DONE!!! 15 months post op

Hey Bloggers.

It certainly has been awhile, but I wanted to check back in and update you all. I'm sorry I have been so distant. As you can imagine, Life got busy!! I have been thinking about you all, especially those who have recently had surgery or preparing to go in soon. I will try my best to get up to date with your posts. I do really hope even though I am not on here as much anymore that my blog continues to help others.

Ok, so I've just come back from a massive 6 week holiday over in the UK and US. I had a fantastic time and even got to meet up with 2 very special bloggers (Dani and Amanda) in beautiful Santa Monica. What a great catchup we had! I still can't really believe it. I started this blog here from Sydney, Australia and would have never thought that one day I would have the chance to meet not one fellow blogger but 2 on the other side of the world!!!!! Very cool experience and one I will never forget :)

On Tuesday I had my final review with my Orthodontist. He took me for a quick trip down memory lane, looking at all my dental photos dating way back to when I first came into his practice at around 12years of age. So many photos on file of me and my teeth/bite showing my slow progress and gradual improvement over the years. Seeing his official before/after photos of me is always overwhelming. Such a massive change. He is very pleased with how everything has turned out, as am I!!!!
It's definitely a surreal feeling knowing that I am now 'on my own', I'm finally done with his treatment after such a loooong journey and many years of appointments. I am so very thankful for his time, commitment and on going persistence with fixing my bite and teeth. I would have never received such an incredible smile without his and my surgeon's amazing expertise and skills. Such a gift :)

Here's a few update photos. I graduated from University back in May. I was so excited to get some nice photos with my family and braces FREE.

                                                           
                                                                  Finally a graduate :)

With my beautiful Sister and Mum <3 

With my big bro on London Bridge. 

I'm Back!!!

Hey Guys,

It's been a long time since my last blog post! To say I've been busy is an understatment. I've been SUPER BUSY, working 50+ hour weeks as a Restaurant Manager, and getting hardly any time to do anything but work, eat and sleep! I am taking some time out now before I begin work in the afternoon to update you all. My new home is the Northern Beaches, Sydney. Postcode 2093 :) I've been here since Dec 2011.

I live 5 mins drive to Manly beach. Really love it here! My new unit which I am sharing with one other flatmate is 15mins walk from my sis and my gorgeous Neice and Nephews. I love being able to see them more regularly now.

I can't believe how quickly the last 3-4mths have gone by. I am nearly at the 11month post surgery mark!!!! CRAZY. At the moment I am not experiencing much jaw pain at all. My Jaw was clicking and grinding quite a bit towards the end of last year and the beginning on 2012, but it seems to have settled down remarkably. I still need to book in to see a Osteopath so I can get some jaw exercises happening. I've just been so busy working, I haven't had any chance to see one yet. I do notice that some tightness and stiffness in the muscles on the right side of my face near my bottom lip/chin area. When I am talking a lot at work I REALLY notice how stiff it still is in that particular area. It's very annoying, but time will tell If this settles down, or will be permanent. I really hope not. Other then that I don't have much to report. I am basically eating everything. Some things like apples and carrots, I still need to cut up smaller, but it's not big deal. Love food so much haha

Below are some random iphone snaps from the last few months. I am STILL getting used to seeing my new smile/profile in the mirror, but I am VERY happy with my teeth/bite and how everything has turned out. My nose however has changed and from a front on perspective I'm definitely NOT in love with it's appearance, but I am trying hard not to get too worried about it. Need to just start living and enjoying "Me".

Hope you guys are all doing well :)

Me and my beautiful Niece

My fav restaurant on Balmoral Beach.

Sydney Medibank International 2012.

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..