This Week in My Mouth
I went to Dr. Ross (the orthodontist) this past week. He was very pleased with the shape of things in my mouth. He went on and on about how pleased he was and how things were "just perfect" and how things were "exactly where we want them". He was so genuinely pleased, I forgot to feel a little bit snarky about how they better be considering the physical and financial costs to get here. But, it was really gratifying, seriously.
He took off the longer rubberbands that Dr. Riley (the surgeon) had installed (top front to bottom rear) and I had been wearing constantly, and gave me another pack of the very tiny rubber bands. I don't have to wear rubberbands at all during the day now (huzzah!) and instead am wearing four at night: one on each side that does the top/front to bottom/rear thing, and one triangle on each side.
But, you know, yay! No rubberbands during the day. Of course, this means I have to sort of re-learn how to talk. Again. I sound weird and things are not getting pronounced right and I am not sure how much of that is due to just not being able to really open my mouth for the previous four weeks, and how much is due to, you know, EVERYTHING MOVED.
For example, I can no longer touch my nose with my tongue. Previously, I could touch the top of the tip of my nose with my tongue. Right now, I cannot even get the septum. This, too, might be partly due to things still being stiff and numb in places. But, it feels a lot like there just isn't the length there anymore. Which, I guess, maybe makes sense given that they moved my jaws several millimeters forward. Although my throat did naturally move some with this as well there was no active changes to that so I am not really sure how the place where the tongue attaches at the back moved. *shrug* Anyway, we'll see.
Also, the swelling has continued to go down. I feel like there is still some left, around the mouth and side of the nose. It's hard to tell. I find I am kind of associating "swelling" with "numbness" so if it still feels funny I assume it is still swollen. However, there is some evidence this is true given some continued lack of mobility in the places that feel funny. So, given I feel like we're very close but not there yet, I'm kind of holding off on posting a "this is my new face" picture.
And, guess what? Next week is my appointment with Dr. Riley during which I will get new x-rays and I will possibly be cleared for chewing. Before you ask if I've picked out a first meal, keep in mind that this will likely be cleared for chewing soft foods. So, it's not like I'm going to be able to have a steak or, possibly, even a hamburger yet. So, calm down. :)
He took off the longer rubberbands that Dr. Riley (the surgeon) had installed (top front to bottom rear) and I had been wearing constantly, and gave me another pack of the very tiny rubber bands. I don't have to wear rubberbands at all during the day now (huzzah!) and instead am wearing four at night: one on each side that does the top/front to bottom/rear thing, and one triangle on each side.
But, you know, yay! No rubberbands during the day. Of course, this means I have to sort of re-learn how to talk. Again. I sound weird and things are not getting pronounced right and I am not sure how much of that is due to just not being able to really open my mouth for the previous four weeks, and how much is due to, you know, EVERYTHING MOVED.
For example, I can no longer touch my nose with my tongue. Previously, I could touch the top of the tip of my nose with my tongue. Right now, I cannot even get the septum. This, too, might be partly due to things still being stiff and numb in places. But, it feels a lot like there just isn't the length there anymore. Which, I guess, maybe makes sense given that they moved my jaws several millimeters forward. Although my throat did naturally move some with this as well there was no active changes to that so I am not really sure how the place where the tongue attaches at the back moved. *shrug* Anyway, we'll see.
Also, the swelling has continued to go down. I feel like there is still some left, around the mouth and side of the nose. It's hard to tell. I find I am kind of associating "swelling" with "numbness" so if it still feels funny I assume it is still swollen. However, there is some evidence this is true given some continued lack of mobility in the places that feel funny. So, given I feel like we're very close but not there yet, I'm kind of holding off on posting a "this is my new face" picture.
And, guess what? Next week is my appointment with Dr. Riley during which I will get new x-rays and I will possibly be cleared for chewing. Before you ask if I've picked out a first meal, keep in mind that this will likely be cleared for chewing soft foods. So, it's not like I'm going to be able to have a steak or, possibly, even a hamburger yet. So, calm down. :)