Dental update

So, the status of my dental work is as follows:

Done:

• Fillings left and right side
• Extracted all four wisdom teeth
• Follow up treatment on dry socket from lower left wisdom tooth
• Opened five teeth and cleaned out root canals
• Temporary fillings on open teeth (they taste horrible, by the way)

To do:

• Close root canals
• Crowns over teeth with root canals
• Fillings on front teeth
• Redo a filling that got blood in it

The status of my orthodontic work...

I've been diagnosed by the dentist as having a dislocated jaw joint and bad bite. Treatment is going to be three steps:

1. Tmj orthotic - Worn to position lower jaw properly. Treatment will take 1-2 years, after which the orthotic is kept in case of relapse, such as due to injury. I have had impressions of my teeth done for this.
2. Phase 1 treatment - A different retainer-like orthotic to correct my jaw bone, which the orthodontist says isn't formed properly. It should correctly "relate" the upper and lower jaw to each other, so that my teeth will be able to line up properly. This treatment also takes 1-2 years, but can be done concurrently with tmj treatment. I also had impressions done for this. I should receive both orthotics in December.
3. Phase 2 treatment - After my jaw joint and bone are sorted out, then I get braces. The orthodontist said he'll work around crowns- his okay was what we were waiting for to finish that work.
   

Man, fixing your teeth is a lot of work! Expensive too. Orthodontist says if new insurance from husband's new job covers more than current insurance (which I still haven't gotten cobra paperwork for), they'll credit us back the difference in co-pays.

So, fingers crossed. I have two dentist appointments this week.




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