2.5 Months UPDATE VIDEO!!

Made a video to procrastinate packing for college! :)

Wow cute thumbnail hahaha.

New Chains On My GRILLZ

A whole top diamond and the bottom row's gold.

To get an update on my bite's progress, I paid my orthodontist a visit today.  He said it was closing up nicely! (Although I haven't been as diligent with the rubber bands as I probably should be)  I also expressed concern about the gap in between my two front teeth, a problem which he eliminated quickly with a clear chain.  For a reason I cannot recall, he also bent the wire, causing one of my front teeth to be pulled down unevenly.  I think I'm going to call for another appointment-- I really don't think that this was his intention.  

But some GOOD NEWS: I may get the braces off in just four months instead of six!  If everything progresses as it has been, I will be fitted for a large medieval mouthguard-like retainer that I will wear at night sans braces to keep my bite in check instead.  YAY!

Also took a new passport photo today: 

Things have certainly changed in five years!

Photobooth BEFORE & AFTERS (Braces)

After 66 days of continuous posting, I think the daily portion of my blog has finally come to an end.  It's been so much fun and I've gotten so much positive feedback over these two months!  The comments from other patients who have found this blog helpful make keeping up with it so long all worthwhile.  I will still update when something interesting happens and I'm planning on making another video soon!

I did my major twenty-minute long presentation, the fruit of my internship research, to a group of important-looking men and women successfully today.  Though nerves tried to trip me up, braces didn't at all.  My boss said I was informative and engaging! :)

One of the most interesting parts of doing research before surgery was scanning blogs for "before and after" photos-- its the essential staple of any jaw surgery blog!  So I believe I am finally at the point where I can post some of mine:

 I'm still cursing myself for not taking better "before" pictures, but theres not much I can do about it now!  Hopefully these give a good enough idea of the changes.  I'm so happy to finally be at this point with the worst of surgery now just existing as an unpleasant memory. :)

Day 66: Reflection

Throughout recovery, I often questioned whether or not this surgery was a good decision.  As I battled syringes and wires and mutism and swelling and pain, I seriously doubted if this would all be worth it in the end.  At this point in my journey, I believe I can finally say that I am so happy to have done this!  I have always had this feeling of incompleteness, as if I'm never really certain of myself or who I am.  Of course I'm not at complete self-realization just yet, but this summer was a huge step in getting there.  As I have said repeatedly on this blog, this process involves so much more than teeth and jaws and wires.  I learned a lot and grew up a lot!  I feel so much more comfortable with myself now, which is a wonderful feeling.  My confidence is returning in spite of the braces, along with a newfound zest for life and anticipation for the future. ❤

Day 65: Surgery Timeline In Teeth Pictures

I really don't know what's going on with my teeth at this point.  Sometimes I feel like they touch on the left side, sometimes I can bite down on my right, I just don't know!  Things are hopefully moving towards proper occlusion, but it is difficult to tell.

I thought I'd post a few pics of what my sad little mouth has been through in the past few months:

PRE-BRACES

THREE MONTHS IN BRACES

POST-SURGERY BANDS

BANDS OFF AT ONE MONTH POST-SURGERY

WIRES AND SPLINT REMOVED TWO MONTHS POST-SURGERY

Notice the slight tilt and small gap in between my two front teeth.  I know I'm obsessing over these little details but I expect perfection after all of this!  These pictures show the massive improvement in my bite though-- I had nearly forgotten how much of a gap I had.  To my jaw surgery patient readers: there is a light at the end of this very long tunnel! :)

Day 64: Unstable

It scares me how mobile my teeth have become!  Having worn the rubber bands infrequently for only a few days, I already feel my bite shifting around from right to left.  I was totally under the impression that once the splint came out, everything would be all healed up and solid.  The fear of relapse always haunts me-- I can't imagine having endured so much just to end up at the beginning.
My summer internship is coming to a close with a big presentation to all these important people on Thursday.  Aaahh! Normally I would worry about stumbling over words, but having had to talk through a variety of metal and plastic implements in my mouth, I feel like I can articulate through anything!  I'm nervous of course, but not too concerned about having to present with braces.  It takes too much effort to be all self-conscious about them at this point.
I've mentioned before that I was disappointed at not being able to travel this summer like I normally do because of surgery, but this summer at home has fostered a newfound appreciation for where I live.  It really is beautiful!  I took this picture while out boating a few nights ago:

CALIFORNIA!

Day 63: Date & Random Updates

Went on a date tonight. ;)  I had a fantastic time and he didn't mind the braces at all-- I nearly forgot I had them!  It's nice to know that others don't perceive all of this as as big of a deal as I make it out to be.

I continue to have headaches because of the rubber bands.  I sincerely hope I only have to wear them temporarily.  My orthodontist told me that in six weeks I should have a better idea of how long I will require braces.  My teeth moved fairly quickly in braces pre-surgically, so I'm hoping that this means it won't have to be too long!  Also, my molars are slowly moving closer and closer to one another!  So happy about this.
Sorry for the short random and choppy post today, I am so exhausted right now.  Sometime I'll have to find a good stopping point for the daily portion of this blog-- the last thing I want is for my posts to feel forced.  But the comments I've been getting make me so happy!  I am overjoyed that people curious about surgery have found my blog helpful and informative.  It makes it all worthwhile! :)

Day 62: Full Tilt

I awoke this morning with significant pain in my neck and jaw.  Those little rubber bands can really pack a punch!  Frustrated at the reality of additional orthodontics, I ditched the little thing for the remainder of the day.  As it progressed, I was alarmed at how much I could feel the obliquity in my jaw.  When I bit down, my teeth clamped down on the right side and remained apart on the left.  This tilting scares me-- I was under the impression that once the splint came out, the teeth were supposed to be in the perfect position.  I thought that braces were going to be largely unnecessary, as I believed the surgery should serve as a cure-all for everything teeth and jaw related.  Why else would I endure all this to get it?  Realizing that this is not the case is all the more exasperating, even though I know the worst is behind me.
Wearing the rubber band now, I am conscious of it training my bite.  As reluctant as I am to wear it during the day, I suppose it's necessary.  Ugh--  Sometimes it feels like there is no end to this.  I often feel as though if I had fully understood the frustration, time, patience, pain, and difficulty involved I would not have agreed to surgery.  Being on the younger side of surgery patients, I may have not yet learned to accept circumstances the way many older people do.  I am constantly dissatisfied.  Most of my frustration stems from a feeling of powerlessness at the inability to somehow speed up this process.  It's certainly a learning experience!