So many appointments...

I have to meet with the sleep specialist, orthodontist, and surgeon.

Also, I learned that I'd have to take 3 weeks off for the surgery. I really thought 2 would be enough for some reason. Here's to hoping it all works out logistically.

Happy Halloween!

I'll be skipping the candy and festivities this year. On another note, my next orthodontist appointment is at the end of November, so I might not update this blog until then.

Dental Update

I went back to the oral surgeon's for my follow-up appointment yesterday. Luckily, the hole in my mouth is healing well. I had forgotten how annoying it was to have an empty tooth socket in your mouth, where food gets trapped in at every available opportunity. I was told the hole should close up completely in another couple of days though. Can't wait!

Also, the Periactil gel seems to be working. My gums and roots feel a bit less sensitive than before, though there is still some sensitivity there (such as when rinsing my mouth with cold water). It's been 3 weeks so far, and I try to use the gel twice each day.

And, it's out!

Behold, my tooth (inside).

Getting my tooth extracted wasn't nearly as bad as I had anticipated. I had old memories of that Novocaine shot feeling like it was drilling through either my jaw bone or the roof of my mouth (depending on the particular instance). Those memories were intensified when my dentist held up the gigantic metal syringe today. But luckily, I only felt a pinch! Wow. The dentist did say he puts a pinch both in front of and behind the tooth, and then lets the Novocaine set in before finishing the injection. I'm not sure if other dentists do things differently. I just know that in my past experiences, I've always had laughing gas and the numbing gel, and still felt like the needle bore into my bone.

I'm so glad to have had the extraction done without laughing gas this time. Granted, the wriggling of the tooth was a bit stressful to witness while wide awake. But other than that, everything went smoothly.

The next step is to head back to my orthodontist in a month to get the full wire on my lower teeth put in. I'm guessing it'll take a few months to fully close the gap.

Fun fact: the oral surgeon I went to see today was actually the one who removed a cyst from my mouth back in 1998.

Next Step: Tooth Extraction

The next step in my treatment is getting my tooth extracted in two days. My perfectly healthy tooth, I might add (other than some wear and tear from nighttime grinding).

You would think that after all the teeth I had pulled, this should be a piece of cake. Nope; I was actually scared to even make the appointment. I kept putting it off, hoping that the particular tooth will magically vanish.

Sensitive Gums After Powerwashing

As I mentioned in a previous post, my gums and roots were super sore and sensitive right after my braces were installed. And the culprit, I believe, was the powerwashing that had to occur before the brackets could be cemented on. I was squirming in my seat in pain and terror as the cleaning instrument hit my upper back teeth. I could just picture it scrubbing away what's left of my enamel. *Shudders.* The dental technician did ask me if I was okay, and I nodded because those few seconds quickly passed. Later, I somehow forgot about this incident until it came time for me to brush my teeth. And, the same chilling pain emanated from the roots of my teeth whenever my toothbrush touched that area.

I asked Google whether receding gums can grow back, already suspecting and dreading the answer. To my dismay, multiple links confirmed that one's gums cannot grow back. The only solution, they claimed, was a graft of tissue at the gum line. Eeek. Since I'm only in my twenties, I would probably need to get the grafts repeated every decade or two. Images of dentures flashed in my mind. Thankfully, I stumbled on this Daily Mail article: Get your smile back. It promotes this new type of gel that supposedly generates gum regrowth. Much better than a gum graft, as long as it worked. I quickly searched on Amazon for Genigel, and ended up on the product page for Geningel. After browsing through the reviews and similar products, I ended up buying a Periactil gel kit.

Thankfully, my gum sensitivity decreased each day, and now I can brush my teeth without wincing. I also received my Periactil gel today. I was so excited to try it.

Some initial observations: I spread the gel around with my finger, instead of just my tongue as recommended, in order to get around my braces. The gel leaves my entire gum line with a very soothing and cooling aftereffect. It definitely feels like it's working. My breath also feels fresher, which is kind of surprising because I'm too used to freshness being accompanied by a minty taste (which this does not have). Stay tuned for more updates.

Jaw Surgery Background

No, I'm not referring to the V-line reduction. That's a popular procedure in Asian countries where one's jawline is shaved down to create a slimmer face and chin. What I mean by the title of this blog is basically jaw surgery on an Asian. Hehe. In my opinion, Asians have different bone structure and facial features. My receding mouth and chin isn't all that rare in Asians. However, most don't consider it to be a problem. I truly wonder if the other people with this type of bone structure have any of the dental/sinus issues that I experience.

In my case, I first had braces ten years ago. In hindsight, this may have been a mistake. I had to have 4 teeth removed in order to make enough room in my mouth to straighten my teeth. Later on, I also had my 4 wisdom teeth removed, the lower ones growing in completely horizontally. The x-ray on that was the weirdest thing. All my teeth were then pulled back in my mouth by the braces, possibly exacerbating my receding jaws. After my braces were removed, the lower half of my face looked shrunk in, kind of like a balloon.

Anyway, a couple years later, I noticed that my gums were receding in a few places. Receding gums on top of a receding chin line? What a bummer. Also, the roots of my teeth started feeling sensitive. But I noticed the same gum recession and subsequent "gaps" in other people's smiles, so I figured it was normal. I eventually got into the habit of flossing every day, figuring that stuck-on food bits were the culprit. Unfortunately, my gums still continued its slow recession. Was I flossing too hard? Too often? Drinking too much juice? It was frustrating not knowing. I also noticed that I was grinding my teeth at night.

Only in the last few years did I learn that grinding one's teeth can be the result of a misaligned bite. And it can also contribute to gum line recession. Why didn't any of my dentists tell me this during my regular cleanings?? And even when I brought up the fact that I was grinding my teeth at night? I was just instructed to "stop grinding," as if I could help it. Even when I wore a mouth guard every night (thanks to my own self diagnosis no less), I would still experience slight gum line recession. Finally, an orthodontist I saw explained that even the regular chewing motion can cause gum line recession if one's bite is off because it generates too much uneven pressure on the teeth. Doh!

That particular orthodontist told me I had TMJ and recommended an expensive treatment plan involving braces. He claimed the braces would be used to bring my teeth forward, and in the process cure my TMJ. In the end, I put off treatment because the orthodontist wasn't able to tell me exactly what the game plan was. He wanted me pay for a costly diagnosis session. I was like, on top of the exam fee and x-rays that I had already paid for? Nah... A year afterwards, still keeping the idea of getting braces in the back of my head, I received an email from that orthodontist's office informing me that they had sold their practice. I panicked a bit, thinking, Oh, no! There goes my hope for getting my TMJ treated! I immediately Googled a list of other TMJ dentists in the area, but let a few weeks pass before calling for a consultation. At my consult, I was told that I couldn't have possibly been diagnosed with TMJ because I was never given a CAT scan. I was also told that I didn't require any treatment for TMJ. However, the dentist did pick up on the fact that my face was oddly shaped   a moon face if you will, and highly recommended that I see an oral surgeon. My heart sank. Surgery was the last thing I wanted. I waited almost a year before making an appointment to meet with the surgeon.

This brings me to my present situation. I have recently decided to get double jaw surgery in order to fix my bite, hopefully allow my gums to heal, and treat my sleep apnea. During the surgery, I will also get my deviated septum straightened, my turbinates reduced, and my facial profile rebalanced. Yes, all these issues are connected!