People with good teeth take this for granted. I used to break bread off using my fingers and put small pieces into my mouth to chew.
Still have remnants of Bell'd Palsy. But all is good with the bite. How's your bite so far?
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
8 years on
People with good teeth take this for granted. I used to break bread off using my fingers and put small pieces into my mouth to chew.
Still have remnants of Bell'd Palsy. But all is good with the bite. How's your bite so far?
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
me.. now
It has been that long since i last blogged, huh..
I haven't been regular in wearing my retainers... my bad. I do wear them whenever I can though.
Everytime I bite into any food, I sometimes can't help but be amazed at the effortlessness of the simple act of biting off this bun, that piece of meat, or the joy of being able to bite and hang onto a hangnail. Couldn't do any of that before.
More than two years now since the surgery. I still can't feel much on the skin surface below my left lip down to the chin. My left eye is noticeable smaller when I smile. I still have this indentation above my left eyebrow when I smile..it's like i'm smiling and half frowning at the same time..these two things are effects of the Bell's Palsy that I mysteriously got after the surgery. Yet, I am glad I did the surgery. My smile is better as I am not so self-conscious of showing my teeth. Wearing lipstick is such a treat because my upper and lower lip are aligned.
Yes, I have gained a few pounds ever since my braces were taken off but that's only food is so much easier to chew and I love the act of biting off veges and meat and stuff.
Next month I'll be meeting my OS and orthodontist for the last time. Dr. Fatimah says she's almost done with the appointments. I'll be taking one last x-ray to bring to my OS and maybe after that, I'm done visiting the hospital.
Below is a photo of me. Taken end of March. I look a bit different. I wonder what my old friends think of my face...those friends who knew me five years previously, before I had this procedure done.. I do wonder.
I haven't been regular in wearing my retainers... my bad. I do wear them whenever I can though.
Everytime I bite into any food, I sometimes can't help but be amazed at the effortlessness of the simple act of biting off this bun, that piece of meat, or the joy of being able to bite and hang onto a hangnail. Couldn't do any of that before.
More than two years now since the surgery. I still can't feel much on the skin surface below my left lip down to the chin. My left eye is noticeable smaller when I smile. I still have this indentation above my left eyebrow when I smile..it's like i'm smiling and half frowning at the same time..these two things are effects of the Bell's Palsy that I mysteriously got after the surgery. Yet, I am glad I did the surgery. My smile is better as I am not so self-conscious of showing my teeth. Wearing lipstick is such a treat because my upper and lower lip are aligned.
Yes, I have gained a few pounds ever since my braces were taken off but that's only food is so much easier to chew and I love the act of biting off veges and meat and stuff.
Next month I'll be meeting my OS and orthodontist for the last time. Dr. Fatimah says she's almost done with the appointments. I'll be taking one last x-ray to bring to my OS and maybe after that, I'm done visiting the hospital.
Below is a photo of me. Taken end of March. I look a bit different. I wonder what my old friends think of my face...those friends who knew me five years previously, before I had this procedure done.. I do wonder.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Retaining bite
Was ticked off by the Doc for not wearing the retainers full time. :(.. how? There are times I just need to yap in front of kids.. n retainers make speech a bit weird.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Then and now
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May 2005 (my teeth..pre-braces period)
One week after wearing braces.. sometime in Oct 2005
September 2006
October 2007
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March 2008
Last week 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
It has been nearly one week since debanding. The very morning after I was released of my braces bondage, I visited Dr.Priscilla for a tooth filling work. The lower left back molar would've given me hell for days if I had left it at that. I had no appointment done so I waited for about 2 hours for an opening.
I have since ate and chewed food gingerly but happily. Though meat gets stuck to the narrow openings in between teeth. I still rely on my mini brush to pry, prod the stuck food away.
Somehow it still feels weird smiling, talking, eating without the resistance of braces. Even brushing my teeth feels weird. The brushes sort of just slides over the teeth, no scraping of metal happening.
My lower left chin is still numb. Good meaning friends would tell me if I still had bread crumbs or morsels of food left on my lower left lip because I really can't feel anything much on that side of the lip.
My left cheek still involuntarily move 'up'whenever I blink.
And...i know i'm slowly gaining weight. I've been taking vitamin B-complex for months now..on account of the Bell's palsy..helping with nerve regeneration now..and this Vit B-complex is really giving me a big appetite for food!
I have since ate and chewed food gingerly but happily. Though meat gets stuck to the narrow openings in between teeth. I still rely on my mini brush to pry, prod the stuck food away.
Somehow it still feels weird smiling, talking, eating without the resistance of braces. Even brushing my teeth feels weird. The brushes sort of just slides over the teeth, no scraping of metal happening.
My lower left chin is still numb. Good meaning friends would tell me if I still had bread crumbs or morsels of food left on my lower left lip because I really can't feel anything much on that side of the lip.
My left cheek still involuntarily move 'up'whenever I blink.
And...i know i'm slowly gaining weight. I've been taking vitamin B-complex for months now..on account of the Bell's palsy..helping with nerve regeneration now..and this Vit B-complex is really giving me a big appetite for food!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Debanding
Forgot to post this entry written two days ago.
so, here it is. Not finished though.. too long a post.
By 8am today I was already at the clinic. Didn't have time to have breakfast. Parked my ride at Heritage, singgah at the kedai runcit for a kotak of Yeo's soya milk (that was the only palatable drink i could see inside the fridge) and Daily Express newspaper, and walked across the street to the already crowded clinic. Made my way to the number counter to get my nombor giliran. After getting the little strip of nombor giliran, walked up the stairs to the dental section and gave my number to the nurse there. ( yada yada yada.. my typical procedure..done this hundreds of time already)
I wasn't quite sure how/what I was feeling as I sat down, waiting for my number to be called by the automatic, pre-recorded, disembodied, female voice. I wasn't that excited. I think I kept my emotions checked. It ain't over till it's over sort of thing. I continued slurping my Soya milk, unconsciously working my lips and mouth over the metal brackets that were lining my teeth. Meanwhile, my eyes were scanning the pages of the Daily Express for interesting snippets of information. The front page showed the news of the bitch(the exact term for the gender of the dog, mind you) which had its head stuck inside the plastic canister, being tended by Dr. Sen and Dr. Mark. I already knew the story yesterday, a relative of Dr. Sen had told me the story. Poor dog. Kind of heartening to know SPCA is getting its voice heard over the news.
Anyways, after a while my number was called and the digits were also displayed on the electronic board hanging down the ceiling in front of the waiting hall. So I cleared my things and went into room 44. The doctors (doctors?) and nurses were going about their duties. When they saw me at the door, they motioned for me to sit down on the dentist's chair. I still hadn't felt anything much this time except for a little bit of anticipation. I had read some other blog entries the previous nights about other people's debanding experience and some said it was pain-free, some otherwise. So, there I was, reclining on the chair, just waiting for what will happen.
Doc Fatimah siddled over on her roller chair and said her greetings, asking me how I was doing, was I satisfied with the condition of my braced teeth or not. Yeah? Giving me doubts now? (not going to happen, take them off silvousplait). I replied short affirmative replies..hmmm-ed and yes-ed and said I was ok with the occlusion of teeth, just not ok with the numbness that was still happening at the left chin region. Doc said that will take some time. I said ok. In my mind I begged to differ. On with the procedure. She was holding an equipment in her right hand. It looked like a cutter of sorts and began explaining the procedure not to me, but to another doctor, on how to go about detaching the brackets from the teeth. She started to detach the top bands starting from the front tooth. I could feel a mild pressure as she applied pressure while squeezing the handle of the cutter to the base of the bracket, separating the bracket from the hardened glue base. I could hear the click of the separation. Click, click, click. No heart-stopping sensation there. But a stronger pressure was felt when she unloosened the bands encircling the molars. That hurt a bit. I remember telling myself to be calm and relaxed my grip on my own hands. After the upper left and right bands of the molars were released, she gently eased them off and away from my mouth. Wah, halfway there now.
She did the same thing on the lower bands. No tightening sensation on the four front teeth, but a tolerable pressure on the back molars. Click, click and they're off! Freedom!
Next, Doc Fatimah started explaining to the other doc what to do next. Which was to grind away the glue residue on the surface of the teeth. I guess she needed to attend to other patients and left the rest of the cleaning job to this other doc. Doc Fatimah got up and went to the other adjoining room and this other doc took over. I managed a sigh of relief before she started with the grinding work. I was wearing googles which was a normal procedure during such procedure. The grinding of the teeth was such that my face and neck was soon covered with a fine mist of water spray. Things were going well until she reached my lower left back molar. When she touched the tip of the grinder to that particular tooth, I was buzzed with such a pain that I jolted from my seat. Aahh...the doc said, ada lubang ni.. ngilu ka? You think??! She asked me to gargle. So I sat up, turned to the paper cup that was perched next to the small basin for that gargling purposes, took a swig of water and gargled. I felt this pain shoot up from the tooth and automatically my left hand came up to massage the left side of my face. Owww! The pain left when I spat the water out.
She was about to continue with the scaling but I wanted to be excused for a while. I needed to go to the loo. So up I sat, stood up and went out to find the washroom. On the way to the loo, finally I allowed myself a smile as my tongue automatically felt around the teeth. No more braces. Looked at the reflection in the washroom mirror and saw a strange sight of just teeth with no braces. Surreal.
Sigh.
Texted an image of myself with my new bite/smile to my sis. She said it looked like Donkey's (of Shrek) grin. I couldn't help but agree.
so, here it is. Not finished though.. too long a post.
By 8am today I was already at the clinic. Didn't have time to have breakfast. Parked my ride at Heritage, singgah at the kedai runcit for a kotak of Yeo's soya milk (that was the only palatable drink i could see inside the fridge) and Daily Express newspaper, and walked across the street to the already crowded clinic. Made my way to the number counter to get my nombor giliran. After getting the little strip of nombor giliran, walked up the stairs to the dental section and gave my number to the nurse there. ( yada yada yada.. my typical procedure..done this hundreds of time already)
I wasn't quite sure how/what I was feeling as I sat down, waiting for my number to be called by the automatic, pre-recorded, disembodied, female voice. I wasn't that excited. I think I kept my emotions checked. It ain't over till it's over sort of thing. I continued slurping my Soya milk, unconsciously working my lips and mouth over the metal brackets that were lining my teeth. Meanwhile, my eyes were scanning the pages of the Daily Express for interesting snippets of information. The front page showed the news of the bitch(the exact term for the gender of the dog, mind you) which had its head stuck inside the plastic canister, being tended by Dr. Sen and Dr. Mark. I already knew the story yesterday, a relative of Dr. Sen had told me the story. Poor dog. Kind of heartening to know SPCA is getting its voice heard over the news.
Anyways, after a while my number was called and the digits were also displayed on the electronic board hanging down the ceiling in front of the waiting hall. So I cleared my things and went into room 44. The doctors (doctors?) and nurses were going about their duties. When they saw me at the door, they motioned for me to sit down on the dentist's chair. I still hadn't felt anything much this time except for a little bit of anticipation. I had read some other blog entries the previous nights about other people's debanding experience and some said it was pain-free, some otherwise. So, there I was, reclining on the chair, just waiting for what will happen.
Doc Fatimah siddled over on her roller chair and said her greetings, asking me how I was doing, was I satisfied with the condition of my braced teeth or not. Yeah? Giving me doubts now? (not going to happen, take them off silvousplait). I replied short affirmative replies..hmmm-ed and yes-ed and said I was ok with the occlusion of teeth, just not ok with the numbness that was still happening at the left chin region. Doc said that will take some time. I said ok. In my mind I begged to differ. On with the procedure. She was holding an equipment in her right hand. It looked like a cutter of sorts and began explaining the procedure not to me, but to another doctor, on how to go about detaching the brackets from the teeth. She started to detach the top bands starting from the front tooth. I could feel a mild pressure as she applied pressure while squeezing the handle of the cutter to the base of the bracket, separating the bracket from the hardened glue base. I could hear the click of the separation. Click, click, click. No heart-stopping sensation there. But a stronger pressure was felt when she unloosened the bands encircling the molars. That hurt a bit. I remember telling myself to be calm and relaxed my grip on my own hands. After the upper left and right bands of the molars were released, she gently eased them off and away from my mouth. Wah, halfway there now.
She did the same thing on the lower bands. No tightening sensation on the four front teeth, but a tolerable pressure on the back molars. Click, click and they're off! Freedom!
Next, Doc Fatimah started explaining to the other doc what to do next. Which was to grind away the glue residue on the surface of the teeth. I guess she needed to attend to other patients and left the rest of the cleaning job to this other doc. Doc Fatimah got up and went to the other adjoining room and this other doc took over. I managed a sigh of relief before she started with the grinding work. I was wearing googles which was a normal procedure during such procedure. The grinding of the teeth was such that my face and neck was soon covered with a fine mist of water spray. Things were going well until she reached my lower left back molar. When she touched the tip of the grinder to that particular tooth, I was buzzed with such a pain that I jolted from my seat. Aahh...the doc said, ada lubang ni.. ngilu ka? You think??! She asked me to gargle. So I sat up, turned to the paper cup that was perched next to the small basin for that gargling purposes, took a swig of water and gargled. I felt this pain shoot up from the tooth and automatically my left hand came up to massage the left side of my face. Owww! The pain left when I spat the water out.
She was about to continue with the scaling but I wanted to be excused for a while. I needed to go to the loo. So up I sat, stood up and went out to find the washroom. On the way to the loo, finally I allowed myself a smile as my tongue automatically felt around the teeth. No more braces. Looked at the reflection in the washroom mirror and saw a strange sight of just teeth with no braces. Surreal.
Sigh.
Texted an image of myself with my new bite/smile to my sis. She said it looked like Donkey's (of Shrek) grin. I couldn't help but agree.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
D-day
Had an appointment with the OS and Ortho yesterday. A joint-clinic they call it. Was asked to turn my face to the left, to the right, squint, smile, frown, bare my lips, (the squint,smile, frown was to see the effect of the palsy i think). Palsy still there. Will always be there.
Today is the last day for me to wear these braces.
Tomorrow I will be debanded.
Tomorrow morning debanded, afternoon I'll be getting the retainers.
A new chapter will start. Of getting acquainted with the retainers.
I asked for pictures from the OS. The before and after pics.
Goodbye braces, hello retainers..
Today is the last day for me to wear these braces.
Tomorrow I will be debanded.
Tomorrow morning debanded, afternoon I'll be getting the retainers.
A new chapter will start. Of getting acquainted with the retainers.
I asked for pictures from the OS. The before and after pics.
Goodbye braces, hello retainers..
Monday, May 17, 2010
Ding dong bell
On the 8th of May last year, I had my jaw surgery. Since then it has been a slow struggle to manage the effects of the surgery. I wish I could say it has been so much fun because underlying all the improvements I had on my bite and the progress on my teeth, is the fact that I will live with Bell's palsy.
I have only begun to understand the difficulties of having this disease. I can allow myself to be grateful for now that what i have is partial palsy. I can close my left eye fully but still with a noticeable 'winking' effort.
I underwent a plate removal surgery last month which left my lower lip askewed to the right. Seems the nerves around the lower lip has been rendered weak. The attending doc whom I had a meeting with was not very convincing about the recovery of the lip motion. I could have hit him with the tray with all of the dental equipment in it. Sigh..
Yes. Frustration is in.
Even the news that I will be debanded next month isn't so sweet. But yes, I shall muster all the strength and will I have to stay positive.
22nd June, joint-clinic with the Ortho and OR. 24th June, deband.
I have only begun to understand the difficulties of having this disease. I can allow myself to be grateful for now that what i have is partial palsy. I can close my left eye fully but still with a noticeable 'winking' effort.
I underwent a plate removal surgery last month which left my lower lip askewed to the right. Seems the nerves around the lower lip has been rendered weak. The attending doc whom I had a meeting with was not very convincing about the recovery of the lip motion. I could have hit him with the tray with all of the dental equipment in it. Sigh..
Yes. Frustration is in.
Even the news that I will be debanded next month isn't so sweet. But yes, I shall muster all the strength and will I have to stay positive.
22nd June, joint-clinic with the Ortho and OR. 24th June, deband.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Another surgery..
Went to the hospital yesterday to do a blood test. Will be admitted tomorrow afternoon... sigh... felt depressed just thinking of the whole thing. I dread the thought of another surgery (to remove the offending metal-plate)..a surgery which I shouldn't have to go through in the first place. Not dreading the pain, but the discomfort of being sick. I am almost..almost out of patience.. it's been too long. I think I need to just get it over with and have the braces taken out.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
So, I'm having my joint-clinic meet tomorrow at the hospital tomorrow at 2.45pm(says so on the appointment card). The lower left quadrant (Ooo quadrant..) of my jaw is still numb with minimal sensation. I do feel some light feathery feeling when I brush my finger to test the sensation.
My left eye is still squinting like a half-hearted wink.
I do hope I'll get a date soon for debracing. Got the next phase to go through..wearing the retainers.
My left eye is still squinting like a half-hearted wink.
I do hope I'll get a date soon for debracing. Got the next phase to go through..wearing the retainers.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
welly welly welly..
Met with Dr.Fatimah. She was pleased with the effects of the elastic bands. She did some scaling on the back of the front lower teeth..after I complained that I have noticed the gums' receding..my teeth look a bit longer than how they looked ( i was comparing pictures that i took while in the early process of braces).
So, i'm going to have a joint-clinic with my OS next month at Queen ELizabeth Hospital. Dr. Fatimah said to lay off using the elastics..just to see if the teeth have stabilized their positions. After the joint-clinic, then she'll see me for the last time before de-banding.Hopefully.
Gosh..it has been more than 4 years! 4 long years.. and in a few more months, I'll be trading in these braces for retainers.
sigh.. i also requested for a copy of my before and after pics that the hosp is keeping. The doc said she'll look into it.
So, i'm going to have a joint-clinic with my OS next month at Queen ELizabeth Hospital. Dr. Fatimah said to lay off using the elastics..just to see if the teeth have stabilized their positions. After the joint-clinic, then she'll see me for the last time before de-banding.Hopefully.
Gosh..it has been more than 4 years! 4 long years.. and in a few more months, I'll be trading in these braces for retainers.
sigh.. i also requested for a copy of my before and after pics that the hosp is keeping. The doc said she'll look into it.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
eye-sore
Some remnants of cough is still around..
Been having this cough for about one month now..
Have seen the physiotherapist again..
gone on infra-red treatment..
asked to do the soft-tissue massage thingy..
i'm getting the hang of the news... bell's palsy
my left eye n eyebrow are the two things most evidently different..
i yawn.. my left eye closes..
i raised my eyebrows.. the left one does not rise as much
i tightly close my mouth..the left eye close in unison...
sigh...
more than 8 months have passed..
Been having this cough for about one month now..
Have seen the physiotherapist again..
gone on infra-red treatment..
asked to do the soft-tissue massage thingy..
i'm getting the hang of the news... bell's palsy
my left eye n eyebrow are the two things most evidently different..
i yawn.. my left eye closes..
i raised my eyebrows.. the left one does not rise as much
i tightly close my mouth..the left eye close in unison...
sigh...
more than 8 months have passed..
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
silver lining?
Had an appointment with the physiotherapist this afternoon. I have Bell's palsy. I am shaken.
Friday, December 11, 2009
The only thing happening now is me continuing with the use of the elastics to close down the ever-slowly moving bite. My ortho had said that the de-bracing might happen early next year. She didn't give an exact date though...next year is next month (time really flies). The next appointment with her will only be in the middle of next month. She commented that the bite is really closing much better.
On the other hand, I finally had her refer me to a physiotherapist for this quasi(quasi?) paralysed left side of my face. The paralysis doesn't show unless I do some movement that will show that the size of closure of the left eye doesn't correspond with the right. For example, if I raise my eyebrows, the right would go up, while the left wouldn't..as high..making me have this sceptical look, you know? ANd the left cheek still twitch up along with theleft. If i purse my lips, say drinking a straw, the left eye would close slightly too. I'm not sure what the physiotherapist would do with this condition, but i hope he/she can offer some explanations.
Sensation is still at a minimum on the lower left lip as well as the lower left chin. I'd be having a drink or meal and i'd be constantly on guard to feel whether something is going down my chin and wiping it off. Hmm... so, a tissue or wipe is always in hand.
It has been 31 weeks since the surgery. Nearly 8 months.
On the other hand, I finally had her refer me to a physiotherapist for this quasi(quasi?) paralysed left side of my face. The paralysis doesn't show unless I do some movement that will show that the size of closure of the left eye doesn't correspond with the right. For example, if I raise my eyebrows, the right would go up, while the left wouldn't..as high..making me have this sceptical look, you know? ANd the left cheek still twitch up along with theleft. If i purse my lips, say drinking a straw, the left eye would close slightly too. I'm not sure what the physiotherapist would do with this condition, but i hope he/she can offer some explanations.
Sensation is still at a minimum on the lower left lip as well as the lower left chin. I'd be having a drink or meal and i'd be constantly on guard to feel whether something is going down my chin and wiping it off. Hmm... so, a tissue or wipe is always in hand.
It has been 31 weeks since the surgery. Nearly 8 months.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
crreeaaakkk...
Was eating Assam Laksa just now at Old Town, was chewing the white noodle..the noodle weren't that stringy/ chewy.. but I felt and heart this snap from my lower right jaw and a sudden but slight pain was felt. I suspect the bracket of the molar has snapped open. I can feel some discomfort on that area whenever I bit down. Didn't finish my assan laksa then.. but the french toast ordered was heaven... so i slowly chewed the bread using the right side of the jaw..
sigh..
my next visit to the ortho is on the 19th... i think i'll call them tomorrow to ask whether I can go earlier..before my gums suffer more.
sigh..
my next visit to the ortho is on the 19th... i think i'll call them tomorrow to ask whether I can go earlier..before my gums suffer more.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
points to ponder
I ran into a former colleague a few weeks ago. I haven't met her for a quite some time..eversince she stopped working- to take care of her two children. So, suffice to say she wasn't around when I first started my braces treatment and certainly wasn't around to see the slow changes that were happening to me and my mug. Anyways...we chit-chatted for a while when the inevitable questions popped out. When I told her that I had had a jaw surgery, she looked surprised, saying that she never noticed that there was anything wrong with my teeth.. however, when I said that I went through the surgery to correct my bite, she mimed this look of over-extending her lower jaw and... i just ho-hmm-ed my confirmation. She DID remember how I looked but just didn't think the condition needed any correction.
There was another thing she said that sort of got me thinking about what aesthetics mean to some people. I had talked briefly about the surgery, some of the effects... and I had started saying something like..."I went through the surgery...All in the name of..." I was going to say..All in the name of beauty or something about a good smile/ bite...etc. She finished off my sentence with.."vanity". I was about to correct her when something held me back.
It was most certainly not vanity. I realised it was quite fruitless expaining to her why I did it. :)... so, I turned the conversation somewhere else and that was that.
Vanity... desire for admiration because of one's personal attainments or attractions. Nope. Definitely not that.
There was another thing she said that sort of got me thinking about what aesthetics mean to some people. I had talked briefly about the surgery, some of the effects... and I had started saying something like..."I went through the surgery...All in the name of..." I was going to say..All in the name of beauty or something about a good smile/ bite...etc. She finished off my sentence with.."vanity". I was about to correct her when something held me back.
It was most certainly not vanity. I realised it was quite fruitless expaining to her why I did it. :)... so, I turned the conversation somewhere else and that was that.
Vanity... desire for admiration because of one's personal attainments or attractions. Nope. Definitely not that.
Friday, October 30, 2009
25th week
6 month and 1 week.
still wearing elastics to help with the closing of the bite especially on the right side, near the canine region.
left side of my chin is still a bit numb.
closing my left eye...will somewhat be mistaken with a weak attempt at a weak winking gesture.
opening of jaw : 380mm..
view of teeth...as of end of august..
still wearing elastics to help with the closing of the bite especially on the right side, near the canine region.
left side of my chin is still a bit numb.
closing my left eye...will somewhat be mistaken with a weak attempt at a weak winking gesture.
opening of jaw : 380mm..
view of teeth...as of end of august..
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