9 Months Post Op

First of all, I would like to begin this post by announcing that I am not dead.

For those of you having surgery that follow this, friends, family, and Facebook stalkers, I'm sorry I haven't updated in a verrryyy long time.

Today is officially 9 months post op, so I figured it was a good time to update. I haven't written in such a long time because this summer I had a very negative attitude and disposition with this whole jaw joint issue I've been dealing with. Plus, on top of that, my orthodontist called me about a month ago to tell me I have "root resorption." Grrreat. So, at that point, I was just done with dealing with this and wanted to think about it and bitch about it as little as possible.

Well, luckily, my joint is slooooooooooowly improving. Basically I was literally so stressed out, I made all this happen by clenching my jaw 24/7 and not realizing it. I'm just hoping it continues to improve and will be completely back to normal once my braces come off and my OS gets me in a bite splint that I'll wear at night.

Now, about that root resorption... apparently this happens to only 1% of people. I should have just gone ahead and counted myself in, because I am usually part of any unlikely statistic. Apparently my orthodontist compared an x ray from before I got my braces on, to an x ray taken a couple of months back and discovered my roots are shorter and are literally just disappearing. Microscopic root resorption is normal and typically occurs with braces, in order to allow the teeth to move. But mine is beyond that. Apparently bicuspid extraction, having braces multiple times, wearing braces as an adult, and an open bite are all factors that make the likelihood of root shrinkage higher. Check, check, check and check for all four of those scenarios with me.

The good news is, my orthodontist said the likelihood of my teeth falling out is not any greater than it would be had I not experienced any resorption. He told me over and over again not to freak out yet (even though I did, and he said "I knew you would" haha). He explained it is his job to catch problems like this and take appropriate measures. So, he said my braces need to come off ASAP. He said usually when braces are removed, the roots stop disappearing. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE I pray the root resorption will stop and I can live to be a very very old wrinkly lady before they fall out/come out/disintegrate!!!

Sooooooo....my braces come off October 7th. I should be excited, but I can't help but wonder if this resorption didn't happen, and I were able to wear them longer, would my bite get even better? Or is this pretty much as good as it gets and they probably would have been ready to come off at this time anyway?

I wanted to add a few pictures, but my internet is just ridiculous lately and won't do anything.