The biggest event that's occurred since my last update is that I got my arch bars taken off! Ahh, what a wonderful day that was. Arch bars are nothing like braces. Don't get me wrong, they were exactly painful or anything, but they were definitely uncomfortable. When I got braces back in the day, it took me a day or two to get used to them, then I couldn't feel them at all. With arch bars, they're basically sewn under your gums, so they're tucked under your lips and you can kinda feel them all the time. They also consist entirely of hooks (because they're surgical braces), and the hooks can cut into your lips a little bit. Again, nothing gory or excruciating, but I definitely had to be careful not to move my lips too too much to avoid the friction. Also, EVERYTHING got stuck in those things. It was extreme. I had to make sure I could at least rinse my mouth out any time I ate, if not brush my teeth.
So anyway, I got the arch bars removed the day before my 8-week mark. I was able to stop wearing my splint and rubber bands about a week or two prior to that. My surgeon wanted to keep the bars on until at least 7-weeks just in case. I had to be put to sleep for the removal, but it was really quick, and I recovered in no time. My gums were a little red and there were a few little scratches, but nothing painful or noticeable!
With the removal of the arch bars, I was pretty much finished with my process, technically. The only thing I still have to have done is a little filing on a few of my bottom teeth. It's nearly impossible to get the bite perfect with orthognathic surgery, that's why most people get it done with braces. So all of my teeth touch, but there is definitely at least one tooth that is significantly higher than the others on the bottom. My dentist will take care of the in a few weeks and I'll be good to go!
I'm at the 12-week mark this Thursday coming up. I'm eating just about everything these days. I've yet to bite into an apple, just out of caution. I'm technically not supposed to eat super-hard foods yet I don't think, but I haven't really been paying much attention! I feel completely normal when it comes to eating, so I'll find myself crunching away on a crouton and then think, "Wait, am I even supposed to be eating croutons?"
Still waiting on my chin nerves to wake up. That includes most of my bottom lip. I'll still wind up with little pieces of food on my lip that I can't feel (that someone will eventually point out to me), but other than that it's not anything that I couldn't live with. My surgeon said that since my nerve endings are inside the bone like they're supposed to be, I shouldn't have any issues with my nerve regeneration. It's just a matter of time! My gums are still numb as well, which was definitely a plus for me recent dentist visit. I was a little worried when I got there because I forgot that I still can't open my mouth all the way. I can fit two fingers (sideways) in my mouth at this point. It didn't wind up being a problem though. My jaw was a little sore after having to hold it open for a while for my cleaning, though! Gotta remember to work on my stretches! ;)
Well, that's about it for now. Here are pictures from 9 weeks and 11 weeks. :)
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