Re: Splint . . .a mystery to me

[Guest guest]

Mine was wired into my upper brace, and there was no question about

how -- there was a big cross-hatch arrangement of wires on my front

teeth, as well as some plastic showing under the teeth.

I was astonished to see how small it was -- about the size of a half

a dollar (anybody beside me remember the half-dollar coin?) with

some tiny little tooth marks in it. They felt like a trench, and

told my lower teeth where they were sposed to fit -- I had no wires,

nor bands, until my lower jaw started hurting.

He said it was to instruct the lower jaw, as well as " to keep things

from bouncing all over creation. " I hated it. I hated trying to talk

with it. But then he didn't want me to talk, anyhow.

He promised me that he'd take it out at six weeks. I went after six

weeks, all expectant.

" come back next week, and we'll take it out. "

" You PROMISED, after six weeks! " I wailed.

" Yes. " Big evil, funny grin. " But I lie. "

I figured out that at that point I wanted the damned thing in there

for six months more if he thought it was important... Thank God, he

didn't.

I asked whether I could take mine home as a souvenir, and was told

that no, my doc wanted to keep it. (WHY????)

I also heard one tech, who was teaching another how to remove it,

suggest that the learner hold her breath when they finally took it

out. (The two techs left in a hurry!)

My kind surgeon had toothpaste and a brush, as well as mouthwash,

handy, once the thing was out, so I did them the kindness (i Hope)

of cleaning it, too, and leaving it on the tray... It didn't really

look so gross, but then I can't smell anything ever, and I would bet

that it was nasty.

I would suggest that as soon as your surgeon allows, you use a baby

toothbrush, and take one (with toothpaste and mouthwash) along with

you to the removal appointment, just in case... I also swished a lot

with biotene, and used a Waterpik as soon as my surgeon approved.

C.

>

> Any idea what this splints purpose is?? The splint is a mystery

to

> me even though it's right here wired in my mouth. I often run my

> tongue along the splint thinking... what shape is this thing and

how

> is it stuck in my mouth?? Between my teeth I suppose. I've

already

> imagined cutting it up into many pieces when the dr takes it out

and

> leaving the pieces in the dr's waste bin. Well, just a thought.

> jane

[Guest guest]

Yes that sounds like my evil splint. I never knew it would be in my

mouth until it was. I daydreamed of bringing a large knife to my

removal appt to chop it into a thousand pieces then letting my dr

have it. The splint that is!

Jane

> >

> > Any idea what this splints purpose is?? The splint is a mystery

> to

> > me even though it's right here wired in my mouth. I often run my

> > tongue along the splint thinking... what shape is this thing and

> how

> > is it stuck in my mouth?? Between my teeth I suppose. I've

> already

> > imagined cutting it up into many pieces when the dr takes it out

> and

> > leaving the pieces in the dr's waste bin. Well, just a thought.

> > jane