My visit to the Orthodontist happened early, as the aligner I had been wearing for the last 8 weeks decided it had had enough of being pulled on and off over the buttons, it split to the middle. Consequently there was little pressure at all if any, being applied to my teeth. I made an appointment and the buttons were filed/sanded off. It was not too dramatic an event and its nice to run my tongue finally over smooth teeth. I am happy with the final result, he was going to even the edges of my teeth but didnt do this. Probably as it was an unscheduled visit.
I go back tomorrow to pick up the retainers so will ask about that then.
Hard to believe I have finally reached the end of the road.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
November 10th..
Finished Aligners-Orthodontist visit.
Disappointing day yesterday so I didn't write until I got over it. Special occasion coming up this weekend and had expected to go home at least minus my buttons and with the possibility of retainers. Perhaps a little optomistic of me but because prior to the refinements, I had been given the impression that this would be what happens. (he runs a busy practise so I guess his time is restricted and he rarely gives too much information unless you ask) When I saw him, he was extremely happy with the results ( positive note ) and wants to use my case to present on "malocclusion" .
The follow up ... is that he wants me to wear these aligners for one more more month at 22+ hours a day to let my teeth settle before moving to the last stage. Although I am initially disappointed "I do" want it all to have the best outcome possible.
I had my hopes up to be able to enjoy the wedding in QLD trip without the hassle of taking aligners in and out to eat etc etc.... and to be finally able to enjoy this new smile..... Oh well ..I am this close so what is one more month I suppose, so roll on Christmas perhaps then I will finally see the finish line in sight.
Disappointing day yesterday so I didn't write until I got over it. Special occasion coming up this weekend and had expected to go home at least minus my buttons and with the possibility of retainers. Perhaps a little optomistic of me but because prior to the refinements, I had been given the impression that this would be what happens. (he runs a busy practise so I guess his time is restricted and he rarely gives too much information unless you ask) When I saw him, he was extremely happy with the results ( positive note ) and wants to use my case to present on "malocclusion" .
The follow up ... is that he wants me to wear these aligners for one more more month at 22+ hours a day to let my teeth settle before moving to the last stage. Although I am initially disappointed "I do" want it all to have the best outcome possible.
I had my hopes up to be able to enjoy the wedding in QLD trip without the hassle of taking aligners in and out to eat etc etc.... and to be finally able to enjoy this new smile..... Oh well ..I am this close so what is one more month I suppose, so roll on Christmas perhaps then I will finally see the finish line in sight.
Friday, October 29, 2010
October 30th
Well here I am after a very, very, long break .. it's been hard to keep the interest level up at this stage, to write here all the time. I notice most other peoples blogs' are the same and when its getting to the end of their treatment, the commentary has dropped off.
On Thursday 4th November I will be finished the refinement aligners of Upper 1-16 and Lower 1-18. "The END is finally in sight." These were on top of the initial 1-31 top, 1-27 bottom aligners, that I had at the start of all this and the extras were because two of my teeth were not playing the game and straightening up. Now they have come around. With this I can see that others are slightly out of line as well, but heck, realistically this will be as far as I go, ' cos it's so near to perfect. I believe that we notice it more when its just slightly out because the others look so good!! I never wanted or expected to have perfect teeth. I just wanted them to be straighter teeth that didn't jutt out. The Invisalign has achieved that. I had read lots of information prior to this that Invisalign doesn't work well with overjets and teeth extractions. I personally have no complaints and feel that the aligners have done a great job for me and what they were intended to do, with relatively little discomfort physically. My personal appearance was not an issue because hardly anyone noticed them at all. I would go through it all again to get this result. I love my new smile and the confidence that it has given me. I no longer put my hand up to my face when I smile or talk. As well, I am no longer camera shy to have my photograph taken. I just wish I had been braver and done it when I was younger and also that my husband Bill, was still here to see the results. I think he would approve even though I know he loved me as I was.
I will be back at the end of treatment to update the final pathway of this journey with my maintenance.
On Thursday 4th November I will be finished the refinement aligners of Upper 1-16 and Lower 1-18. "The END is finally in sight." These were on top of the initial 1-31 top, 1-27 bottom aligners, that I had at the start of all this and the extras were because two of my teeth were not playing the game and straightening up. Now they have come around. With this I can see that others are slightly out of line as well, but heck, realistically this will be as far as I go, ' cos it's so near to perfect. I believe that we notice it more when its just slightly out because the others look so good!! I never wanted or expected to have perfect teeth. I just wanted them to be straighter teeth that didn't jutt out. The Invisalign has achieved that. I had read lots of information prior to this that Invisalign doesn't work well with overjets and teeth extractions. I personally have no complaints and feel that the aligners have done a great job for me and what they were intended to do, with relatively little discomfort physically. My personal appearance was not an issue because hardly anyone noticed them at all. I would go through it all again to get this result. I love my new smile and the confidence that it has given me. I no longer put my hand up to my face when I smile or talk. As well, I am no longer camera shy to have my photograph taken. I just wish I had been braver and done it when I was younger and also that my husband Bill, was still here to see the results. I think he would approve even though I know he loved me as I was.
I will be back at the end of treatment to update the final pathway of this journey with my maintenance.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
February 11th "10
I haven't updated for a long while .. things have moved a lot with my teeth and I have finished the upper 31 and lower 27. At the moment everything is on hold. I have had new impressions made top and bottom and will require some more trays to fix a just one tooth on the top and several on the bottom that just haven't lined up as they should have, but all in all, invisalign has done its job well. I was hoping to be all finished by now .. but for the amount of money paid I will finish it properly.
Its going to take two more weeks till I get the new trays so everything is at a standstill until then.
Getting very sick of the same trays in my mouth until that occurs and I am soaking them in the denture cleaning two to three times a day to make them fresh, doesn't seem to harm them at all.
Its going to take two more weeks till I get the new trays so everything is at a standstill until then.
Getting very sick of the same trays in my mouth until that occurs and I am soaking them in the denture cleaning two to three times a day to make them fresh, doesn't seem to harm them at all.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
April 3rd '09 Tray 13
April o3... Back again.. work has been so busy that its hard to get time to write on here and I 'spose I am just living with the Invisalign now and as nothing much new happens except the change ups every 14 days and my visits back to the Orthodontist for review on progress.
This time I had to go back a day earlier as Top number 12 cracked over where my 1st Molar had been removed. (The crack was on the inside.) I had a lot of trouble getting this tray out and over the buttons from day 1 - 12. Being busy at work, I probably was not as patient as I should have been .. finally it cracked and then over the next 24hrs it went on to completely split. I rang the Ortho but he was out of town. Not knowing what to do I made the earliest possible appt and went back to tray 11. Apparently, this is the wrong thing to do .. He said never go backwards .. only forwards but as I had no further trays until I saw him I really had no other choice. Luckily it was only 24hrs back on the old tray .. no damage was done and I was able to progress up to 13. For a minute there they contemplated getting a new tray 12 and I held my breath thinking ohhhh no. I am sure he heard the sigh of relief when tray 13 fitted in .. not without some difficulty and ouches, but then they are all a bit like that the first day or so.
I also had to have some more IPR on the bottom teeth done yesterday once again this was painless.
I am noticing quite a lot of difference and movement in my teeth now and the extraction gap is closing up quickly. (Much to my relief.) The bottom laterals are also lining up nicely. With still quite a lot of work to go on the lower (R) bicuspid area. I do hope this one turns. I am not overly concerned as I have read the first part of Invisalign treatment is designed to widen the arches and make room .. and this is what they appear to be doing so fingers are crossed.
The days are going quickly, but I must admit sometimes I just long for a "normal" day where I can just drink as much tea as I like and relax over my breakfast or dinner without having to rush to put the aligners back in. Then the thought of what my teeth will look like this time next year again spurs me on to stay on track.
A funny thing happened visiting my Niece at her place the other day, which I had never thought about. I am now into the habit of taking out the aligners and putting them in my pocket or the side pocket of my handbag. I was having a cup of tea with Sonia and put them this time in my bag which was on the floor. Sonia looked down and noticed one of her beautiful little pups had sniffed out the aligners, managed to get it out of my bag and was proceeding to try to eat it.. LMAO .. I realised them I would have to be a little more vigilent whilst at her house!! Thanks Sonia for saving me a trip back to visit Jeff. LOL .. Bonnie and Sara gotta love them.
Consequently the aligners got a very good soaking and an extra... extra scrub that day!!!
My Ortho is very pleased with my progress so far .... so I must be doing things right at the moment.
I don't think I will ever regret spending this money, my confidence is increasing with the changes.
This time I had to go back a day earlier as Top number 12 cracked over where my 1st Molar had been removed. (The crack was on the inside.) I had a lot of trouble getting this tray out and over the buttons from day 1 - 12. Being busy at work, I probably was not as patient as I should have been .. finally it cracked and then over the next 24hrs it went on to completely split. I rang the Ortho but he was out of town. Not knowing what to do I made the earliest possible appt and went back to tray 11. Apparently, this is the wrong thing to do .. He said never go backwards .. only forwards but as I had no further trays until I saw him I really had no other choice. Luckily it was only 24hrs back on the old tray .. no damage was done and I was able to progress up to 13. For a minute there they contemplated getting a new tray 12 and I held my breath thinking ohhhh no. I am sure he heard the sigh of relief when tray 13 fitted in .. not without some difficulty and ouches, but then they are all a bit like that the first day or so.
I also had to have some more IPR on the bottom teeth done yesterday once again this was painless.
I am noticing quite a lot of difference and movement in my teeth now and the extraction gap is closing up quickly. (Much to my relief.) The bottom laterals are also lining up nicely. With still quite a lot of work to go on the lower (R) bicuspid area. I do hope this one turns. I am not overly concerned as I have read the first part of Invisalign treatment is designed to widen the arches and make room .. and this is what they appear to be doing so fingers are crossed.
The days are going quickly, but I must admit sometimes I just long for a "normal" day where I can just drink as much tea as I like and relax over my breakfast or dinner without having to rush to put the aligners back in. Then the thought of what my teeth will look like this time next year again spurs me on to stay on track.
A funny thing happened visiting my Niece at her place the other day, which I had never thought about. I am now into the habit of taking out the aligners and putting them in my pocket or the side pocket of my handbag. I was having a cup of tea with Sonia and put them this time in my bag which was on the floor. Sonia looked down and noticed one of her beautiful little pups had sniffed out the aligners, managed to get it out of my bag and was proceeding to try to eat it.. LMAO .. I realised them I would have to be a little more vigilent whilst at her house!! Thanks Sonia for saving me a trip back to visit Jeff. LOL .. Bonnie and Sara gotta love them.
Consequently the aligners got a very good soaking and an extra... extra scrub that day!!!
My Ortho is very pleased with my progress so far .... so I must be doing things right at the moment.
I don't think I will ever regret spending this money, my confidence is increasing with the changes.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Wednesday February 25th Tray No 10
Tray No 10: I have been a bit slack with writing since Christmas .. perhaps it's because I am getting used to wearing the aligners now and its just a day by day thing. I went for my visit on the 20th and was giving three more aligners 10, 11 and 12. My orthodontist Jeff is very happy with my progress so far and used me to show a new client what invisalign is about.
I changed up that night and for the first time experienced some "real" pain in my back teeth and bruising on several others, but in looking at number twelve in the comparison I can see my teeth have some real movement to do before I can put it on.. especially in the extraction area .. it brings them to "almost " closed. It makes me happy to see that even though I am not happy with the pain!
People at work are now beginning to tell me that they can notice a difference happening as well.
I had some IPR work done with this visit on the front bottom teeth and I must admit to not feeling any discomfort with it and it was over quickly.
The days are going by fast and with this tray I will be almost 1/3rd of the way through the treatment for the top ..10:31 and over that for the bottom... 10:27 .. I will be pleased to see the halfway mark.. but no I am not counting these days... MUCH!!
I also must admit I am finding it difficult at work to fit it all in .. as it's a busy birthing area and often I don't get the breaks.. or the time to be fussing with my aligners. I can't just say .. "lady I need to go clean my teeth and put these in... so can you just hold on to that baby for a few more minutes!!" Get my point???. Sometimes I have had to just put aligners back in without cleaning my teeth.. there doesn't seem to have been any side effects to this as yet. Oh.. and yes I should mention that I also have a glass of white wine or a gin and tonic whilst they are in as well, I just make sure to keep the drink non coloured.
I have met a nice man who has been asking me out and I was a little concerned as to how he would take all this .. I had nightmares of being taken out for dinner and saying .. "please excuse me for a minute I just need to take my trays out" .. lol. Makes for an interesting conversation .. NOT!!! Worse still imagine the embaressment of losing one of them at dinner. It's all trial and error at this point.
Hallalujah .....Life goes on!
I changed up that night and for the first time experienced some "real" pain in my back teeth and bruising on several others, but in looking at number twelve in the comparison I can see my teeth have some real movement to do before I can put it on.. especially in the extraction area .. it brings them to "almost " closed. It makes me happy to see that even though I am not happy with the pain!
People at work are now beginning to tell me that they can notice a difference happening as well.
I had some IPR work done with this visit on the front bottom teeth and I must admit to not feeling any discomfort with it and it was over quickly.
The days are going by fast and with this tray I will be almost 1/3rd of the way through the treatment for the top ..10:31 and over that for the bottom... 10:27 .. I will be pleased to see the halfway mark.. but no I am not counting these days... MUCH!!
I also must admit I am finding it difficult at work to fit it all in .. as it's a busy birthing area and often I don't get the breaks.. or the time to be fussing with my aligners. I can't just say .. "lady I need to go clean my teeth and put these in... so can you just hold on to that baby for a few more minutes!!" Get my point???. Sometimes I have had to just put aligners back in without cleaning my teeth.. there doesn't seem to have been any side effects to this as yet. Oh.. and yes I should mention that I also have a glass of white wine or a gin and tonic whilst they are in as well, I just make sure to keep the drink non coloured.
I have met a nice man who has been asking me out and I was a little concerned as to how he would take all this .. I had nightmares of being taken out for dinner and saying .. "please excuse me for a minute I just need to take my trays out" .. lol. Makes for an interesting conversation .. NOT!!! Worse still imagine the embaressment of losing one of them at dinner. It's all trial and error at this point.
Hallalujah .....Life goes on!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
4th Jan 09
Tray Number 6th .. I was meant to start this on the evening of the 2nd .. but unfortunately have been having a problem with the last two trays prior too and having to change up sooner ... they have been splitting over my short tooth area, somehow so far this one has survived.
It hasn't been an easy time over Christmas New Yrs to be having this treatment happening, It was a nuisance to have to take the trays out to nibble, run and clean my teeth and put them back in. I certainly haven't lost any weight so I must have eaten my fair share :).
Traveling with invisalign also... was not easy to clean your teeth in public washrooms .. but I have survived and the days are ticking by.
I think I am beginning to notice some changes and my family agreed.
I am tired and pleased to be home and a bit over it at the moment. Can't say there has been any pain .. just tooth tenderness when taking them off. I have this fear that because I am not experiencing much pain .. that not a lot is happening and I will be one of those lucky people that Invisalign does NOT work for, as I have been reading its not particulary good with extractions which I have. Oh well .. well into now and it's too late to turn back now .. so onwards and upwards.
By the way .. Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a bestest New Yrs.
It hasn't been an easy time over Christmas New Yrs to be having this treatment happening, It was a nuisance to have to take the trays out to nibble, run and clean my teeth and put them back in. I certainly haven't lost any weight so I must have eaten my fair share :).
Traveling with invisalign also... was not easy to clean your teeth in public washrooms .. but I have survived and the days are ticking by.
I think I am beginning to notice some changes and my family agreed.
I am tired and pleased to be home and a bit over it at the moment. Can't say there has been any pain .. just tooth tenderness when taking them off. I have this fear that because I am not experiencing much pain .. that not a lot is happening and I will be one of those lucky people that Invisalign does NOT work for, as I have been reading its not particulary good with extractions which I have. Oh well .. well into now and it's too late to turn back now .. so onwards and upwards.
By the way .. Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a bestest New Yrs.
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