Day 18 Post Op - Best Day Since Surgery!

So today is the best day I have had since having my surgery done 18 days ago. I have not had to take any pain relievers at all today, and not because I'm fighting the pain, but because I don't have any! Wooo hooo! Numbness in my lip is getting better and my tongues seems to be improving too. Now mind you this is quite amazing since I had my first ortho appointment since surgery today. Instead of being banded shut like many of you folks, I feel like we are doing things in reverse! I had no wires or bands post surgery, that, however, has changed and not for the good!
 













I went to the ortho, he took out my top archwire...see!
 








He was very pleased with the oral surgeons placement of my teeth and said that they looked great. This was a big relief for me, as I felt like things weren't really done until I got approval from both of the doctors. They all couldn't believe how little swelling I had and how great I looked. He said he had to check my chart again as he could not believe I was only 18 days post op. I told him, believe me, I had the surgery. Here are the X-rays with all my new nuts and bolts to prove it. He said I had great range of motion for so soon post op, and talked to me about this 6 week period after surgery where your teeth move twice as fast (my OS had mentioned this too saying it was ok to start my ortho work as soon as I felt comfortable and that the sooner the better as then we could take advantage of this 6 week window and probably cut down my treatment time.) The ortho wants to pull my teeth down so they fit (hug) each other a little better, and thats when things got bad.

Here is what I have to live with (as much as possible) for the next 4 weeks. It's not pretty I tell you! Not pretty at all! Thank goodness my teeth are mostly numb, otherwise I think it could be much much worse. I also thing that eating may have just gotten much worse for me, as taking these suckers off and putting them back on is not an easy task! 










My son Michael got his braces removed today! (lucky him!) His teeth look great! He got an essix retainer that he has to wear on top everyday for the next month. After one month he can go down to wearing it just at night. On the bottom they put a bonded retainer.

Here he is in the orthodontists chair right after getting them removed. 














Here he is at home...chillin with the new retainer!