Saturday 30 November 2013

The New Chapter of my Life

It has been a while since I last blogged and put my thoughts on the web. So many things has happened that has shaped me the way I am today, but we will leave it at that.

I had thoughts about wanting to start up a blog again, as an avenue to document my journey through braces treatment + jaw surgery. But through the posts that follow, it is my hope that you (yes, the one staring at the screen) will be blessed by it. These are my recordings of the one and a half years treatment, as honest and accurate to my 5 senses as my mind can articulate. 


Just a background to my situation: I am 19 years of age when this treatment is about to begin. Projected treatment period is one and a half years, give and take a few months. The areas of treatment for my case is 1) underbite, and 2) cross bite. As you might realise, I think it is quite a severe case. That being said, I never hated the way I looked because I understood that I was perfect as God had made me. That being said, I honestly do not know if what I'm going in for is the work of the will of man, though I trust that God will see me through well and I commit all to Him. The orthodontist and surgeon have classified my case as a clearly medical case, not aesthetics - and so have I.


From what I understand, I will be on braces treatment to prepare the teeth for surgery for about 8 months. Knowing that I have plans to further my studies abroad, the orthodontist has professionally re-looked into my case and shortened it from the normal 12 months. However, it does not mean that the overall treatment + surgery period will be any less than 1.5 years - it merely meant that the remaining 4 months of braces treatment could be done during the post surgery braces treatment period of 6 months. Oh yes, I have to mention that this braces treatment for me (not sure if it is the same for everyone else) is a one-way road for me. Meaning, there is no turning back if I started the braces treatment and sudddenly decide to chicken out of the surgery and take the braces off. My teeth would be wayyy worse than it is now. And I think it is because of my crossbite and underbite, it is not a simple case of merely straightening my teeth. Following that, the surgery would be taken on by jaw surgery specialist (man, it sounds really scary here BUT TRUST ME, it's not), which at this point, it is really the crux of the entire treatment. Post surgery, I'll be under the careful and TLC from the surgeon to make sure that nothing goes wrong in the next one month (got 1 month MC leh!). I figure that I will be doing much shuttling between the surgeon's and the orthodontist's clinic within the 6 months post surgery.


Cost. Yes, it is a consideration worth spending some thought on. While I say that it is not cheap, but I think it is worthwhile - worth the time, worth the money... hmm, but I'm not sure about the pain though. (Am I scared of pain? YES DUH! My threshold is rather low). Nevertheless, braces is almost 4k for me, while the surgery alone is about 3 times to 4 times more. IKR. Surgeons really earn for the risk they are taking. 


Today's visit to the orthodontist was the starters for me. He had taken x-rays of my jaw (side and front, maybe more? Don't know; didn't get to see it). Also, he took photographical and mould (as in the dough mould kind, not the micro organisms one) records of my teeth. Goodness, while he was pressing the mould in my mouth I felt like gagging. Although the sensation wasn't that strong, but still, the only foreign object that is tolerated by my mouth is probably only my toothbrush. Well, if it is any consolation, the minty taste from the mould actually freshened my breath really well. Hah.


I don't know if I am really prepared for this, but I know that I have to do it, looking ahead. I can foresee the terrible bite/chewing problems that I will face in future, and really, it's a matter of now or never. Thank God for parents who are really supportive, both emotionally and financially. Conflicts as they arise, I pray that the Lord will strengthen me and see me through. 


This is all I have for today. Three days from now, the metal braces will be another foreign object that HAS to be accepted by my spoilt mouth. Haha, whatever. From now till then, I am going to eat alllllllll the food I know I won't be able to enjoy for the next 1.5 years. Hopefully I get to shed some kilos off teehee. 


See you in three days time! Buonasera!


With love,

therarch
29 Nov 2013