Connie's ceramics

[Guest guest]

Connie,

I'm sorry to hear about the confusion you've got going on! Correct me if I'm

wrong, though... you're going to have a surgery that will turn you black and

blue and swollen like a water balloon, but you are too concerned about your

looks to follow your OS's advice? I understand having paid more for ceramics,

but in my mind, you've invested more valuable time to get something done right.

You've had your ceramics on for the better part of this procedure, so they've

served their purpose... Please don't be offended by this, I just don't

understand the appeal of ceramics anyway. My friend had them on for a year and

a half, and I always thought they looked like he had cruddy teeth - like he

didn't clean them very well (his fiance' is a pediatric dentist, so I KNOW he

wouldn't have gotten away with that :-) It's sort of like the " comb-over " -

everyone can see that the guy is bald, and that the comb-over makes it looks

worse and more obvious - except the guy! I actually thought long and

hard about which would look " better " - those or the traditional metal ones

(before I knew I didn't have a choice! LOL) - and I figured why avoid the issue.

I'm getting braces. I can't hide that fact, so why bother? I'm actually

revelling in the regression to adolescence my 30-year-old appearance has taken

:-) I was talking to some classmates the other day, and in mid-conversation one

of them stopped and exclaimed how cute I look with braces! That's good enough

for me! I've got jewelry on my teeth that cost more than any diamond I'll find

on my finger, and I'm going to wear them with pride!

Another thought - how long ago did you get the ok for ceramics? Perhaps your OS

has performed a number of surgeries on patients with ceramics since then and has

since realized the complications. If he's worried about having any sort of

complications that can be avoidable, while he's chiseling away at your facial

bones, I would be just as concerned! Vanity for the short term is not worth it!

And they aren't radio-opaque, so if one comes loose during surgery and you

accidentally inspirate it during recovery, it can get lodged in your bronchus or

perhaps further down, and they could have a hard time finding it, leading to

other unnecessary complications... (I recently saw a necropsy done in which the

animal had aspirated her food, and you could see sticks of hay that had been

sucked all the way down to the lowest parts of her lungs! Anything is

possible.) Just keep this in mind... until I actually GET my DVM, I listen to

my vet's advice without question!

I hope things can be worked out! We just want you to be safe, and get to the

other side without incidence! You've put so much time and energy into this, not

to mention the discomfort... and it will all be over before you know it! How

exciting!

Kate

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Message: 7

Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 03:13:39 -0000

From: " connieberrymama "

Subject: To : Re: Connie/OS wanting to swap braces

Hay ,

The funny thing is that before my ceramic brackets were put on I

asked if they were fine for surgery and both my OD and OS said yes.

Now they need to be switched? I was originally supposed to have my

surgical hooks put on May 16th, but if they are postponing until the

end of July for my surgery I say forget it, they can get me in

closer to my surgery, once I know the day. I have not yet decided

whether to follow their advice. On the one hand, better to be safe

than sorry, and if my surgeon suggests it I should probably listen.

But the vain side of me says I should tell them I want to keep them

on. I paid extra money for these puppies because I knew I would be

extremely self concious about metal brackets. Also, I have heard

that many people have already made it safely through surgery with

ceramic brackets. Don't know what I should do, but I need to make

up my mind this weekend. The ortho's office is supposed to call

Monday. We'll see!

Connie

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