November 2013 Surgery Buddies

[Alicia110613]

Hi Kim,

Sorry for the graphic description. My ortho used an electric dental tool and sort of cut the surgical hooks off my arch wires. The hooks were originally popped onto my wires, not my brackets. Since I'm only 3.5 wk post-op, they didn't want to change out my wires or do any adjustment yet. It didn't hurt to have the hooks cut off as nothing touched my teeth - just some weird noises inside my mouth.

I believe I also have dissolvable sutures. I used to be able to see the ends of my stitches (grey color?) near my bottom molars - they came off at week 2 and week 3. Now when I open my mouth and poke around, I just see soft tissues ---> swollen soft tissues.

[survenant]

I did have dissolvable sutures too but the surgeon removed the last of them at my 2-week post-surgery meeting

[kimnmoody]

Alicia - Oh yeah, sorry my hooks were popped onto my wires too, not my brackets. As long as it didn't hurt.

Survenant - Did it hurt when he removed them?

I sound like such a wimp, worrying that everything is going to hurt!

[survenant]

@kim

No it didn't hurt. Anyway, after going through a major surgery like this, I like to think it has made us more tolerant to pain

[Alicia110613]

4-week post-op: I had my elastics off today!! (yay)

[survenant]

Congrats Alicia on being elastic-free! I still have to put up with elastics for another 2 weeks at least.

[kimnmoody]

Congratulations Alicia! Back to normal soon. Did they say when your braces will be off?

[Alicia110613]

Not sure about my braces yet. I have my ortho adjustment scheduled in 2 weeks, so maybe will find out more then. My lower jaw has shifted about 1mm to the right... my surgeon said it may just be more "comfortable" there and that's how it may settle. @_@

[survenant]

Quick update, I saw my surgeron, he was quite pleased with the result and also with the fact that my jaw can open 28 mm.

The next day, I saw my ortho, he was also pleased with the results, however I need to use elastics for 5 more weeks to push my lower jaw a little bit forward.

Can anyone clarify something about elastics. When they use elastics to push the lower jaw forward, will it also push the upper jaw backward and downward, or will only the lower jaw be affected?

Regards

[Alicia110613]

Hi survenant,

Sorry not an expert on elastics here, but since it's on both jaws then my assumption is that it will affect both jaws at the same time? (esp since you had double jaw surgery)

My ortho gave me some heavy elastics to wear at night to stabilize my bite, and they are extremely painful on my teeth. I would wake up in the middle of the night from the pain and would have to take them off... (sigh) so I really haven't been able to wear them much so far..

[survenant]

I just hope my upper jaw won't get push downward too much. I'm happy with the result of my surgery, but my smile is a little too gummy to my liking, I wouldn't want it to go worse.

[kimnmoody]

Hey

Hope everyone had a good Holiday

How did everyone get on swelling/chewing/band wise?

Just seen survenant's post about a gummy smile. Mine is a bit gummier than I'd like, has anyone considered gum contouring?

[survenant]

Hi kimmoody,

I am considering gum contouring for the outer incisors, the 2 in the middle are fine imo. There's almost no swelling left, I think in the end I will still have a slight lip incompentence, something like 2mm, it's not too bad. I still have elastic bands for at least 2 weeks.

What about you kim?

[kimnmoody]

Still at least another 2 weeks of bands for me too. Have you spoken to anyone about the gum contouring yet? I've read that as long as it's done with a laser the pain isn't too bad.

I've got a tiny bit of swelling left but I think I'm the only one that notices it. Really looking forward to getting my braces off now.

[Alicia110613]

Hi guys,

Same here about the swelling - pretty much no visible swelling left. Part of my gum is still a bit swollen but it's getting better. Eating's been good as well although I still can't do apple or steak.

I have no idea what gum contouring is.... doesn't sound quite fun...

kimnmoody - when are you getting your braces off? I'm soooooo sick of wearing mine!