Dental Implants, Phase One

First off, let me apologize. I haven't been writing regularly. The last few weeks have been really crazy! Here's an update on what's been happening.

I am now living away from the "house" in an apartment close to SUU! I've explained it before; they were built by my dad's company, and are within half a mile from the school, easy walking distance. I have my own room and bathroom, and so far- I'm loving it!

I thought dental implants would be a while down the road, but about a month ago, my mom and I went in to the reconstructive dentist for a consultation. We talked about what he could do, and set up a surgery for August 19th (last Monday). What this dentist explained was pretty amazing. Step one would be to drill posts into my fibula bone. Step two would happen about four to five months later- putting the actual teeth in (December or January). The teeth would be screwed right into the posts.

 

The above picture is of my jaw right after Monday's surgery. (I don't know why my top front teeth aren't showing up, but don't worry. All the top ones are still there) You can see the four posts drilled into my "fibula jaw" on the left side. The lighter part directly above it is tissue. So obviously, if you looked into my mouth right now, you wouldn't be able to see those four posts. If you look to the next dark white... um, object?... just right of the four posts, that is the fifth one. You can tell, because it's shorter than the tooth next to it. If you remember, I had four teeth remaining on the bottom. Because the new implant teeth will be one piece, that fifth post will really help bridge it all together.

And it really could use the help in bridging it together because of this picture. This is an X-ray of the bone/metal. There is a gap down there, but it's okay because the jaw is held together really well. You can see how small the fibula bone is compared to (what the doctors call) the "God given" bone. But hey, isn't it better than not having half a jaw? I'm totally okay with that front tooth being removed, taking one for the team, because once these implants are in, it'll be awesome! (and between you and me, that tooth was decaying anyway, so it would've needed some good work done to it- BLESSING!)

I know this is probably a little weird, but you know what? I wonder if I should share less, but cases like mine require the truth. A good, logical explanation- and here it is.

I moved some stuff home on Sunday the 18th, and my mom and I left for the surgery that night. We stayed with Barbie and Steve, my aunt and uncle, in Farmington. The surgery was Monday morning, and we were on the road back home within three and a half hours after we got there. I was given an anesthetic (I butchered that, but thank you, Spell Check!) and I don't remember the surgery. I was told I'd be awake, but I just wouldn't remember it. I do remember a few things, like the dentist saying, "Open your mouth more!" but other than that, I just woke up like normal and everything went well.

The recovery is comparable to a wisdom teeth surgery, but a lot less bleeding/numbing/pain. My mouth did hurt and did bleed, but I barely bled at all after about 12 hours. I spent until Friday at home. We went up to a family reunion Friday night and Saturday, came back home that night, and I moved back into town yesterday (Sunday).

Our family reunion was great! But more on that later. (There's my "How I Met Your Mother" style of storytelling right there, I don't know if you even caught that. I think I'm clever.)

I'm blessed. Keep running.