Guest guest Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 hi, sorry this might sound really stupid, but what exactly is a splint? Im having lower jaw surgery in less then 2 weeks, will I have too wear a splint? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 Hey, I just got my splint out too (a couple days ago) it was in for 4 weeks too and I have no feeling in my top teeth because i haven't used them in so long! My diet has gone up from mushy food to a full diet chewing is really weird and it took me a while to get used to it but now the only thing i can't eat is salad! And for your question about whether or not you will need a splint. If you are only having lower jaw surgery no. The splint is to hold the jaw in place if you are having your upper jaw widened so you shouldn't need one. But I am sure glad I don't have the splint anymore because i can talk normally now! a > > > > hi, sorry this might sound really stupid, but what exactly is a > > splint? Im having lower jaw surgery in less then 2 weeks, will I > have > > too wear a splint? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 Yes, the feeling in my upper teeth is very strange too. As far as the splint goes - I didn't have my upper jaw widened during this surgery, and I have a friend who only had the lower jaw done and she had a splint too. So, I think it just depends on your Doctor and what method they prefer to use. The splint's purpose is to guide your teeth to the appropriate bite - so even if you just have lower jaw surgery it's still used by some Drs. > > > > > > hi, sorry this might sound really stupid, but what exactly is a > > > splint? Im having lower jaw surgery in less then 2 weeks, will I > > have > > > too wear a splint? > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 11, 2005 Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 Hi Sriram, it sort of fits around your top teeth like a hockey mouth guard, only alot smaller - there are indents in the splint that are in the shape of your upper teeth, so it fits just under your braces. And there are indents for your bottom teeth to fit as you close your jaw, which guides your bite to the right spot, although being banded your jaw isn't opening yet. My splint was wired into my braces, so I couldn't remove it. It's clear, so maybe it's hard for you to see - can you see it when you look in the mirror - a plastic piece sitting just below your braces? Pam > > > > > > hi, sorry this might sound really stupid, but what exactly is a > > > splint? Im having lower jaw surgery in less then 2 weeks, will I > > have > > > too wear a splint? > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Hi Pam, That must feel great to have the plastic out! Did you have your maxilla lengthened? I will be having that, and I think that the OS said it would leave a slight gap with my lips not being able to touch easily either. GOod to hear that you can help them stretch slightly. Congrats on the splint being removed! Hugs, Fran > > Hi all, I'm 4-weeks post-op now. My splint got taken out today. What > a wierd feeling - I guess it takes some time to get used to not having > your mouth full of plastic. > > My back molars don't touch, which my OS says is standard alignment for > everyone he does - in 2 weeks I will see my OD and he will adjust my > braces so my molars line up better. > > I've gotten the go ahead for 'mushy' food, which is a step up from > blended food, we'll see if my jaw works well enough for the mushy > stuff. > > My lips still don't touch together naturally, the Dr. said I need to > practice stretching out my lips to stretch out the scar tissue from > the incisions - I have about a 1 cm gap between them at rest right now. > > But...each week seems to bring a new level of healing....so hang in > there everyone just out of surgery - and thanks for all the advice > from people further down the healing path! > > Pam > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Hi Pam, That must feel great to have the plastic out! Did you have your maxilla lengthened? I will be having that, and I think that the OS said it would leave a slight gap with my lips not being able to touch easily either. GOod to hear that you can help them stretch slightly. Congrats on the splint being removed! Hugs, Fran > > Hi all, I'm 4-weeks post-op now. My splint got taken out today. What > a wierd feeling - I guess it takes some time to get used to not having > your mouth full of plastic. > > My back molars don't touch, which my OS says is standard alignment for > everyone he does - in 2 weeks I will see my OD and he will adjust my > braces so my molars line up better. > > I've gotten the go ahead for 'mushy' food, which is a step up from > blended food, we'll see if my jaw works well enough for the mushy > stuff. > > My lips still don't touch together naturally, the Dr. said I need to > practice stretching out my lips to stretch out the scar tissue from > the incisions - I have about a 1 cm gap between them at rest right now. > > But...each week seems to bring a new level of healing....so hang in > there everyone just out of surgery - and thanks for all the advice > from people further down the healing path! > > Pam > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Hi a, Congratualtions on getting your splint out also! That must be so different to not be able to talk easily for 4 weeks. Very difficult I would think. I am glad that part of the process is behind you. Hugs, Fran > > > > > > hi, sorry this might sound really stupid, but what exactly is a > > > splint? Im having lower jaw surgery in less then 2 weeks, will I > > have > > > too wear a splint? > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Pam - Congratulations on your desplinting! You must be so thrilled to finally be free of that plastic. How much longer will you have your braces? How is eating without the splint going? You mentioned you will be eating mushy food - is that considered " no-chew " food or are you allowed to eat with some chewing involved? I can't imagine what it must feel like to have a different bite. Take care. ~~ Diane (Idaho) > > Hi all, I'm 4-weeks post-op now. My splint got taken out today. What > a wierd feeling - I guess it takes some time to get used to not having > your mouth full of plastic. > > My back molars don't touch, which my OS says is standard alignment for > everyone he does - in 2 weeks I will see my OD and he will adjust my > braces so my molars line up better. > > I've gotten the go ahead for 'mushy' food, which is a step up from > blended food, we'll see if my jaw works well enough for the mushy > stuff. > > My lips still don't touch together naturally, the Dr. said I need to > practice stretching out my lips to stretch out the scar tissue from > the incisions - I have about a 1 cm gap between them at rest right now. > > But...each week seems to bring a new level of healing....so hang in > there everyone just out of surgery - and thanks for all the advice > from people further down the healing path! > > Pam > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Diane, I will have my braces anywhere up to a year, the average is 6- 8 months. I have another two weeks before I will see my OD, so he may be able to give me an idea how long once he sees my bite. I'm still on a no-chew diet, mushy food for me right now is just stuff I can mash against the roof of my mouth and swallow. But it's a step up, that's for sure, and drinking from a glass rather than a syringe is a definite bonus. It is standard for my OS to have people not chew for 6 weeks, I think, unless you're wired, then it can be even longer. I'm not able to open my mouth yet either, at least no more than about 1 cm. He doesn't want any jaw exercises until I'm healed as well. I think he's very conservative, compared to other peoples' OS on this site, they all seem to vary as to how they let you progress. As far as the different bite - it feels very, very odd. My back teeth used to touch from my open bite, now they don't touch at all. I think I will be learning to chew all over again. Pam > > > > Hi all, I'm 4-weeks post-op now. My splint got taken out today. > What > > a wierd feeling - I guess it takes some time to get used to not > having > > your mouth full of plastic. > > > > My back molars don't touch, which my OS says is standard alignment > for > > everyone he does - in 2 weeks I will see my OD and he will adjust > my > > braces so my molars line up better. > > > > I've gotten the go ahead for 'mushy' food, which is a step up from > > blended food, we'll see if my jaw works well enough for the mushy > > stuff. > > > > My lips still don't touch together naturally, the Dr. said I need > to > > practice stretching out my lips to stretch out the scar tissue from > > the incisions - I have about a 1 cm gap between them at rest right > now. > > > > But...each week seems to bring a new level of healing....so hang in > > there everyone just out of surgery - and thanks for all the advice > > from people further down the healing path! > > > > Pam > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 Hi Pam, I can feel for you about the messy eating and drinking, even though I am preop! The braces along with the bite plate they put in, allows only my two front teeth to meet, and that is with the very wide biteplate. So really biting into something is never doable! And since my bite is not open bite except at the front, I lose food all over my shirt!! lol My husband says he needs to take a cordless vacuum with us when we dine out! lol I have also considered a bib! haha And I have 2 more years of this! UGH! What they will be doing for me is to lower the upper maxilla and contouring it, using bone from my hip to augment the separation. They will also reposition the lower nasal septum as it is right now nearly touching the outside of my left nostril. I understand they will also do something else to that region, and I am thinking it is the turbinates, but I am not really clear on this. For the lower they will be lengthening it, moving it forward and rotating it to the right. They are moving it forward different lengths on each side as you shared as well, but I don't have that distance information memorized yet. I will need a second surgery to do a functional (and I will request cosmetic too) repair of the upper part of my nose which will be closed off by centering the lower septum - funny, because when you look at me head on, my nose is straight, but it really is " z " shaped inside - much like my jaw. I will also have full mouth rehab once the braces are removed. I will have at least all the front teeth top and bottom filed slightly and new crowns applied. That is because the new position of my jaws will leave my teeth far too short. They are hoping to keep my molars and move them up enough to meet by the braces work being done now. It is working, as when they first put in the bite plate, my teeth were like a 1/2 " apart in the back, and now they are much closer. Some places are nearly 1/8 " and some are about 1/4 " . Still a gap, but better. My lips meeting post op will also be a challenge for me as they are lowering both the upper and lower to give more volume in the mouth cavity. So I am completely interested in how you progress! I love it that you can do " b " sounds now. I need to learn the names of the procedures and the cm of movement that will be done, so that it is as specific as some of the other peoples posts here - like yours. It probably will let me explain my procedures with a lot few words too! lol I am wishing you luck with getting your lips together. I hope it continues easier now with the splint out! Hugs, Fran > > > > > > Hi all, I'm 4-weeks post-op now. My splint got taken out > today. > > What > > > a wierd feeling - I guess it takes some time to get used to not > > having > > > your mouth full of plastic. > > > > > > My back molars don't touch, which my OS says is standard > alignment > > for > > > everyone he does - in 2 weeks I will see my OD and he will > adjust > > my > > > braces so my molars line up better. > > > > > > I've gotten the go ahead for 'mushy' food, which is a step up > from > > > blended food, we'll see if my jaw works well enough for the > mushy > > > stuff. > > > > > > My lips still don't touch together naturally, the Dr. said I > need > > to > > > practice stretching out my lips to stretch out the scar tissue > > from > > > the incisions - I have about a 1 cm gap between them at rest > right > > now. > > > > > > But...each week seems to bring a new level of healing....so hang > > in > > > there everyone just out of surgery - and thanks for all the > advice > > > from people further down the healing path! > > > > > > Pam > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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