Re: questions about banding -- lower jaw setback- -Helen

[Guest guest]

Hi Helen, I went to see my OD today and he had me practice taking

the bands off and putting them back on. I swear, i asked nine million

questions about the correct posts to put them on. i had to write

directions, honestly. some go in the shape of a triangle. my OD is

VERY specific about getting it right. he said get them back on

IMMEDIATELY after eating as the teeth move so quickly. i have decided

not to take them off at all until i see my OS on friday. Heck, i have

gone this long blending all my meals. i can feel how tight they are

and he said that he wants to make major movement while the bones are

still fiberous. as soon as they get solid (and i am RIGHT THERE

timewise), it will take a lot longer. i will tell you this. my last

OD appt was last thursday and i went today so, 4 days. my teeth have

moved SOOOOO much. so i am OK with keeping them on until friday,

eating solid food is not as important as getting this right. can you

imagine, me, and i know you don't know me, but i LOVE, love, love,

love to eat. i did get some rice in my mouth the other night, but i

just let it slide around for flavor and then i swallowed. the dr was

wanting me to get my direction on anything being chewed between teeth

from the OS, as that as not been done yet. NOTHING has been attempted

to be chewed between teeth. I am not sure how long i am banded for,

but i want to be as aggressive as they will allow me before school

starts. i feel a LITTLE less swollen today and i feel as though i

have more movement of facial muscles. Gracie-poo is in bed. i am

about to work on 5th grade science materials!

> > > > > --

> > > > >

> > > > > Well, I had my appointment with my OS today and it was very

> > > > > depressing. He took off the wires but rubber banded my

teeth

> > > > > together with about 20 rubber bands. I do look

> like " hannibal

> > > > > lechter " . I am very depressed right now. He told me that

he

> > > > needed

> > > > > to do this to help with positioning my teeth (he said it

> would

> > > > > reduce my post op orthodontics work down from about 2 years

> to

> > 5-

> > > 6

> > > > > months). Sounds good but right now, I'd almost say, you

know

> > > what,

> > > > > I'll take the 2 years othodontics rather than 4 more weeks

of

> > > > > nothing but a liquid diet and looking like some kind of

> freak.

> > > I

> > > > am

> > > > > so upset right now. Not only do I look worse than I did

with

> > > the

> > > > > actual wires, but I can't talk as well either and all my

> teeth

> > > > > hurt. Bands are supposed to be progress over wires? I

> don't

> > > get

> > > > > it. The final blow was when he said that I might not be

> banded

> > > > shut

> > > > > for just 4 more weeks (which would make 6 weeks total) but

I

> > > could

> > > > > be banded shut for longer (depending on how my bite looks

in

> 4

> > > > weeks

> > > > > when he removes the bands and puts only 2 on as " guides " .

> > Right

> > > > now

> > > > > actually, I am just typing here and crying about the whole

> > > > > situation. I am feeling sorry for myself and really

doubting

> > > > myself

> > > > > about this whole procedure anyway.

> > > > >

> > > > > Sadly,

> > > > >

> > > > > Helen