Going wireless
When I got to my oral surgeon’s office to get my wires off, I had a couple of rude surprises. I would not be allowed to chew for another three weeks, and my muscles would be so sore from disuse that I wouldn’t be able to open my mouth very far. Of course, everything was still easier than with my mouth wired, but there were still some adaptations that needed to be made.
Eating
When I ate dinner on my first wireless evening, I was filled with the disappointment of thinking that my culinary options wouldn’t be expanding much at all. But over the course of the next few weeks, I discovered that I could eat almost anything I wanted, so long as I was willing to adapt a little bit. If I wanted bread, I could shred it in the blender. If I wanted pasta, I could cook it until it was a bit softer than I ordinarily would. If I wanted a cookie, I could soak it, either in a glass of soymilk, or in my mouth before swallowing. In the end, I had very few of the smoothies and soups that comprised the bulk of my diet during the wired weeks. Here are some of the foods that kept me going in the post-wired time:
- Hummus, with shredded tortillas
- Peanut butter and jelly, with shredded tortillas
- Refried beans, with shredded tortillas
- Oatmeal
- Couscous
- Soy yogurt
- Lasagna with overcooked noodles (with cashew ricotta)
- Lentils
- Kiwifruit
- Bananas
- Ramen with silken tofu
- Applesauce
This might seem obvious, but it’s also important to remember to get enough to drink. In the first couple of weeks after I had my wires removed, I drank very little and frequently felt dehydrated. For three weeks, eating and drinking had been the same act, and I had some trouble remembering to do them separately now that there was a distinction to be drawn.
(see also posts tagged “no-chew diet“)
Oral Hygiene
The first few days after I got the wires off, I wasn’t able to fit even a children’s toothbrush between my top and bottom teeth, so my oral hygiene technique borrowed heavily from that of the preceding three weeks. I did also get some CVS brand Dental Flossers, apparently a store-brand equivalent of a product called Plackers, which allowed me to start flossing my teeth before I could fit my fingers in my mouth. It was a couple of weeks before I could fit my children’s toothbrush all the way into the back of my mouth again, and then things became easier. I think it was about a week and a half before I was flossing without the Dental Flossers, but it wasn’t something I tried every day. The Water Pik remained useful for cleaning the arch bars even after I was able to fit the toothbrush in my mouth.
(see also posts tagged “oral hygiene“)
Thank you for your blog! I was thinking about starting my own since there are not very many out there that have been helpful. I’ve had my jaws wires for almost 6 weeks. The doctor put me on elastics less than a week ago. I wasn’t expecting my face to be so sore the next day, but it was pretty bad. Obviously I’m still on a semi-liquid diet. I’ve been blending whatever I can, but it’s getting old. How are you doing now? Any change in how far you can open your mouth? I’m expecting to have the elastics for about three more weeks, but I’m really wondering how much progress I’ll make by then. I look forward to hearing from you, and hope that you continue to heal quickly.
My recovery has been going quite well. I still have some residual numbness on the left side of my face which I’m guessing is the result of either permanent nerve damage or swollen tissue. It seems to have gotten a little bit better just in the last few weeks, so I’m hoping it’s the latter.
My mouth opens about 5 centimeters now (and for the last two months), which seems about normal. Of course, I didn’t think to measure it before my accident, so I’ll never be able to know for sure. I wore rubber bands for three weeks after three weeks of wires, and when I got the rubber bands off (and was allowed to chew for the first time since my accident), I still had trouble opening my mouth wide enough to eat a pita with falafel (my first meal after receiving clearance to chew). As I understand, though, the rubber bands are to help your mouth close correctly rather than help you open it, so I don’t think that lack of progress with the opening should stop your oral surgeon from freeing you from the rubber bands. In my case, though, the oral surgeon left the arch bars on my teeth for a few more weeks just in case they proved necessary (which they did not).
I hope the rest of your recovery proceeds smoothly. Feel free to ask questions (although obviously your own results may vary) or leave suggestions from your own experiences.
I broke my jaw when someone abruptly punched me in the face. It was a very unfortunate incident. That was 6-7 weeks ago and I am recovering as we speak.
It was tough with the wires, especially because food was something I cherished before the broken jaw. I believe my love of food has gone up ten fold now.
I was going to write some of this stuff down for someone else as I picked up a few easy tips and tricks.
I was curious though if the things I am going through now after my wires have come off are normal.
Oh and I just went to the dentist yesterday and they cleaned my teeth. What a relief it was to finally feel my real teeth. The dentist did laugh at me for how gross my mouth was….. No big deal. They’re off now.
Good luck to anyone who sustains a broken jaw.
Jon, that does indeed sound quite unfortunate! I’m glad you got the wires off and continue to recover. I’d definitely encourage you to record the things you’ve learned from your experience and share them in whatever way you see fit.
Wow I got punch in the face too and today I got my mouth un wired and it’s been 6 weeks . The doctor says that the jaw is still a little crack. Hopefully I will eat soft foods for a while.
did anyone experience (muscle/pain)spasms after getting wired & post removing wires in the rubber band stage?
did your teeth feel different or not fitting together after unwiring?
I just got unwired but have arch bars & rubberband on opposide of fracture(mandibular fracture). My front big tooth has become lower than it adjacent tooth & they were even before. Several teeth feel sore to touch & move a bit . did anyone experience this?
I didn’t experience an spasms, but there was definitely some pain in the rubber band stage.
My recollection is that my teeth did feel pretty weird after unwiring. The first few days, there was sort of a mushy feeling when my top and bottom teeth touched each other. It went away before too long.
My teeth were certainly a bit sore when I first got unwired. They did shift a little bit while I was wired, too. The wires on my teeth pushed them a little bit. Some of this movement was undone after I got the arch bars off and was able to wear my old retainers at night, but my teeth still aren’t in the same place they used to be.
Hello All,
I just got my wires off today. The Orthodontist did leave the arc bars on and I have rubberbands on my teeth as well. I do have spasms in my jaw as well. And i believe that it is because I haven’t exercised the muscles in so long. I’ve had my jaw wired for four weeks. Today I got my wires on, I’m still on the liquid diet for the remainder of this week and was told next week, I can eat soft food, and the following week, I go back to get the hardware holding the rubberbands in place removed. This overall has not been a painful experience for me.
One thing differently that I have noticed is that I have an over bite that I never had, and I thought this was given to me so that I could drink threw a straw. But now I am under the impression that its permanent. A small area on the left side of my face and lip is numb and I feel a tingling feel as well.
Hi Larry,
I’m glad to hear that you’re making progress in your recovery and that it hasn’t been painful so far.
As for the overbite, I do recall my oral surgeon telling me that my bone wouldn’t heal back exactly the way it was before, but that it would be good enough to do the things I needed to do. I didn’t end up with an overbite, but my mouth definitely is different. Aside from the asymmetry I’ve written about, I used to be able to move my lower jaw so that my bottom teeth were in front of my top teeth. It was always quite uncomfortable, but now I can’t do it at all. Happily, of all the abilities I could have lost, this was not one of the more useful ones.
In my case, the numbness improved over time, but it still hasn’t gone away completely. I’m approaching the 11 month anniversary of my accident, and at this point I’m just assuming that the lingering numbness is permanent nerve damage. If it goes away, it will be a nice surprise.
Best wishes on your continued recovery.
Adam
Thank you for this blog and all of the comments. It’s amazing how little “real” help is available and this has been terrific.
I’m getting my wires off in about 3 weeks, hopefully. It’s been useful to know that I can expect not to dive into a burger and carrots (what I’ve been craving most) the first day afterwards. LOL
What about talking? Or rather, being understood? In-person is currently hit or miss and on the phone is impossible. Does that improve right away after the wires are removed? In the rubber band stage or after the rubber bands are removed?
Thanks!
Talking improved pretty quickly for me. I was able to talk normally as soon as the wires were off. You don’t need to be able to move your mouth very much to be able to speak clearly. It’s possible, though, that if you’ve had your mouth wired for longer than I did, then your muscles will have atrophied more and that you won’t be able to open it as wide.
I hope it goes well, and please do report back on the answer to your question after the fact. It could be useful to somebody else later on.
I got my wires out yesterday (hooray!). The jaw spasms seem to be pretty normal and decrease as you use your jaw more; I noticed this when I graduated from wires holding my upper and lower jaw together to rubber bands. My front teeth feel…loose?…that’s the best word I can think of to describe it. I hope it’s not that there’s a problem and goes away. I’ll see a dentist soon for a really thorough cleaning.
This blog is very helpful; thanks!
I got my wires off a couple of days ago. my mouth was wired for 7 weeks. i can def say that having my mouth wired shut was the worst experice ever..lol but i am having trouble opening my mouth wide enough to put food in. chewing is not that big a problem its just getting the food in there. my mouth barely will open big enough for me to put my finger tip in and it seems like everything i try and eat is to big. can anyone tell me if they are having this problem and how long it will last. thanks
It was the same for me. The muscles tend to atrophy if you don’t use them for a few weeks, but that gets better with time. In my case, it got better gradually over the course of several months, but I was able to eat most foods normally within about six weeks of getting the wires off. However, your experience may be different, particularly since your mouth was wired for longer.
Jon,
On June 15th I was mugged walking home from the shop where my car was being repaired. My nose was broken, a four-place (teeth) bridge was knocked out, and my upper and lower jaws were fractured. The upper was a multiple radial break, and the lower was just split in the middle of my chin. I take some comfort in hearing that you had the wired-shut situation I’m now experiencing, and are doing rather well. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Today is July 28th. I got the mouth opened yesterday, after six weeks, and was looking forward to a more varied diet. It’s a let-down to find that even soft foods are tricky to maneuver into my mouth, but I’m eating soggy Cheerios and loving the flavor this morning. Things don’t feel the same as before the injury, but I’ve no numbness, just a sore and limited jaw. The wires on the arch bars bother me more, now that I have some movement in the lower jaw. I can open my mouth about one and a half centimeters. Doc says the bars and wires come off in two weeks, August 10th. I begin teaching (4th grade) the 11th, the day after! This will be an interesting start to the year.
Have you had a steady increase in range of motion? Are your teeth and jaws up to the task of chewing harder foods yet? How has it been going?
Bob
Edited to add: Oops, I realized you weren’t addressing me…
Hi Bob,
Sorry to hear about your injury. That sounds very painful!
I’m not seeing that much improvement anymore, but it’s pretty much back to normal. I guess I haven’t posted any photos since December. I should do that again soon. Maybe tomorrow. Here’s my last post with photos, anyway.
I’ve been chewing hard foods for more than a year (my accident was almost 16 months ago. It was hard and even a bit painful to chew hard foods at the beginning, but within a few months it pretty much returned to normal.
If I haven’t posted much lately, it’s because I’ve been pretty fully recovered for a long time. My mouth will never be exactly the way it was before my accident, but it’s more than good enough for household use.
Best wishes with your recovery.
Hi Jon. I concur with Adam; seems like not being able to open your mouth much post-wires is normal. Be really patient and go slowly. I had the added problem of multiple facial injuries and not breathing well, since my broken jaw was associated with an accident. I still can’t bite well; I need to visit a dentist again. And opening my mouth and chewing with my jaw going into spasms all took a long time – weeks to months, in fact. I still can’t chew hard things (carrots, nuts, etc.) on the side of the injury and not well on the injured side and it’s coming up on 2 months after my wires were taken out. I suspect how quickly you’ll recover is in part related to what happened to your jaw in the first place. All this being said, things do improve a lot over time. Hang in there!
Thank you so much for your blog and this post in particular. I got unwired after 3 weeks of being wired and now have bands. I can only open my mouth about the width of my pinkie. My doctor was all “that’s as far as you can open? She seemed a little surprised, which scared me a bit. Anyway, came home from the appt. in good spirits and tried to eat some fries…um no, not happening. I also thought I would be able to brush the inside of my teeth again, but no. Bawled my eyes out for an hour or so, I think my expectations were too high. I think I will take some ibuprofen and try to eat some oatmeal for dinner, perhaps that is a better choice for “first foods”.
Don’t worry about your mouth not opening too far now. That should improve with time. You’ll find things you can eat pretty quickly. After being wired for a few weeks, almost anything is an improvement. Good luck in the coming days.
Thanks Adam, I did eat oatmeal last night, I couldn’t really chew, but figured opening my mouth to put the baby spoon with oatmeal in was some jaw exercise. I’m also encouraged that you started riding your bike ~ 1 month after your accident. I had started training for a triathlon a few months prior to the stupid accident. My 4 year old son fell out of the hotel bed and got a minor cut above his eye while on vacation in South Dakota. I felt hot afterwards and went to the bathroom to splash water on my face, fainted, and fell on the sink, broke my jaw in three places. The doctor said the fainting was a vaso vagal reaction to my son’s injury…I have never fainted before in my life! Anyway, I am hopeful that I will be cleared for some sort of exercise at my next appointment.
Hi Adam, I’ve started my own blog. It’s at http://jawfracture.blogspot.com/ if you would like to link to me.
Sandy
Sandy-
I to had to high of expectations and went home and balled my eyes out. It’s like when you get unwired it really sets in just how bad it is. On top of that it all sorta up in the air likes its anybodies guess on what’s to happen next. I am on day 4 after my wires got taken out. My teeth don’t touch at all on my right side or in front. But my surgeon says that its really good considering the breaks. I am just gonna do my best to stay strong. I hope things have gotten better for you. Best wishes to everybody this blog is a huge help. Thanks Adam and everyone for posting.
Thanks to everyone for posting their stories. I am now 8 months post-injury, and things are nearly back to normal after my last visit to the dentist several weeks ago. My bite isn’t where it was before the accident but it’s a lot better. My lips are still numb, though a lot less so.
Now – this is 8 months!! The biggest lesson I hope to share with everyone is that patience will serve you well. You really will see improvement by the week. You really won’t be able to eat carrots the first week your wires are removed but it will get better.
Lots and lots and lots of patience everyone!
Karen
Sandy: Ditto what Adam said. I was wired for about 6 -7 weeks and it took a long time to get back to “normal” (my bite is still off but much better). Three weeks is still a long time. Be patient and take it easy. You don’t have to push; your mouth will just open wider with time and use. Good luck!
Thanks Karen, it’s good to know that I don’t need to push it. I was curious if I should try and push through the pain a bit to try and open my mouth wider. But now I’ll just relax and work on getting food in my mouth
You can and should really listen to your body about both opening your mouth again and about training (goals that are sort of at two ends of the spectrum). My recovery was much slower and longer because I suffered multiple facial fractures. I am usually a high energy person, so it felt weird to slow down so much (including my workouts; I felt like I was about 90!) but I think taking it easy and not pushing too hard made a big difference in being as far along as I am now, 6 months later.
Definitely don’t push through the pain to open your mouth wider! Your mouth will loosen on its own over the next several weeks/months. Be patient. I got my wires off just before my birthday in April, tried to slug down a piece of cake (which was a miserable experience; I gave up pretty quickly) and decided that nothing beats birthday chocolate pudding!
Karen, I’ve been cracking up reading your blog. It’s only been the past few days that I can laugh and cry without pain (I had 2 plates put in my chin to internally fixate my worst jaw break) so this is good for me
I was sorry to read of your additional injuries, I can only imagine how difficult that must have been.
I can relate to having this happen away from home as you did. And honestly South Dakota is not the best place to have a medical emergency as it is so sparsely populated. Luckily we were 10 minutes away from the “Mid Dakota” hospital (you know no one lives there when the hospital isn’t even named after a city), but after getting a CT scan and some pain meds, we had to drive 2 hours to Sioux Falls where I was supposed to get surgery. Once we arrived they decided it would be better to just wire me temporarily (and very painfully) and fly back to Austin two days later to get the surgery done. Anyway, it was probably for the best as the doctor in Sioux Falls looked to be in her early 20′s and my surgeon in Austin was surprised at the weak pain meds and antibiotics they gave me. Either she didn’t feel comfortable doing my surgery or just didn’t feel like operating on a Saturday.
Today seems a bit better with the jaw and definitely feeling better emotionally. I think the recovery from this type of injury (at least for me) has been more of a mental than physical challenge. I just don’t have the patience for this long recovery period and am just not used to having something wrong with me. I do wish doctors were a bit better about letting patients know what to expect.
Hi Sandy. I’m glad you enjoyed reading my blog. I found it was a lifesaver for me. I got so much support, for which I am very grateful. And I really enjoyed writing it (so it’s nice to hear your reaction).
Having your injury occur so far away from home, much less a major hospital, sounds awful. You’ve been through a lot.
No one who knows me well would say that being patient and not running around at top speed were my strong points, so it was very strange for me to learn to slow down. Fortunately, I had a very supportive family who was insisting on it. Plus, nasal fractures made breathing difficult and, as you know, it’s horrible to try to breathe through your mouth when it’s wired. So I didn’t have a lot of choice in the matter.
Glad you’ve found your way to Adam’s blog; there’s a lot of good information here. And thank goodness for the Internet because I found a TON of good (and of course not so good) information here. Btw, I found it frustrating too that some doctors didn’t really give me a lot of information but I also think there is a lot of uncertainty in this kind of recovery.
You’re on the home stretch now!
Karen
Hey all – glad I located helpful knowledge through this blog. I had a similar accident on the bicycle five weeks ago ending up with three mandible breaks – one in center at chin and two at either side near the condyles. Also ended up with three fractured front top teeth and two molars on the top one at each side. Was wired shut for three weeks and have been on bands for the past two weeks.
Being 51 and previously very active, this has set me back tremendously. Enduring with patience is very tough. I made it through the liquid diet with syringe and tubing and wish anyone luck with that. Lost 20 pounds in three weeks and all food became disgusting to say the very least. Now allowed to eat soft foods provided I don’t chew but after just a little bit of food, I am exhausted and in tremendous pain. It’s also pretty hard to fit any food into the small mouth opening. On the good end of this all, I haven’t lost further weight since the wires were removed.
With all the pain though, I haven’t been back to work for over a month and want to go back but am physically and emotionally exhausted most of the time. See doc tomorrow to decide if arch bars will come off this Friday and hopefully all is still on schedule.
Just looking for a bit of advice regarding why my get-up-and-go has got-up-and-gone. I became a State Certified Firefighter at the age of 45 and have always been a very determined and strong individual but this broken jaw is killing me. I understand this is a new challenge in my life but I thought carrying a roof ladder up 30 feet in full gear and putting out a fire was the toughest thing I ever had to go through. I was wrong – for this requires more than the strength needed back then.
There are times I am so guarded and fearful of being hurt when there is no reason to feel this way. I am overly concerned where I place my feet and worry another accident will happen at any moment. I am so anxious about even seeing a dentist to replace/repair the broken teeth and very hard to even see the oral surgeon without feeling tremendous anxiety.
Guess I am looking for some hope that patience is all I need to endure this situation. Any other suggestions regarding the heightened anxiety, and the physical and emotional exhaustion would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much and good luck to all who have or are currently enduring a broken jaw.
Hi Jude, and welcome to our “club.” Glad you’ve found help online here. I am also 51, very active, and fractured many facial bones last Feb. in a Segway accident. The weight loss, chronic pain, and being exhausted also paralleled my experience. I am very active and had no choice but to take it slow. I slept a LOT, was out on disability for over 2 months, in a lot of pain (especially when I tried to eat again). I am not a patient, “take it slowly” kind of person but this experience forced the issue. I strongly recommend you listen to your body. I’m not 100% now but 99% and that’s 9 months later. So just give it time and you will heal and appreciate that you can type all of this!
Hi Karen,
You have no idea how much your note means to me. Thank you for your guidance and information regarding your combat with this injury. For the first time since my accident, I do not feel so alone anymore. While I would never want someone else to ever suffer through this pain and exhaustion, I’m glad to know that what I am experiencing is not so abnormal.
Thank you also for giving me hope for a better future and providing the wisdom to actually listen to my body rather than fight it all the time. Sometimes it appears as though I am in a tug-of-war with myself. I just want NORMAL again and I want it NOW!
Karen, do take care and know you have helped me and others tremendously with your wonderful words of wisdom. Maybe that’s why we go through this type of injury . . . so we can better help others and thereby also gain more strength to help ourselves. Thank you again – Jude
Hi Jude,
Thanks for sharing your story. I’m glad you found this site helpful, although of course I’d much prefer that nobody ever have any use for this information.
Serious injuries, such as jaw fractures, can certainly be emotionally difficult. For me, it was tough because I had just moved across the country and didn’t have close friends or family nearby. Unfortunately, I don’t have a whole lot of advice, but I can tell you that many people have recovered from a broken jaw, and I don’t imagine anybody found it easy emotionally.
You’ve come a long way already. Stay strong and be patient. Things will get better.
Adam
Hi Jude. I’m touched to know I was so helpful; thanks for letting me know. Go to my blog (www.segwaysarebad.blogspot.com). You’ll find some good information and validation there and it’s somewhat entertaining as well. As you know, there is a lot of junk on the Internet but Adam’s and my blogs are two good resources.
I NEVER slow down. So the fact that I did means anyone can too!
Also, in terms of being nervous about accidents now…I used to bike ride and feel much more fearful of riding on busy roads now. But doing so isn’t instrumental enough to my happiness for me to bother doing anything about it (e.g., therapy). I just don’t ride on busy roads. I’m probably more nervous in cars too (only when I’m a passenger, which the drivers just love!).
Adam and Karen,
Thank you for your kind words of advice. Strength and patience had been evading me until I located your blogs and helpful notes. Knowing I am not alone in dealing with this injury and the realization this moment and pain in time will subside has brought about an incredible awareness. My boyfriend had tears in his eyes last night when he overheard me singing – something I hadn’t done since the accident. I am blessed for I have made it through the worst part and must look at the achievements made – although some are very, very slow.
Arch bars DO come out this Friday and next week begins consultation with dentist regarding all the fractured teeth. Could always be worse . . . could be back on the bike path holding my mandible in my hands and wondering what just happened!
Thanks again for this blog and your thoughtful kindness in helping another get through this experience.
Hi Jude. Good to keep the “it could have been much worse” scenario in mind when you’re feeling impatient.
I love to sing in the car; it took me a long time to be able to do that again.
Cute story: I got my wires/arch bars out just before my birthday. So I thought I’d celebrate with chocolate cake. One bite, and I decided celebrating with chocolate pudding was a much better option.
To that point: I STILL eat the same squash soup for lunch often as not and chocolate pudding is still a big favorite. Maybe I’ll have that tomorrow in fact. Turkey be damned.
Hang in there!
Wow, glad I found this. I feel a lot less alone just reading the comments from folks who have been through this injury. I feel fearful doing ordinary things like walking to work. Glad to know that it not an uncommon reaction after this injury. And that it’s not just me going kinda crazy. So happy I found this site!!!!
Hi Susan. Sorry you’re in this position but this is a very good site for what you’re going through. It takes more time than I expected to be able to open and chew again. Just be patient (something I’m not particular good at); things really will improve!
My wife passed out while sick with the flu due to a vaso vagal episode. (sp) She broke her jaw in 3 places and gets her wires off tomorrow after a full 4 weeks. My 9 year old son was home with her when it happened and called 911 like a champ.
Anyway, I feel a bit more informed on how things will go for her tomorrow and what my expectations will be for her. She is also a very active person and it has been difficult for her (and us to watch) to have to slow down. She is often tired and takes naps during the day which was not in her vocabulary prior to this event. I wish everyone here the best.
-Terry
Glad this blog was helpful (it was for me as well). I never slow down and, post-accident (thrown face first into the pavement on a Segway), I had to take off of work for three months and slept a ton. I’m sure your wife needs it. Best of luck to all of you!
Btw, it took me weeks before I could really open my mouth and start to chew again after my wires were removed. If she takes in slowly and is patient, she’ll do great. She’s lucky to have such a supportive family!
Wow, so helpful to hear from others with a similar injury. Apparently I don’t have it near as bad as others. I broke my jaw falling on a wet floor in the Dominican (ya the hospital experience was interesting). I only received a single break on one upper side and possibly a hairline crack in my chin. I’ve been wired up for 4 weeks and go in tomoro to hopefully get them off. I was very surprised with the lack of information given by the doctors. I had no idea really when I left with the wires what to do or expect. I’m still not sure but in reading these replies it looks like elastics possibly?? I was expecting some pain with the wires coming off as it looks like my gums have covered them over in areas. I had braces as a kid so I know how painful it is having the spacers put in and removed. Anyway, hang in there people. I’m looking forward to not slurping my food off a spoon or through a straw!
Hi Bret, how did your appointment go? When I had my wires cut it didn’t hurt at all as they were attached to the arch bars that were sort of threaded through my gums. Once they were cut, my doc attached really tight rubberbands on the hooks of the arch bars. I know there are different ways of wiring the jaws shut though so perhaps your case was different.
I was put under for the arch bar removal (after several weeks of wearing elastics) and it was a no big deal. Had it done in the morning, went home and rested a few hours and took my son to the park later that afternoon. My gums looked pretty bad after wearing the arch bars for 2 months, but returned to normal for the most part. I can still see lines where the wires were in a few places, but there is no inflammation and they are healthy. Hope that they eating/drinking is going well. It is not a fun recovery, but you’ll get through it!
Bret,
I hope your appointment went well. Like you my injury was not as bad as some. Unpleasant as the experience was, I had to know that I was very lucky that it wasn’t so much worse. (I think the worst story I’ve heard so far, was from somebody who wrote to me by email that his oral surgeon was going to have to break his jaw again after it had healed completely.)
Anyway, elastics are pretty common, but they’re not too bad once you get used to them. After a few weeks of wires, they were a real improvement, though it took a while before I could open my mouth far enough to really eat.
For me, the wire removal was not too bad. There was some pain as they were removed, and they bled for a few days, but it felt pretty normal within a week or so. Of course, your mileage may vary.
Best wishes, and thanks for sharing your story.
Adam
I find it very heartwarming how all of us sharing only this unusual medical procedure have been so great in helping each other.
My wires removal was not fun, despite having a wonderful surgeon. I opted for Novocain, not realizing that I’d have to receive about 12+ shots. I was not doing so well after about #5.
Fast forward to almost a year later though and things are great. All I can say for those of you still going through this is hang in there and be patient (something at which I wasn’t too skilled before my accident and about which learned a lot as I healed).
I likewise find it heartening to see people coming together here to offer our experiences and support to those who are going through this procedure. Of course, I’d much prefer that nobody ever had to endure a mandibular fracture again, but that not being an option, I’m glad that we have a growing support network here. I’d especially like to thank you, Karen, and others who have returned regularly, so that the experiences on offer have been more than just my own.
Bad news gang . . . I broke the mandible back in October 2010 in three places and unfortunately, lost too much bone. Therefore, I am now in braces for the next 14 mos and then oral surgeon rebreaks the mandible on both sides – adds plates and screws, and back into braces for another year. Anyone else experience this type of set-back?
Also, has anyone ever arrived at the point of not having pain in the jaw, shoulders, neck? I am really tired of all this. I have lost the ability to chew properly since the teeth don’t meet and because the lower jaw is receding backward, I cannot verbally function properly. C’s and S’s are the pits! To sing and even say my telephone number is painful. What a winer, eh? Not looking for pity though – just helpful info that may give me a sense of hope for the future.
Hey Jude,
Wow, that all sounds incredibly frustrating. I’m sorry to hear that you are going to have more surgery. I had a similar fracture pattern to you (one just off center in my chin and both condyles) back in August and my functioning is pretty good now. Yawning causes a bit of pain on one side and my jaw gets tired/sore when I chew something hard. But really its just a minor annoyance. I hope this gives you some hope. I suppose all you can really do is trust in your surgeon and try to have faith that everything will turn out ok in the end.
The surgery you are having sounds similar to orthognathic surgery, except your jaw discrepancy was caused by injury instead of a congenital condition. You might want to check out the forums on archwired.com. It’s a website for adults with braces and they have a section for people with planned surgery. I know about it because I’m undergoing orthodontic treatment now for pre-existing crooked teeth/bad bite.
I’m not sure how your mental state is right now, but if it starts to get unmanageable don’t be afraid to seek help. This jaw stuff is no walk in the park especially since you’re dealing with a setback.
Jude: I’m also saddened to hear about your setback. Adam’s advice is good about other forums/support groups. And his suggestion about taking care of yourself mentally is prudent as well. Anyone facing chronic pain has the dual issue of how draining and exhausting it can be to face this challenge.
I didn’t need surgery as extensive as what you’re facing. And, like Adam, what I’m dealing with are annoyances now, rather than the ongoing issues you’re experiencing.
Vent away! We care.
Thank you both for your words of wisdom, hope, and direction. I will check into the other forum as well and continue to hope this too shall pass and simply be an annoyance in the very near future.
For those who crashed via bicycle or Segway or…how easy was or is it to get back on again? I am looking forward to summer and saving money on fuel by getting on that old bike, but then again my crash cost far more than a year’s worth of fuel for my car!
Hi Jude,
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve encountered setbacks. That sounds really rough.
For me, getting back on the bike wasn’t much of an issue at all. I depend on my bike to get around every day, and I had gotten tired of waiting for buses all the time. I think I ended up getting on my bike about a week after I was able to open my mouth for the first time.
I think it helped that I was able to convince myself that the circumstances of my accident were very anomalous. At the time of my accident, I was riding with a cycling club, which was very different from my day-to-day commuter cycling. Although I get on my bike all the time now, I have never ridden with the club again. I’ve definitely become one of the most careful cyclists I know. I avoid busy streets, I watch out for doors, and I stop for stop signs.
Best wishes with your continued recovery.
Adam
Karen,
Thanks for your contributions to the discussion. To give credit where it is due, however, I just want to point out that it was Sandy who deserves credit for everything you attribute to me in this comment.
Adam
Glad you’re seeking online support. Consider in-person too if you need it. Chronic pain can be extremely difficult to manage, maybe mentally as much as, if not more, than physically.
Everyone’s experience is different, so don’t read too much into any one person’s experience. I have no need to ride a Segway again and that has no impact on my life, since the one time was my first time, so I’m hardly giving up something.
Different for bike riding; that I enjoy. The first time I tried it – maybe it was 3 months or so after my wires were removed – after being on a fairly busy road near our house, I burst into tears; I was terrified. So I opted not to ride unless I could drive the bike to a bike path and, unfortunately, there aren’t any particularly convenient to our house.
Now, except for in our immediate neighborhood, I don’t ride but that’s more a function of not making the time to drive to a bike path. If I really wanted to, it’s very doable.
Now, I *could* work on my issues of being afraid to ride on busy roads but, given the drivers in my neck of the woods, being afraid is probably a reasonable thing!
Thanks Karen…Guess it’s time for me to “COWBOY UP” so to speak and just get back on that old bike – within some safe parameters first. I like the idea of traveling on the bike path before I decide to take it to work and be pressed for time as well as nervous about the roads. Thanks again for sharing.
BTW: The mental end of the trauma really does take a bit to get over. I truly appreciate your guidance. Here’s hoping for a safe summer for all and no more terrible accidents that change one’s life.
Hi Jude. That sounds like a great way to “test the waters” first. Also, I don’t know what your roads are like, etc., so I wouldn’t assume my trying the bike again experience will mirror yours (or anyone else’s, for that matter).
Sandy – giving you credit where credit is due!
(Different comment from Adam)
The mental part is definitely a huge challenge, so it’s great that you’re aware of that. Take good care of yourself.
Thanks Adam for your kind note and sharing too. I suspect I’ll also be one of the most careful riders around as well once I get up on it again…
it surely can’t happen twice!
I found this blog looking for answers. I don’t even know if anyone will answer this. I fractured the right side of my jaw and just got my jaw wired 5 days ago; I didn’t need any screws or plates and am scared of what’s going to be next. Like when they take off the wires and afterwards how’s it going to feel;I read most of the blogs and they sound scary; I’m a big baby when it comes to pain so I’m freaked out.This sucks because my dr said I can do this and go on with my life as this never happened but it don’t sound like its going to be that easy. Right now it feels like Im going to be like this forever.
Sasha, my guess is that you’ve gone through the worst of the pain already. It sounds like your fracture wasn’t too bad if your doctor is telling you that you will be able to go on with life as if it never happened. The trick is to be patient and try not to worry too much. I know from experience that is easier said than done when you can’t eat solid food. You might ask your surgeon at your next appointment how he/she removes the arch bars. I was put under for that part, and I highly recommend that if you have the option. If not, others on this site had the removal done with local and they survived
Otherwise, the pain you have should gradually lessen over time as the bone heals. When the wires were cut and replaced with rubberbands, pain was not my main issue. I was simply frustrated that I could not open my mouth wide enough to cram food in or chew for quite a while. Eventually though I was able to eat again and so will you. Good luck to you in your recovery!
Hi Sasha, I had a fracture on one side like yours. Since I had worked in a dental office for a few years I knew the importance of taking care of my gums. I figured out that I could floss between my teeth after the wires were changed out for the rubberbands. Keeping the gums healthy made the recovery a bit better. Take time to just manage your injury. It all takes time. I felt like I isolated, but that’s not entirely true, it just takes time to do all the prep work and eating, etc. Hang in there.
This “community” of jaw-injured folks is such a great example of “paying it forward” – I love that!
Sasha – you’ve come to the right place. We’ve all been through our own versions of this and are a good place to get advice (noting that everyone’s experience is unique, so don’t take it as medical certainty) and to vent and to get support.
Now, if Sandy is telling you to be patient, then it can be done. As I recall, being patient when she wasn’t going through her version of this was not her strong suit.
Nor mine. But it was a good lesson in learning to slow down and accept that there’s a lot you can’t control right now.
I agree with Sandy – pain wasn’t really much of an issue. I had breathing difficulties, so that was the worst part for me.
One of the most useful things I found out that improved my quality of life in spades was to request syringes at the drug store. The pharmacists will become your new best friends.
Anyway, they can be used to squirt food past your teeth and that expanded the variety of foods I could consume exponentially. Favorites were yogurt, pudding, baby food oatmeal (regular wasn’t thin enough), butternut squash soup, and carrots from a blender.
As for getting the wires off, if I had to do it again, I’d go for being knocked out. I didn’t have that option and opted for Novocain and found that pretty uncomfortable. Some folks have no trouble with just removing the wires drug-free.
The biggest surprises were: how incredibly supportive family, friends, and work colleagues were; how creative I could become in finding things to eat; and how long it took to open my mouth very wide again even after the wires were removed.
Hang in there!
Yeah, I’m 9 months post accident so it’s easy for me to say “be patient”. Karen is right, I was so not patient and was really freaking out! So, that’s totally normal Sasha, at least from my perspective. But you know, try not to
Feel free to vent here too. I had supportive family and friends too, but I felt like they didn’t really get it (how can you unless you’ve been through it) and felt like a whiner. It was nice to go to blogs like this one and not have to worry about that.
I was hit in the jaw by a man that came to my house to fight my boyfriend. I’m 23 with 4 kids that are under the age of 5. So I’m overweight;I haven’t had no pain (thank god) and was wondering why some people have numbness. So far this jaw wiring experience hasn’t been painful at all. My teeth never did come together in front and there is enough room for the tip of my finger to fit in so drinking and things like that are easy. I went to see my doctor the other day and he gave me the choice to be put to sleep or novacaine when I get unwired; I’m terrified to be put to sleep all though it wasn’t a bad experience. I only have one silver lining in all this I get to lose weight but is there anything that I can drink that will take this hunger pain away because that’s the only pain I have. I tried to ask my doctor questions but he just seemed like he wanted to hurry and go to lunch. Any kind of input would help.
Just make sure you eat quite often. It takes longer to prepare food you can eat, so plan ahead so that you are eating every couple hours. You will lose weight even though it seems like your life revolves around prepping and eating food. Take care of yourself!
Hi Sasha,
I’m sorry to hear about your injuries. When I was wired, the most filling things I found to drink were a meal replacer called Vega and smoothies with a bit of peanut butter. You might also look at my page on eating while wired. As for getting unwired, I was only numbed a little bit and that was fine, but I’d suggest doing whatever you feel most comfortable with.
Best wishes in your continued recovery.
Adam
Hey Sasha,
Sorry to hear of your accident and you have come to the right place for help and an opportunity to vent as often as you wish! There are wonderful people in this “club” who have been where you are and they are a blessing to offer such help when you feel rather set off on a deserted island by yourself. I know how frustrating and depressing this whole thing can be and so does everyone else here on this blog.
So here’s a must do…the Waterpik! I think Karen mentioned this too. Great for getting out the debris stuck in the wires and good to use after wires are off.
Secondly, here’s a do not…I was losing pounds very quickly with this new diet of being wired shut. I was so frustrated with all the effort it took to get food into my belly so chose not to eat much. That led to more frustration, dizzyness, further problems. At that point and while not in clear mind, I chose to get my favorite burger from Red Robin and blended the burger with some beef broth. This ended up being absolutely disgusting, but I ate it. From that time on, I chose to just deal with this temporary problem and stick with tasty smoothies – not too hot and not too cold due to fractured teeth. Anyway, safe to say, all pounds are back on six months later and I still love my favorite burger – cut up right now since I can’t open enough to really bite in to it.
Soon enough – time will pass and hopefully this will all be just a memory for you and everyone else. One thing this has taught me … tremendous empathy for my patients who have had any traumatic experience. My heart goes out to you!
My staples while wired were Ensure, Boost, Special K protein shakes, blenderized ramen, and ice cream/fruit/yogurt smoothies. You might also want to try carnation instant breakfast mixed with whole milk, much cheaper than ensure. I also ate a lot of soup, particularly the high cal cream/cheese based soups, and added olive oil to vegetable canned/jar soups, which are typically low in calories. Read the nutrition labels and pick things that have lots of calories, its probably the only time in your life that you’ll want to do that
Despite my high fat diet, I still managed to lose weight, its just unavoidable. You just want to minimize it as much as possible as significant weight loss after trauma is not good for the healing process.
Good luck to you, I’m sure you have your hands full dealing with this injury and taking care of 4 young children. I have a 5 year old (then 4) and recall worrying about the effect on him seeing his mom sort of screwed up for a several months. He is scared of the dentist (which may or may not be related), but otherwise I don’t think it affected him.
Since you have the option, I’d say get put under for the removal. There’s a reason they are offering it
It was probably my favorite visit to the oral surgeon. Since you’re not under long it doesn’t take long for the effects of the sedation to wear off, I felt normal within a few hours and felt just a little soreness in my gums, no real pain. The soreness is nothing compared to the relief that comes from having the darn arch bars removed.
The funny thing about that visit was that the surgeon’s assistant made a big deal about how redhead’s have low pain tolerance. So, I left with a script for 30 hydrocodone pills, of which I needed 0. I’ve since read the two articles I found that address this topic and am unconvinced that gingers are wussies.
Hi, I posted back on February 9th and just found you guys again. This site was a lifesaver for me at that point in my recovery. I broke my jaw in a bike accident in November 2010. By February I was in despair over how screwed up my mouth was. The enamel was crumbling off one tooth too, because of the way they fit now. It still feels different but I can tell that some day I will lose the memory of what it used to be like, so I will have a new normal. Keep posting everybody, others are helped by reading all the posts!!
Couple of other things I now remember helped me.
1) Muscle Milk – I happened to like it better than a lot of the high protein drinks because it was lactose and soy free. If you don’t have problems with either issue, you might not what to go with such an expensive brand. There is “diet” and “regular’. One is higher fat but therefore sticks with you longer. Both are high protein.
2) A water pic. Can’t say enough about how great that device was when I couldn’t brush my teeth and had whatever stuck in the wires (especially when I was “eating” blenderized foods.
3) I carried a wire cutter with me all the time, in case there was ever a REAL emergency and I had to quickly cut the things off. But only for a real emergency; otherwise, I’d just re injure the spot and have to do this all over again. No thanks.
Best wishes…
I’m a redhead too (though, these days, there’s a box that helps force the grays out of the picture). Yep, we’re a strong people!
I didn’t need pain meds after the wire removal and hadn’t really heard of other folks complaining of pain either. Also, I got violently ill on the meds, so I happily avoided them.
The only reason I might have needed pain meds after the wires were removed is if I was rash enough to try to then eat real food right away. That’s a slow process but it gets better by the day/week. In fact, that’s true while the wires are on too.
Today is 6 weeks and I got my wires off but still have the arch bars on. I was scared to open my mouth but finally the doctor got me to do it and its has been a couple of hours now and I can open pretty wide. I was thinking I wouldn’t be able to open that wide but I have been able to put 2 fingers in my mouth and hold open. And still no pain. I get everything off wednesday. I decided to get the shots in the mouth so hopefully that goes well. This blog has helped me a lot thanks guys.
Thanks for the update! I’m glad to hear you can open your mouth wide already. When I first opened my mouth (after only three weeks wired shut), it was several days before I could fit a child-sized toothbrush in my mouth to brush normally. I hope your arch bar removal went well.
Adam
Glad to hear that things are going so well Sasha. Thanks for keeping us updated.
I am nearly crying tears of relief to find a group of people going through what has been a pretty terrible experience and that even my wonderful, supportive friends and family can’t fully understand. I am 3 weeks into wiring. I am suppose to get my wires replaced by bands in a week. I suffered a complete break of the jaw bone near my ear after fainting after cutting my finger slicing watermelon while home alone (that was one expensive, painful fruit!) I can so relate to every word and I am reillieved beyond belief to see that I am actually normal! I have a question: I went out for my first extended trip out of the house since my injury and missed a step while walking down a flight of stairs (I really am not so clumsy, but feel like a SNL skit lately). Anyways, I gave a good jar, although my jaw only moved straight down when I stumbled, but I am so worried that I reinjured that area. It is sore and more achy than it has been in days. Has anyone else had a minor trip up and how likely is it that I rebroke the area? I have a feeling I am being paranoid and the body is tougher than I think- but can’t get it out of my mind. I would appreciate any imput as far as reinjury. Thanks again for sharing!
Hi Chaleis,
I can’t tell from your comment whether you actually hit your jaw again when you stumbled or whether it was your muscles reacting to stumbling. Either way, your best bet is to ask your oral surgeon. However, I’m guessing that if you didn’t hit it again, you’re probably fine. You’ve already been wired for a few weeks, so your muscles have probably atrophied quite a bit. My guess is the soreness is just in the muscles, which have moved a little bit for the first time in a few weeks. This is just speculation, though. Like I said, your doctor should be more helpful.
Best of luck with your recovery.
Adam
Hi Chaleis,
If you didn’t directly hit your jaw, I doubt that you broke it again. More likely that your jaw muscles tensed up during the stumble which made it sore. Couldn’t hurt to ask your doctor though.
Sorry to hear about your accident, fainting was the cause of my broken jaw too. I’m sure that you’ll never see watermelon the same way again. Good luck in your recovery!
Thanks for the replies. I did not actually hit my jaw on anything, just jarred it from the impact of tripping. I am sure it is fine, just the thought of going back to square 1 doesn’t appeal to me! And nocutting fruit doenst seem nearly as innocent! I get an xray next Wed. before getting the wires cut, so I guess we will see.
Hang in there everybody. Oh, I want to share some monetary good news. My health insurance company did not cover very much of my wiring treatment since it happened in Hawaii and not in my home state of Washington. I took it up to a Level II appeal and made an in-person presentation of my case that resulted in an added benefit of $850.toward the wiring procedure. Woo hoo. That actually helped my healing process because I finally felt like I was HEARD about how this injury sucks, and that, while I am better, I will never feel the same.
this website is great i too broke my jaw and been in the dumps you guys n gals have given me alot of hope and inspiration
thnx, mike
Good luck to you Mike, hope that your recovery is going well!
i got my wires taken off yesterday it feels great to at least be able to talk correctly but still on a soft diet (better than just liquids & mush like baby food lol) but i can only open my mouth like a fingertip wide how long do u think i got till i can get a good yawn out and my jaw is still sore any good ideas that might help
Hi, I’m only 17 and I had my jaw broken to fix a severe underbite.
This whole situation is hell..Any suggestions on how to make this not like hell?I have rubberbands in and they are really tight can barely open my mouth but the doctor told me
he would but looser ones on. Does that mean i will be able to open my mouth at least enough to tell my mouth is open ?
Sorry you are having a tough time Ti. The good news is that since your had your jaw broken by a surgeon instead of an accident, your recovery should be more predictable and your function will be better than those who broke our jaws in an irregular way. I’ve had a couple of friends who had orthognathic surgery and they both have normal mouth opening and no weird joint noises or anything. You might want to do a search on orthognathic surgery, I’m sure you will find tons of blogs and other information. Good luck!
Good luck Mike. Sounds like you’re making good progress.I don’t think I could really open my mouth much at all the first day the wires were removed; way too painful. Grew a liitle easier each day.
I broke my jaw 2 months ago. And I still can’t open my mouth wide since the wires came out. Am I ever gonna be able to open my mouth wide again.?
Hi Kaitlyn,
That sounds rough. It took me a while to be able to open my mouth wide, so I would imagine your opening will also get better over time. (Of course, I’m not a doctor.) How long ago did you have the wires out?
Best of luck!
Adam
Hi Mike,
One treatment which helped decrease pain and increase range of motion in my jaw after wires were removed was moist heat. This was applied to the jaw several times each day and prior to stretching.
In case you don’t have a microwaveable heating pad, you can make your own. You need a pair of socks (preferrably longer ones) and long grain rice (not Minute Rice). Open one sock up and pour down 2-3 cups of rice or until the sock feels somewhat filled but is not solid and tight. Tie off sock end. Place other sock over the knot and pull down to knot at the other end (more for security). Put in microwave for one minute, pull out and move the rice contents around, return to microwave for another minute or until it is warm throughout. Place on your achy jaw for 10 minutes and not only does the pain decrease, but the muscles become more extensible – that is, they will stretch a bit more. Then you can work on stretching.
Almost a year after my accident causing a triple mandible break, I can guarantee you will eat solid foods again and enjoy every bite more than you ever have before! Good luck and best wishes in your recovery.
Jude – That’s a really great suggestion. Too bad my accident preceded yours.
Mike – my recollection was that it took me months to get back to being able to open my mouth a reasonable amount and/or without every so often, experiencing a stabbing pain. I didn’t do anything to speed the process along. My motivation to eat and talk helped my progress though.
Good luck with your recovery. Try to be patient.
Karen
Sorry for posting twice … didn’t see the first one added until after the second one posted. If the first note about the microwaveable sock can be removed, please either do so or inform me how I can remove. Thanks!
Hi Jude,
It’s not your fault! Both of your comments were flagged as spam, and I found them in my spam folder this morning. I’ll delete the extra one. Sorry about that.
Adam
Hi All,
Thank you so much for posting. My mom broke her jaw in two places last month. She is having the wires removed the day after tomorrow and I don’t think she has any idea that she won’t be having a big bowl of spaghetti upon her return home. I certainly didn’t know. This will give me a chance to prep her for what is to come, so all those disappointment tears you all shed will not go to waste. It will save my mom from being disappointed. She’s 89 and very fit. This has totally exhausted her. Just trying to get 1800 calories in a day has been challenging. She will appreciate knowing she’s not alone. With any luck, she’ll actually start using the Galaxy Tab we got her and she can post, ask questions, etc. with you as you all recover. Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery to you all.
Melinda
How is your mom doing? My grandmother broke her jaw the year before I did at age 89 as well. She had a really hard time being wired, but did much better once they removed them and put on rubberbands. She’s absolutely fine now
Sandy,
Thank you for asking about my mom. She had the wires removed on Thursday and was immediately in better spirits. And no rubberbands! Her jaw range of motion is remarkable. She was eating, and LOVING real food. Still can’t wait for a salad.
I found that Bertolli has stars pasta, like the tiny stars from chicken and stars soup. Really mini pasta. She also wanted cheese, mozzarella was soft enough. And scrambled eggs. She proves over and over what a strong person she is.
The other thing I noticed was the second the wires came off she was not as scared and timid. She said she was so fearful of falling or choking.
I cannot tell you all how helpful this site has been.
Big thanks to Adam as well, for keeping it and all of us going.
My mom sends her best to all of you, as do I.
Melinda
I was in an auto accident and had my jaws wired shut for 7 weeks. I got the wires off yesterday and i can open my mouth about half of what I used to. I also have several facial fractures from the accident and I don’t know how much of the facial issues are affecting my jaw movement. My teeth do not line up the way they did before and I have many missing. I get the arch bars off next Tuesday and I am wondering how this is done. Will they put me under or will it be a local in my mouth and gums?
Hi Tom, it sounds like your jaw is doing pretty good if you can already open 1/2 of normal. This will only get better with time! For arch bar removal, you can either be put under (if your doc offers it as an option) or be given shots to numb you. If they didn’t discuss it with you, I’m guessing they plan to do numbing shots. It can’t hurt to call and ask.
Sorry to hear about your missing teeth, are dental implants in your future? I almost lost one of my teeth and my oral surgeon said it was no big deal to get an implant. I know they are not cheap though!
I think many of us experienced our teeth not meeting up correctly. I know some have had their bite adjusted (by filing teeth I presume) and there is also orthodontics. I guess it just depends on how bad it is and how much is bothers you. Congrats on getting the arch bars off, I bet you will see great improvement in your ability to open your mouth over the next couple of weeks.
A few of the teeth that do not mesh like they used to are crowns from previous dental work. I wonder if they can remove the old crowns and make new one to fit the posts and that mesh properly. any thought on this out there?
Hi everyone. It was a year and a half ago for me. I was numbed but by the time they were done giving me that many shots, I wasn’t convinced that it would have been preferable to either be put under or at least groggy or not to bother. But that doesn’t mean either is the way to go. I would just ask more questions next time. Regardless, it’s a very fast procedure to have the wires removed and I was so happy, that overcame any other issues I might have had at the time.
My bite is still off and I think I grind my teeth even by daytime because of it. The next time I see my dentist, I’m going to ask about my options. He’s already shaved some teeth (which helped). I had decided I would just live with it but now I’m concerned I’ll just grind them to stubs. I’ll keep you posted – I don’t have a dentist appointment for awhile and it’s not at the top of my to do list.
Good luck!
Karen – You should totally get braces to fix your bite. And not just because I want someone older than me to have them
But seriously they aren’t bad…expensive, but cheaper than the damage you’ll get grinding them down to nubs. Or maybe invisalign?
Hi Sandy. This is such a great community (thank you Adam!). Did you get them? I asked someone about invisilign. She didn’t like them at all. I had braces as a teen and I can’t say I’m too excited about doing that process again. My stepsons would love it, as they’d probably feel like they got revenge or something for all of the suffering from braces that the parents made them undergo.
I do like and trust my dentist a lot, so I’ll run it by him. Thanks much!
Invisiligns are dumb in all honesty, they take longer, they make ur teeth look like denters and they are such an annoyce. Get braces, quicker, easier and simple.
I was definitely not a candidate for invisalign, my teeth are a mess and invisialign can’t fix all problems. I had a distalizer appliance for 6 months and then got that removed and had braces put on (damon clear on top and metal on the bottom) a few months ago. My teeth are sore sometimes, but its really not a big deal. After being wired shut and wearing those horrible arch bars, its a walk in the park!
If you decide to go look into it, I’d recommend meeting with a few orthos before choosing one, they often have different plans and some are more pleasant to deal with than others. I wanted to run out of the office of the first guy I met with, total robot doctor
Good luck, hope you can get the grinding issue resolved!
Thanks for the input everyone. I can’t believe I need it, since my accident was a year and a half ago.
I’ll definitely talk to several orthodontists, since the first guy I saw puts braces on everyone before they’ve even entered his office!