April 2010 Buddies

Message

#31 Post by **Audra** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 10:51 am

Welcome nineeyes. I hope your surgery and recovery go smoothly. Please keep us posted on your progress!

Will be thinking of you tomorrow!

How do the hooks feel? Do you have a lot?

#32 Post by **nineeyes** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 11:05 am

They aren't too bothersome, food just tends to get stuck in them easily. They look just like little wires tied to the braces. They are actually more like loops rather than an actual hook.

I got a total of 8 put in, 4 in the upper and 4 in the lower. I'll try to update on how things went as soon as I get out - which should be Friday.

#33 Post by **ESbraces** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:23 pm

I will join the April thread too because I could really use some advice/encouragement/voices of reason right now.

I have had my braces on since December 2008. If you read my early posts, I was miserable at the beginning. I have lingual braces with two pontics (fake teeth) in place of my lateral incisors. Not a minute goes by in my day where I don’t think about my teeth and the possibility of the pontics falling off the wire. They are as stable as they can be, but they are still plastic teeth attached to the bracket with glue and then tied to the wire.

In November, I had two dental implants put in the lateral incisor spaces. One implant took with no problem and the other one was rejected. Needless to say I was crushed. My doctor has a less than 2% failure rate at his office and unfortunately I fell into that minority. I had to get the implant removed in the beginning of March, which was a very painful and upsetting procedure. I got bone grafting and now I have to wait 4-6 months to attempt the implant again.

Next week, my orthodontist has scheduled me for the removal of my braces. My prosthetic dentist has taken impressions for a crown on the one implant and a flipper for the failed implant site. For a retainer, I will get Invisalign with the pontic for the missing tooth that is not getting a crown. I have to switch to the flipper only when I am eating.

So here is my big dilemma. My appointments for all of this are next Thursday, my birthday is next Friday. For so long I have dreamed about my big “unveiling” of my braces-free look but now I am very reluctant to get this all done the day before my birthday. I have a party scheduled for Friday night and I am so nervous about what I am going to look like once everything comes off. I hate my pontics and braces now, but I am used to it and so are my friends. No one has ever questioned if my teeth are fake. I am afraid that the crown and the flipper or Invisalign combo will be noticeably different and fake looking. If I hate my look next Friday, my plan is to cancel the party altogether.

Part of me wants to start my new year with a new look, but the other part of me wants to push this off one week so I will be comfortable on my own birthday and actually enjoy the party. I am afraid my speech will be slurred for a few days and I will still be making that annoying slurping sound that I always get after an adjustment. I also hate the idea of having to switch back and forth between flipper and retainers during the party just so I can eat.

What do you all think? Should I go for it?

#34 Post by **Audra** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:28 pm

I think if it were me, and knowing I'm not great with change, I would re-schedule the appointment and go with 'what I know and am used to'. Other people might call me chicken for doing it, but I'm a believer in doing what makes you comfortable.

You may find that it all works out when the braces come off, and it will be a big relief, but if it's going to cause you stress before your own birthday party, I don't see any harm in putting it off for another week or two.

#35 Post by **dez** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:32 pm

hi everyone seen my ortho and surgeon last thur and what a surprise

they have given me my surgery date the 21 april great news. had my hooks fitted aswell

pesky little things. only down side is im being admitted on my birthday

imagine fasting on your birthday

no really its the best birthday present i could of wished for

i think its only lower jaw as there is a problem with the strength of the roots in my top inscisors they dont want to cause any undue stress on my teeth i think . i never took in everything they told me but i will get the chance to speak to my surgeon in 2weeks time and take in everything better. all the best to everyone going through surgery in april

#36 Post by **Audra** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 7:33 am

Dez - yay for a surgery date. Boo for fasting on your birthday, but it's good that you look at it as an awesome birthday present!

#37 Post by **cvn** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 10:23 pm

I got my hooks on today and they are still as annoying as I remember them! I also got spacers in between my canines and incisors and my archwire was cut in those two spots (my lefort is a three part one, which will be interesting!)

My bonding of all my teeth is a week from sunday and I have a barrage of tests between now and the 14th. I donated my blood last week and I think I'm more or less organized and ready to go!

GL to all.

#38 Post by **revolutionary** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:47 pm

hey dez! My birthday is April 21st, too! I'm turning 22. I actually had my surgery on 3/18, but I'm scheduled to have my bands taken off on April 15th - one week before my birthday.... So if everything goes according to plan, it'll be the best birthday present of my life! And I know it sucks to be fasting on your birthday - but think of it as a big step toward a new jaw and a new life. Believe me, it'll be 100% worth it.

#39 Post by **nineeyes** » Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:15 pm

I'm back. Surgery went by quicker than they expected, or so I was told. I was in the hospital all of yesterday, back home today.

I was wired shut onto a splint, so not much I can do but very highly liquidated smoothies or clear broths and stuff.

From what I can tell only my left nostril is numb, everything else has feeling.

#40 Post by **revolutionary** » Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:20 pm

Welcome to the other side, nineeyes! I'm glad everything went smoothly. How are you feeling?

#41 Post by **Audra** » Sat Apr 03, 2010 6:37 am

Wow, that was fast nineeyes - how are you doing?

#42 Post by **kaysha19** » Sat Apr 03, 2010 7:15 pm

My surgery is sceduled for the 23rd of April (just 4 days after my 21st birthday). I'm really nervous but I feel like I'm ready. I've had braces on for about 4 1/2 years now so I can't wait for it to be all finished with!!!!

#43 Post by **descantus** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 1:01 am

Hi Kaysha,

Snap! Same date as me, welcome to the April crew

Hope your preparations are well in hand. What exactly are you having done?

#44 Post by **Audra** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 6:33 am

Good morning everyone. 12 days to go and I think I'm starting to get nervous.

I thought I would post a list of names and dates so we can all keep track of each other.

Dr. Blur when you get a date, just re-do the list and add yourself, k?

Nineeyes - April 1st (how are you doing?)

CoastieAsh - April 6

Cvn - April 14

Audra - April 16

Dez - April 21

Descantus and Kaysha19 - April 23

Hope that covers everyone. And of course, anyone else is welcome to joing us. Just add your name and re-do the list.

#45 Post by **dez** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 1:15 pm

hi audra thought you liked to know i spent 2 glorious weeks in your beautiful country last summer i stayed in abbotsford b c what scenery friendly people an ideal place to recover from surgery[i wish

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