My Teeth and Nose Journey

The Story of my Teeth Everyone is born with baby teeth, right? We are put on this world with baby teeth that grow in, fall out, and then big teeth come in. That’s what I expected to happen to me. I expected my baby teeth to grow in, fall out in elementary school, and then I would get adult teeth. Well, that’s not how it happened. In the first grade, I lost my first tooth. It was a molar, and it fell out after I pulled it because it was wiggling for too long. The tooth fairy came, left me $20, and then was on her way. I was ecstatic. Going to school to show everyone my new space was the coolest concept ever! I looked different and felt different, a six year old with a newfound confidence. Over the next year, I lost more teeth. My molars, my canines, and my friends were too. I would go to the dentist for a cleaning and get a high-five and a toothbrush. I loved my smile. Then my friends at school began to lose their two front teeth. At seven, I thought it looked awesome to have no front teeth! They talked funny and had big teeth coming in. I questioned why I did not get this. My front teeth had not yet fallen out yet, and they gave me so much pain. Anything I did, whether it be eating, sleeping, going to school, my mouth always had the throbbing pulse of my front teeth which was unbearable. That’s me! All my baby teeth still in my mouth, circa 2011-2012 Finally, I was sent to my dentist to receive some X-rays after the pain became abnormal. My gums were swelling, and my teeth seemed to be separating from my other teeth. By this time, I was in the third grade and I was very insecure about my mouth. My two front teeth were tiny compared to everyone else’s front teeth. I never got to lose one in school and get sent to the nurse’s office, only to come back to the classroom with a cool smile and tiny plastic treasure chest. I looked like I was five when I was eight. My head was put in the large white machines, and I was told to bite down on plastic while photos were taken. It was cool, I felt like I was in a spaceship. Then they took off the protective vest, and walked me back to the dentist office to wait with my mom. Then, the doctor came back into the room. He had a smile on his face, no nervous hints in it. Quickly, he opened up his computer and explained to my mom and I that I just had inexplicably large front teeth and my baby teeth needed to be extracted for them to come down. I was terrified. We were told that the extraction could be done right then and there, and so we agreed. A large shot was put in my gums, and everything went numb. Here is me, moments before my teeth were extracted from my mouth, circa 2014 The doctor told me that I needed to count to three, and then the teeth would be gone. He tooth a metal pick, and flicked them out. Within 15 seconds, I was toothless! I had a brand new smile, and no more baby front teeth. In the coming year, I was told that my two front teeth would grow in quickly. I believed my dentist, and I waited months and months until I would have a brand new smile. About nine months after the teeth got pulled, I still had no sign of growth from my front teeth. All throughout the third and fourth grade, nicknames such as “toothless” surrounded me. I could not get away from the fact that I had no front teeth, and I was embarrassed to look as I did. My orthodontist put in a palate expander to my mouth, to try to open space for the teeth to come down. This lasted for two years, from 2013-2014, and did not help at all. No front teeth! Circa 2014 In January 2014, I was taken to see an orthodontic specialist, recommended by my dentist. More X-rays were taken of my teeth, and the orthodontist came to the conclusion that I had a rare condition in which I only had one front tooth, and the other tooth was growing inside of it. The orthodontist told us he has never operated on this condition before, so he would get back to us about when surgery would be scheduled for. A few days later, we got a call back, asking us to come in for more scans of my mouth. We went into the office, and more x-rays were taken, the same ordeal. After these photos, and some discussion between the orthodontists, the Doctor came into our room and told us that I had two extra teeth in my mouth, while pointing to scans. I had four adult teeth, basically fighting to be present in my mouth. This explained the wonky crowns of teeth poking through my gums. There were four! Surgery happened in March 2014. This was my first surgery ever, and my two extra teeth were extracted while I was under anesthesia. We figured this surgery would do the trick to help move my teeth down. I remained with no front teeth until July 2014. This was shocking, as my orthodontist and dentist figured that all that was needed was this surgery and then my front teeth would come down. I was beginning the fifth grade, and I still had no front teeth. New school, and I stuck with the name toothless, like the dragon from that one movie. My orthodontist referred me to an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist in Boston, MA. He figured that one reason my teeth may be stuck is because of my trapped airway, which my parents had been noticing recently. I had no idea what any of this medical talk meant, and frankly I still do not understand too much. All I remember is my mom driving me to Boston to Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital to meet with an ENT specialist. More scans were done, and more medical talk. I was so tired of having an ugly smile. I only wanted to start off middle school looking normal. I was diagnosed with chronic sinusitis, a condition in which my sinusitis symptoms never go away, and my sinuses were full. This explained the chronic migraines I was getting, and the struggle to breath in my sleep. My next surgery was scheduled for December 18th, 2015. I was put under anesthesia at Saint Elizabeth’s hospital. I woke up three hours later with gauze wrapped around my face, and a cup of ice chips. My nose would not stop bleeding. I was taken to the Cheesecake Factory, and then home. I missed three days of school. One month later was the first check up, and I received scans of my sinuses. They seemed to be cleared out nicely, and my breathing was returning to 100%, rather than 80% effectiveness. Six months later was another check up, and then one year later. I was doing great! By now, my front teeth had come down, and I received braces. Braces lasted 2016-2019. All my friends had braces, it was so cool to compare colors In January 2018, the chronic headaches returned. My teeth were in braces being straightened, but even my orthodontist said that these headaches were abnormal. More scans were taken, and more trips to Boston. My ENT Doctor then told us I needed another sinus surgery, because my sinuses were filled again. I received the surgery in June 2018. Same ordeal happened, and the same chronic bleeding occurred. It stopped after three days, then I was allowed to return to school. I was also diagnosed with a deviated septum, which the surgeon attempted to fix, but I almost woke up during surgery so he left it and told me to come back when I was 18 for it to be fixed.I hated missing school for appointments, and having to explain to my friends why I was in Boston so much. For the next year, I visited Boston, and then a new office in Lunenburg, MA every two months. Sinus surgery number two, June 17th, 2018 In March 2019, I got my braces off! I was so confident to no longer need surgeries on my mouth or nose, or having metal in my mouth! I was only told to wear a retainer for six months straight, and then every night for the rest of my life. Me and my new smile! Although we thought my problems were over, in September 2019 I noticed that I had a tooth gap in between my two front teeth. My orthodontist told me to visit a periodontic’s office. I was examined, and told to come back for surgery to remove skin in between my gums and lip. This surgery was scheduled for March 24th, 2020, but was moved due to the coronavirus pandemic, so it actually happened on August 2nd, 2020. My tooth gap became close together for about a week, and then separated again, deeming the surgery unsuccessful. It is not a mandatory health concern, but is rather cosmetic. As of today, I am doing okay with my nose and teeth. Nothing is currently an issue, or needs to be fixed. This health journey taught me to do what is best for me, and not care about what other people have to say about my looks. I do not have any more health issues as of now, and I am so thankful for all of the doctors who helped me in my teeth and nose journey.