Ola! My name is Sally, and I was born with a resentful set of jaws..

There are lots of online blogs on this kind of thing actually, which is rather excellent when you happen to find yourself in the same position as others with a wonky face. It's reassuring from them that there is a life where taking a clean bite out of an apple is possible.

Now it's my turn to join those brave warriors of the Mandible Exchange, and record my progress toward, and onward from, Double-Trouble Corrective Jaw Surgery.

Ok good. Let's have a look at some fun pictures of my face for a moment.

So the problem lies here, inside this big red circle.

My bottom jaw looks like it's too far forward, right?

Thing is, it's not 100% the ordeal here, it's actually my top jaw that's too far up (and too "tall", apparently) and set back.

Both top and bottom jaw bits hate each other, basically, so are trying to get as far away as possible from each other by going up and away, as well as sideways. There's a cross bite going on too. I yawn, and the whole thing just goes left.

The whole thing started to be more apparent as I left the age of 10. My face bones were starting to get lazier as I wobbled toward my teens, and as did my teeth too.

My mouth was so crowded that I needed pretty hefty orthodontic work to straighten things out.

First up I had just a regular "bite fixer" retainer, to try and pull my jaws into place the traditional way, however that failed miserably because of the simple fact that it wasn't just my "bite" that was off, it was a proper bone structure, head slip, thing.
Round 2, the Orthodontist recommended I have a bunch of extractions and have a set of fixed braces on to at least straighten up my smile. That happened, and actually, I'm super happy with the result. Thing is though, I still can't close these things:

Funny picture here, but it's a good example of the cruelty of jaw mismatch. Regardless of much straighter teeth (sorry, I don't have any 'pre-braces' pics, simply because not only was that about 15 years ago, it was not something I was too willing to get on show for photos.), there is a considerable, tongue-pokie gap inbetween my top and bottom set. This is, again, a big indicator of actual bone problems, and not just straight forward 'wonky teeth'.

So sorry that these photos look so dated, I didn't have the greatest technology back then for selfies.

Here's another look at the gap, and tongue escape.
The hair differences are quite nostalgic actually. I could just never seem to decide whether I was a blonde or brunette.
Pretty positive now though, I think. Much preferring the brunette look.

That's by the by though.

So yeah, I was pretty happy at this point, because sure, my teeth didn't fit together, but they were at least nice, shiny, and straight (on the top at least. The bottom ones have a couple of rebellious ones, but we'll see how they go as we continue on).

So on discharge of the Orthodontist, he just casually dropped on me as I headed out of the door that I could "do with some Maxillofacial attention", if I wanted the job polishing off nicely.
Now, I was pretty young. About 13/14, and surgery was a pretty scary word at this point. My parents also "loved me just the way I was", so doubly convinced me that the man was just being a little hasty in his suggestion.
Thing is though, as a kid, you don't really care about things that might impact the future too much, right?

I look like a Muppet (like, the actual Kermit variety) in this right hand picture here. Look at that ski slope chin.

Anyway, time passed on about 10 years, and I adapted to very slow shifting of things. Biting and chewing "normally" was "normal" but not, you know? For example, I don't bit sandwiches down the middle. I can't, actually. I have to go in from the back and side of my mouth and tear through.

Baguette? No chance.

Biting through an apple is also a no go. Those things need cutting up good, and getting through apple skin, even when it's being chewed for about half an hour, is still a massive task. My jaws just slide left and right, and grind hella uselessly.

This all felt normal though. I had no idea that everything could be much simpler with a little more help on this thing.
So one day, I thought I would take advantage of a free consultation at a local dentist in town. I was a bit interested in having those invisilign things on my bottom teeth to sort them out a bit, but what happened when I got there? No can do.

Basically I got told that "Braces can't help you now".
"What, not even little ones?", I said naively.
"You need a maxillofacial surgeon. This is totally out of my skillset".

Let me down gently, will you?

So I left a dentist, with that word again. Maxillofacial...Nice.
This time though, my interest was majorly peaked at what weird stuff was going on, so I decided to pop to the doctors next for some idea of where I might be able to find one of these secret people.

Next thing you know, I learn that not even the doctor can tell me exactly what's going on, "because it's, you know, bones n' that", but they could refer me to a specialist.

Lo! A Maxillofacial Specialist!

So off I went for a consultation with one of these Face Sages, and he was excellent.

I learned a whole lot about what was falling off, and in what direction it was doing so. Most importantly though, I found out how it could be fixed, how "I deserve it", and how I will have so many opportunity windows opened to me after it all in the form of a perfect smile, a face that lines up, and the best bite out of a sandwich that I've had in 30 years.

"Sold", I said!

So that was about 3 weeks ago.
I have my first appointment with yet another Orthodontist on October the 28th for a bunch of X-Rays and an "Action Plan".

To roughly explain before then though, this is what I understand is going to happen for now:

- Meet Orthodontist for onward plan of how my 'New Jaws' will accommodate my present teeth (see, when you realign your jaws, your teeth are going to be in the wrong place, right? Your teeth need setting to the 'New Jaw' position first, before the 'New Jaw' will be a thing).
- Get braces (again). The braces will pull my teeth into the desired location for 'New Jaws'. This will be the hard slog. Takes about a year. It'll be exciting to see them shifting though. Some juicy progress pics of those on the way in this, right?
- Braces come off. Surgery Time.
- A whole world of gross for a few weeks, post-op. Seriously, take a look at some of the completed Double Jaw Surgery blogs out there with all the gory details. It's not pretty. It's utterly grim, actually. I'll do a whole "prep" journey for when this happens nearer the time.
- More braces to make sure everything is set in place for the long haul.
- Braces off. New Face!

Total time estimate for new jaws? Around 28 months, start to no-more-swelling finish.

Sure, it's intense. Sure I've almost wussed out a bunch of times, but as I keep going on about them - the success stories, 'post turbulence', out weigh the current situation by miles.

So there we go! History lesson completed!
I hope you'll join me on my fun-face adventure, and share with me your own experiences if you have any. Would be good to chat with others who are in, or who have been in this situation too.

Bestest!