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Invisalign Trays no 28!

27 Saturday Feb 2016

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Invislign Trays no 28/53! ….or maybe 28/50 apparently according my dentist. So yesterday I had my first IPR experience, somewhat of a non event as I cannot actually see the new gap as it is towards the back of my upper arch. I knew that he had the options of a hand file or a electric drill file, and was a little disappointed that he used the drill file, as lots of high speed whirring, and one slip and that is a gouge in the wrong place.This was the first of 7 cuts I have to have. Each IPR is about 0.2 or 0.3mm.

My dentist also confirmed that he has now received the new 3D scanning machine but didn’t offer to use this which I found really disappointing. He said that he has only just received it and is using it to send off to Invisalign the scans for a much faster turn around of the trays. I see this scan as the  only real way to evaluate the bite properly. I have one  upper molar that is refusing to move down as planned, and the tray now has  gap of about 2mm at the bottom of which is empty and it fills up with water and saliva – charming! I mentioned this to him but he seemed very casual about it and said that later on “down the line” if I needed some attachments to bring this tooth down then we would need to get a refinement. But don’t I need this now? It is getting really left behind in the treatment plan. It is pretty clear to me that this tooth is not moving as planned and putting if off will surely just mean adding more time to the end of the process?

 

tooth

So the next planned 4 IPR cuts take place in 6 weeks, and these ones are right at the front of my lower arch – so these will be on show – great.

Delighted to be “over the tooth hill” now tho and less than half way to go!

Invisalign Trays No 26! Half Way!

05 Friday Feb 2016

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Invisalign Trays No 26! No 26/52 so I am counting this as half way through – technically of course its not until the end of these trays but hey that’s just being mean to myself.

So half way and where am I on the road to the promised perfect smile? Well I beginning to think I am not sure it will lead to the perfect smile but a much more tidy and even smile – as I would be horrified by the thought of a blinging white set that looks like I have the false teeth set of a 93 yr old. What I hate right now is the horrid distorted bottom teeth that have been splayed so far forward to prepare for 3 lots of IPR before bringing them back in again. I am worried I might scare young children! Surely they cannot go much further out?! My first IPR for the upper set is planned in about 3 weeks – just the one, so I hope it is not too noticeable and it will give me an idea of what it feels like. The widening of the upper arch is questionable – I am not convinced it is working as the Clincheck model shows.

What I am loving is the confidence to wear bright red Chanel lipstick – so I don’t mind bringing attention to my teeth even with attachments and plastic – so that says a lot. You do have to watch the lipstick smearing on the trays tho – so remember blot blot blot….

Happy half way – well done me……a little smug right now at my perseverance.

 

 

Invisalign Trays No 20!

07 Saturday Nov 2015

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Invisalign Trays No 20!

I am delighted to report that I have passed through and out of my teens. There have been some tears, tantrums and strops – but I have finally reached my twenties…happy days. I can see the top teeth are becoming much straighter and the widening of the top arch is slowly, very slowly beginning to happen. The bottom teeth do look very odd however with the teeth on one side now being pushed so far out I have an underbite…..and the front 6 teeth have been pushed into a ski slope like droop, so I have to just keep with the programme and believe that things have to get worse before they get better.

Not much to report on Trays no 20, the top trays feel loose again after Trays 19 that were actually pleasantly painfully tight.  Only another 32 to go!

Invisalign Trays no 19!

24 Saturday Oct 2015

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Invisalign Trays no 19/52. I have a review with my dentist this week so have raised a few concerns about where things are heading in advance of our appointment. This seems to be the right time to consider do we need to have a refinement or not. I hope not as I want to get through this vacummed packed plastic process as fast as I can but at the same time things look as if they are going a bit awry. My top and bottom front teeth are no longer parallel to each other other, with the bottom teeth seemingly now pushed down on one side. I have had two days this week where I confess I had them out most of the day, the result of a mid morning pastry then meetings.

I did find a photo of my smile pre Invisalign and well I can now see an improvement to the width of my smile. Before I had a very narrow front arch – a bit like Prince William if you know what I mean. Its a bit hard to know if its partly the attachments as they of course visually widen your teeth.

My dentist has still not responded on my enquiry for Acceleredent – I think that is the correct name. He had not ever heard of it, and I think believes in the go slow approach so I doubt he will be recommending it. We would be very interested to hear of anyone using this and what they feel?

I will report in after next appointment.

Invisalign Trays 14

15 Saturday Aug 2015

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I visisted my dentist today to see how things are progressing, and I was given a virtual A+, apparently trays are fitting well and things are moving according to the Clincheck model. So I skipped home with trays 14-19 in my bag.

Apparently not only are my teeth being moved but my upper arch jaw bone is being widened by invisalign – first time I realised that – but all sounds good to me.  Big Bertha the bottom molar with the titantic tilt has not really moved but I as assured this will  happen slowly, we did also discuss the bottom few front teeth as one needs a rotation but does not have any attachments, so my dentist did aknowledge that and said that now my package includes refinements as needed during the process so we will need to keep a close eye on it to see if it is being moved without the attachment.

One of my upper front teeth has not moved down yet oh and apparently i had a chip to my upper canine I never noticed before – a side effect of Invisalign treatment is the obsession with the detail.

Tray 14 again shows no pressure to the upper tray but ouch the bottom front few teeth are sore – as still being pushed forwards before they get IPR next year.

Patience patience patience…….

Invisalign Trays no 13

01 Saturday Aug 2015

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Invisalign Trays no 13. Hmmm well same old story….and not much more to report. The top trays feel loose again on the first day of wear and almost drop out so I am a bit concerned as to whether they are actually doing anything meaningful? In the last 2 weeks I confess to 2 days when I had them out ALL day – bad bad bad. One day I just forgot as was so absorbed in my work. Big bertha the bottom molar still is not budging and it has to be pulled up form its titanic tilt but the Mutley canine is about to get worse – so not really happy about that other than I would like some comfort from my dentist that that is intended and it is not just going off piste. I would love to say that now I am 25%!!  through the process I can see some noticeable progress but I cannot, so a bit disappointed about that.  6 months through a 2 year process, and it’s too late to turn back….I might regret this and hope it doesn’t put anyone off their food but photo attached….Big Bertha bottom RHS

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Invisalign Trays 12

18 Saturday Jul 2015

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Liz. Invisalign Trays 12/52.  Well they are in, and not much more to say other than the top set are loose, not tight as normal and I am wondering if this is a result of very erratic wearing over the last 2 weeks, hmmm. Does anyone know? The bottom set have immediately put pressure on the front four teeth as normal.

Big Bertha the lower left molar has still not budged, so I still think I might need some elastics on that at some point – I need to talk to my orthodontist about it. So no 12….nearly at no 13 which is a magic 25% milestone – whey hey…..keep on counting.

It is no hard to see any progress but something must be happening surely?!

Invisalign Trays 9!

15 Monday Jun 2015

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Liz. Invisalign Trays 9/52. I went to see my dentist last Saturday and was “allowed” to change to new trays a day early – wheyhey! He was a little concerned that my upper molars that have become so badly squashed inwards were wedged and that he might need to do some shaving off but then reviewed the Clincheck model and it seemed to show the trays pushing all the teeth together so decided not to. I look so hard to see any progress but quite honestly it is still really hard to see a difference and I am nearly at Trays 10/52, so I would love to see something! So patience needed. I admit to being a bit sloppy recently on the hours of wear a day, but try and make up for it on other days. Nearly 20% through however – so slowly slowly…..

Invisalign Trays 7!

10 Sunday May 2015

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Liz Invisalign Trays No 7. I am getting into the routine now. My changeover to new trays is done in the morning and not at night as most people seem to do, as I do not as yet suffer much discomfort.  I can still not notice any real change which is somewhat frustrating for all this effort. I have noticed one of my front bottom teeth projecting out more and my bottom canine being pushed out to the point the top tooth will soon be behind it which won’t be very good at all, but my dentist tells me that if I have my trays in then that should not matter as the teeth all have to shift at different times. So will I have to put up with potentially my teeth being moved into positions that could look worse before they begin to look better? I am now 3 months into my 2 years! It is a long haul, and I will be pleased to get to the 6 month mark as then I will expect to notice some change. Photos will be published as soon as I can see some movement to show!

Invisalign Trays No 6!

04 Monday May 2015

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Liz. Invisalign Trays No 6. Well I am actually half way through the 2 weeks of Trays no 6, and these have been the tightest yet, I have had a few short head aches but nothing lasting. After 7 days there still feel ill fitting and tight so I hope that these are starting to have some affect now. After a couple of sloppy days when I had them out for a few hours at lunchtime, I am trying to be more disciplined again….after all what is the point in spending a few thousand on these little bits of plastic if I am not going to wear them – stupid! I do now drink white wine with them in, so will have to see what the hygienist has to say when I see her in a couple of weeks. I still cannot see ANY visible change after 11 weeks of wearing these things, so can’t wait to get to Trays no 10 when I read that this is when it is likely that some progress should be seen. I envy those who have a quick fix but mine have a lot to do. I have compared Trays no 2 with Trays no 8 that I have been given already, and measure about a 1mm widening to the upper arch – a bit disappointing but must be patient.