Re: new member ???'s SARPE ANSWERS

[Guest guest]

hey,

I had SARPE August 8th. Im back to eating almost everything now

except for really hard things. You can eat way more than you would

think if you cut it into small pieces.

I still have a big gap in my teeth unfortuntately. i got my

braces on last week and I think the gap is starting to close a

little. I have diffently got some weird looks and had a lot of

questions to answer when I got back to law school this year but my

friends all understand.

Unfortuately thrre isnt much you can do in the meantime. My ortho

said he could have put a temporary false tooth in but that it would

have looked worse. I think actually getting the braces makes it look

better because it looks less like you just had a tooth knocked

out...hope that helps..anymore questions feel free.

Pete

> My 17 year old daughter recently underwent a rapid pallatal

expansion

> (August 19). Has anyone in the group had any experience with this

> type of surgery? She has been wearing braces for 4 1/2 years. She

> was originally suppose to have lower jaw surgery last Thanksgiving

> (her jaw needs to be repositioned back and over a little). Then

the

> surgery got pushed back to June of this year. A week before

surgery,

> after checking her pre-op molds, the oral surgeon felt that he

still

> wasn't going to get the desired results, her upper jaw was too

> narrow. It was decided between her orthodontist and oral surgeon

> that she would need to have a RPE done to widen her upper jaw. Now

> her lower jaw surgery has been pushed back again until next June,

> because the upper jaw has to totally heal first. She is on a soft

> food diet (no chewing allowed) for six weeks. The biggest problem

> she has to deal with is the huge gap between her upper two front

> teeth that the surgery has created. She won't be getting her

braces

> back on until sometime in December, so she 's got about three

months

> yet to deal with this. She is in her senior year of high school

and

> getting a lot of harrassment from classmates, and is becoming very

> self-conscious. Sorry for the long post, but does anyone know if

> there is any temporary cosmetic solution to this problem?

[Guest guest]

I'm surprised you were able to get braces on so soon after your

SARPE. My daughter's orthodontist said the soonest she could get

them on was sometime in December. She wore them for several years

already, but they were removed before her surgery to give her a

break. That was great because she went to the dentist (and had two

cavities filled that weren't detected in her exam two months earlier

with the braces on). I guess she just has to tough it out until

December. At least when the braces go back on the gap looks like

it's kind of just " under construction " . Now it looks like a missing

tooth.

> > My 17 year old daughter recently underwent a rapid pallatal

> expansion

> > (August 19). Has anyone in the group had any experience with

this

> > type of surgery? She has been wearing braces for 4 1/2 years.

She

> > was originally suppose to have lower jaw surgery last

Thanksgiving

> > (her jaw needs to be repositioned back and over a little). Then

> the

> > surgery got pushed back to June of this year. A week before

> surgery,

> > after checking her pre-op molds, the oral surgeon felt that he

> still

> > wasn't going to get the desired results, her upper jaw was too

> > narrow. It was decided between her orthodontist and oral surgeon

> > that she would need to have a RPE done to widen her upper jaw.

Now

> > her lower jaw surgery has been pushed back again until next June,

> > because the upper jaw has to totally heal first. She is on a

soft

> > food diet (no chewing allowed) for six weeks. The biggest

problem

> > she has to deal with is the huge gap between her upper two front

> > teeth that the surgery has created. She won't be getting her

> braces

> > back on until sometime in December, so she 's got about three

> months

> > yet to deal with this. She is in her senior year of high school

> and

> > getting a lot of harrassment from classmates, and is becoming

very

> > self-conscious. Sorry for the long post, but does anyone know if

> > there is any temporary cosmetic solution to this problem?

[Guest guest]

This may be an impossible suggestion, but if she can interject some

humor into the situation, it could spare her some pain.

" I had this done so I could practice spitting watermelon seeds for a

contest next June. " With a big grin.

" I'm learning to do an orchestral whistle, and this is part of my

embouchure development. "

" I always loved.... fill in the blank... Howdy Doody, Hutton,

Letterman... So I'm just trying out the look. "

Or, just tell 'em the truth. " My dentists told me this step is

necessary in rehabilitating my mouth. It will close, and I can tell

you in more detail if you really want to know. " You may be surprised

to find that a number of them are indeed curious.

Of course, I am no expert on today's 17-year-olds. If you find

someone who is, I nominate him/her for the Nobel prize. But this,

too, will pass.

Meantime, good luck to you in helping her, and to her in putting up

with it. Not all steps toward progress are easy, but most are

rewarding, if you can put up with what goes with 'em. (From what most

have said, there may also be some big-time ouches involved in closing

the gap. Nothing she can't handle, but something those around her

should be prepared to be sympathetic to.

Cammie

> > > My 17 year old daughter recently underwent a rapid pallatal

> > expansion

> > > (August 19). Has anyone in the group had any experience with

> this

> > > type of surgery? She has been wearing braces for 4 1/2 years.

> She

> > > was originally suppose to have lower jaw surgery last

> Thanksgiving

> > > (her jaw needs to be repositioned back and over a little).

Then

> > the

> > > surgery got pushed back to June of this year. A week before

> > surgery,

> > > after checking her pre-op molds, the oral surgeon felt that he

> > still

> > > wasn't going to get the desired results, her upper jaw was too

> > > narrow. It was decided between her orthodontist and oral

surgeon

> > > that she would need to have a RPE done to widen her upper jaw.

> Now

> > > her lower jaw surgery has been pushed back again until next

June,

> > > because the upper jaw has to totally heal first. She is on a

> soft

> > > food diet (no chewing allowed) for six weeks. The biggest

> problem

> > > she has to deal with is the huge gap between her upper two

front

> > > teeth that the surgery has created. She won't be getting her

> > braces

> > > back on until sometime in December, so she 's got about three

> > months

> > > yet to deal with this. She is in her senior year of high

school

> > and

> > > getting a lot of harrassment from classmates, and is becoming

> very

> > > self-conscious. Sorry for the long post, but does anyone know

if

> > > there is any temporary cosmetic solution to this problem?

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the advice, Cammie, unfortunately, the type of person

commenting on my daughter's toothgap appearance isn't interested in

why she looks the way she does, they are just trying to be as

insulting as possible for a laugh at her expense. This is the part

of the whole orthognathic procedure that you really can't prepare

for, and one that the orthdontist/oral surgeon doesn't seem to

acknowlege. In some ways its good that she's getting everything

taken care of at a young age (high school), but on the other hand, if

she waited until she was an adult, I think she'd have been spared a

lot of ugliness from her peers over the past four years.

Fortunately, she seems pretty resilient, and has some good close

friends who accept her the way she is. I appreciate being able to

vent, because this is a problem that I really can't address anywhere

else.

> > > > My 17 year old daughter recently underwent a rapid pallatal

> > > expansion

> > > > (August 19). Has anyone in the group had any experience with

> > this

> > > > type of surgery? She has been wearing braces for 4 1/2

years.

> > She

> > > > was originally suppose to have lower jaw surgery last

> > Thanksgiving

> > > > (her jaw needs to be repositioned back and over a little).

> Then

> > > the

> > > > surgery got pushed back to June of this year. A week before

> > > surgery,

> > > > after checking her pre-op molds, the oral surgeon felt that

he

> > > still

> > > > wasn't going to get the desired results, her upper jaw was

too

> > > > narrow. It was decided between her orthodontist and oral

> surgeon

> > > > that she would need to have a RPE done to widen her upper

jaw.

> > Now

> > > > her lower jaw surgery has been pushed back again until next

> June,

> > > > because the upper jaw has to totally heal first. She is on a

> > soft

> > > > food diet (no chewing allowed) for six weeks. The biggest

> > problem

> > > > she has to deal with is the huge gap between her upper two

> front

> > > > teeth that the surgery has created. She won't be getting her

> > > braces

> > > > back on until sometime in December, so she 's got about three

> > > months

> > > > yet to deal with this. She is in her senior year of high

> school

> > > and

> > > > getting a lot of harrassment from classmates, and is becoming

> > very

> > > > self-conscious. Sorry for the long post, but does anyone

know

> if

> > > > there is any temporary cosmetic solution to this problem?

[Guest guest]

Oh yes, the adults are much more respectful; they wait until you're

out of earshot before making their rude comments. ;-)

The one good thing I've found about going through the " ugly duckling "

stage associated with this treatment, is that it helped me refocus my

sense of self worth, so that physical appearance is no longer as

important a factor as it used to be.

Your daughter will be stronger in the end as a result of her

experience. Ask her to show tolerance for those who've denied her the

same, as it's better to be an example than a victim.

-john

> Thanks for the advice, Cammie, unfortunately, the type of person

> commenting on my daughter's toothgap appearance isn't interested in

> why she looks the way she does, they are just trying to be as

> insulting as possible for a laugh at her expense. This is the part

> of the whole orthognathic procedure that you really can't prepare

> for, and one that the orthdontist/oral surgeon doesn't seem to

> acknowlege. In some ways its good that she's getting everything

> taken care of at a young age (high school), but on the other hand,

if

> she waited until she was an adult, I think she'd have been spared a

> lot of ugliness from her peers over the past four years.

> Fortunately, she seems pretty resilient, and has some good close

> friends who accept her the way she is. I appreciate being able to

> vent, because this is a problem that I really can't address

anywhere

> else.

>

[Guest guest]

Is she interestedin posting here at all, or reading the posts? I

think she'd at least find others who have been there, and are there

now, and could sympathise, and offer some help for her.

Best luck to you, and to her. This will pass, I promise.

Cammie

> > > > > My 17 year old daughter recently underwent a rapid pallatal

> > > > expansion

> > > > > (August 19). Has anyone in the group had any experience

with

> > > this

> > > > > type of surgery? She has been wearing braces for 4 1/2

> years.

> > > She

> > > > > was originally suppose to have lower jaw surgery last

> > > Thanksgiving

> > > > > (her jaw needs to be repositioned back and over a little).

> > Then

> > > > the

> > > > > surgery got pushed back to June of this year. A week

before

> > > > surgery,

> > > > > after checking her pre-op molds, the oral surgeon felt that

> he

> > > > still

> > > > > wasn't going to get the desired results, her upper jaw was

> too

> > > > > narrow. It was decided between her orthodontist and oral

> > surgeon

> > > > > that she would need to have a RPE done to widen her upper

> jaw.

> > > Now

> > > > > her lower jaw surgery has been pushed back again until next

> > June,

> > > > > because the upper jaw has to totally heal first. She is on

a

> > > soft

> > > > > food diet (no chewing allowed) for six weeks. The biggest

> > > problem

> > > > > she has to deal with is the huge gap between her upper two

> > front

> > > > > teeth that the surgery has created. She won't be getting

her

> > > > braces

> > > > > back on until sometime in December, so she 's got about

three

> > > > months

> > > > > yet to deal with this. She is in her senior year of high

> > school

> > > > and

> > > > > getting a lot of harrassment from classmates, and is

becoming

> > > very

> > > > > self-conscious. Sorry for the long post, but does anyone

> know

> > if

> > > > > there is any temporary cosmetic solution to this problem?

[Guest guest]

Excellent response, Mr. !

Two related tales: As a reporter, I was amazed once when I had an

appointment to interview a local psychologist at the mental health

center here. I showed up and was treated, um, pretty much like dirt

while they thought I was a patient. When I made it clear that I was

not, but was a reporter, the mode changed completely. I told the doc

I was appalled, but I doubt it made much difference.

And I spent the better part of a year in wrist splints to try,

unsuccessfully to heal carpal tunnel troubles. It really gave me a

taste of some of the lesser things folks with a different look go

through. The best was the three bubbas, who, when I was out walking

at 6 a.m., spotted me on the " big pier " as they returned from

fishing. At the top of his voice, one man, totally unknown to me,

shoulted out, " What's the matter, honey? It't not so bad that you had

to slit your wrists! "

????????????????????

Ever since I've been trying to figure out exactly what circumstances

might make that an appropriate remark, even to a friend, much less a

stranger... Can't find one. I only wish I could have summoned a flood

of tears and run, streaming, into the ladies' room. Alas for missed

opportunities.

How much sweeter the nice friend who complimented me on my " wrist

spats! "

C.

> > Thanks for the advice, Cammie, unfortunately, the type of person

> > commenting on my daughter's toothgap appearance isn't interested

in

> > why she looks the way she does, they are just trying to be as

> > insulting as possible for a laugh at her expense. This is the

part

> > of the whole orthognathic procedure that you really can't prepare

> > for, and one that the orthdontist/oral surgeon doesn't seem to

> > acknowlege. In some ways its good that she's getting everything

> > taken care of at a young age (high school), but on the other

hand,

> if

> > she waited until she was an adult, I think she'd have been spared

a

> > lot of ugliness from her peers over the past four years.

> > Fortunately, she seems pretty resilient, and has some good close

> > friends who accept her the way she is. I appreciate being able

to

> > vent, because this is a problem that I really can't address

> anywhere

> > else.

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the advice, I think she is starting to figure it out on

her own. She has the support of her family and friends, a good sense

of humor, and her big sister who recently came home from the army.

Things are looking up.

> > Thanks for the advice, Cammie, unfortunately, the type of person

> > commenting on my daughter's toothgap appearance isn't interested

in

> > why she looks the way she does, they are just trying to be as

> > insulting as possible for a laugh at her expense. This is the

part

> > of the whole orthognathic procedure that you really can't prepare

> > for, and one that the orthdontist/oral surgeon doesn't seem to

> > acknowlege. In some ways its good that she's getting everything

> > taken care of at a young age (high school), but on the other

hand,

> if

> > she waited until she was an adult, I think she'd have been spared

a

> > lot of ugliness from her peers over the past four years.

> > Fortunately, she seems pretty resilient, and has some good close

> > friends who accept her the way she is. I appreciate being able

to

> > vent, because this is a problem that I really can't address

> anywhere

> > else.

> >

[Guest guest]

yeah all this stuff is tough no matter what age you are but

manageable. Even though Im not getting comments to my face I am

still self conscious about the gap in my teeth and my braces. Im

going out with this girl tomorrow night that I met last week and am

trying to figure out if I should just come out and tell her

everything thats up with my mouth, because I am sure she is curious

but isnt going to ask. When I called her I wasnt sure if she would

even go out with me because of it. I know it shouldnt matter but I

am definitely self conscious. Made me feel better thats shes called

me a few times. Oh well just rambliing I guess. Guess my point is

that its hard at any age but I dont think anyone else will make a big

deal out of it if you dont. Some of my friends said they didnt even

notice that I got braces until I brought it up. maybe they are just

trying to make me feel good though...

Pete

> > > Thanks for the advice, Cammie, unfortunately, the type of

person

> > > commenting on my daughter's toothgap appearance isn't

interested

> in

> > > why she looks the way she does, they are just trying to be as

> > > insulting as possible for a laugh at her expense. This is the

> part

> > > of the whole orthognathic procedure that you really can't

prepare

> > > for, and one that the orthdontist/oral surgeon doesn't seem to

> > > acknowlege. In some ways its good that she's getting

everything

> > > taken care of at a young age (high school), but on the other

> hand,

> > if

> > > she waited until she was an adult, I think she'd have been

spared

> a

> > > lot of ugliness from her peers over the past four years.

> > > Fortunately, she seems pretty resilient, and has some good

close

> > > friends who accept her the way she is. I appreciate being able

> to

> > > vent, because this is a problem that I really can't address

> > anywhere

> > > else.

> > >

[Guest guest]

PETE!! Tell her whatever you want to make things more comfortable for

you both. If you're troubled about it, tell her that, and explain

that such is the reason for bringing it up.

But hey, if she wouldn't go out with you because of it, do you REALLY

want to go out with her???

I would bet that she thinks you're neat, and wants to know you

better, gap and all. I also would bet that she's interested in

hearing about what's going on with your mouth and your gap... It is,

I think, a pretty fascinating process... but then i'm prejudiced,

because I've needed my own kind of help. This work is no drawback;

it's a sign that you're concerned and bright, and willing to take

care of whatever problems you were dealt.

Reeee-LAX. Talk with her about whatever you want... What you've read,

what movies you've seen or like, the hot spots in your town, anything

that's of real interest to you both. And try to find things that are

of real interest to you, too. And tell her whatever you both are

interested in about your mouth, but don't bore her if she really

doesn't care, and just wants to have a nice date with a neat guy! You

certainly need not be either apologetic nor explanatory about your

mouth, for heaven's sake -- and your own.

Cammie