Bottom Braces and No More Bite Guard

 I said goodbye to my bite guard of 4.5 years today and hello to my bottom braces. As I am excited to say goodbye to my faithful friend (the bite guard), I am nothing but in pain and frustrated with bottom braces and it has only been 6 hours.

 I have been delaying posting this post and the last because I am not in the best of moods given the last 24 hours. But, with that said I have been open, honest, and transparent with everyone on the blog and will continue to be. I do not want anyone to think that this process has been easy, comforting, exciting, or joyous because it has not. Yes, it is my choice to have this surgery, but I did not ask for the issues and reasons that are causing me to have this surgery. Bottom line is that if I do not have the surgery my upper and lower jaw will continue to grow further apart, and I would have to stay in my bite splint.

Insurance still is a pain. Even though my surgeon has been  authorized as in network, insurance still puts up a fight every appointment. Nothing is ever easy even with "approval" from the insurance company.

Eating has once again become a liquid diet. Yes yes I will be on a liquid diet starting next Tuesday when my surgery is happening, but today also marks the liquid diet as my bottom braces are quite painful.

For those who think braces are not that painful, let me paint you a little picture of what braces means to Samantha.....I go to my appointment at 8:30 am, I sit and have a tool hold my mouth open for an extended period of time. Due to my TMJ issues which includes arthritis, this is very tiring for my jaw. Then I have to hold the air sucking tool (I am sure y'all know what I am talking about) with my teeth, which my teeth keep losing grip of because my weak jaw cannot stay clenched together for long. Two hours later, I am finally done getting the braces and putting my jaw through trauma. 

So yes, people get braces daily and may or may not be in this much pain, but for me it is not just the braces that are the issue.

On a bright note I got engaged last week and could not be happier or more excited. Even though this has caused some stress as finding a venue and date before I am out for two weeks isn't easy, I am still grateful to have found a lifelong partner who has decided to put up with all my jaw drama. (Let alone all other drama in my life as this is just one facet :) )

To recap:

1. Top braces are still not fun
2. Bottom braces are additional not fun
3. Eating is no longer fun again
4. Insurance is never fun
5. Being engaged is fun

P.. Have you ever tried to put wax on braces when you just got them put on? Literally the most painful thing ever. 

P.P.S. I already have new canker sores from the bottom braces