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.
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