A Smile Connects Us You And Me

Today I fly to NYC to see Dr. Mac for some teeth restoration (hopefully the last of it!). I'll try to remember to post what happens ASAP. Thank you to everyone for their continued support! Smile :)

Recently I have had several other "jaw buddies" state that my situation has made them second guess getting their jaw surgeries. This scares me because if anything my experience should do the exact opposite! If I didn't have this surgery I would have eventually lost all of my teeth due to my clenching/grinding/terrible alignment of my teeth. Not to mention the terrible/unbearable pain I was in pre-surgery. Compared to where I was pre-surgery I am doing amazing! I just still have pain and muscle spasms (due to the arthritis) that the average person doesn't have. These are things I knew would not be cured by my surgery. Surgery DID help tremendously and I have not regretted for one second getting my surgery. Dr. Gunson and his team have been so supportive and helping in figuring out what treatment is best for me pre/post-op. Nothing is black and white, and no two people will have the EXACT reasons for having surgery, nor the exact results. It is a personal choice, and ...

Today I go to see a Rheumatologist about my joints to see if there is anything they can do to help my joint pain. This isn't something that could have been fixed by my surgery, in fact surgery has made them feel better. But because I still have pain/swelling in my joints on a daily basis my surgeon has decided to send me to the Rheumatologist . I'll let you all know how it turns out! Still loving my new bite! Keep on Smiling! :)

Nearly 4 years since my journey for a healthy smile and jaw here I am, braces free!! SMILE!

After nearly two months without a post....I'M BACK :) I decided I needed to take a summer break from thinking and writing about my jaw. On Wednesday I will be nine months post-op! Time really does fly. Today I saw Dr. Mac up here in Vermont. It was decided that TOMORROW morning I will be getting my top braces off, so I will FINALLY have all of my braces off. I am quite excited! Dr. Mac also gave me an exercise to do to help with my jaw tension. I make a clucking noise with my tongue on the roof of my mouth. It may sound silly or easy to do, but I had a hard time figuring out how to do it! The point of the clucking is to get my condyle to sit back in my joint properly. The muscle memory post surgery is just crazy. As a reminder, here is a picture of the jaw joint: In the last couple of months I have spent a lot of time with family and friends enjoying the summer while it lasts. My jaw has not had so much control, as I can basically eat anything I want - as long as I keep in mind m...

Yesterday I saw Dr. Chira and she assured me that my joints are just stressed due to the arthritis. This is nothing that has to do with my surgery, just something that needs time and tender care to feel better. I just need to choose safe foods to eat and listen to what my body needs. The best news she told me is that I will be getting all of my bottom braces off next Wednesday!!! I am quite excited. She said she would take all of the braces off at one time, but with my highly sensitive joints it would not be in my best interest. The top will come off in August, giving my joints plenty of time to adjust to not having brackets on the bottom, and for Dr. Chira to go on vacation, and me go to a conference. WHOOHOOOOOO!! I am very excited! It was the greatest birthday gift I could have received from my ortho! Also, since I posted last, the feeling of the screws in my face has subsided. I think the feeling there also comes and goes depending on how much I push myself. I have to remember my...

Me, Dr. Mac, and Lindsay in NYC This picture was taken when I was in NYC and had the work done on my top canines. This was after nearly three hours in the dentist chair (my jaw is a bit swollen). My jaw buddy Lindsay met me at the end of my appointment, she is just starting out in the splint process (w/ Dr. Mac), and will be having a similar surgery to mine (probably)...Linds, you are a ROCKSTAR! Thanks Dr. Mac for treating us! We really couldn't be in better hands...as he has also had double jaw surgery with the same docs, I think he understands more than others might. Currently my joints are starting to become more angry, chewing isn't as easy as it was a couple weeks ago, and I have a lot more pressure in my ears. My energy level is also much lower than it was a few weeks ago, I am begining to feel like I did pre-op. My bite feels GREAT (teeth fit together just the way they should), but my joints just feel terrible. Ugh. I am also beginning to more increasingly annoyed...