The Bone Graft Surgery

04/12/16

Went to my oral surgeon's office at 8:45 am to sign a consent form and get prepped for surgery. I had to swish with an oral rinse twice for 2 minutes each. Went through the usual questions about allergies to any medications and reviewed what to do for after care. Then they gave me an IV with antibiotics and general anesthesia. Last thing I remember was instantly feeling the anesthesia take over feeling cold and I was out. Then I was being woken up. I was told that I had an anxiety attack while going under which I don't have any memory of. They had to give me more anesthesia which finally knocked me out completely. I had two screws put in to hold the bone graft in place. I was given penicillin, oxycodone, an oral mouth rinse and a pill to help with nausea. I was told not to do any strenuous excercise for a week. I also was told not to wear my retainer for a week or two because of swelling. Then I was sent home at 10:30 am. My mom drove as I couldn't drive. We picked up my medicine and went home to go to sleep and ice my face.

Braces Removal and After Math (A Journal)

10/07/15
My daughter began preschool this year! :') My little man is approaching fast behind her and I find myself a little tearful as we near the end of the toddler stage.
But what really amazes me is the fact that before I was a mommy I had started this braces journey. I guess I was a mommy-to-be but I was only 8 weeks with my daughter when the put my bottom braces on. It's been 5 years! I am so excited to announce that tomorrow I will be getting these braces off!!!





Last picture with Braces! After 5 years of

wearing them they finally come off tomorrow.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10/08/15
Today was the big day! My orthodontist took no time taking off my braces and polishing my teeth. It was supposed to be the exciting big reveal. But my heart sank when I saw the gaint gap where my front tooth once was. The orthodontist was kind and made me a plastic retainer with a false tooth to cover it up.

Me holding my false tooth

retainer.

 

Unfortunately before I got to wear it they had me take pictures and made me smile which wasn't easy with my broken smile. Lets just say it was an awkward smile from a not so confident lady.
 

Here is my smile now :(

My orthodontist also gave me another set of retainers similar to the first one he gave me with the false tooth they are like invisalign retainers. The second set did not have a false tooth as it would hold my teeth where they need to be a little tighter than my retainer with the false tooth and also a retainer for my bottom arch. I was also given a bonded retainer on my bottom arch which was a wire they glued on the back of my front bottom teeth. I was told I will have to wear these retainers the rest of my life. I was sent home with instructions on how to care for my retainers as well as after care instructions to go get a cleaning at my dentist.
 

Here is what my retainer looks like in.

02/06/16
Today I had a consultation regarding an implant for my front tooth with the same Oral Surgeon who did my SARPE surgery. It was confirmed that I will need a bone graft before I can get my implant started due to bone loss where my front tooth use to be. The oral surgeon said that the graft would take 3 months to heal and the implant would take 4 months to heal after that. Then I could get my cap and my smile will be whole again. I set my bone graft surgery for April 12 and lucky me my mom will get to come take care of me again. :) I always love to find ways to get my mom to come pamper me. Hehe.

2 YEARS! 2 LOOONNNNGGG YEARS!

What can you do in 2 years? Well a lot! I had my SARPE surgery 2 years ago today! Within that time my family has grown from 3 to 4 and my teeth are looking near to perfect. I never thought this day would come and I am so happy! I have had no pain since my surgery and haven't really had any since a couple weeks after the surgery. I still remember it like it was yesterday. My mom came from CA to help me with my daughter who was exactly 11 months old the day I had my surgery. I remember my cute little baby trying to walk around the waiting room. She was wearing cute pink converses and a knit sweater and how the staff just adored her. I remember being nervous about being put under for the very first time in my life. I remember waking up coughing and for some reason crying when they woke me after the surgery. I kept apologizing to both my mom and husband. The pain medicine help for sure because I don't really remember too much pain after I finally got my pain medicine. It just amazes me that it has been this long! Which brings me to my next thought I can't believe my first baby will be 3 in exactly a month! She has asked for a Frozen/Tangled party which I am very excited to do. :) Should I post pictures of it? I just might have too! I know, I know this is a braces and SARPE surgery blog but who says I can't have any fun? EXACTLY! Anyways lets do a comparison from my teeth today and the day of my surgery! :D

today teeth: left side view

today teeth: right side view

Today teeth: Front view





Me before braces

Me right after surgery
 

Me today



 

 

 

 

Thoughts After The Flipper

I just feel really awesome. It amazes me what straightening teeth can do for confidence. I feel more confident talking to people now especially since my front tooth hole was covered with a flipper. I just can't explain how extremely happy I am. But to be honest here the first few days it took me awhile to get used to. My teeth look so straight it was hard for me to except that they are my teeth and that they look good on my face. It looks great but at first I struggled to smile and feel comfortable, I am still struggling to talk with out a wistlely or slisspy voice the Ss and Ts are a struggle and I sound like a goof ball but I am sure I will get used to it like I did with my expander and will soon start talking normally again. Here is a side by side (I just had to) of my teeth at the start and now. My thoughts? JUST WOW! MY teeth look so long and I couldn't even rest my jaw at the start. I can't believe I lived like that for a good portion of my teen and early 20s. I just wished that I was able to have afforded these braces sooner.

TODAY! TODAY! TODAY!

It is a great day! A great day for a front tooth to fill my smile and make me feel like less of a Jack-o-lantern. My appointment began at 12:10 pm and I was grinning ear to ear. My last holeless grin for awhile. The tooth was glued in and then for extra measure tied down. I kind of feel like I am Nanny McPhee since the tooth seems to be really close to my lip I feel like I have one really big and fake tooth just chilling there. I also feel like I sound like Nanny McPhee. The good news? It doesn't look like Nanny McPhee yay! So can I get some drumroll please? Introducing my new and improved smile!