The bone graft and implant integration were both successful. In fall of 2009, I had a crown made for my missing canine by a dentist in San Jose. Having this done felt like the final step in a long nightmarish process.
My jaw and my bite aren't perfect due to the complexity of my situation. But if I really wanted everything to be perfect, it would take many more years to get right. And even then, it wouldn't be a guarantee. That's life.
Dr. Keller made me a new set of retainers and I've been brushing and flossing to keep my teeth healthy. I no longer wear my retainer in the day. But I still wear it at night.
And now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Bone Grafts, Dental Implants, Integration
I'm blogging from a car right now as my girlfriend is getting Starbucks. I just left my oral surgeons' office where I had a tooth implanted in the missing lower canine area. Those who have followed my surgery diary know of my jaw surgery. But they may not know that I had two more surgeries after that with Dr. Wes Emison in San Jose.
Also, what people may not know is that I had to get more braces. Although the teeth were aligned, the roots were not. So when I initially looked at the x-rays, there was a fear that the implant may damage the roots of the nearby teeth. I worked with the fantastic Rebecca Keller in Sunnyvale to do some tweaking to key teeth. Dr. Keller is one of the nicest, most understanding orthodontists. I would definitely recommend her.
4.5 months ago, I had to take out my wisdom teeth and put in a bone graft at the site of my missing teeth. Because the missing teeth was congenital (meaning I was born that way) the bone never matured. It took a lot of waiting, but today, I had the implant installed.
Now is the waiting game: I need to make sure of two things:
1. Don't mess with the sutures.
2. Let the implant integrate.
I feel good that things are finally working out so that this jaw surgery saga is nearing a close. The only thing that still pisses me off is that Delta Dental refuses to pay for most of it. So I've been spending thousands and thousands of dollars this entire time. How will I save up for college when my salary is low, rent keeps rising, and medical fees get brushed off by my insurance companies.
My future kids will definitely get braces early to avoid all the problems I'm going through now. Let that me a lesson to you parents.
Also, what people may not know is that I had to get more braces. Although the teeth were aligned, the roots were not. So when I initially looked at the x-rays, there was a fear that the implant may damage the roots of the nearby teeth. I worked with the fantastic Rebecca Keller in Sunnyvale to do some tweaking to key teeth. Dr. Keller is one of the nicest, most understanding orthodontists. I would definitely recommend her.
4.5 months ago, I had to take out my wisdom teeth and put in a bone graft at the site of my missing teeth. Because the missing teeth was congenital (meaning I was born that way) the bone never matured. It took a lot of waiting, but today, I had the implant installed.
Now is the waiting game: I need to make sure of two things:
1. Don't mess with the sutures.
2. Let the implant integrate.
I feel good that things are finally working out so that this jaw surgery saga is nearing a close. The only thing that still pisses me off is that Delta Dental refuses to pay for most of it. So I've been spending thousands and thousands of dollars this entire time. How will I save up for college when my salary is low, rent keeps rising, and medical fees get brushed off by my insurance companies.
My future kids will definitely get braces early to avoid all the problems I'm going through now. Let that me a lesson to you parents.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Post Jaw Surgery, Part 2: Liquid Foods
I have a temporary loss of memory. I don't remember a thing from the operation or how I got home. My girlfriend was explaining about how I asked a million questions to the doctor and had to be helped to the bathroom. I don't remember ANY of it! I hope I didn't do anything embarrassing on the car ride back like sing or dance.
Bone grafting and wisdom teeth removal turned out to be a much better experience than the jaw surgery. The main reason is that I can actually open my mouth. Also, my cheeks are puffy, but not extremely swollen. The good news is that my numbness from yesterday is gone. I was afraid that nerves had been damaged (again). But it was just a side effect of the anesthesia. Thank God! As for the residual numbness in the gums from my jaw surgery earlier this year, it has turned into a bit of a blessing in disguise. The holes where my wisdom teeth are don't hurt at all. No nerves = no pain.
I do miss my wisdom teeth though. I asked the doctor to keep them, but I can't find them anywhere. I blame amnesia. The doctor better not have tossed them.
They weren't impacted. But I didn't want to have them taken out later in life should they become infected. The operation allowed my oral surgeon, Wes Emison, to scrape some bone and graft it to where my missing canine is. This way, the bone can be thick enough to support an implant down the road. I had previously considered getting a microimplant because the bone was so thin. However, I couldn't find any research about it online, and after considering my options, decided it'd be better to spend 6-12 more months getting the implant right, rather than risk damaging the bone with a dinky, loose microimplant.
So here's the time table, if the bone integration should take 5-6 months. Then, the doctor will drill the implant. Integration will require another 6 months. Another operation will expose the implant, which allows my dentist to create a crown.
Bone grafting and wisdom teeth removal turned out to be a much better experience than the jaw surgery. The main reason is that I can actually open my mouth. Also, my cheeks are puffy, but not extremely swollen. The good news is that my numbness from yesterday is gone. I was afraid that nerves had been damaged (again). But it was just a side effect of the anesthesia. Thank God! As for the residual numbness in the gums from my jaw surgery earlier this year, it has turned into a bit of a blessing in disguise. The holes where my wisdom teeth are don't hurt at all. No nerves = no pain.
I do miss my wisdom teeth though. I asked the doctor to keep them, but I can't find them anywhere. I blame amnesia. The doctor better not have tossed them.
They weren't impacted. But I didn't want to have them taken out later in life should they become infected. The operation allowed my oral surgeon, Wes Emison, to scrape some bone and graft it to where my missing canine is. This way, the bone can be thick enough to support an implant down the road. I had previously considered getting a microimplant because the bone was so thin. However, I couldn't find any research about it online, and after considering my options, decided it'd be better to spend 6-12 more months getting the implant right, rather than risk damaging the bone with a dinky, loose microimplant.
So here's the time table, if the bone integration should take 5-6 months. Then, the doctor will drill the implant. Integration will require another 6 months. Another operation will expose the implant, which allows my dentist to create a crown.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Post Jaw Surgery, Part 1: Wisdom Teeth
I had my wisdom teeth taken out by Dr. Emison in San Jose today. He did a good job. I'm currently bleeding a loot, but don't feel much pain. I'm still a little loopy right now from the Valium and the IV sedation.
The reason I had my wisdom teeth removed is so he could dig at my bone for a bone graft. As you know, I'm missing a molar. I never grew in. So the bone there is extra thin and can't support a full implant. By beefing up the bone here, I can later implant the tooth.
It willl take 5-6 months for the bone to integrate. At that time, the doctor will drill in the root. Then, after about 6 more months of integration with the bone, I can add a crowl, and voila! New tooth.
The benefit was that I'm charged once for two procedures. At first Dr. Emison thought I might be able to save about 6 months time by implanting the tooth right away. But the bone was truly too thin.
The left side of my face is numb again. It reminds of when I got my jaw surgery last year. I hope this is temporary. When I talk, I feel like Two-Face from Batman. My life side feels like it's not there.
The reason I had my wisdom teeth removed is so he could dig at my bone for a bone graft. As you know, I'm missing a molar. I never grew in. So the bone there is extra thin and can't support a full implant. By beefing up the bone here, I can later implant the tooth.
It willl take 5-6 months for the bone to integrate. At that time, the doctor will drill in the root. Then, after about 6 more months of integration with the bone, I can add a crowl, and voila! New tooth.
The benefit was that I'm charged once for two procedures. At first Dr. Emison thought I might be able to save about 6 months time by implanting the tooth right away. But the bone was truly too thin.
The left side of my face is numb again. It reminds of when I got my jaw surgery last year. I hope this is temporary. When I talk, I feel like Two-Face from Batman. My life side feels like it's not there.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
A Final Post-Surgery Update
Hey everyone. The title of this post isn't "Day XYZ" because frankly I've lost track of time. It has been over a year (I think) since my jaw surgery and much has happened. For starters, I have my braces off again. And so far, my teeth haven't shifted back.
I also didn't go through with getting my wisdom teeth pulled. My dentist really really wanted me to, but my orthodontist really didn't want me to. So in the end, I figured it wouldn't be good to pull teeth unless it was a last resort. Instead, the orthodontist just shaved them down to prevent them from interfering with my bite. As for the nerve damage, the feeling in my cheeks is not 100%, nor will it ever be. I can taste things pretty well, just not with the very tip of my tongue.
An interesting sidenote: a coworker from the engineering department of my company happened upon my post (I advertise this blog with my AdWords account) and emailed me for advice. I guess jaw surgery is a shared experience.
The anxiety before taking the plunge is understandable. I went through it myself. Nowhere is this more evident than in the posts from my previous post. The common question seems to be whether the surgery was worth it.
For me, it wasn't a case of vanity, but a case of medical necessity. Without a correct bite, I would suffer jaw problems, teeth problems, and nutrition problems down the road. So of course it was worth the pain and inconvenience.
Let's consider this chapter closed for now. All is well. But please continue submitting your questions. Dear reader, if you're going through the recovery process, I encourage you to document the process and post regular updates.
Peace!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)