The journey of my new smile...

I felt like blogging about the journey of getting my new smile. Oh boy! It sure has been a long, painful, and exciting process. In May of  2000 I was riding my bike, like a big girl (I was 8) with a bunch of my siblings and cousins, to my grandma's church (which was just down the street from where she lives. Staying on the side of the road as instructed, there was a man hole cover that was not pushed down all the way. Being toward the back of the bike line I didn't notice that it was up about three or so inches. Everyone else had dodged it and went around it. I, going full speed to keep up went straight over it and flipped over my bike handle bar, bike still in hand I landed on my stomach. I got up, a little dizzy and discombobulated got up thinking that was pretty sweet that I survived that epic crash. I didn't know how bad it was until my sister Kelsey started screaming "Kacey! Kacey! You have blood running down your face!" I immediately put my hand to my face and went into panic mode. In the mean time everyone dropped their bikes and went running back to grandma's house, screaming for help. I remember seeing my dad fling open the front door and leaping off the porch having a frightened look on his face as he ran to my side and cradled me in his arms. He carried me the few steps to my grandma's front lawn and placed me under a tree holding my hand. By this time I was in shock and there were no tears, I was just afraid and had no idea where the blood was coming from. My whole family came to my side and I could see my mom and dad over me and my aunt and uncle on the phone, my mom was saying "Kent, oh my goodenss she lost her tooth and her lip is split in half." My uncle's brother-in-law just so happened to be a dentist not too far from my grandma's house. He said to go try and find my tooth and put it in warm water. (Granted, this was on asfalt and therefore it would be very hard to find.) Luckily they found my tooth and we did what we were told and my uncle Roger drove us to the dentist office as my dad held me in his arms tightly saying that everything would be ok, everything would be ok, I just had to hold this rag to my face. As a little girl any amount of blood was frightening, and this was a terrible accident, I had scrapes, bruises, and cuts ALL over my body. When we arrived at the dentist office, it was considered an emergency dental accident and immeidatley they began "surgery". My dad did not leave my side at all and he held my hand through the whole thing.
By the end of the process, they were able to put my original tooth back in (it was my permanent one) and had to put a bridge over four of my front teeth for stabilization. I had a huge fat lip and they were able to stitch it back together with 17 stitches on the outside and 12 on the inside. I looked like a monster and really wanted to see no one, not even my family. When I went back to my grandmas house , it was late and everyone wanted to see if I was ok or even living (you know how little kids minds take off). I was sickened by what happened, I look back on it now and think what would have happened if I was wearing a helmet, so parents please please... MAKE your children wear them, and adults get off your high horse about the fashion statement and just put it on. I had to get pain medicine, it was considered a "trauma". With the help of my family and my being watched over by Heavenly Father, I know without a doubt that I healed much faster than anticipated and without a lot of complications.

I went to the dentist office more times than I can remember that year. As the years went by, and as I got older, I became more self-conscious of the gap the I now had. I never stopped smiling though, and it became my trade mark, but I was different than everyone in my family. I wanted so badly for it to be fixed, but it was an expensive process. I had multiple root canals and many attempts to save my tooth. Eleven years later I was at the dentist for just a check-up (with the same tooth) and my tooth had gone through lots of trials, and it was time to move on or else more complications would occur. I was told they would remove my front two teeth and all the roots. I would then get titanium roots put in and bone cadaver bone graphs for teeth, and implants over those. This all happened July 29th, and I began a whole new journey. I went into the surgery room and I was so so so excited that this was all happening and those who made it happen, I owe a life time of gratitude, my dream finally was coming true. The surgery went beautifully and I was anxious to see my smile. I have to be honest, it was weird to see a smile without a gap. It had been 11 long years and I was ready. Right now I have temporary crowns and soon very soon I will have my permanant implants and once again, a whole new life. I have never been so confidant about my smile, people who have known me forever, noticed that even though it was a very small thing, it made a huge difference. I didn't even have to take pain medicine, after all the drilling and pulling of teeth, I think that my excitment helped me heal!!! Thank you those who have helped me through these past 11 years! You know who you are! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

Before

After

One month later! And going strong!