Three years of dental purgatory later…
Since I’ve been repeatedly asked to post a picture of myself sans hardware (read: braces and appliances), I’m updating this fancy little blog one last time.
I had a date with my orthodontist earlier this week where she kindly removed my braces for me. The entire process took no more than 5 minutes and was relatively painless. I was shocked that something that was such an inconvenience could be eradicated in mere moments. My teeth felt extremely slimy at first, but I later realized that I’d simply forgotten what smooth teeth actually felt like.
Following that, she made a couple of molds of my new mouth so their lab could fashion me a sporty new retainer! (Note: I’m not actually excited about having a retainer. I’m just making my best effort at staying positive.) I received the retainer a few hours later and learned how to snap it in and take it out. Then, upon shaking the hands of all of the lovely ladies who have taken care of me in that office for the past 3 years, I walked out the door for the last time.
I’ve created a little storyboard intermission for those of you who would rather forego reading altogether and just look at pictures.
Guess what, folks! I have big news!
I got rid of my braces!
Now I’m subjected to wearing this retainer…
…but it’s going to keep my teeth super straight! (Now that’s an unflattering shot!)
Wearing a retainer is frustrating at first because your speech is slightly lispy and you need to take it out every single time you wish to eat. It only took a day or two before I learned how to speak while wearing it and realized that removing it to eat is hardly an inconvenience, considering I can now smile at the table while I eat. It’s quite a brilliant thought! I’m supposed to wear this retainer every day for a year, then every night for two months, and then 1–2 nights per week for the rest of my life.
I wonder what’s waiting out there for me and my new smile…
Following my orthodontist appointment, I went to donate blood with a friend for the first time in my life. Now, despite having 5 years’ worth of tattoos, I’m actually horribly afraid of needles. I finally manned up and committed to donating only to learn that you can’t be a donor if you’ve had dental work performed in the past 24 hours. I still had the privilege of eating free cookies though, so it was a worthwhile trip.
“Would you like another plate of ribs?”
Later that night, a few friends and I went out for unlimited ribs (despite the fact that my orthodontist explicitly told me not to eat ribs for three days until the glue on the permanent wire on the backs of my bottom teeth was fully set). Folks, eating things like ribs and apples again is quite amazing. I felt like a bit of a glutton afterwards, considering I ate 5 plates’ worth. It was a celebration though, so I’m exempting myself for that one night only.
I’ll be driving to New York in a couple of weeks to experience New Year’s Eve in Times Square. I plan on doing something crazy, so look for me on TV! I’ll be the crazy Canadian running around finding cameras in a mad attempt to flash the entire world… with my new smile!
November 3, 2012 at 12:46 am
Same here except with my chin 🙂 it really looks like it sticks out at the moment, but I am hoping that the surgery will help it recede a little…. My orthodontist finally said that my teeth are right so all I have to do is see the surgeon and get a date! Really exciting but scary at the same time!!!
November 2, 2012 at 3:50 pm
Yes, same here on the nose, as well. My nose has never been big, but because of the jaw recession, it looked as though it stuck out. That changed dramatically with the forward movement and I LOVE it. As you go through the process, Shannon, you will notice the changes over the course of several months. I remember for me, one week I was horrified because of how I looked (was still healing) and then the next week, I made progress and thought, “Huh, this might not be so bad”. It takes time, there will be changes each day and you will have good and bad. Now, I’m happy as can be with the results. 🙂
November 2, 2012 at 3:45 pm
This is true… I also saw a positive change with my nose, due to the forward movement of my upper jaw. There are for sure some other aspects to consider about how your face will end up looking aside from just how your teeth mesh together! For some people you end up with positive results automatically with the surgery, for others, there might be further cosmetic surgeries required to fine tune things like the chin, cheeks, nose, etc. Every person is indeed a little different.
November 2, 2012 at 3:37 pm
I think it’s different with each person. I saw dramatic differences in look and feel – the entire shape of my face changed, as is the case with many that have a larger distance of movement. My cheeks are different, they’re higher – ultimately, the way that they moved my jaws gave me a facelift of sorts. LOL
November 2, 2012 at 3:34 pm
I had double jaw surgery for an underbite/crossbite (with surgery had my lower jaw moved back and upper moved forward). I actually noticed a slight difference in my cheeks, in that they are a little fuller now instead of a flat droopy look like they had before. This might depend on how much your jaws actually move during surgery, but maybe everybody sees different results with the way the soft tissue appears when everything is said and done.
November 1, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Graham, I got the bad eyes too:) 20/+400 but the best in my famiy, with no astigmatism at least.
There will definitely be a splint in my case — my upper jaw is so crowded now that I have one tooth that’s tip is a full quarter inch back from the others.
My oral surgeon warned me that my appearance will change, and my nose will be minimized (much to my mother’s joy — I always hated my nose and she begged me not to change it until at least after she died… she’s so odd), but I was wondering about my cheeks. Did anyone notice a difference in how their cheekbones appeared after having the upper jaw done? I was wondering if they’re going to become less prominent.
November 2, 2012 at 3:02 am
Shannon, I suppose we can share in receiving all of the bad genes, then! As for cheek bones, I didn’t notice any difference, and nobody I know mentioned anything. Most people noticed the general shape of my face had changed, but nothing as specific as my cheeks or nose or chin.
October 28, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Thanks for that! I was a bit worried 🙂 You know how you were living off chocolate Ensure for ages…. Could you have puréed other stuff up to eat if you wanted to? If other people were having a meal with meat and carrots and broccoli or something like that, could you just purée each part up separately and syringe it into your mouth? Just wondering 🙂
October 29, 2012 at 1:11 am
Ash, you can absolutely blend up any food you wish as long as you’re able to get it down. I stuck to Ensure because it’s an easy thing to bring to work and because I was using a syringe for the first 2 weeks so pureed food would get stuck in the tube. However, once I was able to drink from a cup, I started blending soups and other tastier foods to maintain my sanity. =)
October 27, 2012 at 9:00 pm
Hey! How’s it going? I really enjoyed your blog! It really helped me understand what I have committed myself too….. I am planning on having jaw surgery in early December- double jaw surgery to correct my underbite. I have only had braces for a year though, enough to get sick of them but I can’t complain when I read other people’s stories. I am pretty nervous about getting it done, but I know it will be worth it. How long was it before your surgeon let you go back to work? Thanks again for the blog. 🙂
October 28, 2012 at 6:22 am
Ash, I returned to my job after only 2 weeks, but I was still unable to speak. Since I’m a software engineer, I was able to communicate solely through email until my swelling subsided enough for my speech to return. However, if you’re required to talk to people at your job, I’d recommend taking a full month away from work. Best of luck!
October 27, 2012 at 6:51 am
Hi Shannon,
I just had upper jaw surgery on Thursday and do not have a splint. I’ve been talking since right after in the recovery room. It’s not always very clear, and it’s better when I am not tired but I can make myself understood. My surgeon said I can talk because I don’t have a splint. They were planning a 2 segment but were able to do a more conservative 1 segment.
October 26, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Is it average to have speaking problems for that long? I’ll have to set up child care if I can’t talk and I’m wondering how long I’ll need if for — if it’s going to be very long, I’ll wait for my mom to retire 😀
In my case my insurance is covering the surgery itself at 100% — it’s been deemed medically necessary. We’re still in the process of finding out what else they are going to do and how much will be covered; I can’t have orthodontia, because I have soft teeth, so they won’t hold the brackets. (Thanks mom for the great genes!)
October 26, 2012 at 4:20 pm
Shannon, I hear you on receiving the “great genes” from your mama! My dear mother gave me poor eyesight, bless her heart!
I was unable to speak clearly for about 3 weeks, which is super inconvenient. If you don’t have a splint, you’ll likely be able to speak within about a week, so check with your surgeon to see if they’re planning to install a splint or not.
October 26, 2012 at 10:47 am
Hey Graham! I’m impressed that you still keep up with comments on your site. I hope you are feeling fantasic these days! Your site was one of the first I found that was truly useful and reassuring to me when I decided to bite the bullet and undergo double jaw surgery. Seven months ago, at 35, I had a 3 segment Lefort 1 and a BSSO. I’m happy to say that it all went well, and despite the ups and downs along with “advanced age complications”, I feel better than I have in many years. I’m so glad I went through with it all. If any of your followers care to check out my story in preparation for surgery, I’m at Journeyofajaw.blogspot.com
Smiles,
Nichole
October 26, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Thanks so much for the kind remarks, Nichole. I’m always happy to provide some encouragement to people who are running into this surgery with a bucket full of fear. I like the name of your blog. Alliteration at its best! =)
October 25, 2012 at 8:56 pm
Now I’m really worried — I hate most things that are drinkable nutrients! My oral surgeon told me when I went into get my wisdom teeth pulled that I needed double jaw surgery… to the point that he didn’t even look at my X-rays first before saying there was no way to correct that severe of a problem without surgery.
October 26, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Shannon, I encourage you to view the surgery as a solution rather than a problem. It’s honestly a privilege to be able to afford having jaw problems corrected. The post-op diet is certainly a little repetitive, but remember that it’s only temporary—just a few short months out of the rest of your life.
October 15, 2012 at 9:39 pm
I, too, am very happy with the outcome cosmetically since my surgery, but that was not my reason for it being done. However, I went back and forth, for months….”I hate how I look. Oh, it’s getting better. Ugh, I look horrible today. Hey, I’m looking pretty good!” and so on, and so forth. It’s a rollercoaster, for sure, for a very long time during the recovery process. But, I don’t hurt anymore. I don’t have a terrible overbite anymore. I don’t have a short face anymore. I really truly like how I look AND I’m pain free. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
October 15, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Jamie! It’s normal For that cosmetic hit to take place where
You wonder if it was worth it! Just when you think
How you look is what your going to look like, it changes!
There was times I thought I was better before but I got
My braces off in September and I havent stopped smiling!
December 21 will be one year and I feel amazing!
I think it so worth it
October 15, 2012 at 8:21 pm
Jamie — The recovery is hard enough to make this surgery worth avoiding unless you are going to really really value the outcome. I’m eight weeks out, and not sure I’d choose do it if I could go back in time even though I know my bite will eventually be functional in a way it never was. The temporary cosmetic hit can also be fairly high — I’m still very swollen and look funny when I talk, and expect that to be the case for months to come. Good luck with your decision! * (Another) Jamie
October 14, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Hi Graham
Based on your experience, would you recommend having double jaw surgery primarily for cosmetic reasons? I have some functional issues because of my bite such as a slight slip and some minor discomfort eating but nothing medical at all. I have an open bite, cross bite and cant which are not too bad, but I know that correcting my jaws would make my face look more balanced. I’m pretty sure that insurance would cover the actual surgery anyways but I just don’t know if it would be wise to subject myself to all this if I don’t have any medical problems as a result of my bite.
October 15, 2012 at 2:22 am
Hi Jamie,
That’s a difficult question to answer. A large part of society seems to condemn people for undergoing cosmetic surgery, while another sector of it praise the same practice.
I’ll admit that I do enjoy the cosmetic benefits of the surgery—a confident smile, clearer speech, and a smoother side profile—but that was certainly not my primary motivation for taking on this operation.
If you’re comfortable with people knowing you had the surgery for cosmetic reasons, then I see no harm in it. The results move beyond looks and into your psychological well-being as well. If you’re more comfortable with your smile, you’ll smile more, and that in and of itself will have a positive effect on both you and those around you.
Let me know what you decide to do.
September 21, 2012 at 5:48 am
Thanks for your reply but I went to the ortho today and they said I should probably get my braces off next time (if not then before Christmas). I must be a quick healer or something haha as I’m at 3 months now so Christmas will be 6 months.
They also said that my retainer should be worn full time for up to 1 week when I’ve had my braces removed!! Then just at night 😀
I’m not getting my hopes up too much in case this doesn’t all happen but it’s looking good. Thank you ever so much for creating this blog and still replying to all my comments so long after your surgery. It’s much appreciated!! =)
September 19, 2012 at 6:28 am
Hiya, I’m currently at the 3 month mark (woooooooo) but I was just wondering at what stage did you get your braces off? (I had double jaw surgery-no splint) I’m hoping to get them off by the 6 month mark but my ortho wasn’t entirely confident about it. Also, did you just wear your retainer at night or all the time? And were you still regaining feeling after the 3month mark, since I still have a tingly lower lip and chin. Thanks
September 19, 2012 at 11:09 am
Hi Bella,
Braces are usually removed between 9 months and 1 year post-op. I had mine removed at 9 months because I was leaving the country to travel. Most orthodontists like to leave them on for the full year just to be sure the roots of your teeth are strong.
I still wear my retainer every night, even 3 years later. I wore it all day long for the first 3 months and then at night following that.
I regained a little bit of feeling up to the 6-month mark, but none since then. I have a small numb patch on my chin, but I don’t even notice it unless someone asks about it.
I hope this helps! =)
September 3, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Hey Graham, Day 17! Thought I’d post on here again lol. Man, I have to say, you’re a big inspiration to me. Not only did you go through this process, and share the same interests as me (Computer Science), you’re also TRAVELLING THE FREAKING WORLD. I see you’re in Monaco right now, I was there in May. Can you believe the wealth there? It’s so inspiring; the culture, the lifestyle, it’s really amazing. Best of luck on your journeys, I’m going to be a follower of yours on Twitter. Cheers man!
September 3, 2012 at 5:57 pm
Nathaniel, I’m always happy to meet fellow travelers! Monaco was definitely an eye-opener. Being the most wealthy country on Earth, I wanted to visit it just before flying to Congo—the poorest country in the world—to fully appreciate the difference between the two. Enjoy Week 3!
August 26, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Hey Grahm, I just read through most of your posts/updates and wanted to say you look soo good! I had my jaw surgery a little over a month and a half ago and reading some of the stuff you thought made me giggle because I have been thinking some of the same things through out my recovery. I also was living off of chocolate ensure for a while and quickly got tired of it. I love reading your posts because they are making me feel like what I’m going through is more normal haha!
I was also wondering if you had an email or some kind of chat (aim, yahoo, skype) that you give to people because I have a few questions I would lovee to ask you. Just wanna pick your brain a little bit 😛
I’m so happy to see how well you handled everything! You’ve made my future look soo bright!
August 26, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Nice to meet you, Stephanie! If you’d like to fire some questions my way, you can email me at thinkswan@gmail.com. =)