As another year comes to an end, I'm reminded of all the changes that can happen in one year. Friends move home and move away, babies are born, and loved ones pass away. There are graduations and celebrations, trips to new places, jobs won and lost, and we all get one year older. I'm sure the coming year will be just as eventful, especially with jaw surgery thrown into the mix! I can't help but think about next Christmas and how great it'll be to have the surgery behind me and to be eating turkey with my brand new bite!
I'm also reminded again of all the blessings in my life, especially my loving family and supportive friends. It's so comforting to know that there's always someone to turn to when I'm in need of help or a hug. I will definitely be seeking these people out on the road to surgery and during recovery!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May God bless you in 2012.
Sunday, 25 December 2011
Monday, 12 December 2011
1st consult with surgeon
I had my first consultation with the oral surgeon on November 23, but didn't have the chance to post about it until now. His name's Dr. Gotaas and he's the same surgeon that removed my wisdom teeth a few years ago. Everything went well during that procedure so I'm hoping all goes well this time too!
The consult was really informative, and Dr. Gotaas spent about an hour explaining the procedure to me, including the risks involved, and answering all my questions (I had a lot!). He even referred to a model of a skull with movable jaw sections to show how the bone will be cut and moved around, as well as the kinds of plates and screws that'll hold everything together. It was really interesting, but I also got this horrible weak-in-the-knees feeling when I thought too deeply about the situation. Soon it'll be my jaw that he's cutting into and moving around with those hands! Sometimes ignorance really is bliss.
Dr. Gotaas then spent several minutes measuring every angle and distance between the features of my face, from the length and width of my nose, to the amount of tooth I show when my lips are relaxed. Now that my face has been so thoroughly documented I feel like there's no turning back!
I'll be having upper and lower jaw surgery. Bone will be removed from my upper jaw, and the jaw will be moved upward as well as forward a little bit. This'll move my upper molars out of the way and allow my lower jaw to close properly as well as fix my gummy smile. My lower jaw will then be moved forward to match the position of my upper jaw so that all my teeth fit nicely together. No more open bite! I've also been advised to have a sliding genioplasty done at the same time, which'll involve separating the leading segment of my chin and sliding it forward to enhance my profile. I've seen some amazing results of other jaw surgery patients that had their chins done, but I'm also apprehensive. I don't want to wake up looking like the daughter of Jay Leno! I'm probably just being silly. I haven't seen anyone end up with a chin that looks too big for their face. I guess this is where the element of trust comes in. My surgeon has had much more experience with cases like mine than I have! Nevertheless, I'll be sharing my concerns with him the next time we meet and maybe he can explain more about the procedure. The entire surgery will be done through the inside of my mouth, and I'll have an incision from molar to molar on both the upper and lower jaw where my gums connect to the inside of my lips. I'll also have a splint in when I wake up to ensure my jaws remain in their proper positions, and elastics connecting my top and bottom teeth to stabilize everything.
Dr. Gotaas also referred to a couple of recent x-rays that were taken before I got my braces on. He pointed out that my upper teeth slope upwards towards the front of my mouth, as well as upwards towards my molars. My orthodontist, Dr. Major, will be attempting to straighten them out before surgery, but if he's unable to do so for whatever reason then Dr. Gotaas will do it surgically. If that's the case, then he'll not only separate my upper jaw from my skull and move it into position (yikes!), but he'll also cut it into three pieces and move the pieces separately to create a proper bite. That's a lovely thought, isn't it? Let's hope my teeth cooperate and do what they're told!
I've heard that one of the most common risks of jaw surgery is permanent facial numbness, often in part of the chin or lower lip. When I asked Dr. Gotaas about this, he said that about 50% of patients regain all their feeling. This is more than I expected! I pray that I'm in that 50%. The numbness is a result of damage to the main nerve that runs through both sides of the lower jaw. During lower jaw surgery, the bone is cut on both sides and moved into position while attempting to keep the nerve that runs through the bone intact and undamaged. He made the analogy of the nerve in the jaw as being like a noodle within a stick, and the goal is to separate and move the stick without disturbing the noodle. Apparently, this is possible about 50% of the time. I'm glad this isn't my responsibility!
I also asked Dr. Gotaas about how my nose will change after surgery. I've heard that having upper jaw surgery can significantly change the shape of the nose. He said that it's likely that the base of my nose will be wider, and the tip will be more upturned. Also, the amount of nostril that's visible from the front may change. I've noticed that my nose is currently pulled downwards when I talk, probably because my lips are straining to meet, and that before my jaw problems developed I had more of an upturned nose. I also have a rather narrow nose, so the proposed changes don't bother me a great deal. However, they are changes, and I'll have to get used to them along with the rest of my new face.
I've been put on the surgery waiting list for May 2012, so now it's just a waiting game. I catch myself thinking about surgery all the time and I'm trying not to let it dominate my thoughts, but it's harder than it seems! The first thing I notice about a person now is their profile and the shape of their chin! I can't do anything to make the surgery come or go any faster, so my only option is to trust that God is orchestrating everything according to His plan for my life. I pray that He gives me patience, as well as the strength needed to endure what's to come.
The consult was really informative, and Dr. Gotaas spent about an hour explaining the procedure to me, including the risks involved, and answering all my questions (I had a lot!). He even referred to a model of a skull with movable jaw sections to show how the bone will be cut and moved around, as well as the kinds of plates and screws that'll hold everything together. It was really interesting, but I also got this horrible weak-in-the-knees feeling when I thought too deeply about the situation. Soon it'll be my jaw that he's cutting into and moving around with those hands! Sometimes ignorance really is bliss.
Dr. Gotaas then spent several minutes measuring every angle and distance between the features of my face, from the length and width of my nose, to the amount of tooth I show when my lips are relaxed. Now that my face has been so thoroughly documented I feel like there's no turning back!
I'll be having upper and lower jaw surgery. Bone will be removed from my upper jaw, and the jaw will be moved upward as well as forward a little bit. This'll move my upper molars out of the way and allow my lower jaw to close properly as well as fix my gummy smile. My lower jaw will then be moved forward to match the position of my upper jaw so that all my teeth fit nicely together. No more open bite! I've also been advised to have a sliding genioplasty done at the same time, which'll involve separating the leading segment of my chin and sliding it forward to enhance my profile. I've seen some amazing results of other jaw surgery patients that had their chins done, but I'm also apprehensive. I don't want to wake up looking like the daughter of Jay Leno! I'm probably just being silly. I haven't seen anyone end up with a chin that looks too big for their face. I guess this is where the element of trust comes in. My surgeon has had much more experience with cases like mine than I have! Nevertheless, I'll be sharing my concerns with him the next time we meet and maybe he can explain more about the procedure. The entire surgery will be done through the inside of my mouth, and I'll have an incision from molar to molar on both the upper and lower jaw where my gums connect to the inside of my lips. I'll also have a splint in when I wake up to ensure my jaws remain in their proper positions, and elastics connecting my top and bottom teeth to stabilize everything.
Dr. Gotaas also referred to a couple of recent x-rays that were taken before I got my braces on. He pointed out that my upper teeth slope upwards towards the front of my mouth, as well as upwards towards my molars. My orthodontist, Dr. Major, will be attempting to straighten them out before surgery, but if he's unable to do so for whatever reason then Dr. Gotaas will do it surgically. If that's the case, then he'll not only separate my upper jaw from my skull and move it into position (yikes!), but he'll also cut it into three pieces and move the pieces separately to create a proper bite. That's a lovely thought, isn't it? Let's hope my teeth cooperate and do what they're told!
 |
| The left side of this image corresponds to the right side of my face, so imagine that I'm looking out from the screen in order to get the orientation correct. |
I've heard that one of the most common risks of jaw surgery is permanent facial numbness, often in part of the chin or lower lip. When I asked Dr. Gotaas about this, he said that about 50% of patients regain all their feeling. This is more than I expected! I pray that I'm in that 50%. The numbness is a result of damage to the main nerve that runs through both sides of the lower jaw. During lower jaw surgery, the bone is cut on both sides and moved into position while attempting to keep the nerve that runs through the bone intact and undamaged. He made the analogy of the nerve in the jaw as being like a noodle within a stick, and the goal is to separate and move the stick without disturbing the noodle. Apparently, this is possible about 50% of the time. I'm glad this isn't my responsibility!
I also asked Dr. Gotaas about how my nose will change after surgery. I've heard that having upper jaw surgery can significantly change the shape of the nose. He said that it's likely that the base of my nose will be wider, and the tip will be more upturned. Also, the amount of nostril that's visible from the front may change. I've noticed that my nose is currently pulled downwards when I talk, probably because my lips are straining to meet, and that before my jaw problems developed I had more of an upturned nose. I also have a rather narrow nose, so the proposed changes don't bother me a great deal. However, they are changes, and I'll have to get used to them along with the rest of my new face.
I've been put on the surgery waiting list for May 2012, so now it's just a waiting game. I catch myself thinking about surgery all the time and I'm trying not to let it dominate my thoughts, but it's harder than it seems! The first thing I notice about a person now is their profile and the shape of their chin! I can't do anything to make the surgery come or go any faster, so my only option is to trust that God is orchestrating everything according to His plan for my life. I pray that He gives me patience, as well as the strength needed to endure what's to come.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
My jaw has a flaw
I figure I should share a bit about my orthodontic and jaw history for those who are curious, and the circumstances that have led me to surgery. I am NOT undergoing jaw surgery purely for cosmetic reasons. That would be silly! Though it is a motivating factor. ;D (Note: if you're not interested in reading this long post, scroll to the bottom for pictures!)
My first ortho appointment was in August 1999 when I was 9 years old, shortly after which I started treatment to widen my arch using a Quad Helix. If my narrow arch wasn't corrected while I was growing, it would have needed to be surgically expanded during jaw surgery which involves splitting the palatal bone. Thank goodness it was caught early to avoid this extra complication!
My first ortho appointment was in August 1999 when I was 9 years old, shortly after which I started treatment to widen my arch using a Quad Helix. If my narrow arch wasn't corrected while I was growing, it would have needed to be surgically expanded during jaw surgery which involves splitting the palatal bone. Thank goodness it was caught early to avoid this extra complication!
After about 3 months, I had the Quad Helix removed and I started wearing a bite plate and headgear to correct an overjet. This was by far the worst part of treatment, definitely worse than braces. It was embarrasing to wear during the day (thankfully I didn't have to do this often), and I never got used to wearing it at night because it forced me to lie on my back, and I'm a side sleeper. I was glad to get rid of it in August 2000, after which I was fitted with a Nance to maintain the shape of my arch and teeth until I was ready for braces.
Finally, I got braces on in January 2003 when I was 13 and all of my adult teeth had come in, and I wore them for about a year and 8 months before debanding in September 2004. During this time, I noticed that I had more and more pain in my jaw joints, and the joints started popping and grinding when I opened and closed my mouth. Often the muscles in my jaw were so tight and sore that it caused neck pain, shoulder pain, and headaches. I was told that I had Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) (ie. arthritis) in my TMJs and was advised to eat soft foods, avoid opening my mouth too widely, and to keep my jaw muscles as relaxed as possible to minimize joint pain and promote healing. Thankfully, the pain slowly decreased with time, and I was given a splint in 2006 to help limit the strain on my joints and to keep me from grinding my teeth at night.
I thought everything was clear sailing from then on. I had a perfect bite after braces, and my joint pain and headaches were gone, but I was wrong! I noticed my bite had started to shift, and it was getting more and more difficult to chew things. Small gaps started opening up between my top and bottom teeth, and eventually my front teeth no longer made contact. I went to my orthodontist and he said I was developing an open bite caused by condylar resorption related to the Degenerative Joint Disease. This is where the bone in the jaw joint starts to break down and causes the jaw bone to shorten near the joint. This rotates the lower jaw downwards, pivoting on the molars, and allows the teeth to open in the front. He also said that surgery was the only way of correctly fixing it, though he wouldn't start the treatment process until I was an adult and fully grown. What?! I didn't want surgery! I figured that this would just open up a whole new set of problems. I was so upset, and I left the office resigned to the fact that I'd have to learn to live with my bite issues.
Fast forward a few years, and here I am. I'm 22, had braces put on for the 2nd time in August 2011, and have agreed to jaw surgery. My bite problems have become worse in the last few years, and it's now very visible in my face. I have to strain to close my mouth, bite food such as spaghetti using my tounge and top teeth, and I'm constantly grinding my molars since they're the only teeth that touch when my jaw muscles are at rest. However, my joints are finally stable, I've finished growing, and the surgery can go ahead. It's been a long road through orthodontia, and I'm looking forward to seeing the end!
Since this blog is shaping up to be one large collection of horrible pictures of myself, I decided I should start off with a more flattering one. This was taken for university graduation in the spring of 2011, and it demonstrates how adept I've become at posturing my jaw to hide my weak chin and open bite.
The next series of pictures was taken at the ortho office during different phases of treatment. Notice how great my profile looked in 1999, and how my lower jaw rotated downward with time. This caused my lower face to lengthen, my jaw line to become less defined, and my lips and chin to strain while closing my mouth. I also developed a bit of a gummy smile as I grew, which just added to the length to my face.
July 1999 before beginning ortho treatment (age 9)
September 2004 after braces were removed the 1st time (age 14)
April 2011 after development of an open bite and before round 2 of braces (age 21)
Well, I hope this helps to explain my reasons for choosing to go ahead with surgery. I wasn't too thrilled about it at first, but once I learned that it's the only way of correcting the longstanding functional issues with my jaw I started to warm up to the idea. Hopefully in the end I'll have a normal and healthy bite, and improved facial aesthetics to go with it. Can't wait!
Monday, 28 November 2011
Reason for this blog
Hi everyone!
My name's Lindsay and I'm on my way to having jaw surgery in the spring of 2012. I've known for a few years that the only way of properly correcting my bite is to have jaw surgery, but it still hasn't been an easy decision. At first my mindset was one of total denial, and I convinced myself that nothing was wrong with me and that nothing needed to be fixed. I was relatively happy with my appearance, and I felt that my bite was something I could learn to live with. I hated the thought that I wasn't "normal," and I felt embarrased to admit it. I was also terrified that if I went through with the surgery that things would turn out worse than they were initially. I had a lot of jaw joint pain when I was younger, and I feared that the surgery would trigger that pain again. I was also afraid that I wouldn't like the look of my new face, and there's no undo button after surgery! However, the idea of surgery has floated around in my head for a few years now and I've come to terms with it, and reading all the amazing jaw surgery blogs on the internet has given me so much encouragement!
So, this leads me to my reasons for keeping a jaw surgery blog of my own:
#1) To encourage others who are contemplating jaw surgery, and to show them that they're not alone. I've been so inspired by the stories and pictures of other jaw surgery bloggers that I'd love to add my experience to the mix! Hopefully I will encourage someone else out there who is in a similar situation. I've also gleaned some invaluable information about jaw surgery from the blogs I've read. There's nothing quite like learning from firsthand experience!
#2) To keep my family and friends in the loop. Instead of answering 20 emails a day from curious and concerned friends and family members during recovery, I'll use this blog to update everyone at once. This is a slightly selfish reason to keep a jaw surgery blog, but I've heard that I won't have much energy during recovery so I better use my time efficiently! I can also refer to my blog if anyone I know is questioning why I need the surgery. It's easier and less humiliating to refer them to a blog than trying to explain in person all of the things that need fixing with my teeth and face while pointing at myself and making weird facial expressions.
#3) To keep myself occupied while I'm recovering on the couch! Recovery sounds like a long and painful process to me at this point, and I'll need something to keep me occupied other than trying to eat and sleep! It'll also be a good tool to keep me focussed on the positives of my recovery, rather than on the negatives. I can look back at previous posts and see how far I've come.
Well, those are my main reasons for keeping a jaw surgery blog. Now all I have to do is maintain my motivation to post consistently during recovery, which might be easier said than done!
My name's Lindsay and I'm on my way to having jaw surgery in the spring of 2012. I've known for a few years that the only way of properly correcting my bite is to have jaw surgery, but it still hasn't been an easy decision. At first my mindset was one of total denial, and I convinced myself that nothing was wrong with me and that nothing needed to be fixed. I was relatively happy with my appearance, and I felt that my bite was something I could learn to live with. I hated the thought that I wasn't "normal," and I felt embarrased to admit it. I was also terrified that if I went through with the surgery that things would turn out worse than they were initially. I had a lot of jaw joint pain when I was younger, and I feared that the surgery would trigger that pain again. I was also afraid that I wouldn't like the look of my new face, and there's no undo button after surgery! However, the idea of surgery has floated around in my head for a few years now and I've come to terms with it, and reading all the amazing jaw surgery blogs on the internet has given me so much encouragement!
So, this leads me to my reasons for keeping a jaw surgery blog of my own:
#1) To encourage others who are contemplating jaw surgery, and to show them that they're not alone. I've been so inspired by the stories and pictures of other jaw surgery bloggers that I'd love to add my experience to the mix! Hopefully I will encourage someone else out there who is in a similar situation. I've also gleaned some invaluable information about jaw surgery from the blogs I've read. There's nothing quite like learning from firsthand experience!
#2) To keep my family and friends in the loop. Instead of answering 20 emails a day from curious and concerned friends and family members during recovery, I'll use this blog to update everyone at once. This is a slightly selfish reason to keep a jaw surgery blog, but I've heard that I won't have much energy during recovery so I better use my time efficiently! I can also refer to my blog if anyone I know is questioning why I need the surgery. It's easier and less humiliating to refer them to a blog than trying to explain in person all of the things that need fixing with my teeth and face while pointing at myself and making weird facial expressions.
#3) To keep myself occupied while I'm recovering on the couch! Recovery sounds like a long and painful process to me at this point, and I'll need something to keep me occupied other than trying to eat and sleep! It'll also be a good tool to keep me focussed on the positives of my recovery, rather than on the negatives. I can look back at previous posts and see how far I've come.
Well, those are my main reasons for keeping a jaw surgery blog. Now all I have to do is maintain my motivation to post consistently during recovery, which might be easier said than done!
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