Hi, my name is Lynnette and I am 32 years old. I live in San Diego, CA. In 6 weeks, I will have jaw surgery to correct the way it functions. I hope this blog will serve as a way for me to update my friends on my condition post-op (since I won't be able to talk very much) and also as a place for me to log my frustrations and triumphs.
I had orthodontics during my late teenage years and it was then that my doctor recommended I have oral surgery to correct my bite since braces could only do so much. At that time, I decided to forego surgery and instead got braces to correct my bite as much as possible the "non-surgical" way. Upon getting the braces off I was instructed to wear my retainer as often as possible. Well, unfortunately, I wore it less due to the fact that I was pregnant and very ill every single day (ie. vomiting). While the braces did a beautiful job straightening my teeth, my teeth shifted (slightly) over the years.
In early 2008, I went to the dentist asking what could be done to correct the minor shifts of my teeth. After doing x-rays and impressions, and consulting with an oral surgeon, he recommended I be a candidate for orthognathic surgery. Being that he was the second dentist to recommend surgery to correct my teeth and jaws, I thought it was worthwhile to entertain the idea of having oral surgery.
Basically, my lower jaw doesn't align with my top jaw, I have very few chewing surfaces (can only chew on my left molars), I can't bite into anything because the area between my top and bottom teeth is open, and I have TMJ. I know all of this sounds miserable. Trust me, it is. The funny thing is, most of my close friends and family never noticed my jaw problem. But I can see it, and feel it, and it makes talking and eating quite difficult, and so here I am, counting down the days until I get my face broken.
I did some comprehensive research about the surgery and weighed the pros and cons when I FINALLY decided to go through with it. However, I would soon learn how much time and frustration would go into the process. My mother hated the idea of me having this surgery, knowing my jaws would be wired shut, I will not be eating for 2 months, likely to loose weight (expect to loose 15-20 lbs.), etc.
When I told my family and friends, they didn't quite understand why I would do such a thing. I explained to them that I NEEDED the surgery, it wasn't merely for cosmetic reasons. Sure my teeth were slightly turned and my jaws were misaligned, but honestly I could've lived with that. The problem was that my jaws weren't functioning.
And thus the journey begins...
