Before photo/ past orthodontics and problems.

So this is one of the last photos of me before braces and jaw surgery. I used to smile with my teeth apart because my natural bite looked very strained and unnatural, it also felt uncomfortable. As you can see I am wearing makeup so I will look very different to some of the photos I will be uploading. So basically the first time I went to the orthodontist I was 4 years old, since then my bite has continuously been monitored. I initially had an underbite and my orthodontist successfully treated it purely with orthodontics. 

• 1st time braces. When I was 9 years old I got braces on my top teeth, a pallet expander (to make my top jaw wider) and I wore a face frame at night to bring my top jaw forward, this all successfully cured my bite problems. 

• 2nd time braces. When I was 14 I got braces on my top and bottom teeth, this was not too fix my bite it was purely cosmetic for the aim of having perfectly straight teeth. I got that set of braces off in 2010 and my bite wasn't perfect but it was normal and comfortable.

• 3rd time braces. I noticed with my final growth spurt that my jaw had moved and my underbite had returned!! This all happened in 2013 right before I turned 19. After my Uni year was done I decided to go back to my orthodontist to ask about my change in bite. I was expecting to get a plate, invisalign or something that wouldn't really impact on my life but the results were not as hoped. Unfortunately my orthodontist informed me that my new bite was not all that easy to fix. The only way to fix it would be JAW SURGERY. My orthodontist referred me to the Surgeon she works with. After getting many molds, xrays and impressions taken my surgeon concluded that I really need this surgery or my problems would persist or worsen. The decision was made to get braces and proceed in the preparation for jaw surgery.

PROBLEMS THAT I HAD:

I had a Class 3 dentofacial deformity which was exacerbated by late mandibular growth.

Basically the only teeth that touched were my front and bottom 4. The rest of the mouth had a complete open bite (none of the teeth could touch/ bite). My top jaw was too far back and too narrow, my bottom jaw was on the wrong angle which caused me to have a prominent chin. Sorry that this isn't using the correct medical terms.

- My bite felt uncomfortable and strained

- I started getting ear aches which were caused from jaw pain in my joints.

- I chipped my front  teeth as they had too much pressure on them from contact of only 4 teeth.

- Chewing became difficult as none of the back teeth touched making meat and leafy greens very difficult to consume.

- I had minor TMJ (temporomandibular joint symptoms)... yes that is a real word. This caused pain and occasional clicking.