To my mom’s chagrin, I am an avid Simpson’s fan. I’ve probably watched every episode of every season. I like the stupid humor, but adore the deeper, hidden philosophy and sideways remarks that get missed so many times. Of all the characters, I identify most with Lisa. We have a lot in common. We’re both childhood brainiacs that had a love for learning. We both rocked the same high-pull head gear and braces. Somehow my love of the Simpsons has even manifested into my skeletal system. That tell-tale Simpsons receded chin–I get to rock that. For now.
To be completely transparent, I never really wanted to have a blog. Not really my thing. I don’t want to be a social media influencer. I ain’t got no time for that. However, I get a lot of questions about my upcoming jaw surgery from fellow dentists I meet at continuing education courses and other nerd conventions as well as questions from non-dentites and friends in the real world. So I figured a blog may be the way to go to document where I’ve been and what I’m going through. My vision for this blog will be 50% technical/dental/science-y and 50% real-world info. I’m pretty much an open book too, so even if you don’t know me but want to know more about something, please just ask!
What the Heck is Your Problem?!
Ok by now you’ve gathered there’s something wrong with my jaw. Big whoop, right? Well, the reason that so many of my dentist friends think I’m kinda cool is because there are not so many people that are in my predicament. Here is where I will use “real-world” lingo rather than technical terms. Both of my jaw joints have eroded to the point of being almost non-existent. One of them has a cyst where the jaw joint head (or “condyle”) should be. As the bone erodes away the lower jaw moves further up and further back (i.e. more of a Simpson chin) which is closing my airway (it’s like breathing through a straw). For my science-y folk, I will just attach my surgical work up. In summary, I am a Piper Class Va with Osteochondral growth deficiency, osteoarthrosis, avascular necrosis for both TM joints.
What’s the Plan?
The plan is to do total joint replacements of both temporomandibular joints (TMJs) with custom-made joints. The surgeon (Dr. Brian Shah from the Piper Clinic in St. Petersburg, Fl) will also perform a Lefort I surgery (a upper jaw surgery to move my upper jaw forward to help open my airway) and a genioplasty (helps to support my chin profile–sorry Lisa!). Yes I will be on a liquid diet for (I think) 9 weeks.
Ok, So Now Who are You Really?
Whoa. Slow down now. We just met. You’re getting pretty deep here for a first blog post.
My name is Anna. I am a dentist as you’ve either known already or gathered from above. I am also a wife and mom.
I live in South-Central-ish Wisconsin. I grew up in way-North-ish Wisconsin. I graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 2010. I was a National Health Service Corps Scholar which is what brought me to this part of WI to work in public health dentistry for a few years. I worked in rural Wisconsin (Markesan) for about 6 years for a DSO (i.e. a big company that owns a bunch of dental clinics). In 2019, I bought into an 3-way partnership in a two location practice (in Beaver Dam and Horicon). I am still a big nerd. I absolutely LOVE dentistry. I love being an owner. I love the ongoing learning that my career entails. I’m sure I will have an entire blog post or two on just that topic alone.
As this blog unfolds, I’m sure you’ll get to know me more. And if you already know me, you’ll get to know a whole other side of me!
P.S. I look HORRIBLE in these photos. Don’t judge me. But they do really illustrate my asymmetry.