Getting the splint out this morning resulted in a whole mix of emotions. I didn't really know what to expect when getting it out, but it turned out to be a less than pleasant experience. They cut all of the wires, and then yank them out the sides above my brackets. The wire on the right side was really irritating the roof of my mouth and it hurt so badly when they pulled it out! There was more blood getting this splint out than I dealt with after surgery. Really, it was like a horror movie! I haven't read any blogs of people who had the same type of splint that I had, so I didn't know what to expect at all. Anyway, after brushing my teeth THREE times and using mouthwash twice, my mouth finally stopped bleeding. Blegh, so gross, sorry to be so detailed, but it was not fun! The only pain I experienced was just the one wire that had been digging into my mouth, but other than that, it was just a bit of pressure to pull out all the wires. Anyway, now the roof of my mouth feels SO strange. It is slightly inflamed around the teeth because the splint was constantly pushing in these areas. The areas along the inside edges of my teeth are very red and you can tell that's where most of the blood came from. The splint left the roof of my mouth all bumpy and it feels a bit mangled, although I know it's not, the completely abnormal surface the splint has created is almost nauseating. I am going to start up my salt water rinses again until I feel like it feels more normal. Dr. M said it would take a few days to heal, probably 3-4. I realize all of this sounds totally terrible, and it's NOT, I am not in pain and the areas that were bleeding are only a little tender, but are not painful.
Now after all of that, I am absolutely not saying I am not THRILLED to have the splint out, I AM. I am so happy to be free of it! It just feels so yucky and strange to me right now that I am not loving the here and now. Eating makes me feel like I am going to gag sometimes, because the roof surface is just gross feeling, and it's weird to move food around it. HAH, I bet I am really grossing everyone out now, sorry!
Dr. M said he thinks I still have swelling around my chin area, which was really great to hear. I am not feeling great about the way my chin is looking at this point, and I am hoping for at least a little more definition there.
My boyfriend and I are having a cupcake baking, Harry Potter 7 Part I movie watching date tonight. Eating cupcakes will be SO much easier now that they won't get caught in my splint!
I stopped in to the ortho office to see if there was any way they could squeeze me in today rather than waiting until my appointment on the 6th. I am a bit worried now that the splint is out and two of my teeth don't have brackets on them. They had me sit in a chair and check me over, but there wasn't any time to actually do anything today, ugh. Now that I am over obsessing about getting the splint out, I am now obsessing about getting my surgical hooks out.
Terrible pictures, long day. Sorry, momma isn't home to take them for me.
z3 | June 30, 2011 at 5:48 PM
lucky but u creeped me out cause i think i have the same type of splint aaaaaaaa
JEN | June 30, 2011 at 5:59 PM
We had the same surgery and my splint removal was bloody too. I think the tissue heals around the wires and contributes to the bleeding. Isn't it strange to have it out???
Nora Simone | June 30, 2011 at 9:45 PM
Yay! The dreaded splint is out. Great news. I'm sorry to hear about all the yuckiness, but it must still be loads better than having that splint in. I know the slowness of the last bit of healing must stink, but I can't deny that it is exciting to start seeing the subtle changes. I wonder what the very final result will be when all is said and done.
Brent | July 1, 2011 at 7:22 AM
Hi Dani!
Great news on getting the splint out. The mouth heals so fast, hopefully today you are feeling much better and getting use to the new feelings.
Keep us posted and have a wonderful July weekend!
Cheers,
Brent