Just an update on the tooth extraction - it's to happen next Thursday, July 2nd!! Again, they're removing my bottom 4's. I'm anticipating this to be fairly painful, but hopefully I will not require any time away from work.
I'm having the teeth removed privately (i.e. outside U of T) which means I'll be out-of-pocket some money. Still, I'm saving thousands upon thousands by going through U of T, so I think a few hundred bucks won't kill me.
I'll update you after the procedure (which will also be my first full day in the new condo!). This post will probably also mark my first since MY FINAL ACTIVATION on June 30.
Take care.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
59 Activations Done, 8 To Go!
Today marks activation #59 = 14.75mm. With 8 left to go, I'll be at 16.75mm by the time it's all over with.
There is not much new to report. I had my teeth cleaned last week for the first time since the surgery. My hygenist for the past three years, Donna, said she noticed considerable improvment in the inflammation of my gums - which was kind of a shock since I had not been going over my teeth with the electric toothbrush and the flossing's been difficult too. She suspects, and she can very well be right, that I'm not breathing through my mouth as much at night time anymore. Lauren, my very light-sleeping fiancee, has not shaken me awake lately telling me to turn to my side to stop snoring. Who knows - maybe this expanded upper jaw is allowing me to breathe a little easier. Time will tell I guess.
Anyway, again, I'm seeing Dr. Roy on the 30th to place a plug in the screw for the rest of the summer. The 30th will be a busy day as I'll also be moving out of my apartment and into our new condo! Rogers will not be by to hook up our internet until July 2, so I may not be posting here until then - unless I manage to finally put up some more pictures.
Take care.
There is not much new to report. I had my teeth cleaned last week for the first time since the surgery. My hygenist for the past three years, Donna, said she noticed considerable improvment in the inflammation of my gums - which was kind of a shock since I had not been going over my teeth with the electric toothbrush and the flossing's been difficult too. She suspects, and she can very well be right, that I'm not breathing through my mouth as much at night time anymore. Lauren, my very light-sleeping fiancee, has not shaken me awake lately telling me to turn to my side to stop snoring. Who knows - maybe this expanded upper jaw is allowing me to breathe a little easier. Time will tell I guess.
Anyway, again, I'm seeing Dr. Roy on the 30th to place a plug in the screw for the rest of the summer. The 30th will be a busy day as I'll also be moving out of my apartment and into our new condo! Rogers will not be by to hook up our internet until July 2, so I may not be posting here until then - unless I manage to finally put up some more pictures.
Take care.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
51 Activations Done, 16 To Go
I realized today that it's been just over a year since that first orthodontic consultation with Dr. Metaxas. That was fast. The best explanation I've ever heard as to why time seems to go by faster and faster as you age is because every day you live as a fraction of your total life gets smaller and smaller. Day 2 of your life must seem like an eternity because that's 50% of your whole life to date! But what's one day to someone who's lived 20,000 days? I digress.
So yes, it's been a year. I'm hopeful this will all be done by next December so that I can start 2011 off with my improved jaw!
Not much new to report. I'm now up to 51 activations (12.75mm) and have 16 (4.0mm) to go. I was wondering how I should celebrate being done activations in 16 days, but the day they're done - June 30 - is the same day Lauren and I move into our first home. I think that event overshadows everything else for that day.
I have no upcoming ortho appts until June 30. I am seeing my regular dentist this week for a cleaning and to book an appointment to remove the two bottom 4's.
I'll be sure to post some pictures soon. Take care!
So yes, it's been a year. I'm hopeful this will all be done by next December so that I can start 2011 off with my improved jaw!
Not much new to report. I'm now up to 51 activations (12.75mm) and have 16 (4.0mm) to go. I was wondering how I should celebrate being done activations in 16 days, but the day they're done - June 30 - is the same day Lauren and I move into our first home. I think that event overshadows everything else for that day.
I have no upcoming ortho appts until June 30. I am seeing my regular dentist this week for a cleaning and to book an appointment to remove the two bottom 4's.
I'll be sure to post some pictures soon. Take care!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
....Not Even Close
Ugh. Bad day.
Just got back from the orthodontist's. After all the measurements were taken, and my teeth looked at by Dr. Roy + 2 orthodontic professors + 1 oral surgeon + 2 periodontists, I found out I still have another 4-5 mm of expansion ahead of me.
Before, I thought 12 mm of expansion was on the very high end of the spectrum. Now by the time it's all over I'll be at 16-17 mm - I'm thinking this has to be a world record! Not the kind of record I want though.
I also found out that I'm having my two bottom 4's extracted as soon as I can arrange it with my dentist. This will put me up to 6 teeth in total that have been lost.
And that's the story of how crowded this mouth of mine was. In a couple of weeks, my upper jaw will be almost 100% wider than it was when I started, and I will have lost 20% of my teeth. Crazy.
Anyways - my orthodontist will be seeing me on June 30. But all they're doing on this day is plugging the screw so that it doesn't turn backwards once I stop. This means braces will have to wait until September. I'm tentatively booked in for September 9.
Ah well - I guess it could be worse, but it certainly sucks right now.
Just got back from the orthodontist's. After all the measurements were taken, and my teeth looked at by Dr. Roy + 2 orthodontic professors + 1 oral surgeon + 2 periodontists, I found out I still have another 4-5 mm of expansion ahead of me.
Before, I thought 12 mm of expansion was on the very high end of the spectrum. Now by the time it's all over I'll be at 16-17 mm - I'm thinking this has to be a world record! Not the kind of record I want though.
I also found out that I'm having my two bottom 4's extracted as soon as I can arrange it with my dentist. This will put me up to 6 teeth in total that have been lost.
And that's the story of how crowded this mouth of mine was. In a couple of weeks, my upper jaw will be almost 100% wider than it was when I started, and I will have lost 20% of my teeth. Crazy.
Anyways - my orthodontist will be seeing me on June 30. But all they're doing on this day is plugging the screw so that it doesn't turn backwards once I stop. This means braces will have to wait until September. I'm tentatively booked in for September 9.
Ah well - I guess it could be worse, but it certainly sucks right now.
46 Activations Done!.....Is this all?
I finished my 46th activation last night (11.50mm). This afternoon, I have an appointment with Dr. Roy where I'm hopeful that she'll tell me this is it for expansion. You've seen how far my upper jaw has come, but the question's is it enough?
I'll also be looked at by the periodontist today. Things in my gums are starting to feel a little tight - I guess a half-inch of expansion will do that! I'm just hoping I'm done.
Whenever that last expansion does happen, I'll take my first "post expansion" pictures, where you'll see the gap in my teeth close on its own over time.
Take care!
I'll also be looked at by the periodontist today. Things in my gums are starting to feel a little tight - I guess a half-inch of expansion will do that! I'm just hoping I'm done.
Whenever that last expansion does happen, I'll take my first "post expansion" pictures, where you'll see the gap in my teeth close on its own over time.
Take care!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Pictures - Before and Today
Okay, so I took another set of pics today. I'm only going to post two: My upper jaw the night before the SARPE operation, and today, after my 41st activation (10.25 mm). I want you to see the difference.
Take a wild guess at which one is the "before" and which one is the "after"!!
That is all! I'll post more pics soon. Good night!
Take a wild guess at which one is the "before" and which one is the "after"!!
That is all! I'll post more pics soon. Good night!
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