Close Ups

Since getting my brace I have really been able to see how the alignment of my teeth are all wrong. I've taken some close ups to demonstrate what I mean. My orthodontist has informed me that because my teeth "roll in", I require a brace to re-align them ready for surgery. I never really thought about my teeth before but since having this brace its all I can think about!!

This is just to show my overbite a bit more clearly.

Here's the 'helix'!

Bottom teeth - a little wonky

So this is what my teeth look like when my jaw is closed

If I move them forward they don't really like keeping in line. This is showing what happens if I force them to stay in line - one side doesn't really close or make much contact.

This is what my jaw and teeth do if I simply move my lower jaw forward. 

Come on brace - do your thing!!

First pics

As promised some suitable profile pics (not very flattering I'm afraid). I have a 14mm overbite and can pretty much fit my thumb between my front and bottom teeth. As you can see I have the metal braces (I'm having the procedure on the NHS and was not able to get the clear ceramic ones :-( )I've only had them a couple of days so I'm not quite used to them yet. They're still a little painful but the wax the orthodontists gives you is a great help. I have an appointment booked with my orthodontist for six weeks time. Hopefully this will be when I get the 'helix' removed!

And so it begins....

Hello there - I wanted to start this blog to track my journey through double overbite surgery. I have found other blogs really useful and encouraging so I thought I would contribute my own story. I hope what I share over the next couple of years will help others who are going through the same or thinking about having jaw surgery. Okay, so some background about me...I'm 29 years old, living in the south of England. In my teens I had been given a retainer to fix my overbite, but unfortunately after a number of years using it I didn't see any changes so my teen self decided to give up. This week I had braces fitted and thought it would be a good time to start the blog. However there has been some added preparatory work before this that I thought I should mention. Before the braces (June) I had a 'Quad Helix' fitted. This a spring-loaded appliance that is used to widen your upper jaw. I had it fitted back in June. It was a bit awkward for the first couple of days but I got used to it much sooner than I thought I would. I haven't had any problems with pain, only some slight discomfort early on but I have to admit eating was a little awkward for the first week. Because the springs do not fit flush to the roof of your palate (this is a little gross - sorry) sometimes foods kind of gets a little stuck. Its nothing to worry about though, just expect a bit of a mouth work out! Here's an image...

I have had this in for a few months and this week have had my full braces fitted. I was hoping that the 'helix' would come out when my braces were fitted but alas apparently it still has a bit of work to do, so I have braces and the helix all at once - YIKES! I have to admit I really wasn't looking forward to having braces fitted. I felt really low during the weeks building up to getting them. If I'm being honest I felt very anxious about how they would look - but now I have them they don't look half as bad as I thought they would. However, I have to admit my first couple of days with them have been pretty uncomfortable, but friends who have had them in the past have assured me that this gets better. Its been quite painful to eat but the good thing is its easy to eat soft things i.e ice cream so not too bad hehe. I'll post some images tomorrow!