Jaw wiring chart for R.A.  22/F/   desiring to lose weight by the jaw wiring method .  Requested to be wire for 8weeks. Expected loss is 12 -16 pounds if adheres to the discipline.

March 15, 2001

Patient  presents with a history of orthodontic treatment. Four first premolars removed. Hard and soft tissues found to non-remarkable and her TMJ was normal.  Opening and closing and right and left lateral movements were checked for range of motion and resistance to pressure and to found be within normal limits. An Informed Consent was signed and all pages of the FAQs were initialed. Patient was optimistic, informed and confident.  The teeth were given a prophylaxis with a rubber cup and cleaning paste. Patient was requested to watch very carefully how the brackets were bonded on. RA was wired and the right side and then shown how to cut the wire and remove which she did with ease. Then the teeth were wired on the right and left side with patient holding her teeth lightly together  The pattern of wiring was a variant to the usual because the the 6 year molars were included. RA was provided with a kit of material and supplies to with instructions how to use them. Plans were made to have a local orthodontist remove the brackets. Patient was advised re possible temporary jaw movement limitation.

April 5
    Telephone conversation with RA today. She reports that she is feeling very well and has lost 10 pounds. When asked if she had any regrets about doing this she responded "not for a moment." She said she had wriiten three pages of journal notes and would fax them to me.  She reports fuzziness on the inside of her teeth and tongue. I advised her to use Listerine at least 5 times each day if possible

April 12
    Tel con: RA reports losing 12 pounds.  As a result of a sore throat she was obliged to remove the wires to medicate herself properly.  four days later she rewired herself. She indicated that she had no problem rewiring herself with the supply/tool kit that I had given her when I wired her closed.   She promised to  fax the contents of her journal today to me.

April 17
    RAWrites”
Day1:           Dr. Ted wired me today. Initially it felt very confining and odd, but within minutes, it became very easy. The wires seem like a sling gently holding my teeth together. I already feel a strong sense of empowerment and commitment. I am excited about this new attempt to seriously lose weight.
    [The lower teeth/jaw is wired to the  upper  teeth/jaw so that they are gently touching. Try to imagine the upper and lower teeth being separated by the distance of a single thickness of paper. So indeed the lower jaw is “slung” from the upper jaw.  In that way there is little or no pressure on the jaw joint.]
Day3
           I’ve already had one day where I am very worn out and light headed – but the good news is – I’ve already lost 6 pounds in 4 days! Of course that is water weight - which Dr. Ted did previously tell me about.
   [At the commencement of a diet you eat less. Therefore you are taking in less salt, that is, the salt that foods are typically prepared with to make them more tasteful. Salt acts to keep water in your body.  Consequently, since the salt is reduced the body expels the now excessive water.]
Day5
           It’s my fifth day and I feel terrific! My clothes feel looser, and I have such determination to go at least 4 if not 6-9 weeks on this “program” I shouldn’t even call it a program – it’s so easy! The best part about having my jaw wired shut is that my choices are already made for me. I don’t need any will power or self discipline because I  don’t have the option of quitting! The wires pretty much make my mind up for me, so I don’t have to torment myself about “bad” food or “bad” choices. I just block it out and move on.

           Question: Why do you lose weight when your jaws are wired together?

Answer: 1. Heightens resolve: Wired jaws are tangible evidence, and a persistent reminder that you have decided and are determined to lose some if not all of your excess weight.

2. Prevents eating solids: Wired jaws prevent/make it difficult for you from eating all/most of the very worst foods: bread and cake, candy, cookie and pastries, pastas, pizza, french fries, burgers and other meats, that may contain excessive fat.

3. Minimizes snacking: Wired jaws minimize your snacking because preparing a snack takes special time and effort to prepare (liquify/puree) the snack. Special preparation takes time and effort so people are less inclined to have the snack.

4. Focuses you on nutrition: Wired jaws compel you to think more about nutritional value of food such as fat and salt content, vitamins and minerals, and calories.

5. Helps controls calories: Many people who are limited to a liquid diet may well choose the products offered by companies like Ensure and Slim-Fast. The caloric values and contents are exactly known consequently, a dieter can know and more easily control their daily caloric intake.
Day7:
           I’ve officially lost 9 pounds in seven days.!  I’ve also developed a routine. I always start my morning with one diet coke and 20-30 minutes of low impact exercise and strength toning.. with 2 pound weights.  I try to spread out my energy through the day. @ 300-600 calories per day.  Dr. Ted advises @ 1300 or less, but my hunger has dropped so much I don’t need nearly that many.
           [RA is typically impatient. Benjamin Franklin (pic on the $100 dollar bill) said “Everything in moderation.” What RA should be trying to do is develop a way/style of of eating in moderation that will carry her throughout her life.  Her body size and activities I estimate require about 1500 calories daily max.  At 1300 cals every day she would lose 30x200 calories or about  4 pounds each month. ( one pound /week) RA is however too impatient to exercise that kind of moderation.
Day13:
           Depressing day.  5 days later and I’ve only dropped one pound. And I’ve doing everything right. Under 400 calories every day with exercise! But the difference is – now would be the time I usually bail and give up my diet due to frustration and impatience. Having my jaw wired doesn’t give such an option.
           [Bravo RA, exercise is key.  Why exactly is exercise so good for you? Dr. Ted tells you why exercise is so good for him (6-7x/week)
 http://www.drted.com/index.html/Jaw wiring exercises.htm
Day18:
          I haven’t weighed myself since the dreaded day (day 13). Maybe in 4-6 more days I won’t be satisfied with what the scale reads the next time I step on it.
Day22:
        My mouth feels slimy and disgusting and sticky with plaque and it’s already been 3 weeks.! My throat was so sore I had to cut off my wires – easily done.  My jaw is so stiff I can barely open it wide enough to check my throat.  Brushing my teeth feels great.
           [You can buy for about $7.00 at the Walgreens or store like that in the dental department a battery driven, hand-held device that drives a rubber cup like the dentist uses to clean your teeth when he gives you a teeth cleaning (prophylaxis).  He uses a toothpaste that is packed with “pumice” (a fine scouring powder) which I am sure you can purchase and add to the toothpaste for brushing on special occasions only.]
Day26:
           I’ve been unwired for four days and haven’t gone over 600 calories.  I also took some throat medicine, worked my jaw muscles loose and brushed my teeth about 100 times.!!  I also weighed myself and have officially lost 12 pounds.
Day 27:  
         (Almost one month already)  I called Dr. Ted today he advises us patients to check in with him every two weeks.  I rewired myself today and it was a  SNAP! It literally took me a total of 3 minutes to do both sides.   Just 20 –25 more pounds and I’ve reached my goal - hopefully 6-8 more weeks. (I am really gonna miss eating Easter dinner and my goodie basket, Oh well – there’s always next year. –RA

           [ Patients come from out of state to have their jaws wire. For most, returning every 4-6 weeks for evaluation, cleaning and rewiring is prohibitive.  I therefore give the patients a kit with materials and supplies/instruments to rebond broken brackets and rewire the jaws closed. The instructions for rewiring and rebonding can be seen at:

http://www.drted.com/index.html/Jaw wiring training.htm

 http://www.drted.com/index.html/Jaw wiring rebonding brackets.htm