Hannah's Blog

So I posted a while ago about being on amoxicillin for my infected screw(s). I thought that would be enough until I saw my ortho, but after a few more aches and twinges, I finally went to see a doctor up here at uni. He said he couldn't see anything, but without being a dentist he says he can't be sure. So he decided to prescribe some more anti-biotics, this time they are called Metronidazole and my dosages is 400mg, one 3 times a day for a week.

They aren't too bad I guess, but I'm ...

So I had an appointment with the orthodontist and she checked out my little infected area and said "Ooh, yes, that is infected." Yeah that is why I told you to look at it. Silly ortho...

Anyway, she said it's oozing a little puss from the scar, but she wanted to check that was all that was wrong. I'd forgotten how fun x-rays are! Certainly more fun that moulds but still it's not my favourite past-time.

I got called back in to my ortho once the x-ray was all ...

Yeah, it's dampened my mood a bit...

I've been on holiday with my family, and they commented on how my face seemed disproportionately swollen. I had felt a little pain, but I assumed this was still normal in the first year after surgery. However, I had a dentist appointment today and thought I'd better say something.

So I told him I've been experiencing a few pains and he asked me whether it hurt as he was examining it. It didn't really so I said no. He had a poke around ...

Here are some photos of me...
well, its me.jpg This one was taken before I started any treatment, in february 2008, age 14.

PICT0107.jpg This was before my second jaw surgery, august 2011

PIC_2970.JPG This is what my smile looks like now, after two lots of surgery and over two and a half years of braces

PIC_2963.JPG This is me in January 2012

I'm lovin' the results!

I finally got my braces off on 29th December, just in time for the new year I smile every time I see a mirror now. It wasn't that nice getting them off though...

There was quite a lot of strain on my teeth as each bracket was prised off, then a fun test of endurance as my ortho polished my newly naked teeth. That wasn't so bad I guess. But then the most enjoyable part of all... the moulds. Now bare in mind I had both my jaws broken and my wisdom teeth removed in August. So when ...

So I've been at university for a few weeks now, apologies for the total absence from these forums, and I'm slowly getting used to it. I'm managing most foods, just avoiding the obvious difficult ones (eg. the dreaded apple).

One thing I'm not sure about though, my teeth seem quite sensitive, when I'm brushing them it's a little uncomfortable.

Should I just keep brushing? Should I brush more? Less? Or is this totally normal? Any advice or ideas appreciated!

I've managed to set my laptop up with the system my uni uses - which for somebody as clueless as me is quite an achievement! I'm in courts of residence, which in my case means sharing a kitchen with thirteen other people. However, I can safely say I am not the only one with braces! I haven't seen everybody, as some seem to want to keep themselves to themselves, but there is a guy with braces so I don't feel quite as weird.

I haven't told any of them I've had jaw surgery. ...

...
Almost.

I had the orthodontist yesterday, and she seems happy with how its going (she has to be - she won't see me again for at least three months) and she put a full wire in the bottom and - wait for it - removed my elastics! I only have to wear elastics at night, and they are a new size again, 6.4mm which is a lot better. One either side, making a box, and one in the middle which is only hooked up to two teeth, kind of diagonally? Not sure what that's about, but I don't ...

I had an appointment with my ortho yesterday, she took out my lower wire and didn't put a full wire back in. I'm a little confused...

There's a kind of partial wire on the front few teeth, but the back ones are wireless! Apparently this is to "let them settle", whatever that means. I'm still wearing elastics (yay...) so I don't really feel any different, except for the fact that I am aching a bit now.

So I have one more appointment next week, then I'm off ...

So I had an appointment with the orthodontist today... Made me realise how long I've been going to Bournemouth Hospital, and how often I've gone recently as the receptionist said "Hello Hannah, how are you?" I must have gone many times for her to remember me out of all the faces she must see every day!

Anyway, about the appointment... she seemed happy with how the bands are closing the gap, and just as I mastered putting in the other bands she changed the ones I had! ...

So I saw my ortho today, first time since my surgery, since she was on holiday recently and I had to see someone else. She seemed really pleased with the progress. Even when I bit together and only the right hand side met she was like "No worries."

She seemed happy with how my elastics were, but made the left one WAY tighter, by having it go doubly round the hooks. Of course now I can barely open my mouth, but if it can make the teeth meet in two weeks time (like my ortho ...

...of breaking your braces."



Not something you want to hear the orthodontist say really. But it's true. As he took out the wire, seven - that's right SEVEN - brackets came off my bottom teeth. Six still on the wire, the last one I nearly swallowed, oops!

So he tried to clean my teeth a bit, but I could feel it making my jaws hurt, so he sort of did the best he could, then put on some new brackets and a new wire. It wasn't fun really, as I had ...

Huge step forward - I can now drink from a glass without a straw or syringe! About time because I was feeling constantly dehydrated and that kind of hungry that actually means you're thirsty.

Anyway, I had an appointment at the orthodontist (we called and asked, cos my surgeon had said bands were essential but I hadn't had them on yet) yesterday, and he had a look at my mouth and didn't seem very happy. A combination of the state the braces were in, and the state my teeth were in, ...

I've finally been allowed home from the hospital. I feel SOOOO swollen and puffed up. I haven't managed to bite together yet, or to open my mouth wide enough to get a toothbrush in really.

The op itself went ok, so I'm told, except that apparently a couple of brackets broke because they didn't put any bands on. My jaw feels like it's hanging a little precariously, but I have plenty of pillows to keep it in place when I sleep.

I'm eating surprisingly well (probably due ...

Not long now until my op. I'm desperately taking medicine and tablets to stop this sniffle developing into a cold, I'm brushing as best I can around my hooks, I'm using the chlorhexidine mouthwash the hospital told me to get, and I'm drinking the energy drinks they gave me.

I feel so worn out!

These energy drinks they gave me, I'm meant to have two a day starting today until my op. The hospital gave me six, two apple flavour and four chocolate. Now, while I love apples, ...