Over this....

It's been 14 months in braces.

I'm so sick of these things. I love the results of the TAD's so far but they just take forever to intrude. One side is higher than the other sadly so we cannot take them out.. I'll probably have these in for another 2 months at a minimum. 😥

Hopefully, by the end of this year, they will be off.

Sorry I didn't update in March.

- Kristen

Here's another progress photo that was taken just now. Again, this is pretty awesome progress from a year ago (photo below). I cannot wait to have the gum contouring to make my gumline even.

Below was with the palate expander. 

Update! *almost* 1 year down!

Hey there,
Forgot to update this with my progress thus far! So, started braces on March 28th 2018 and it's almost coming up to my one year anniversary! On August 1st, 2018 I had 2 purple temporary anchorage devices (TADs) screwed into my upper jaw with spring coils attached to the braces. The Damon braces straightened my teeth SO fast just wish the TADs would be as quick to intrude my teeth.

It's been about 6 and a half months with TADs and there's been intrusion although I can't say I'm as far along as we thought. It could be the travel restrictions being so far and having to see my ortho less than other patients. I'm not entirely sure but what I can say for sure, they are 100% intruding and moving up!

So exciting! To be honest, I'm already super happy with all the progress I've made. The below picture is top (February) and bottom (October) and some food in my teeth. lol

My 18 months treatment time will most likely be extended since I thought I would be in TADs for 8 months but it looks like they needed longer to intrude. I'll update once I have my next appointment on March 27th.

Thanks for reading and sharing my journey!

Braces ON! 18-month Treatment for VME and Gummy Smile!

Hi there! 

I'm officially back to brace face again but with a whole new outlook. I'm super excited to begin this 18-month journey and without jaw surgery. It's helpful that about a year ago I was in braces for the first time so this isn't new to me. I wish everyone who is on the fence about jaw surgery would find my blog and also another blog I just found. Link below.

https://mybraces4vme.wordpress.com/tag/vertical-maxillary-excess/

After all the research I've done for over 5 years on TAD's I finally found real results that aren't only in publications but met people with the same problem. For those who find this post and only read this one I am going to sum up my diagnosis since I was 18 (10 years ago). 

I noticed my gummy smile at 18. Saw an orthodontist who immediately diagnosed myself as having Vertical Maxillary Excess and only jaw surgery can fix. Since I was 18 I chose not to go that route and look for another way to camouflage this. I then found a cosmetic dentist and underwent lip repositioning surgery for around $4k. What an absolute waste since my problem wasn't an over hyperactive upper lip. Avoid this treatment as the relapse rate is EXTREME and mine only lasted for 6 months. Next 3 years went by and I came back to the jaw surgery route. My gummy smile only got worse and my mouth breathing wasn't ever brought up as the main cause. I researched myofunctional therapy but not enough data on adults for appliances to fix vertical growth only horizontal growth. After 3 orthodontists and traveling to Austin, I decided to go through with the jaw surgery route. After braces for 2 months and the worst communication ever from an oral surgeon and orthodontist plus not to mention 6 teeth being extracted? I canceled my treatment. My next option was to visit an ortho specialist for Biobloc in Michigan. He put me in an appliance to expand my upper jaw in hopes to bring my lower jaw forward but this wasn't a fix because it wasn't my problem. All of these treatments were just another temporary fix and ones that cost me over a total of $10k when you add this up with travel and down payments. The Biobloc forced my teeth forwards and created a massive overjet (great so pissed). Seeing the overjet made me so angry I just cut them off cold turkey (worst patient ever but they should have refused to help me). So then is when I researched TAD's more. I knew TAD's existed but I couldn't find any ortho who would do this (with results and photos to prove) on adults. That is until I found Dr. Frost. Dr. Frost is an artist and he practices this alternative and has flawless results. 

So to sum up my diagnosis of the above:

Mouth Breather; Chronic Allergies; Vertical Maxillary Excess (Gummy Smile); Narrow Arch/Palate; Lip Incompetence/Mentalis Strain; All my damn teeth; Over jet; Front teeth non symmetrical; Brain Fog; Sleep Apnea; Low Self-confidence 

Reveal picture of my current Damon Braces! One gummy smile and one closed mouth posture. 

Update: No more Biobloc & Back to braces WITHOUT SURGERY!

Hello Tuesday.
I am extremely excited to report that I strongly believe I've found the alternative to jaw surgery! I spoke long ago about TAD's but could not find an Ortho who practiced and had proved results of this working. Well, thanks to Instagram, I found a new orthodontist in Arizona. Flew out to meet him and FINALLY, there are real success case studies he has shown.

When I described my journey on how I got to this point, he was astonished. It's been almost 9 years since I noticed my face changing and it's been 7 years since I was told the only option was surgery. Although my complete mentalis strain and inability to show a chin will not fully be fixed, the gummy smile will be and it won't be as difficult to close. Looking in the mirror and at photos, maybe I won't resemble a "horses" mouth. The insecurities only have increased because my face kept drooping longer and longer.

The bad news, back to life in braces. I absolutely hated my braces and couldn't last 3 months. The difference today is I moved to Charlotte, NC. New city and the ability to hibernate a few years while I undergo the treatment. The plus is the treatment time should be only 20 months - 24 months at the most. It will be tough and again one of the hardest challenges to overcome. I've never been teased until I had braces. At 27 almost 28 years old, I should have enough confidence to say ******** (insert whatever bad word you can think of) off to the haters. Because I finally found the new revolutionary method for those who have a gummy smile due to vertical maxillary excess and WITHOUT JAW SURGERY!

Bring it on Braces (January 25th, 2018) I am ready for you 2018!

Success stories here:
https://www.instagram.com/frostsmiles/

And the initial case success I found years ago is here:
https://www.ortholemay.com/en/blog/19364/

Cannot wait to see mine in 2019!! Never give up every one.

Braces Off/No More Surgery & on to Biobloc

Well, another major setback and what was the start of a horrible braces experience. Thankfully, if I chose the extractions and surgery I would have been committed and much worse off.

What seems to be another major hurdle both financially and physically is starting to shed light. I finally went to see Dr. Gibbs about expanding my jaws. Although he is very far and it will be costing me plenty more money, I felt this was the only option left.

Not going to sugar coat this, I have plenty of doubts but much more hopeful than going through massive surgery and extraction. I've expanded about 2mm thus far and it's been 3 months. The hardest part is speaking with a lisp and confidence issues. While its slow expansion there's little to no pain.

I have a long journey ahead of me. Will keep you updated and remember lips closed, tongue roof of mouth and chew chew chew your food!!!

-Kjean

Second Thoughts...& Braces On

Hello there!

I am so sorry I have not updated on my progress. I felt the need to come on here because there has been many changes since the last time I wrote. I wish good ones...

As I mentioned previously, I chose to go through with the surgery and had my braces put on February 22nd. WOW. I was not prepared for the agony in which braces could bring. The pain lasted about a week but it was my appearance that completely through me a curve ball. I cry more often than I ever have in my life looking at my appearance in the mirror or a photo. I need them off.

I wish this was an "I'm doing great" post or it has gotten easier but in all honestly I'm completely miserable in these things. I turned 27 on Sunday and these are the best years of my life and I have men at bars making fun of my braces.

The surgeon said that they would need to remove SIX teeth, yes, SIX healthy teeth. My bosses think I am crazy for extracting healthy teeth when my mouth has NO overcrowding. I trusted my surgeon until I realized how long I would have to be in braces closing those gaps up. Just may have made a HUGE costly mistake. Without a doubt in my mind, I need the surgery. But how bad do I want the surgery right now? I have no boyfriend, hate my social life in braces, and my income cannot easily afford this all.

So...now what? I've struggled with this journey since I was 18. I thought I was officially starting the process of ending it. (Side note) I forgot to mention I HATE food in my teeth to the point where I only drink liquids if I am out. I've already lost about 7lbs. I can't continue this diet for 2 years or I will wither away to nothing. I also have the flu and have been sick 2 times. My immune system is not getting enough nutrients because I hate to eat.

My point with this post is...I am not ready for the surgery. Advances in technology must have answers to my problem. I've researched Dr. Mew again and myofunctional therapy. I am going to travel to as many doctors who practice this. Expand my jaws and move my teeth forward in the face and practice proper tongue rest posture and breathing through my nose. SO MUCH WORK. But anything to get me out of these braces and not have to go through this massive surgery, I will try.

I'm hoping my blog inspires people in the future to go the alternative route because I was the exception. I'm not giving up to try and avoid the surgery. We have so much technology out there there has to be at least one doctor who believes their treatment will work. I will listen, learn, and ask questions.

I will keep you all posted on if I decide to remove these awful things.

Vlogging Journey

It's been about 2 weeks since I've seen the orthodontist. They have been delayed getting back to me due to the holidays but they are reviewing my case on Dec. 21st for a treatment plan. I just want to have this process started and braces on already! Many years of waiting and I'm about to back out again (not really just can't sit still thinking about everything).

I've decided to vlog my journey on youtube as livingwithvme. The main reason is I want to look back and have memories but also help those in the future who have similar problems. Majority of the jaw surgeries videos on there are from underbites and I've read that the upper jaw surgery is worse.

Follow my vlog journey!