I can almost open to 3 finger widths now which is enough to comfortably eat most foods like burgers and hot dogs. I think I'm still getting used to the new positions of my jaws because sometimes I end up hitting my lower teeth or lip with my fork on the way to my mouth. Not very graceful. :) I also find that my cheeks, especially the area along both sides of my lower jaw, feel stiff and swollen almost immediately after chewing. The swelling isn't something anyone else would notice but I can definitely feel an increased tightness there.
Some of my teeth are still completely numb, including the front teeth on top and bottom, while others are continuing to regain feeling. I find the feeling is coming back quicker on the right side, especially on the top, and the left is taking longer. Most of my gums are still numb but there are patches of tingling. I wanted to start using my electric toothbrush again but I find it really uncomfortable to brush, even with a regular toothbrush. It seems like the teeth and gums that have partial feeling are hypersensitive. I wonder how long that's going to last?
This is a strange aside, but I've noticed that the decreased feeling in parts of my gums and palate really affects the taste of some foods, especially dry foods like cookies, chips, and bread. The texture of these foods must really contribute to their taste. I just don't find them as yummy and satisfying as I did before surgery, and I don't crave these foods as much as I did. Plus, most of these foods require a fair amount of chewing so that's also an added deterrent. I didn't think that I'd ever want to see soup again after this surgery but I appreciate soup a lot more now!
The issue with my front teeth scraping together seems to be fixing itself with the elastics which is great! It feels so awesome to bite and have all my teeth touch at the same time. I find that I'm absentmindedly biting together just for the fun of it!
Your teeth and jaws and smile all look great!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sarah!
Deletehello, i m from edmonton too and i also have an open bite. I m so glad to have found your blog and know that i m not alone with this condition :( I m wondering who is your ortho and surgeon? I want to goto an experienced open bite ortho for my braces. Can you let me know, thanks!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHi there. It's great that you're looking at blogs and getting familiar with the whole braces and surgery process! It definitely helped me to come to terms with things and gain motivation from others' experiences. My surgeon is Dr. Gotaas at South Edmonton Oral Surgery and my orthodontist is Dr. Major at Align Orthodontics. I chose to go with Dr. Major because he was the orthodontist who did my first round of braces when I was younger, but there are two other orthos in the office who have lots of experience too, and they all refer their surgery patients to Dr. Gotaas or one of his colleagues at SEOS.
DeleteGood luck on your journey!
Thank you for the info! i heard Dr. Major is a really good ortho, i cant wait to see him. He is really busy tho i tried to make a consul with him but couldnt get in til oct :( oh well i m sure it will be worth the wait. How many months were you on braces for? I read from your earlier post you didnt have to pay for braces 2nd time around, would you know how much he normally charge though?
ReplyDeletehope you are doing great, cant wait for updates! :)
Cheers
Yeah he does seem to be pretty busy, plus he only works in the clinic on Tuesdays so that may be the reason why you can't get in until October. Hope your consult goes well!
DeleteI had braces for 18 months the first time and only 8 months before surgery this second time around. Hopefully you won't need braces for too long! I'm not exactly sure how much the braces are because it's been a while since my parents first paid for them, and it differs for each person depending on the amount of work needed, etc. but it's most likely over $6000 nowadays. Pricey but definitely worth it for healthy and happy teeth! :)