My All on 4 journey

I finally decided I would document my journey.
I think I was as old as 15 when I decided that one day I would make it happen and will have all new perfect teeth. I had very bad teeth from early childhood ( to the extent I have no single picture of me older than 3 years old where I smile so that you could see my teeth).
Dentists are my best friends :)... I spent SO much time in their cabinets over all these years ... Well, it eventually took 30 years to finally make things happen.
I have surgery for both arches planned for this Friday- August 9. I have no fear, I am not nervous- I am looking forward to it!
I found Dr. Iskander via this site and did some additional google research. Reviews definitely help - I am grateful for people taking time and go into many details - this really made my choice much easier. I live in Luxembourg ( yes, I did come all the way from Europe to Dallas for my procedure - it is not so common in Europe and I wanted to be treated by very professional doctor).
I contacted the clinic in April and was immediately put in contact with doctor - no weeks of waiting, no need to fight to get someone to talk to you ( so refreshing after Luxembourg:)...had very positive, efficient and honest discussion over the phone. To arrange all pre- operation formalities, administration etc I was in contact with Isabel , a treatment coordinator . Great communication... We agreed for August appointment ( this is my vacation... so I came over).
I arrived in Dallas on Saturday and today was the first consultation ... I did enjoy every moment of it! Had x-ray and casts made... had discussion with Dr. Iskander for surgery and Dr. Wu for the shape and form and position of the teeth. I was filmed and tens of pictures were taken... went with Frank through all administrative matters...
What I did appreciate ( and I always do) was that all the discussions were very open and no- nonsense. For example Dr.Wu insisted that I do not choose too white shade for temporary bridges...Not that I want them Hollywood white but probably I was not that reasonable and had to be corrected :) also there are some limitations to what can be done to my gummy smile - and I appreciated it was explained very clearly to me!
I have now purchased the painkillers and antibiotics Dr prescribed and arranged the temporary care for post-op on Friday ( company called Right at Home and I was referred to them by clinic).
So far I am truly enjoying my time here in Dallas ( well, until now in Irving) and will keep posting... maybe someone like me will need to make a choice and will get inspired by my experience.
I post today’s pictures of my teeth “as is” . Please note that mostly all teeth you see are crowns and nothing really left there to be saved ...

Et voila! It is done! Was at clinic at 8:30 and procedures finished at 15:00... now waiting additional hour and a half for temporary bridges to be fine tuned by lab.

All went super well! I was totally taken care of... and everyone was super kind and nice and attentive to my smallest wishes.. not that I am difficult ( at least I think so :)... I got 6 implants up and 7! down...

anesthesia is done in a way that you are in twilight zone... no pain, no real sharp consciousness, but you are not totally out ... I remember I was watching them during surgery... and heard my teeth cracking ... lol... but it is rather like you are in 4d movie ... no pain... just curiosity ...

Dr Iskander is great, he is performing a surgery and leading a team. Very attentive !Majority of my conscious time I spent with Dr. Vu though who is a prosthodontist and he is just fantastic. I feel totally in good hands with both of them.

Will post picture with teeth when I get them and go back home ...

I promised to put picture yesterday, I know... but it was really not possible - I was still totally frozen and did not control my muscles , so I even could not smile ... today I have it all - pain, some bruises and I am swollen... have though almost all muscles back under control... not completely though... and when smile look like a victim of a blotched lip augmentation procedure lol

I take all my prescribed pills, have ice pack and only liquid food - cold protein shakes ...

No I can smile for the picture, still looks unnatural. Teeth are temps... not fan of shape or color..because of material they look like dentures of old people in my opinion. By the way color is B1 - the whitest among natural shades and I do not find it that white at all ....

Anyway... I have to get my face back to normal and implants have to heal... I had probably about 25 extractions ... so it was a huge surgery... no wonder I still do not control my face...

Staying at home watching tv... tomorrow is another day