I saw my dentist today for my impressions. I hate impressions. He also took a form of x-ray where I had to bite down as hard as I could several times on this thin film. The x-ray shows him where teeth are and are not making contact, as well as how hard. He said my numbers are not where they are supposed to be. My molars are taking about twice as much of the pressure of biting as is normal. He said the MORA should help with that too, as it is adjusting my teeth and jaw. After he did this x-ray, Dr V told me it was time to do the impressions. I told him I hate impressions and they make me gag. He said if I didn't hate them I wouldn't be normal.
He had to do a lower and an upper impression. If I haven't already made it clear, I hate impressions. Just the thought of it makes me want to gag. So he mixed the powder part with the liquid part and began to fill the lower tray. The sticky goo was this really pretty peachy-pink color. I asked him if it was peach flavored gook. He laughed and told me it's not flavored, but it would be nice if they could do that. The bottom impression went very well. Dr V did have a bit of trouble getting the tray into my mouth, but I have a very small mouth (he used the kid trays on me). I didn't gag, my eyes didn't water, and it didn't hurt my jaw. I was happy. I was thinking to myself that maybe I could handle this after all. As I picked out the little pieces of gook left in my mouth by the bottom tray, Dr V prepared the top tray. Again, he had trouble getting it in. Then he pressed it up to the roof of my mouth. He held it in place. It was horrible. I gagged several times and my eyes began to water. I stared at the wall and kept telling myself just to breathe and that it would be okay. After what felt like an eternity, he took out the tray. Both impressions looked great, he told me. I thought, "Thanks God" because I wasn't sure I could do that again. After I cleaned up a bit, he asked me to open my mouth as wide as I could. Although it was painful, I did it. He used this little card to measure the opening of my mouth. He asked me if I really had it open as wide as I could. I nodded. He told me to close my mouth and said my opening was very small. He said I'm at a 30 and most people are around 50. Hmmm. So yet another thing with my mouth/jaw is wrong. Awesome. My appointment ended after that. Even though I had been tortured, I left feeling good. I had made it through the worst part. Now I wait for my next appointment so I can get my MORA. My appointment is a week from tomorrow. I was told my MORA will be in by Wednesday, so I should come in on Thursday. However, I am out of town Thursday. In fact, I left right after my appointment to go on my vacation. While driving today, I listened to an audio book. Normally I would sing to my favorite CDs but I didn't think it would be a good idea with all of my jaw pain. Plus I have read somewhere (maybe someone else's blog or maybe on TMJ Hope) that it isn't good to do anything like that for long periods of time. It was actually really nice listening to the book. I happen to enjoy audio books. Today's selection was 7th Heaven by James Patterson. I almost got through the entire book and it made my drive seem a lot shorter. Anyway, I digress. Thought of the Day: "Life's under no obligation to give us what we expect." - Margaret Mitchell I certainly didn't expect to have TMJ or all that comes with it, but I am searching for a positive... When I find it, I will share. Second Thought of the Day: "It is often in the darkest skies that we see the brightest stars." - Richard Evans
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Author I was officially diagnosed with TMJ Archives
January 2013
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