“Am I talking funny to you?”
Holy crap! I cant believe its been 2 weeks since my last visit to the good Dr. Gibberman and I havent blogged about it! I think Im slowly losing my memoryit just hit me that I forgot to do this until I got my confirmation email for my next visit. SORRY!!!
So, the newest adventure with the teethI got my occlusal guard. It sort of looks like a retainer, but I cant really complain because you cant see it when I wear it. There wasnt much to this last visitpretty much chit chat with the gals there (yes, I said chit chatthey rock like that) and then I was back sitting in a chair getting shown my corrective device and a quick fitting with Dr. Gibberman.
Whats an occlusal guard you ask? Let me share since I specifically asked this question because I know inquiring minds want to know! First, its this clear plastic piece shaped like the roof of my mouth attached to a wire that runs at the top of gums just so it holds. Like I said, you cant see the wire, especially since I already hide my teeth, plus my mouth just keeps its well contained. Second, it doesnt shift my teeth around like a retainer does. It actually has this little tip on it that keeps me from biting down, which leads to the third interesting tid bit. So Dr. Gibberman, whats this gonna do exactly? Well, its going to re-train your brain how to hold your mouth.
Yes, thats rightre-train my brain. I sort of chuckled to myself at first, haha, OK, re-train my brain! but man, this thing is working. The first day wasnt too badquickly found out why I was told to take it while eating after I bit down hard on my Jr. Bacon. Youd think I learned my lesson with the food. Oh no, I popped in a piece of gum and about made my eyeballs pop out. Crap, that hurt! Im surprised I didnt crack off that plastic tip I bit so hard. It was kind of hard to get used to talking with it, even though my co-workers said they couldnt tell it was in. I even tried to keep it in and talk to this hottieyeah, not so smooth.
So anyways, this thing is basically going to keep me from crashing my veneers (look back at another blog to reference my teeth grinding). Im holding my mouth, jaw, whatever, in such a way that I have to learn how to correctly keep it inline (doesnt a bar a soap do that too?). Ok, that was a lame one, but Im leaving it in here. This guard thing isnt too bad, but I am such a chronic gum chewer and I have done nothing but talk to people at work and over the phone that I only wear it at night and when Im just sitting around. I can tell a difference though, so maybe a little a plastic thing really can re-train my brain.
Nothing much new will happen on the next visit. Just checking to see how my guard is working for me. Ill be doing a zoom whitening after that and then the good times are gonna roll. Until then, I gotta wear this thing for a few more weeks. Ill liveat least its not braces for 5 yearsmy patience isnt that long!