I decided to create this blog to document my orthodontic surgery for my friends and family. I am scheduled to go under the knife this Saturday (1/13/2007) to correct a life-long problem caused by a broken jaw at a young age and surely bad genetics. I plan to take pictures and update this regularly throughout my recovery.
A little history of the problem first. I broke my jaw around the age of 4 (mom correct me here please). Aside from a wonderfully scary halloween costume that year, I was gifted with some abnormal oral development. Even though my teeth were straight (mostly from orthodontics), my bite was completely off. A very prominent overbite as well as excessive interference on the side of my jaw trama resulted in a lot of problems in my later 20's.
It got to the point that I started to avoid eating certain foods as they exacerbated the constant clicking and catching I was getting in my TMJ (jaw joint). This is when my Dentist noted that my front teeth were now being knocked loose by my ever-collapsing bite. It was time to see the orthodontist for a second time in my life.
The ortho went over the treatment options and we basically agreed on the only path forward (short of capping all my teeth) was for about two years of braces followed by upper and lower jaw surgery. One of my biggest concerns, being a vain human, was that this procedure wouldn't adversely affect my appearances. Considering my already strong jaw and chin, moving my jaw down and forward had me thinking of "Mr. Incredible". My Dr. assured me that whatever asthetic worries I might have, they would be able to accommodate them.
The pictures below show what they are talking about:
(Images taken from: http://www.universityoralsurgery.com/proc/proc_ortho.html)
A little history of the problem first. I broke my jaw around the age of 4 (mom correct me here please). Aside from a wonderfully scary halloween costume that year, I was gifted with some abnormal oral development. Even though my teeth were straight (mostly from orthodontics), my bite was completely off. A very prominent overbite as well as excessive interference on the side of my jaw trama resulted in a lot of problems in my later 20's.
It got to the point that I started to avoid eating certain foods as they exacerbated the constant clicking and catching I was getting in my TMJ (jaw joint). This is when my Dentist noted that my front teeth were now being knocked loose by my ever-collapsing bite. It was time to see the orthodontist for a second time in my life.The ortho went over the treatment options and we basically agreed on the only path forward (short of capping all my teeth) was for about two years of braces followed by upper and lower jaw surgery. One of my biggest concerns, being a vain human, was that this procedure wouldn't adversely affect my appearances. Considering my already strong jaw and chin, moving my jaw down and forward had me thinking of "Mr. Incredible". My Dr. assured me that whatever asthetic worries I might have, they would be able to accommodate them.
The pictures below show what they are talking about:
(Images taken from: http://www.universityoralsurgery.com/proc/proc_ortho.html)
2 comments:
John,
You and Fion look so cute in the pic! Well good luck and be a trooper at surgery! If you need anything give me a call!
- Susie
I started to read it, but it grossed me out so much I couldn't finish. You better put a phukkin link to my blog yo! Christ, you already got more comments than I've gotten in a month! Duchesse tonight!
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