Dane/Re: New to this group.

[Guest guest]

Hi Dane,

I had exactly the same bite you are describing: open bite with a 12mm overjet,

and only

my back molars touched ... actually, only on the right side. Talk about making

chewing an

issue! I've actually been in splint therapy for a while, as the splint provided

me with a solid

surface for all my lower teeth to hit on, so I would wear it 24/7, eat with it,

everything.

Pain is pain. It's temporary, and it's just physical. For the most part, you

will be numb, so

you won't feel much. But as the sensation starts to come back, so does the pain

.... but

there are drugs for that! I've been given Vicodin, others have said they're

taking

Percocet, so don't worry about it. Today is actually my 6th day post op, and I

haven't taken

any of the " hard stuff " yet. My doc has me on a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory

called

Mobic to keep my jaw joint stable, but it also helps with the swelling and pain.

And

Vicodin is great for the pain, but it's been giving me weird dreams, so i am

taking Aleve

instead and I feel ok. It's not like a sharp, knife-stabbing-you kind of pain

.... it's more of a

dull, burning, and honestly, you kind of get used to it.

Honestly, what I find harder than the pain is the weakness that I feel. I am a

fitness

instructor, and am used to bouncing around anywhere from 2 to 4.5 hours a day

intensely, and right now, I can barely walk around the block twice before I need

a nap

But that's ok, it's all part of the process: anesthesia is a heavy thing, and it

takes a while to

leave your body. Plus being on a liquid/reduced diet with less protein has an

effect, as do

all the pain meds. Just give yourself plenty of time and space to rest and heal,

and you'll

be fine. Yesterday, I had tons of energy, today I have a little less. I think

though, that by 3

weeks, I'll be ready to go back to teaching my gentle classes, and by 5 weeks,

the bouncier

ones. I also have a desk job as an administrative manager of a spa, and I plan

to go back

to that by 3 weeks after.

Oh, also, I wasn't wired shut. My docs don't believe in that method. Instead, I

have

titanium plates and screws in my bones, and a plastic surgical splint wired to

my upper

teeth for 5 weeks. I can already open almost 2 finger widths, and am rinsing

with salt

water and brushing with a baby toothbrush, but no toothpaste yet because of all

the

stitches inside my gums.

Best of luck to you, keep us all posted! I love hearing everyone's different

story

Jen

Surgery date: 11/10/05

Upper, lower, and genio

>

> Well My name is dane, I have had braces for about 16-18 months now and

> I am approaching the time where I have to get my braces switched and

> ortho switched to get me ready for surgery. I am very nervous but

> excited at the same time. I have a open bite, where only my back two

> molars touch making eating a meal a difficult thing to do. They are

> going to move my upper pallate forward to correct that issue, I was

> just wondering how bad does this hurt once done? Also is your jaw wired

> shut? how long does the healing process take? Well just basically need

> info. Thanks hope to hear from someone soon. Dane.

>