Guest guest Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 Hi all - I had upper and lower jaw surgery on Dec. 14 (three weeks and one day ago) and my mouth has been wired shut so far. It was supposed to be wired shut 6-8 weeks. Well, at my last OS appointment last week, he told me everything looked so great that I could get the wires taken off at four weeks - yippeee!!! - and will then get some bands put on. I know that most people have just the bands following the surgery and I have some questions about them. Right now everything I eat has to be 100% liquid so I am looking forward to my diet changing once I get the bands on - what will I be able to eat? My OS told me that I still won't be able to chew, but is that because the bands will prohibit it, or just because I'm not supposed to? Next, how visible are these bands? Are they very big and noticeable, or more like the elastic bands that some people get with braces? I go back to grad school and work next week and now that I know the wires will be off I am wondering how noticeable the bands will be? Are the bands on the front teeth or the back? For how many weeks did you have to wear the bands? I feel like I can really see the light at the end of the wired-shut tunnel, but I don't want to get my hopes up too much in case the bands aren't that much different. Any advice would be appreciated - thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 Hi! I had my wires removed at four weeks (I'm five weeks post-op today) and replaced by two bands that I can take off to eat and brush. The OS told me that I can chew only really soft things like mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, eggs. The tiny bands are on my front teeth and are clearly visible. I have to wear them for one more week. BTW, I am eating soft doughnuts, cut into small slivers, with milk and it is HEAVEN!!! -Dave > > Hi all - I had upper and lower jaw surgery on Dec. 14 (three weeks > and one day ago) and my mouth has been wired shut so far. It was > supposed to be wired shut 6-8 weeks. Well, at my last OS appointment > last week, he told me everything looked so great that I could get > the wires taken off at four weeks - yippeee!!! - and will then get > some bands put on. I know that most people have just the bands > following the surgery and I have some questions about them. Right > now everything I eat has to be 100% liquid so I am looking forward > to my diet changing once I get the bands on - what will I be able to > eat? My OS told me that I still won't be able to chew, but is that > because the bands will prohibit it, or just because I'm not supposed > to? Next, how visible are these bands? Are they very big and > noticeable, or more like the elastic bands that some people get with > braces? I go back to grad school and work next week and now that I > know the wires will be off I am wondering how noticeable the bands > will be? Are the bands on the front teeth or the back? For how many > weeks did you have to wear the bands? I feel like I can really see > the light at the end of the wired-shut tunnel, but I don't want to > get my hopes up too much in case the bands aren't that much > different. Any advice would be appreciated - thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 Unfortunately a lot of these questions will have to be answered by your OS. I was lightly banded for two weeks post op and the bands were on either side of my front teeth and could be seen when I talked. Each person is different though so your bands could be on the sides or in the front. As for the diet change I was allowed to take the bands off to eat and clean which resulted in a less liquid diet (mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, cottage cheese, spaghetti). I found that using a pair of tweezers to put them on and take them off made things a lot easier (I couldn't open very wide at first so trying to install the bands with just my fingers was hard). > > Hi all - I had upper and lower jaw surgery on Dec. 14 (three weeks > and one day ago) and my mouth has been wired shut so far. It was > supposed to be wired shut 6-8 weeks. Well, at my last OS appointment > last week, he told me everything looked so great that I could get > the wires taken off at four weeks - yippeee!!! - and will then get > some bands put on. I know that most people have just the bands > following the surgery and I have some questions about them. Right > now everything I eat has to be 100% liquid so I am looking forward > to my diet changing once I get the bands on - what will I be able to > eat? My OS told me that I still won't be able to chew, but is that > because the bands will prohibit it, or just because I'm not supposed > to? Next, how visible are these bands? Are they very big and > noticeable, or more like the elastic bands that some people get with > braces? I go back to grad school and work next week and now that I > know the wires will be off I am wondering how noticeable the bands > will be? Are the bands on the front teeth or the back? For how many > weeks did you have to wear the bands? I feel like I can really see > the light at the end of the wired-shut tunnel, but I don't want to > get my hopes up too much in case the bands aren't that much > different. Any advice would be appreciated - thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 Hi Colleen, Congratulations! I have two small rubber bands that go on each of my lateral incisors. They are small and are barely noticeable. You may get more rubber bands though since you were wired shut. I was only tightly banded after surgery (4 weeks post op today). As for food, did your surgeon tell you you'll be able to take the bands off yourself to eat and brush? If so, you're life is about to get much better! While I can't chew yet either, I can eat very soft food like mac-n-cheese, yogurt, oatmeal, pasta, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and even some chewable foods like chicken and steamed vegetables, if I cut it into very small pieces. Pretty much my standard post-ortho adjustment diet. One note of caution: you won't be able to wolf down soft food right away. It will take a few days to get your mouth open and to guide the fork or spoon in. Most of my food ended up on my face those first few days. Best of luck, Maddie ( > > Hi all - I had upper and lower jaw surgery on Dec. 14 (three weeks > and one day ago) and my mouth has been wired shut so far. It was > supposed to be wired shut 6-8 weeks. Well, at my last OS appointment > last week, he told me everything looked so great that I could get > the wires taken off at four weeks - yippeee!!! - and will then get > some bands put on. I know that most people have just the bands > following the surgery and I have some questions about them. Right > now everything I eat has to be 100% liquid so I am looking forward > to my diet changing once I get the bands on - what will I be able to > eat? My OS told me that I still won't be able to chew, but is that > because the bands will prohibit it, or just because I'm not supposed > to? Next, how visible are these bands? Are they very big and > noticeable, or more like the elastic bands that some people get with > braces? I go back to grad school and work next week and now that I > know the wires will be off I am wondering how noticeable the bands > will be? Are the bands on the front teeth or the back? For how many > weeks did you have to wear the bands? I feel like I can really see > the light at the end of the wired-shut tunnel, but I don't want to > get my hopes up too much in case the bands aren't that much > different. Any advice would be appreciated - thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 Dave, since you are enjoying the doughnuts so much thought I would offer you another suggestion. I found frozen pancakes at the grocery that you just pop in the microwave for 30 seconds. Add a little butter and smother with syrup and they are the easiest things to eat. This and a glass of milk was my breakfast for two weeks straight and one of the few things that I did not get sick of. A few other things that are great for soft chewers: Baked potato with butter, cheese and bacon bits (the fake ones get soft), cottage cheese, bread drowned in gravy, spaghetti just to name a few. > > > > Hi all - I had upper and lower jaw surgery on Dec. 14 (three weeks > > and one day ago) and my mouth has been wired shut so far. It was > > supposed to be wired shut 6-8 weeks. Well, at my last OS appointment > > last week, he told me everything looked so great that I could get > > the wires taken off at four weeks - yippeee!!! - and will then get > > some bands put on. I know that most people have just the bands > > following the surgery and I have some questions about them. Right > > now everything I eat has to be 100% liquid so I am looking forward > > to my diet changing once I get the bands on - what will I be able to > > eat? My OS told me that I still won't be able to chew, but is that > > because the bands will prohibit it, or just because I'm not supposed > > to? Next, how visible are these bands? Are they very big and > > noticeable, or more like the elastic bands that some people get with > > braces? I go back to grad school and work next week and now that I > > know the wires will be off I am wondering how noticeable the bands > > will be? Are the bands on the front teeth or the back? For how many > > weeks did you have to wear the bands? I feel like I can really see > > the light at the end of the wired-shut tunnel, but I don't want to > > get my hopes up too much in case the bands aren't that much > > different. Any advice would be appreciated - thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 I must say, I took your suggestion and tried the bread drowned in gravy. That is fabulous!!!! I love bread and was really missing it, and that totally did the trick for me! I'm 4 weeks post op today, pretty tightly banded, and not allowed to chew yet. It was just what I needed! Thanks!! > > > > > > Hi all - I had upper and lower jaw surgery on Dec. 14 (three > weeks > > > and one day ago) and my mouth has been wired shut so far. It was > > > supposed to be wired shut 6-8 weeks. Well, at my last OS > appointment > > > last week, he told me everything looked so great that I could get > > > the wires taken off at four weeks - yippeee!!! - and will then > get > > > some bands put on. I know that most people have just the bands > > > following the surgery and I have some questions about them. Right > > > now everything I eat has to be 100% liquid so I am looking > forward > > > to my diet changing once I get the bands on - what will I be able > to > > > eat? My OS told me that I still won't be able to chew, but is > that > > > because the bands will prohibit it, or just because I'm not > supposed > > > to? Next, how visible are these bands? Are they very big and > > > noticeable, or more like the elastic bands that some people get > with > > > braces? I go back to grad school and work next week and now that > I > > > know the wires will be off I am wondering how noticeable the > bands > > > will be? Are the bands on the front teeth or the back? For how > many > > > weeks did you have to wear the bands? I feel like I can really > see > > > the light at the end of the wired-shut tunnel, but I don't want > to > > > get my hopes up too much in case the bands aren't that much > > > different. Any advice would be appreciated - thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 Hi! Thank you for the suggestions! The pancakes sound perfect! -Dave > > > > > > Hi all - I had upper and lower jaw surgery on Dec. 14 (three > weeks > > > and one day ago) and my mouth has been wired shut so far. It was > > > supposed to be wired shut 6-8 weeks. Well, at my last OS > appointment > > > last week, he told me everything looked so great that I could get > > > the wires taken off at four weeks - yippeee!!! - and will then > get > > > some bands put on. I know that most people have just the bands > > > following the surgery and I have some questions about them. Right > > > now everything I eat has to be 100% liquid so I am looking > forward > > > to my diet changing once I get the bands on - what will I be able > to > > > eat? My OS told me that I still won't be able to chew, but is > that > > > because the bands will prohibit it, or just because I'm not > supposed > > > to? Next, how visible are these bands? Are they very big and > > > noticeable, or more like the elastic bands that some people get > with > > > braces? I go back to grad school and work next week and now that > I > > > know the wires will be off I am wondering how noticeable the > bands > > > will be? Are the bands on the front teeth or the back? For how > many > > > weeks did you have to wear the bands? I feel like I can really > see > > > the light at the end of the wired-shut tunnel, but I don't want > to > > > get my hopes up too much in case the bands aren't that much > > > different. Any advice would be appreciated - thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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