Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi. I had lower jaw advancement (BSSO) one week ago today. I've had the best experience! The surgery went as expected except an extra fracture on one side of the jaw bone my doctor had to fix up with a titanium plate. Due to the fracture, he also had to put a splint between my teeth which he didn't plan on.

I went through the recovery room with no problems and through the night at the hospital with no problems. They said my nose might bleed and my throat might be sore from the breathing tube, but I had neither problems. The day after surgery was the worst day for swelling, then it went down and I almost look normal now after just a week. I have had zero pain which is phenomenal. The numbness in my chin is there, but it tingles and doesn't interfere with drinking or talking.

I'm able to eat (thin liquids that can seep through my teeth...). Doctor says no moving of the jaw or taking off the elastics for 6 weeks.

The only downside I'll share is that I can't keep my teeth clean on the inside for 6 weeks which really is going to get annoying. He said my teeth won't rot out in 6 weeks, but they are already so grimy.

So there you have it, a great experience. My doctor is fantastic and he says I'm doing impressively well after just a week.

Thanks for sharing such a positive storey! I get overwhelmed with hearing so many complications. It is nice to hear of someone who seemed to have things go as planned! Congratulations and I hope the recovery seems to continue to go smoothly.

Hi CeramicLisa,

thanks for your story, i just needed to read that!
im going into hospital tomorrow, (lower jaw surgery Tuesday morning) and im so nervous, not so much about the op, more so the recovery, i know its going to be a long road.
im mostly worried about the swelling, brusing and having the elastics! how do you manage???... does it hurt to brush your teeth?

anyway thanks for the positive post, i hope my experience is the same

Great story!! I"m glad to hear things are going so well. I had upper jaw surgery, but I didn't have a lot of problems either.

kim

it's so good to read your experience!
i'm having lower jaw surgery next year, just started braces but i'm already thinking a lot about the surgery (somehow the braces don't seem like a big deal, cause something much bigger will come up later).

i'm glad things went so well for you. i worry most about the swelling, but it seems that this wasn't that bad in your case (most of the times i read that the swelling stayed for months).
Good luck with your recovery!

i know what you mean with the swelling inside the mouth, i had that after removing my wisdom teeth (halfway december 2006), it's still not completly gone.
As long as my face isn't looking too weird after a week, ten days i'll be very happy:)

I've been very careful brushing, but I brush alot because I like the clean feeling. I hope I haven't disturbed any stitches. There's one little area that kinda stings. I wonder if it's torn....

CeramicLisa,

Congratulations on getting through the first week and it sounds like everything is coming along nicely!

That is really great news that it has gone so well for you! Sleeping is an issue-pillows and more pillows. As someone who also had upper and lower I noticed a difference when I tried to lay a wee bit "flat" with more swelling. Use more pillows in the recliner is my advice. As for food-I hated Ensure and Boost and quickly got onto Carnation Instant Breakfast and various protein shake mixes. I also bought and had made hearty soups that I liquified with more broth or milk. They fill you up and have more flavour-you just have to experiment. I couldn't put "food" in the blender it grossed me out far more than just having soups etc..