Hey everyone,
I decided to add a third and fourth color since this post is going to be pretty lengthy!
Also, there's a slight chance this post will include detailed descriptions of my experience and the process of certain things (so basically, talk of sores, spit, and stuff! I'll put it in.. Pink! I'll try not to have that much..)
You have been warned!
THE NEXT POST I MAKE ON THIS BLOG WILL HAVE PICTURES, AUDIO, AND POSSIBLY VIDEO (If I decide I haven't embarrassed myself enough)!
AN:
Text in purple = Personal Life
Text in black = Dental Work
Text in pink = possibly icky (pass over pink if squeamish to the body)
Text in green = Shortcut (The summary to all of this)
It's official! As of August, I have completely finished all of my dental work! Since the beginning of this life-changing experience, I have grown as a person and become more knowledgable and happy. Even looking back, I feel maybe writing this was dramatic. That's alright though. I believe it will still be nice to look back on and reflect. I am much more aware of the importance of self-care as well as how to maintain a healthy mind. To finish off with this blog, I wanted to keep my word as far as posting pictures of before and after my work.
I feel pretty bad considering I'm just now adding my final procedure all of this time later. I graduated High School, I went through a breakup, I went through two jobs, I had a major home life change.
Reading back, I see how my maturity-- just my mindset and perspective has shifted and changed over time. Even though at some moments I thought about deleting this entirely, I've decided not to.
Over the years, I have experienced a roller-coaster of emotions. I had to overcome many hardships- whether they were associated with my dental work or in my personal life. I feel other than the people who comforted me and accompanied me to my appointments, I have all of you to thank. Whether you are or were just passing through and happened to take a moment to read about my situation, it's kept me motivated to keep trying and to keep my head up.
I had a hard time remembering what the purpose was in writing about this. I had experienced much negativity in school and didn't feel anything I was doing or even myself really mattered at all. This is meant to be a happy post though! So don't worry, I won't complain too much! :)
Don't get me wrong, I know I haven't had it worse than others, and best believe I am grateful for all that has been done for me. I'm so grateful for all that I have, whether it be materialistic or not.
So, where do I begin?
I received the clip-in pieces (partials) and considering I'm writing this, months after, I can say I'm most likely going to stick with my partials and not go any further as far as getting implants. Not only will it save me money, but I have found more upsides to having these partials, than if I were to have implants. One of them being, if something were to go wrong with my partials, considering my anxiety of dentists, I can just click it right out without having to undergo any of the procedure myself!
SADLY, since I'm writing this months later, I have also lost the ability to remember as much as before. I'll do my best.
First of all, when I got my braces off, WOW! Emphasis on the OW! I wouldn't wish braces on my worst enemy, haha! Luckily, it was pretty quick. The nice woman who was taking them off, offered to give me a break after taking my top braces off (again, because they're super uncomfortable and not pleasant to remove), but It's just like when I got my ears pierced, let's just get this over with!
After they were taken off, I got a mold done of my top and bottom teeth in order to get the partials. The molds this time versus the first time ever I got molds, you could see the different techniques and tools they learned. When I first got them done, I had to use a child's mouthpiece size since I have a small mouth. Because of this, the stuff they use to make the molds was super messy and suffocating! This time, however, they had smaller mouthpieces, and even flavors to choose from for the molds. It wasn't suffocating and it was much easier to not focus on the discomfort and the triggering of my gag reflex! Yay!
After the partials came in, I was scheduled to come and pick them up. My boyfriend, Zack, drove me to my appointment. Dr. D came in and clipped in my top and bottom partial piece. He then handed me a mirror asking me what I think, and I cried like a baby, haha! He showed me where the metal clips are supposed to go, and how I'll know when the pieces are actually clipped correctly.
When My appointment was over, I took a picture with both of my dentists, where they then gave me a printed out picture of my before and after photos, which you'll see shortly, as well as my own. :)
When I got home, I showed my mother, who also cried (now you know where I get it from :D ), and I showed my dad, who just stared in disbelief.
Shortly after, I had to go back to the dentist in order to have part of my bottom partial shaved down near my gum, considering it was jabbing me in the nerve!
Now that my monthly visits to the dentist were no longer a thing, I had to adjust to my new life with partials and growing my self-love to have some confidence again. This was going to be much easier considering at this point I graduated High School, and no longer had to worry about other people bringing me down, and the pressure to fit in from my peers. My partials were painful at first, and I had to take small breaks in order to adjust to them. I was told I would find myself salivating more than usual, struggling with speech, triggering my gag reflex, and most likely developing sores until my mouth adjusted.
Luckily, from all of the other work, and the persistent sores inside of my mouth from the braces, I only developed sores, gagged, and drooled on myself nonstop for about 3 days!
The only problem I face now is I had a breakout of clear sores on my inner bottom lip to the point I now have a medicated lip balm that helps keep them away. I only have to use it once in a blue moon at this point.
I was told I would most likely talk with a speech impediment, just for a bit until I learned the new placement and form of my mouth and tongue. I couldn't pronounce certain words with S, T, CH.. and so on (for example, pronounce sounded like puh-nounth). Hysterically enough, It didn't affect my speech when I'd sing. Since I love singing, I made sure to sing daily and talk as much as possible to speed up the process. Soon enough, I was talking perfectly normal!
I was told I could/should eat with my partials in, but I strongly dislike it. The partials have the grooves of your palette, therefore, you tend to get food particles stuck in these.. crevices, and can be difficult to clean. You're also not supposed to sleep with your partials in, but I feel I have to every now and again considering my teeth shift so fast, making it extremely difficult to put back in when I wake.
I make sure to thoroughly clean both pieces every morning, after each meal, and every night before sleeping, whether I put them in the container or have to sleep with a certain one in (which again, is not often). The reason to not sleep with partials is that the metal hooks that clip on to your teeth can cause cavities on your teeth, from holding bacteria or your teeth having leftover plaque!
I had to learn how to be open again! From being so insecure of my mouth, I always covered it when I laughed, smiled, and talked. I had to teach myself to keep my hands away from my mouth when I smile, laugh, and talk. I forgot how to smile, and found myself laughing hysterically at the super cringe-worthy selfies glaring back at me.
I found myself extremely self-conscious of myself for having partials though. I'm the type of person who copes through talking poorly about themself, so yes. There were a ton of grandma jokes until I saw more people my age with partials, and found the realization there are actually many people with partials, that I've never taken notice of before.
All in all, I'm so grateful for this experience. I'm grateful for the kindness of my dentists and everyone who assisted. It's because of their dedication, and honest passion and dedication to their work that I was blessed with this opportunity. Since my final appointment, I have struggled to find something to show my gratitude, considering they changed my entire life and self-image.
How do you repay such an act of kindness? You can't just buy them lunch... I feel it needs to be much more meaningful than that. Hopefully, I come up with something soon.
Once again, I want to say thank you to every one of you who has tagged along with me. Thank you for all of your kind words, and for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers when I needed them most.
Most people stick to their roots of family and people known in everyday life to let into their hearts, make real differences, and show true care. I have always been one to connect much easier online, and I have found that most of the words I hear when I feel like giving up, come from you.
Thank you. I can't say it enough, however, I think I'm going to keep rambling if I don't end this. The next post I make, I will show you some different photos or other media that I have of myself before and after all of this.
I'm a bit scared to do this, so please be nice!
If you have any questions or comments about anything, that you may have wanted to ask me, or any questions in general related to my mouth or me as a person.. If you want to share a story: with me or... anything!
Send me an Email!
Budstac56@gmail.com
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