NO MORE BRACES!!! Oh Happy Day

Hi guys, I had my braces removed on Monday. YAY!!!! I have had a massive week with finishing up work, christmas parties, job interviews and appointments that I haven't had the chance, until now, to pop on here and update you all with photos of my new SMILE!!!

Getting the braces off was a longer process then I remembered. My ortho had to do a lot of pulling and yanking to undo all the brackets. The removal of the brackets on my lower teeth hurt the most. I guess there smaller teeth and more sensitive with the extra pressure from the surgical wire and posts which have been on since before surgery. Plus he had to stretch my cheeks and bottom lip quite a bit to get access. My bottom lip is still somewhat sensitive. Anyways beside the bit of pain it all went well. Such a funny feeling when you can feel your naked teeth rub against the inside of your mouth and then seeing them properly in the mirror for the first time in over a year.

I had the invisible bonded retainer attached on the inside of my bottom teeth and also had impressions taken for the fitting of my invisible retainer next Monday. I will also get my whitening trays :)

Today I went to visit my local dentist for a check up. He has not seen me since before my surgery 6 months ago. He immediately noticed the difference in my appearance and bite and was very impressed with the outcome of my surgery and even more impressed with how well I've kept my teeth clean. No cavities at all :)

Massive changes are happening in my life at the moment. I finished my university degree, I left my cafe job of 4 years, and I am moving out of my family home of 24years to the Northern Beaches next week. I have secured a full time job :) Very excited!!

Got my braces off just in time for my work Christmas Party. It was also a farewell celebration for me and another girl as I am leaving after 4 years. I had not told anyone from work that I was getting my braces off the day before so they were all very surprised and amazed! It really was so lovely to be able to properly smile in photos with them all :)

The first real candid profile shot of me since surgery. I feel 100% comfortable with my profile at rest now :)

My amazing manager and I.

Me with the beautiful ladies I worked with!!

STRESS = Muscle Spasms and Physiotherapy

Ok, So I had my appointment with the Surgeon yesterday. He was running behind schedual and I have never seen so many people in his waiting room. There were 2 people who had just been discharged from hospital the day before and I felt their pain as they both sat their with extreme puffy faces and lips. Can't believe that was me 6 months ago, feels like a life time ago now! So much has been going on since May with finishing my degree and my work/internship.

There was also a few pre op patients waiting to see my surgeon before me. A young girl with a cleft palate, one with a very noticible underbite and a girl who looked around my age with an extreme overbite/recessed profile. She would difinietly have to be the most 'challenging' (I don't like to say worse) case I've ever seen. When she looked down, at her phone, her face seemed to dissapear completely into her neck, it was almost like she was missing the entire lower half of her face! her lower jaw was so far back from her top jaw and she really had NO chin. I really don't know how she eats at all, poor girl :( I thought my chin was non-exsistent, well take my pre-op profile and exaggerate it even MORE!! Besides the fact that she does have a VERY weak profile and will definietly need a double Osteotomy and Genioplasty, she was actaullay really naturaly pretty! I would love to see her post op results.

Anyways so the reasons why I am getting pain and tightness in my right TMJ is because I am experiencing muscle spasms in that area. This is mainly caused by stress, fatigue and posture. The last few weeks had been mayhem for me with finishing my major work for graduation and I have been doing alot of computer work also. Because I have been stressed and tired I have not been relaxing my jaw properly and it has been clenched during the day and at night, thus relsulting in muscle spasms. I also have a twitching (muscle spasm) eye at the moment, which is also another sign of being under extreme stress. Basically the surgeon said everything is fine with the position of my jaw/bite and that the noise that I am hearing in my right ear is grating from the TMJ joint, but should only be temporary. To fix these symptons, I will need to start Physiotherapy ASAP as gentle muscle streching, mobilisation, massage and exercise helps to reduce pain and stiffness in the jaw joint and improve the strength, range of motion and posture of muscle around the joint. When I get my braces off on the 12th December, my Orthodontist will provide me with contact details for my nearest physio who specialises in jaw related therapy.

I am extremely happy that nothing siginificant has happened with my jaw, I was freaking out that the right side of my jaw had shifted or that the screws and plates had become loose! (apparently that came happen!!) I am on a 'semi' soft food diet untill my braces come off in 2 weeks. I need to try and relax my jaw as much as I can, so I'm staying away from food that requries a lot of effort to chew. Now that uni is finished, I will have a bit more time to relax over the Christmas period. I don't have a full time job yet, but thinking I wll take a break from job hunting till the new year as my body really needs time to REST after a very hectic year.

WTF IS GOING ON?!?!?

FIRST thing tomorrow morning, I'll be ringing my OS to organise to come and see him straightaway!!! Something is NOT right with the right side of my jaw and I have been experiencing severe pain all weekend in my TMJ area.

I can barely chew properly and I am experiencing scary (bone crunching/sliding sounds in my right ear when I open and close my mouth. Also, when I slightly press my fingers against my face near the jaw joint I hear the horrible noises also!! I don't know what's going on!! But I am in pain and very scared!!

I'll keep you updated when I know more, but hopefully I can get an xray done ASAP.

3 weeks left in BRACES :)

Just a few more before/after shots :) counting down the days till the braces are finally removed in 3 weeks. BRING IT ON... Ohh and I finish my university degree this week... All good things to come

The before shot

After

The before shot

After

Last birthday in Braces.. Day 163

Today I turned 24 and could not be happier with knowing that this will be my last birthday EVER spent in braces! It has been a very hectic few weeks of preparing for my last uni exams and assessments so I have decided to leave all celebrating till when I officially finish on the 23rd November. I did however go out with friends for a lovely dinner and a few birthday drinks.

I had my final review at the orthodontist last week and everything is on track to get them off in 5 weeks!!! :) Once I am brace free I have organised to have a huge celebration dinner with family and friends at 'Jamie's Italian' in Sydney. It is Jamie Oliver's first restaurant here in Australia and only opened last Monday. It has gotten great reviews and the food looks amazing! Can't wait!!!

Looking forward to finally being able to see my teeth free of all wires, surgical posts and brackets..

4 months video update

Thought it was time for another video update..

Day 127

Some recent profile photos.. I am still seeing slight changes but nothing major anymore. My bite is improving even more with my new elastic configuration. I only wear them at night now, but they seem to be really doing their job. I still struggle somewhat with my new appearance. At times I love it and at others times not so much... I REALLY WANT these BRACES OFF NOW! but I must wait till 12th December! Hoping the time goes super quick...

1 year in -{}-{}-{}-{}-{}-{}-{}-BRACES-{}-{}-{}-{}-{}-{}-

It has officially been ONE YEAR IN BRACES!!!! Wow I really can't believe it!!

I went to the Ortho yesterday and was given the official date for when my braces come off. DECEMBER 12th is the BIG DAY!!! My Ortho is really happy with how my teeth and bite are coming alone and took some update photos. He gave me a new and very INTENSE elastic configuration. I wear three band, 2 ostriches and 1 camel. The elastics are tight but thankfully I only have to wear them at night when I sleep:) yay.. not more uncomfortable elastics during the day.

I'm really happy to have this new configuration because it will help close the slight occlusion I have on the sides and bring my back molars closer together. I have 3 months in these elastics, so hopefully they do there job :) Can't wait to get them off, the count down is on!!

My teeth one year ago, September 2010

My teeth now, September 2011

They are so straight! Love it..

Crazy hectic elastic configuration to close the slight occlusion :)

Day 101

Yesterday was 100 days since SURGERY!! Time has been moving along super fast, believe it or not but it's only 16 weeks till CHRISTMAS!!! How crazy is that?!?!

Spring has just arrived here is Australia and I couldn't be more happy.. It really is my favorite time of the year!! I am counting down the weeks till my graduation from uni and of course getting my braces off. It really is an exciting time.. come November, there will plenty to celebrate, including my 24th Birthday!!!

My swelling is pretty much non existent now, there is just small area's of swelling around my lips and chin. Numbness, however is definitely still hanging around.. It dosen't really bother me all that much, but occasionally I REALLY notice it, especially the areas in the inside my lips and cheeks. My poor bottom lip is still not back to normal either, it actually hurts when I pinch and press it with my finger tips. Anyone else experiencing that??

One nice thing I noticed recently was that my cheek bone lines have finally returned. (the area you apply blush!) I definitely have a lot more definition in my cheeks since surgery. A lady from work was commenting on my new profile and was amazed at the difference in my cheeks. She reckons it almost looks like I've had a face lift or botox fillers in my cheeks because they sit higher up now. hahaha I had to laugh and reassured her that I have not had any botox!!! It's just a little added bonus from having jaw surgery! LOL

I am pleased with the results thus far, I'm not going to lie and say it has been easy and that I've had a perfect outcome. I still feel as though my smile is slightly cant (tilts up more on one side with slightly more gum showing) This was evident before surgery, and the surgery has not improved it. However, looking at the creases and facial lines that form on my face when I smile, I actually think it's more to do with the muscles in my cheeks causing the slight slant. It's as if the soft tissue and muscles in the right side of my face don't lift as high up as the other side (hence the more evident smile lines on the left) Does that make sence?? Maybe the slant actually has nothing to do with my jaw position and arch plane.? anyways I guess it's only really noticeable if you closely analyze my face, but generally I am happy with my new smile :)

Before...

After..

top and bottom mid lines dead on.. Love it

I still cannot believe the difference in my bite. At the front, there is NO open cap at all. Before surgery my overjet was around 5cm, now my teeth overlap perfectly, with no overjet or open bite!!!

Here is the before and after profile shot again! Stoked with my new profile. So much better!!!

Day 93

Hey guys, just a quick photo update.. Hope you all doing well.. I am 13 weeks post op :)

WTF????

WOW CHECK THIS OUT!!! Anyone keen to add some extra bling to their mouth??? haha CRAZY!!!

Would you even be able to seem them when smiling? The things people do... :(

Day 76

Tomorrow marks 11 Weeks since surgery!!! Wow It really has flown by, but so glad to be at this point. I am so busy with the start of Uni semester and my internship, but loving every minute of it because I know I'm on the home stretch with finally finishing my degree. Can't wait to start earning proper money and working in the real work, with my brand new bite and smile!!

My Ortho has said that he will take my braces off as an early christmas present, so hopefully I will be brace free around end of November, beginning of December. YAY :)

I'm getting tired of constantly having to wear 3 elastics, and I'm finding it really hard to wear them all day, especially when I have been having work interviews and meeting new people during my internship. Unfortunately I have been taking them out for a good part of the day, as I just don't feel comfortable talking with them in... I also think they look a tad unprofessional when working in such a professional environment. Wearing the braces is bad enough :(

I can't really notice the last remaining swelling in my face, I know there is some still there, but it's really not that big of a problem. The only things bugging me at the moment are the numb areas in my bottom lip and chin. I am always paranoid when eating or drinking because I feel as those I will constantly have crumbs or drips of water on my chin that I wont notice because I can't feel it there. I eat really carefully and wipe my chin after every meal, to avoid this happening as much as possible.I can't wait till all the feeling finally comes back.

Beside that, I'm eating basically anything now, except really tuff things like steak, nuts and biscuits. It's so great to finally enjoy food and not have to be restricted to soft foods only. My TMJ pain has finally settled down, it so much better then it was a month ago. I still sometimes wake up with aching jaws, but nothing like it was previously and the headaches have gone which I am really happy about.

My tongue thrusting therapy has been going well. I have noticed that my tongue tends to sit more comfortable at the roof of my mouth now and does not push against my teeth as much. The myofunctional exercises have really been helping. Still a work in progress though..

Big shout out to everyone who has or is having their jaw surgery soon.. All the best with your recovery. I am trying to keep up with all the blog posts but it's getting hard to find time to comment on them all. Just KNOW that I am thinking of you all and hoping for a safe and quick recovery.. Stay positive :-)

xxx

Day 65-Before/after Official photos.

Hey Guys,

Here are some official before/after photos given to me by my Orthodontist this week. I really can't believe the differences in my face height, shape and profile, It is quite extraordinary to know that I will never look like that before picture ever again. I am so glad the Genioplasty was part of my surgery. I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is unhappy with their recessed chin and set back, vertically growing bottom jaw.

I actually feel conformable with my 'relaxed' face now. It is SOOOOO less strained, and angry looking. I feel normal and with peace at how my face is at rest. I'm at the point now where I can sit and be in the company of others without constantly being self conscious and uncomfortable with my profile and face straining. I went for an interview for an Internship in Sydney yesterday and the whole time while the interviewer was talking and looking at me face on, I felt ok and was not stressing about how I looked. I was initially worried about my braces being a hindrance in getting this position, but apparently it wasn't an issue at all because I got the Internship and start next week :-) l really like the fact that my life at the moment is really hectic with work, my studies and starting this internship. Being busy will help me to focus my attention on something different then the surgery and will make recovery and the time I have to wait to get these braces off go a lot quicker. I still think about the surgery every day but I am glad I have some normality back in my life now.

My lips FINALLY come together now. I don't have to think about them when my face is at rest because they naturally just want to come together. I don't think I have 100% lip competence back yet, but I am really happy with how they comfortably meet, without me having to force them like pre surgery. It's amazing how you stress and worry for weeks about certain things like lips not correctly meeting and then one day they just DO!! Recovery is one HUGE waiting game and patience is very much the key!!! I am generally not very good at being patient, so this has been my biggest challenge... WAITING WAITING WAITING to see the improvements.

My bottom lip and gums are still numb in areas, and parts of my chin are without complete feeling. I still think my smile slants up more on one side, but looking back at old photos, I definitely know that this was the same pre surgery and I guess It wasn't as noticeable to me as my severe open bite was. My surgeon agrees that I still have a substantial amount of smaller changes to go through before I am completely recovered from this surgery. It can take up to 12 months for soft tissue to heal, so I am hoping and praying that in the next few months to come, everything will just settle well and that I'll be very happy with the end results. I can't wait to, have my braces off and really see my new bite in all its glory!

I finally got a chance to ask my Surgeon the reasons for not having proper contact on my back molers. I asked if there was a reason for it, and he said it was actually done on purpose. He discussed the same reasons why as Danny described in one of her earlier posts. Basically the back molers have too much negative force and control over your bite becoming unstable and shifting. He said they in the years to come, it will actually be more beneficial for them not to touch completely like they did pre surgery. It will help prevent them grinding down on each-other and cause bite discrepancy. He also said my orthodontist still has some slight tweaking to do with my teeth/bite but everything is coming along nicely so I should be happy.

Click to enlarge photo.

The after photos were taken only at 1month post op, so I actually still felt very swollen and tight at that stage. My lips were forced closed but in comparison to the before pictures, they are worlds apart in difference.

It will be very exciting to compare the before photo with a post 12month photo :)

Day 55- A video update finally!!!

Here is a video.. FINALLY!!! and some more photos. 8 weeks since surgery tomorrow :)

Sydney is experiencing it coldest and wettest July in 33 years! brrrrr It has been a cold winter.

Another great example of my before and after! Man!!! what a difference..

My bottom lip has significantly decreased in swelling and numbness. Finally starting to feel more natural and less dead and puffy. I don't have any puckering in my chin anymore when I put my lips together at rest. Thank God! Swelling in the bottom portion of my cheeks has gone down even more in the last week. I have started taking a Ibuprofen in the morning and it's really helping.

Day 49- 7 weeks post op

7 Weeks post op!!!!

Just got home from my first day shift back at work... haha here I am in my work uniform.

Sorry I've been meaning to share with you guys a video of my recovery, but I'm having troubles getting it to upload, so hopefully it will be up by tomorrow's post :)

Tina, to make you feel better I also have a slight cant in my smile. (Tilts up more on one side). Looking back at photos, I believe I did have one before surgery, but It obviously didn't bother me that much, because I never brought it up with my surgeon pre surgery, asking if he would fix it. Although you would think that he would have noticed there was a slight discrepancy in my occlusal plane and corrected it regardless. humph!! So many things I now wish I had discussed with him a bit further. I will mention it at our next appointment, along with the issue of my tongue thrusting, molars not making contact, TMJ pain and my lip incompetence. I also talk slightly crooked at the moment too, but surely this is because of the tight muscles and numbness in my lips and around my chin? Anyone else talking crooked?

Does it sound like I'm being slightly paranoid about these things?? Sorry, I don't mean to sound so negative, I am mostly VERY happy with the results of my surgery, there are just a few things still nagging at me. I guess I just want to be reassured that everything is going ok. It's been awhile since I've seem my surgeon, so I'm really hanging out for out next appointment together on 27th july. I will bombard him with my questions and expect some positive answers! haha

Notice the slight cant?