Sunday, March 9, 2008

First Post!

So, I've been researching for awhile now... trying to prepare for my mandibular advancement surgery this May. I've seen a lot of these blogs from other people going through the same type of process as me, and it seems to help them and others seeking information to start blogs about their journey. So here I go!

I have an overbite, which over the past year or so started giving me a great deal of pain-- partly from jutting my jar forward in social situations to talk, smile, and eat properly, and also because of the class (#?) malocclusion. After consulting with my dentist, orthodontist, and a facial pain specialist, it seems that jaw surgery is the best (possibly only) way to stop the pain I was having (i say "was" because my pain has actually subsided after seeing the facial pain specialist and having a proper night-splint fitted. I still have occasional pain, but nothing compared to what i was having before.) They say that even after the surgery I could still experience jaw pain, but from what I gather, pain will probably reoccur if my bite is not corrected and if i continue to hold my jaw forward.

I had braces put on in January and I have gotten use to them again! I had them years ago when I thought it would be a one-time thing! They aren't so bad after a few weeks, and since my teeth were pretty straight from having them before, I didn't have too much pain. Only for about a week after the first 2 wire changes.

I have had two consultations with the oral surgeons and won't be having another until my pre-op appointment the week before surgery. I didn't realize that there would be so few appointments with them... has anyone else had about the same experience?

I will be sure to update with questions or new info that I think will be useful to others going through this process too! Although, I don't think i'll have a lot of interesting personal stories for a while, seeing as for the next 2 months i'll just be waiting!

If anyone else has any helpful info, I would be very appreciative to know also!

3 comments:

Heather said...

Hi Leah! Welcome! I am having upper and lower jaw surgery May 14 for class 111 (it sounds like you have a class 11 by the way but I'm not a DR so you should ask). I have only seen my oral surgeon once to have my wisdom teeth pulled and will only see him one more time for the pre-op visit. Kinda scary isn't it? I guess it's pretty normal to not see the OS much. But, my orthodontist is great and he makes up for not seeing the OS much. On the 19th I see my ortho again and he will be performing a mock surgery on molds he will be taking of my teeth. He told me my OS will also take molds and perform the same "surgery" when I go for my pre-op. So, I'm curious to see what the outcome of that is. But anyway, hope I have been somewhat helpful, and if you'd like feel free to read my blog. I will add you to my fellow blogger list if this is ok with you. If not let me know. Bye for now.

Michelle said...

Hi Leah,
Welcome! I am having a LeFort I Osteotomy to shorten my posterior maxilla. It was originally scheduled for this month but, after I had some new molds done, the Ortho said I wasn't ready yet. I'm really hoping for sometime in May. I had SARPE back in June which has done alot for my teeth already. I just can't wait for the next surgery to be over though.
Keep in touch, and I'll keep reading your blog.

Katherine said...

Hi Leah,
Welcome to blogging. It's been really helpful for me to journal my thoughts on various aspects of jaw surgery, and so great to read about other's experiences. Thanks for sharing your journey.

Katherine
p.s. - I'm having lower surgery sometime soon. No dates yet.