Orthodontic torture

[Matthew Hunter]

I went into an orthodontist's appointment, a very good orthodontist in fact, one of the best, yesterday. I was under the impression that I was going to get a tooth pulled that hadn't fallen out because another had been holding it in, which would not (and does not) hurt at all. However, I also knew they'd be putting spacers in my back teeth. See, while many people my age and younger need braces for teeth that are too crooked or go in crazy directions, I have the opposite...mine are just too close together, and it makes it so that it looks strange. So I came in there to get the first part of my correction put in and that tooth pulled. I've always been lucky about the dentist, I've had maybe 4 or 5 cavities in my entire 17-1/2 years of existence, never had a major mouth injury or disease or something. My mom took me in and I went back for the procedures, thinking I'd have some kind of spacers put in and that tooth pulled. The nurse gave me novacaine and gas, and the doc did his job. Well, when I fully came to, I relazed that the tooth had been pulled with no trouble at all, but "something new has been added....." a "crozat spacer appliance". Sounds like an Acme product, but whatever it is I hate it. It basically is a wire placed between the two sides of my upper jaw, wired around a few molars on each side, with the job of pushing them slowly outward to make room for the other teeth to readjust themselves. Fine....except that the !@#!@$%!@$ thing feels like I've got a horse-bridle bit in my mouth, and I can't take it out. Not so bad so far, right? Well, then he said, AFTER the whole thing had been put in, that it would hurt for anywhere from 2 to 5 days, and that I would not be able to chew anything until it settles in and stops hurting. It cannot be removed to eat, and it's gonna be in there for 3 months, adjusted every 2 weeks, meaning every 2 weeks I have to go through this whole crap again. So I've been eating out of a blender since noon yesterday (ever had pulverized Chef Boyardee ravioli or Fruit Loops in milk?).I am in constant irritation because the wire is in such a position that I can't touch my tongue to the roof of my mouth, and every time I try to lick my lips I trip the damn thing and it hurts. Plus, I'm leaving town on Friday to go to my grandmother's in Midland, and the week after I'll be with my other grandmother in Pennsylvania, and I'll have this thing in the whole time. "Oh, you'll get used to it", the orthodontist tells me. RIGHHHHHTTTT...then he told me there would be, for the 3-month duration, things that I won't be able to eat at all....such as:

Tacos
Pretzels
apples
bananas
carrots
chips of any kind
gum
candy
crackers
steak
Barbeque
cheesy pizza
beef jerky
peanut butter sandwiches
-and anything else sticky, cruchy, or chewy.

Which basically means I've got to stick with small bites of sandwiches and other soft stuff, and lots of soups, soft foods, and liquids for 3 months. Plus, in its current position, the wire causes me to sound like a bad Sylvester imitation. This is a nightmare...it's crippling 2 things I love to do...eat and talk to people. Any of you ever had this operation?
-Matthew

[EarthX]

Jaw Surgery with the jaw then wired shut for 8 weeks.

Liquid diet only: You wouldn't believe what can be blended when you're desperate for a new taste.

Couldn't use the phone since I couldn't enunciate

Vomiting was not fun (lots of mouthwash afterwards)

The wife didn't get as much enjoyment out of life either ;)

[Joe Tully]

Sounds kind of like when I had to wear braces. Each time an adjustment was made, my teeth hurt like heck. They hurt a lot for the first few days. I wore braces for 2 years, and had to watch my diet...Avoided food with bones, (such as fried chicken, one of my faves), no corn on the cob...lots of other stuff that I can't remember because it was so long ago. So on one hand, yeah, you have it worse...but at least it will be over in 3 months as opposed to a couple of years.

Just hang in there kid! If it's anything like braces, the first few days are the worst!

[DR. BELCH]

My ex had her wisdom teeth removed last year and spent the day smoking marijuana to relieve the pain. Aside from what my dentist tells me is a "receding gumline", my teeth are pretty healthy. Since I have a big mouth, my WT's came in without a hint of pain...so I guess I'm one of the fortunate ones. Yay.

[Matthew Hunter]

Whoa, jaw wired shut? OWWWWWW....well, maybe ya beat me there, but still...and the braces thing wouldn't bother me, since you can at least drink water without tripping the wire and causing a surge of pain.With your teeth hurting you can at least move your tongue. I know it's only the first few days, but it's not the pain that bugs me, it's the wire up there that makes me unable to take a bite of something, and causes me to speak with a lisp. I asked for a dental correction, not a speech impediment. You should've heard me tell the water department guy where the sewer leak was today! When my parents ask me how I'm adjusting to it I tell them it's horrible and extremely uncomfortable and they say I'm being immature about it. Thing is, it takes a LOT of discomfort to make me complain, I'm no wimp when it comes to medical and dental stuff. I'm going to try and get a 2-second appointment on Thurs. and see if there's some way it can be adjusted just a hair...just so it's not quite so irritating, or is irritating only 19 hours of the day instead of 24....
-Matthew

[Lonestarr]

May 1996 - I was to have braces put on, but for them to fit, I needed four teeth pulled; one from each corner of my mouth. To add insult to injury, the anesthetic (sp?) was administered with a needle(!) in my gums.

Not too bad, you say? I have yet to have my wisdom teeth pulled.

[happyheathen]

.

[hippety hopper]

Matthew,I've had braces(thankfully their off now)
but once their off you wont regreat having braces,BUT I do know exactly what your talking about!
Just stick with it and they will soon be off.

1 last thing happyheathen,lets no start fights know shall we!

[Sveven Dvorking]

My younger sister was forced to wear braces. She didn't want to, but I haven't heard her complain. As for me, I get some minor cavities from brushing once a day. Nothing serious.