Yesterday at this time I was enduring surgery in my mouth while fully conscious, and it was not fun. I guess that goes without saying! Four implants were drilled and screwed into my gums, right up in the front of my mouth, two on the top and two on the bottom. The surgery was originally going to take place at the beginning of January, but when I found out I was pregnant it had to be postponed until the first trimester was over.
I wasn't able to have the anesthesia to put me out like we'd originally planned on since it's not safe for the fetus. Instead, I had several shots of Novocaine and was fully conscious and aware of everything as it was happening. I would have much preferred being knocked out if it were only me I had to worry about. The surgery was kind of scary and painful at times. But I'm relieved that it's done and that I'm on the path to getting the permanent teeth and hopefully beautiful smile that I've wanted for so long! (Some of my teeth never came in, so I've had a bridge for about ten years. Before that, I had a retainer with the missing teeth attached to it. Kinda weird, but it worked!)
The recovery is going well, too. My mouth is a little sore and uncomfortable, but it doesn't hurt nearly as much as I feared it would. I don't even have to take the Vicodin that was prescribed; Extra Strength Tylenol seems to be doing the trick (plus anti-swelling medicine, plus penicillin). And for the next few weeks I get to eat a soft diet of smoothies, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and things that are cut up very small, making sure not to let it touch the front area of my mouth. That's going to be fun!
Anyhow, I just wanted to fill you in on what's going on. When the work is all done in a couple of months, I'll post pictures!
