^^ Interesting. I had that same surgery done 34 years ago this December.
I'm scared (hugs welcome)
- Thread starter rhubarbodendron
- Start date
I don't remember the exact diagnosis. It had something to do with a mismatch between the upper and lower jaw, I think. I had braces since grade school and they never worked-- we were told that my teeth would continue to get worse instead of better unless I had the surgery.
Glad it went well. I had an upper molar pulled a year ago, and I know exactly what you mean about that horrible sound it makes.My dentist told me I was lucky it was an upper molar and not a lower one for the very reason you've had so many issues.
The molar I had pulled was lower. After all the drilling I've had for crowns and digging during root canals, the drilling into my actual jaw for the implant was THE worst. My whole head vibrated with that one. Of course, the molar was the furthest back and there's not much room to work.
I know what you mean. I got my implants before I looked up the procedure on the internet. Had I actually gotten a glimpse of that bone drill beforehand I'd have never found the courage to get it done. It looks less like something dentistish but rather like some tool you need to drill a pipeline into granite...
I'm glad I got my implants, though. I just love them - it's like having grown the missing teeth back =)
@macloudt & RJD - that sounds terrible! How old were you when you got that surgery? How long did it take till you could eat something solid again? When I got my implants I had to live on soups and soft stuff for months - I'll never in my life eat any porridge again!
I'm glad I got my implants, though. I just love them - it's like having grown the missing teeth back =)
@macloudt & RJD - that sounds terrible! How old were you when you got that surgery? How long did it take till you could eat something solid again? When I got my implants I had to live on soups and soft stuff for months - I'll never in my life eat any porridge again!
I was 12. Usually this surgery is not performed until the age of 16 to give the skeleton time to stop growing, but I'd already stopped growing by the time I had my surgery. That fact annoyed me more than the surgery! I had braces on my teeth, and they were wired shut for six weeks after the surgery, during which time I was, of course, on a liquid diet. I was very lucky, though, first of all because the surgery went without a hitch and I healed very well, and second of all because somehow the surgeon was able to freeze my upper jaw for six months after the surgery. This meant that I had no pain at all, and didn't need to take any painkillers, either. Seeing as the bone, never mind the nerve endings, were cut right through, recovery could have been very painful indeed. I had to be careful in regards to not doing any activities which could cause injury to my jaw during those six months after the surgery, but I could eat anything, which was a relief. To this day I have stitches all along the top of the gums of my upper jaw, and x-rays reveal the four metal hooks which literally held the bone together until it healed naturally.
The only residual glitch I have is that I get a horrible sensation in my upper jaw and teeth if I'm in a very cold wind, as in -25C or colder. I can't describe the sensation. It isn't pain; in fact, the feeling is rather numbing, but I hate it with a passion. Thankfully it's never cold enough in England to cause it.
The only residual glitch I have is that I get a horrible sensation in my upper jaw and teeth if I'm in a very cold wind, as in -25C or colder. I can't describe the sensation. It isn't pain; in fact, the feeling is rather numbing, but I hate it with a passion. Thankfully it's never cold enough in England to cause it.
I was 17 when I had mine and my jaw was wired shut for six weeks. I guess mine was a bit different from yours, macloudt, because I couldn't speak or eat the whole time. It drove me crazy (the eating part-- I couldn't care less about speaking 
). At one point, I went to the extreme length of getting some lobster sauce at the Chinese restaurant and blenderizing it, in the hopes that I could make it thin enough to eat. No dice. When I finally got unwired, my parents took me to a nearby donut shop for some delicious donuts-- I had to nibble because my jaw was so stiff I still couldn't open my mouth. There was never any pain, though. I don't remember if I took painkillers or not, but I never had any actual discomfort.
). At one point, I went to the extreme length of getting some lobster sauce at the Chinese restaurant and blenderizing it, in the hopes that I could make it thin enough to eat. No dice. When I finally got unwired, my parents took me to a nearby donut shop for some delicious donuts-- I had to nibble because my jaw was so stiff I still couldn't open my mouth. There was never any pain, though. I don't remember if I took painkillers or not, but I never had any actual discomfort.
My mother reached the point where'd she throw whatever she'd cooked for the rest of the family into the blender, add some stock or other liquid to it, and puree it to a consistency where I could slurp it (literally) through my teeth. The results always looked utterly disgusting, but tasted just fine. I had no issues with talking at all. In fact, one week after the surgery I was back home yakking on the phone to my friends. It's still a family joke that even having my mouth wired shut doesn't shut me up. 
Heh. I'm a pretty quiet guy to begin with, so getting wired shut just gave me an excuse.
I was 17 when I had mine and my jaw was wired shut for six weeks. I guess mine was a bit different from yours, macloudt, because I couldn't speak or eat the whole time. It drove me crazy (the eating part-- I couldn't care less about speaking
Jaw wired shut?! Hubby would not mind if I had to have that! When I had laryngitis for a few days, he was quite...happy.
Uh...I have a tendency to talk a lot.
Awww, huge hug to you, too! {{{{{{{T'Preea}}}}}}}
Heehee, I think RJD might be the quiet type but he'd go insane if he broke an arm and was unable to type
(pun completely accidentially, but nevertheless kinda satisfactory)
Got my permanent crowns inserted today. Other than getting a taste of the glue, the procedure went smooth as butter. No, the "pain" involved the bill when my company insurance only paid 250 bucks of the thousand dollar bill! The contract states it should pay half! Thankfully my dentist and his staff are on my side on this and will investigate the problem.
Sincerely,
Bill
Sincerely,
Bill
I like people who talk a lot. Takes the pressure off me. That's why they say I'm a good listener.
Yes, that would be torture.Heehee, I think RJD might be the quiet type but he'd go insane if he broke an arm and was unable to type
(pun completely accidentially, but nevertheless kinda satisfactory)
Grape, if Hubby and I can get to Boston, we have GOT to meet! Hubby really wants to go. See all the Revolutionary War stuff. I'm not sure why. I know for a fact that NO ONE in his family fought in the war (Hubby was born in Mexico and is mestizo). But we're hoping to go there, maybe even next Spring.
That would be great. Let me know the dates when you set it up so I can arrange a day off-- my new job is not quite as flexible as the old one.
I'm not sure if I have any relatives who served in the Revolution either, although there was a soldier named Ebeneezer Hutchins who might be related to me. I did live a stone's throw from the Battle of Dorchester Heights as a child, though.
I'm not sure if I have any relatives who served in the Revolution either, although there was a soldier named Ebeneezer Hutchins who might be related to me. I did live a stone's throw from the Battle of Dorchester Heights as a child, though.