My mandible x-rays for determining if I could have an MRI
I needed to have an MRI of my lumbar spine for back pain.
In 1989, I had a mandibular resection and osteotomy, with removal of the growth plate on the right side of my mandible. I was 24 at this surgery, but my care for fixing my jaw started with a palate expander when I was 8. They had wanted to place it earlier, but my 6 year molars weren't in until I was nearing 9yo.
At 11, the palate expander was removed and I had my wisdom teeth removed. That was less than fun. I missed an entire week of school.
At 14, had my first jaw surgery, a resection and osteotomy. The epiphyses in my hands were nearly closed, and I was having trouble chewing. I was also born with delta bones in both thumbs, and I had those repaired when I was 5yo. They knew I'd probably grow a bit more, but...my right mandible kept growing, I was having trouble chewing again and having terrible headaches.
At 19, I had a tonsillectomy in preparation for the jaw surgery, because of course, my tonsils were enlarged and I had developed a tongue thrust. The next resection and osteotomy would reduce the volume in my oral cavity, so they pulled the tonsils. I also had a partial turbinectomy at the same time as the tonsillectomy. I don't recommend oral and nasal surgery to be done together, but I was in nursing school and had limited time. This was done around my 19th birthday in July, 1984.
December 1984, Winter break, I had the second mandibular surgery. This one was easier due to advances in perioperative techniques. In January I was back in class. I thought I was done with mandible repairs.
By 22, I was noticing a decided imbalance in my mandible, headaches, trouble chewing, and when I was 24, in Dec 1989, I had the final repair. I had a PET scan prior to surgery because really, by 24, I shouldn't still be growing! The only uptake was in my right mandibular growth plate.
I was told that the hardware was titanium. I had a root canal when I was around 36 because the oral surgeon had placed a screw right through the root of one of my teeth. When the dentist (endodontist) got down there, he found stainless steel instead of titanium.
That's why I had these x-rays, to find out if I would be safe to have the MRI on my back!
I thought y'all might like to see my crazy jaw.