept getting tangled and I tried cutting the noodles up, but they somehow got tangled too. It was kind of funny watching me eat my husband said.

That's amazing about your gap DM, it didn't seem like that long ago...hopefully mine will close up quickly once the bone has healed.

Anyways, good luck getting your braces on soon Kate!

Have a great week!

#118 Post by **katemm06** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:34 pm

Hi Mic,

That sounds like such a painful process you went through. At least your teeth are starting to get less painful, but wow having the expander thing pulled out with pliers!!! I can only imagine

. Do you now wear the appliance for a set amount of time each day?

I'm so thrilled about the size of my gap now. It is really exciting to watch it close up for good. It's been 9 weeks since surgery, and I have no complaints!

Best of luck with the new mouth appliance.

#119 Post by **mic26** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:54 pm

Hi Kate,

Getting the expander out was an ordeal, but it's over now and I'm getting better each day. I will wear the TPA permanently (sp) until March or so, and then they'll remove it. It's far easier to adjust to than the expander. I don't slurp anymore and I can eat!

I'm jealous that your gap is closing though. It's been 8 weeks post-op for me and no word yet on when we can let it close. Oh well, I just don't smile with my mouth open....

Anyways, I too have no regrets so far...I just wish I'd know more about the appliances, recovery etc. But I'm glad that the surgery is over and my teeth are getting fixed and soon they'll be beautiful!

When do you get braces?

#120 Post by **RachelP** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 8:41 pm

Hey everyone - I have not posted in a LONG time. Last time I was going back and forth with my insurance to get them to pay for it...to no avail...but I have come up with the funding on my own and the surgery is in one week (Nov 1). I am excited and nervous.

Mic - I know what you are talking about getting that expander out. They put one on me to try to expand non-surgically, then when they realized I had to have surgery they took it out until I got the surgery scheduled. I get it back in the day before surgery...but on the day they took it out I cried too. It was awful...and just thinking about going through that again in a couple months already scares me. But - like you said - when I walked out of the office that day it was totally worth it to get my mouth back. I think the worst part of getting it taken off was the sound it makes...when the cement breaks, it sounds like your teeth have to be breaking too - but thankfully that is just an illusion!!! Only one of my teeth was really sensitive at that time - and the nurse told me that some people don't find it painful at all...hopefully I'll be more lucky next time around.

Anyway - I hope my experience goes as well as most of yours have. I am getting pretty nervous.

I'll do a much better job of posting now that my process is FINALLY underway!

Rachel

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SARPE Surgery

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