General 'Timeline' for Surgery

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#1 Post by **crazybeautiful** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:50 am

Just wondering about the final stages before actually having the surgery itself, as I want to compare my situation now to others previously.

I have a rough date of December (my ortho just tells me 'about 6 months'

), just had steel wires put on upper and lower, and my ortho says next appointment I will have new moulds taken (in September). I've still got a gap to close, but I've got springs, etc on and it is closing now. My bottom teeth are fine pretty much...

So, does this seem like I'm on the right tracks? Here's hoping so

Thanks

#2 Post by **sauerkraut** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:32 pm

OK, CB, the race is on

My top teeth are more or less ready and I have gaps on the bottom that are closing. I haven't dared ask for any kind of estimate for when I'll be ready for surgery so I can't answer your questions I'm afraid. But I'll be very interested to see which of us gets there first

#3 Post by **crazybeautiful** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:39 pm

I think badbite will be on our tails too, because if I remember we were braced on the same day. My next appointment isn't until Sept either, so I probably won't know for sure til then when I'll be ready

So I suppose for now we're going to have a race of the gaps then! Well....

mine's closing quicker than yours..ner ner, ner ner nerrr

#4 Post by **sauerkraut** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:40 pm

Yes, I've been wondering how badbite's doing -- we've not heard from her in a while. I suppose in this game there are long phases where there's not a great deal to report, just plodding on millimetre by millimetre

Somehow I can't see myself winning the battle of the gaps. I have two, which were each a bit over 5mm to start with, and which closed by 2mm in the first 5 weeks after the coil springs were fitted. I have an appointment next week, so will see how I'm doing then. Perhaps I should ask my ortho if he has a secret weapon to speed things up

#5 Post by **changes09** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:05 pm

I am having molds taken the end of the month. But before that he put the final wire on my top teeth to keep them stable. He said after the molds (I am guessing I get them the same day because to make sutdy models it only takes a few mins) And I take the models and the new xrays to my oral surgeon. My oral surgeon looks at me, the xrays and the models and tells me if I am ready. So I'm guessing the order goes like this.
1-molds/xrays
2-oral surgeon
3-surgery date/or does not think you are ready and go back to the ortho.

#6 Post by **crazybeautiful** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:28 pm

Ok, thanks

I'm having this done through the NHS, so I don't have any contact with my surgeon until they come to me, as it were. So I'll just have to wait and see what transpires- whether the surgeon will come to the hospital to see me for himself, or if I'll just find out through my ortho...will just have to wait, but it sounds as though I'm on my way

sauerkraut- you'll have to tell your ortho he's competing with another, and maybe he'll want to show off a bit and have some tricks or other to help close your gaps quicker than mine

#7 Post by **changes09** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:59 pm

Yeah, it does sound like you are on your way. It sounds like all three of us are pretty close together

#8 Post by **descantus** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:19 am

Ooo potential date buddies! Can I join the race? I asked my OD if I was still on for a December surgery date during my last appointment and he said yes

CB - your timeline sounds about right. I had the steels put on with hooks attached during my last appt, and apparently will be getting the dreaded elastics during my next appt in 2 weeks time. Still have a tooth that needs slenderizing at the bottom which probably needs a few months of OD magic and associated gap fun, then I believe i'll be all set!

Sauerkraut - If your OD reveals a secret weapon you've gotta let us know!!!!

#9 Post by **crazybeautiful** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:41 am

Let's hope for Christmas dinners through a straw for all of us, then!

I don't suppose anyone out of the UK will know what I mean with this, but the past Christmas's I've had braces has been so crappy because it's like tradition here to buy a tin of Roses chocolates for the occasion, and my favourites (really, they are the best chocolate in the world) are hard-toffee chocolates that I can't eat. Plus nobody else in the house likes them so what's left is just a tin full of my favourite chocolates, taunting me

#10 Post by **Sammi** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:19 am

CB I share your pain when it comes to the Roses chocolates - though don't forget that you can still suck them lol, it's not the same though at all

My surgery is scheduled for September, my lower jaw is being moved back and although I know it will be a long haul, I am most looking forward to biting into an apple, properly, for the first time in my life!

My op is also through NHS and to be honest I think I have been lucky in that there hasn't been a hold up trying to see the surgeon etc, its been plain sailing so far.....my OD is private though so he has a vested interest in making sure I am happy or he doesn't get any money.

I should be ok for the Christmas dinner as long as there are no hold ups now, but if not, I will have to share my nieces baby food version instead!

#11 Post by **changes09** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:15 am

I odnt have a surgery date yet, but I should get it soon. I should have surgery aug/sept. Iam having by lower jaw moved back as well. I hope that we are good for christmas dinner.....what about thanksgiving! I love food so muh! lol! It will truley be missed

#12 Post by **crazybeautiful** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:15 pm

I don't know about Thankgiving...do you have similar foods to at Christmas?

Sammi- I know what you mean about biting into an apple! It's the little things, it really is. Also my favourite Rose chocolate isn't really suckable, other than the chocolate coating. Talking about this has made me want a Curly Wurly too...though I haven't seen them for a while

But anyway, back to the topic

#13 Post by **Sammi** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:33 pm

CB - totally off topic, but, I happen to be eating a curly wurly right now! It is possible as long as you take really really small bites and chew carefully - I'm lucky in that my back teeth meet up now, so I can get away with things that I couldn't at first!

Slightly back on topic - I had my NHS surgeon consult last week and after about 16 months I think of braces, I am set for the surgery, its always difficult to tell as obviously each case is different, but as far as I understand it (pls correct me if I am wrong) the steels are the later stages of the braces in order to provide stability.

Not looking forward to the next few weeks as have to fit in soooo may appointments with surgeon, OD, dietitian, nurses - you name it I am seeing them!!

It will all be worth it - I just keep thinking about the apple lol

#14 Post by **archangel689** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:37 pm

once the molds are done they have to do the surgery soon after, they can't make ortho adjustments and if the teeth move it botches the molds and they'd have to take new molds and face bow and model surgery and all that bs.

#15 Post by **changes09** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 6:51 am

YAY! Archangel you just made my day! I'm glad I'm getting close. I am getting so antsy for this surgery! It's been years in the making. 7 years to be exact!