Had an appointment with the ortho today to talk about the molds he took a few weeks ago. I wasn't expecting an adjustment out of it since I just got a small adjustment on Sept 23rd when he took the molds. They called me back and sat me in a chair, which I thought was odd. And then I see it...... A TPA on the chair work table. No..... no, no, no, no, nooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!
So, this appointment sucked on multiple levels. I got the TPA back in. The thing I've had not once...not twice...but now THREE times in the course of both ortho treatments. It's a torture device, and I've said in multiple posts that for me, it was the worst part of my braces experience. At least I didn't throw up this time when it went in. I think somehow my gag reflex is still used to it from the last two times I had it. But I'm not used to eating with it again yet. I hadn't eaten a thing all day because I was busy at work, so I left the appointment hungry and continued to be hungry when I went home and tried to eat some chinese food and immediately choked on the second bite. And then both of my wires came out and he did some bends on the top and bottom. This was the tightest adjustment yet. Like, I took advil before I left the chair. I wasn't expecting to be adjusted since I just got a small adjustment not even two weeks ago, but here I am-- sitting here sore and miserable now today. I leave for my FL/NJ multi leg trip today. I definitely would NOT have scheduled an adjustment before I left. And most definitely would not have scheduled getting a TPA in before I left. Such bad timing. I had no clue this was coming yesterday, so I feel a little bamboozled.
So... why the TPA? At first I thought it was going to be why I had it the last time-- to tip my back molars in. But, after looking at my molds, the ortho and surgeon agree that I need upper pallet expansion. I needed that through my first round of ortho and it was supposed to be done surgically, but last minute they decided I was expanded enough just with ortho and ditched the surgical expansion. I wasn't upset one bit about that because that meant one less huge break in my jaw and quicker healing time too. Oh, and no splint. If you get expansion you'll be splinted for 6 weeks, so that was a huge relief. So, through my consults for this revision, expansion has never been brought up to me, but it always lingered in the back of my mind wondering if it was still an issue. Whelp, I guess it is. So, he's put the TPA in to help expand my upper arch. Not sure how much it will do and if it will be enough, but it needs to be done to see if we can avoid doing it surgically. Surgeon said that I already have a difficult surgery plan with trying to fix both jaws in every direction possible, so if we can avoid doing the break to expand, that will be a huge help and one less thing to worry about. I am all for avoiding it surgically, so hopefully this TPA can do its thing and get me some results. Otherwise, the molds look good and they just need to create a mm or two more space where my molar implant needs to go, and then expand my arch and rotate a few teeth. He did say that both he and the surgeon agree that I probably won't be done for the holidays. Bummer. Now I need to spend another $2400 to pick up the second insurance again. Just like everything else in this process.... it ain't cheap! I have my FAA medical finally scheduled on the 20th, so I guess I'll have to put everything together and give them the news on the timing. Hopefully the FAA is willing to work with me on this. I really hope!
So, I am off to FL this afternoon. I really wanted to go and be unrestricted for my diet, especially for my birthday on Fri. Guess we'll be keeping more of a liquid diet in place....which was probably going to happen anyway. 100 sorority chicks getting together for an alumni weekend and university homecoming? Yeah.... there will be plenty of liquids to be had :)
So... why the TPA? At first I thought it was going to be why I had it the last time-- to tip my back molars in. But, after looking at my molds, the ortho and surgeon agree that I need upper pallet expansion. I needed that through my first round of ortho and it was supposed to be done surgically, but last minute they decided I was expanded enough just with ortho and ditched the surgical expansion. I wasn't upset one bit about that because that meant one less huge break in my jaw and quicker healing time too. Oh, and no splint. If you get expansion you'll be splinted for 6 weeks, so that was a huge relief. So, through my consults for this revision, expansion has never been brought up to me, but it always lingered in the back of my mind wondering if it was still an issue. Whelp, I guess it is. So, he's put the TPA in to help expand my upper arch. Not sure how much it will do and if it will be enough, but it needs to be done to see if we can avoid doing it surgically. Surgeon said that I already have a difficult surgery plan with trying to fix both jaws in every direction possible, so if we can avoid doing the break to expand, that will be a huge help and one less thing to worry about. I am all for avoiding it surgically, so hopefully this TPA can do its thing and get me some results. Otherwise, the molds look good and they just need to create a mm or two more space where my molar implant needs to go, and then expand my arch and rotate a few teeth. He did say that both he and the surgeon agree that I probably won't be done for the holidays. Bummer. Now I need to spend another $2400 to pick up the second insurance again. Just like everything else in this process.... it ain't cheap! I have my FAA medical finally scheduled on the 20th, so I guess I'll have to put everything together and give them the news on the timing. Hopefully the FAA is willing to work with me on this. I really hope!
So, I am off to FL this afternoon. I really wanted to go and be unrestricted for my diet, especially for my birthday on Fri. Guess we'll be keeping more of a liquid diet in place....which was probably going to happen anyway. 100 sorority chicks getting together for an alumni weekend and university homecoming? Yeah.... there will be plenty of liquids to be had :)
Not the most flattering photo, but here is the TPA in again!!
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