Which do you find more stressful - an ortho appointment, or a dentist appointment? Take the fun survey in the upper left corner of my blog (look to the left, at the top of the column). :)
Personally, I like my ortho better. She always tells me it's looking good, improving, and I'll be just fine.
All the dentists I've had always tell me to brush brush brush, floss floss floss, and stay off sweets (as if!). Besides, that buzzzzzzzz of their torture devices - it petrifies me to no end.
My $0.02. :)
Showing posts with label orthodontist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label orthodontist. Show all posts
Friday, September 14, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Got A Date... Kinda
At my last ortho appointment their records showed my estimiated "de-brace" date as August 2008. August 2008!! That's obviously wrong, and the dental assistant agreed, since I'm weeks away from my final wires. I couldn't get a straight answer before I left their office because my ortho was way too busy to talk to me or her assistant (who does most of the work on my braces). See why I'm not impressed? In any case, I called them yesterday to clarify the date.
Long story short - the worst case scenario is February 2008. My ortho said on average it takes nine months of additional braces work after the jaw surgery. So that puts me at early November. Sometime between November and February. That's when they'll come off! :)
I'm extremely glad the surgery went well and there are no complications. Now I just want the roots to move and straighten out. Tick tock teeth! :P
Long story short - the worst case scenario is February 2008. My ortho said on average it takes nine months of additional braces work after the jaw surgery. So that puts me at early November. Sometime between November and February. That's when they'll come off! :)
I'm extremely glad the surgery went well and there are no complications. Now I just want the roots to move and straighten out. Tick tock teeth! :P
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Sunday, blurry Sunday
Fortunately, the need for Tylenol was a one off deal. All is well and I've got sundae on my brain this Sunday. :)
My back molars still don't touch (up and bottom). There's consierable gap between them, to the point that I really can't chew things properly. My ortho says she'll put on rubber bands to "hold them together and pull them in".... I'm not sure I understand that correctly. They also definitely do NOT have the right information in my record - because it says they expect to "debrace" me in August 2008. Um, NO, I don't think so. The dental assistant that helped me the other day said she'd double check on that. "It shouldn't take that long, since you'll be in your final wires pretty soon." See why I'm not impressed with my ortho's office? They make little mistakes like that, here and there, and they really do add up to destroy my confidence in them. Dr. Li's office never made any such errors - though I must say they're taking an awfully long time to sort out the insurance payment (sent it to the wrong insurance company at first). Well, maybe it's time I pick up the phone myself. If you want it done right....
But, as it is, it's Sunday, and sunny outside - and sundaes are in order! :)
My back molars still don't touch (up and bottom). There's consierable gap between them, to the point that I really can't chew things properly. My ortho says she'll put on rubber bands to "hold them together and pull them in".... I'm not sure I understand that correctly. They also definitely do NOT have the right information in my record - because it says they expect to "debrace" me in August 2008. Um, NO, I don't think so. The dental assistant that helped me the other day said she'd double check on that. "It shouldn't take that long, since you'll be in your final wires pretty soon." See why I'm not impressed with my ortho's office? They make little mistakes like that, here and there, and they really do add up to destroy my confidence in them. Dr. Li's office never made any such errors - though I must say they're taking an awfully long time to sort out the insurance payment (sent it to the wrong insurance company at first). Well, maybe it's time I pick up the phone myself. If you want it done right....
But, as it is, it's Sunday, and sunny outside - and sundaes are in order! :)
Friday, April 06, 2007
Rude Awakening
The pain was so intense it woke me up. I sat up in bed, at two o'clock in the morning, half-asleep, and simultaneously fighting the urge the doze off again and the NEED to get some medication to stop the pain in my lower teeth.
I went in yesterday for my first ortho appointment since the surgery. They changed the wire on my bottom teeth and repositioned some brackets to make sure the roots are straight.
Now I can't even THINK straight, the pain is so intense.
Just as I was grabbing two pills from the bottle of Tylenol 8 hours, the nearly empty bottle of cherry-flavored Liquid Tylenol jumped out at me - the life saver from the good ol' days of immediate pos op.
I drank it.
Please let the pain go away.
I went in yesterday for my first ortho appointment since the surgery. They changed the wire on my bottom teeth and repositioned some brackets to make sure the roots are straight.
Now I can't even THINK straight, the pain is so intense.
Just as I was grabbing two pills from the bottle of Tylenol 8 hours, the nearly empty bottle of cherry-flavored Liquid Tylenol jumped out at me - the life saver from the good ol' days of immediate pos op.
I drank it.
Please let the pain go away.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
The Definitive Word on Cheek Implants
Had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Li this morning. He addressed the three burning questions I had:
1. The occasional click in my left jaw joint has returned. Why? Is it cause for concern?
Dr. Li's response: Jaw surgeries don't necessarily correct the clicking. If it's occasional and it doesn't bother you, then it's not a problem.
My thoughts: Whew! The clicking came back about a week ago, and it only happens about twice a day, IF that. It usually happens when I've been relatively still then have sudden jaw movements. It doesn't hurt. That reminds me - my right jaw joint used to click and SHIFT SIDEWAYS to compensate if I had to open wide. It went away completely! :)
2. How's my swelling?
Dr. Li's response: It's minimal. The majority of the swelling is gone.
My thoughts: Yeah, about time! ....OK, I know, I know, I'm an impatient patient. :)
3. Some people get cheek implants when they undergo jaw surgery. My ortho had mentioned it during my first consultation with her. I was overwhelmed and told her no. Should I have gotten them?
Dr. Li's response: Most Asians would end up looking funny with cheek implants. It's because we don't have the high nose bridges to balance them with. I didn't NOT give you cheek implants because you told the ortho you didn't want them. I don't think you NEED cheek implants.
My thoughts: Hooray! Subject closed. :)
Overall, it was a very uneventful (good!) appointment that lasted only about 5 minutes. Dr. Li, as I've said many times before, is happy with the results. I am happy with the results. It's all good!
Oh wait, the ONLY thing is, he seemed slightly surprised that my first ortho appointment isn't until April 5th (my surgery was January 31st). Not sure why my ortho wanted to wait this long to start the braces work again. Dr. Li definitely thinks I'm ready to go. I called my ortho to see if they can move up my appointment. No can do. Oh well. I'll be on a business trip all week next week anyway, so it's not as if I could gain that much time.
My ortho had estimated another six months of braces post op. I'm really hoping to be brace-free by September, so I can have my birthday without looking like Miss Metal Mouth. Well, que sera sera.
1. The occasional click in my left jaw joint has returned. Why? Is it cause for concern?
Dr. Li's response: Jaw surgeries don't necessarily correct the clicking. If it's occasional and it doesn't bother you, then it's not a problem.
My thoughts: Whew! The clicking came back about a week ago, and it only happens about twice a day, IF that. It usually happens when I've been relatively still then have sudden jaw movements. It doesn't hurt. That reminds me - my right jaw joint used to click and SHIFT SIDEWAYS to compensate if I had to open wide. It went away completely! :)
2. How's my swelling?
Dr. Li's response: It's minimal. The majority of the swelling is gone.
My thoughts: Yeah, about time! ....OK, I know, I know, I'm an impatient patient. :)
3. Some people get cheek implants when they undergo jaw surgery. My ortho had mentioned it during my first consultation with her. I was overwhelmed and told her no. Should I have gotten them?
Dr. Li's response: Most Asians would end up looking funny with cheek implants. It's because we don't have the high nose bridges to balance them with. I didn't NOT give you cheek implants because you told the ortho you didn't want them. I don't think you NEED cheek implants.
My thoughts: Hooray! Subject closed. :)
Overall, it was a very uneventful (good!) appointment that lasted only about 5 minutes. Dr. Li, as I've said many times before, is happy with the results. I am happy with the results. It's all good!
Oh wait, the ONLY thing is, he seemed slightly surprised that my first ortho appointment isn't until April 5th (my surgery was January 31st). Not sure why my ortho wanted to wait this long to start the braces work again. Dr. Li definitely thinks I'm ready to go. I called my ortho to see if they can move up my appointment. No can do. Oh well. I'll be on a business trip all week next week anyway, so it's not as if I could gain that much time.
My ortho had estimated another six months of braces post op. I'm really hoping to be brace-free by September, so I can have my birthday without looking like Miss Metal Mouth. Well, que sera sera.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Dr. Kasey Li
Brandy left two comments today, first asking if my surgeon's name is Dr. Kasey Li, then telling me how famous of a surgeon he is. He does hundreds of jaw surgeries annually, and is apparently considered one of the best oral maxiofacial surgeons in the "world". Whoa. My friend Isabelle had recommended him (she was one of his patients, too), so I knew he was good, but I didn't appreciate how well-known he is.
My experience with Dr. Li has been a great one. He is thorough, patient, and approachable. His office staff are equally efficient and impressive. I have no reservations in recommending him. He has his own practice in Palo Alto, California, and performs his surgeries at Stanford Hospital. You can get more information by visiting his website at http://www.drkaseyli.com/.
He has been collaborating with Dr. Stacey Quo, my orthodontist, for years. I'm not nearly as impressed with her staff (little disconnects here and there), but they do an adequate job.
My experience with Dr. Li has been a great one. He is thorough, patient, and approachable. His office staff are equally efficient and impressive. I have no reservations in recommending him. He has his own practice in Palo Alto, California, and performs his surgeries at Stanford Hospital. You can get more information by visiting his website at http://www.drkaseyli.com/.
He has been collaborating with Dr. Stacey Quo, my orthodontist, for years. I'm not nearly as impressed with her staff (little disconnects here and there), but they do an adequate job.
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