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6 Month Check Up
Last Wednesday I went for my 6 month check up. Every thing has been going so good, so I wasn't too worried about anything. I took a gamble and book my flight home on the same day as my appointment was. Thankfully everything worked out and that the office was so accommodating, though I got got scolded to not do that again! lol
When I had my followup, they took xrays and Dr. Anna came in to look around. I also told her about the TMJ pain I was experiencing. As she was looking she made and a few faces and said she didn't like it. Apparently my bottoms were not shaped well and needed an alignment so she wanted my bridges to be remade. The problem was though that my plane was leaving later that night. So the lab tech guy came and they discussed. They decided that they would remake my bottom bridge and then just work on the top rather than remake that one too. 2.5 hours later and boom my bridges were complete!!
For my top bridge I had experienced some weird peeling on my top right front tooth previously. But honestly, I actually liked that so I am glad I didn't get a whole new top bridge. The peeling caused the tooth to be a little less "perfect" shape and makes it look more natural. So they just filed in down to prevent more peeling. They also added more "gum" to the top to close off the gap. It feels fantastic!
For my bottom bridge, a few things need to be done hence them just remaking them. My right side, back of my bridge was too far into my tongue area. This caused a bigger gap and also a ledge that I was terrible about playing this. So when they remade them they fixed that. Also my bite was a bit off on my bottoms. This is what was causing me the TMJ pain!! Apparently while I healed my bridges shifted slightly and caused my bite to be off. So Dr. Anna was explaining how my back teeth on my left were actually not even coming together and touching. This put all the pressure on my back right causing my jaw/ear TMJ pain. Since they remade the bottoms I have experienced ZERO pain! and I also notice that I chew on both sides of my mouth rather than 1 side.
I do have an appointment with a local dentist for next week though. Just like before I quickly had 2 access holes either push in or fall out. This happened before I even flew out that night. Luckily neither are scraping my tongue to it isn't desperation. This is also the dentist I plan to get my next 6 month cleaning from. Then in 1 year I will go back to Golpa.
Overall I am so pleased! my gaps are all closed, my pain is gone and my smile looks great! I couldn't be happier! I am attaching some updated pics of my smile for those that are curious.
When I had my followup, they took xrays and Dr. Anna came in to look around. I also told her about the TMJ pain I was experiencing. As she was looking she made and a few faces and said she didn't like it. Apparently my bottoms were not shaped well and needed an alignment so she wanted my bridges to be remade. The problem was though that my plane was leaving later that night. So the lab tech guy came and they discussed. They decided that they would remake my bottom bridge and then just work on the top rather than remake that one too. 2.5 hours later and boom my bridges were complete!!
For my top bridge I had experienced some weird peeling on my top right front tooth previously. But honestly, I actually liked that so I am glad I didn't get a whole new top bridge. The peeling caused the tooth to be a little less "perfect" shape and makes it look more natural. So they just filed in down to prevent more peeling. They also added more "gum" to the top to close off the gap. It feels fantastic!
For my bottom bridge, a few things need to be done hence them just remaking them. My right side, back of my bridge was too far into my tongue area. This caused a bigger gap and also a ledge that I was terrible about playing this. So when they remade them they fixed that. Also my bite was a bit off on my bottoms. This is what was causing me the TMJ pain!! Apparently while I healed my bridges shifted slightly and caused my bite to be off. So Dr. Anna was explaining how my back teeth on my left were actually not even coming together and touching. This put all the pressure on my back right causing my jaw/ear TMJ pain. Since they remade the bottoms I have experienced ZERO pain! and I also notice that I chew on both sides of my mouth rather than 1 side.
I do have an appointment with a local dentist for next week though. Just like before I quickly had 2 access holes either push in or fall out. This happened before I even flew out that night. Luckily neither are scraping my tongue to it isn't desperation. This is also the dentist I plan to get my next 6 month cleaning from. Then in 1 year I will go back to Golpa.
Overall I am so pleased! my gaps are all closed, my pain is gone and my smile looks great! I couldn't be happier! I am attaching some updated pics of my smile for those that are curious.
Office Follow-up Next Week!
I am a bit behind schedule but I am scheduled for my follow up at Dr. Golpa's office next week in Las Vegas! Everything has been pretty good so I don't expect anything crazy from my follow up. I am excited and hopefully that the gar between my gums and bridge can be closed up a bit on my bottom right. I also think I may need a bit of a bite adjustment to help with my TMJ but other that that things have been going so well.
My bridges are a part of me. I forget that they aren't mine. Many people around me have seemed to forgot and new people have no clue that they aren't my natural teeth. Still the surgery was the best thing I have ever done for myself!
My bridges are a part of me. I forget that they aren't mine. Many people around me have seemed to forgot and new people have no clue that they aren't my natural teeth. Still the surgery was the best thing I have ever done for myself!
Update Time! :)
So I am almost to my 4 mouth post op mark! Things haven't changed much since my last update. I am very well adjusted to the bridges at this point. I typically forget that they are not my teeth. Sometime my implant areas get achy but nothing too bad.
I do still experience symptoms of TMJ now and then. I actually have an appointment to see a sleep specialist next week, because I am noticing that I am clenching down on my bridges extremely badly. I do weat a night guard that Golpa made for me that is made of clear, hard acrylic. My clenching and grinding is so bad though the guard is no longer clear everywhere from the grinding down of the acrylic and I have cracks straight through it. When I have a bad night, that is when I experience the TMJ pain and implant location pain. Neither pain is unbearable and nothing that some Advil cant help. I am hoping that the sleep specialist can figure out a resolution. I am so nervous that I am hurting my implants or bridges with the clenching or that I may break it. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen!! :)
Any day now I will be planning and booking my trip to have my check up with the Golpa's office in Las Vegas. I am hoping to make follow up appoints in the DC office once it opens up!!
All in all.... I am so thankful I am not in the daily pain from abscesses and infection that I had before this procedure. I am thankful, I can eat what I want without pain. I am thankful that I can smile again.
I do still experience symptoms of TMJ now and then. I actually have an appointment to see a sleep specialist next week, because I am noticing that I am clenching down on my bridges extremely badly. I do weat a night guard that Golpa made for me that is made of clear, hard acrylic. My clenching and grinding is so bad though the guard is no longer clear everywhere from the grinding down of the acrylic and I have cracks straight through it. When I have a bad night, that is when I experience the TMJ pain and implant location pain. Neither pain is unbearable and nothing that some Advil cant help. I am hoping that the sleep specialist can figure out a resolution. I am so nervous that I am hurting my implants or bridges with the clenching or that I may break it. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen!! :)
Any day now I will be planning and booking my trip to have my check up with the Golpa's office in Las Vegas. I am hoping to make follow up appoints in the DC office once it opens up!!
All in all.... I am so thankful I am not in the daily pain from abscesses and infection that I had before this procedure. I am thankful, I can eat what I want without pain. I am thankful that I can smile again.