End of week 4

Today I had to visit the Orthodontist again to collect trays 3 and 4. I had the tooth shaving done too, which you can read in the next blog as decided it should have it’s own section as this is a common question of concern for people when choosing the Invisalign treatment, or as some have been unfortunate enough to find out during the treatment.

Anyway, after the teeth shaving, which I must reiterate really was not that bad I then had to have my 3rd Invisalign brace fitted. I cannot believe it has been a month already!! Another 7 and the top teeth should be finished. I have to say these aligners are really tight on my teeth. Much tighter than the others, but again I am unsure if this is just because I have been used to the previous ones, or because these are more aggressive in their movements of my teeth.

Having spoken to my Orthodontist today, he mentioned the previous two aligners were primarily to align my jaw, rather than actually move any of my teeth about. Which might explain why the pain was not too bad. But it would seem if we’re moving onto teeth movement now, I can certainly feel it. Here are a couple of pictures to compare from a month ago:

Front open, before and after one month:

Front closed, before and after one month:

Side right before and after one month:

Side left before and after one month:

Not really too much else to report at this stage with regards to the brace itself. It fits tight, feels good, and looking forward to getting through this month! I have just booked up my next couple of appointments and fortunately this doesn’t interfere with my snowboarding holiday, because that would have been a pain.

Also you may recall if you have been reading my blog that I had some tooth pain. Well this went away after a couple of days, but I did bring it up with my Dentist today, and he has confirmed I have a cavity! I cannot believe it, I have gone though 27 years of my life not needing one, and now when I decide to get my teeth fixed, I am damaging them more. He said it is going to be complicated doing anything about it, whilst the brace is on, but will review it at the next appointment. So far, I am not having anymore pain from it, so I will just wait and see how it goes.

Thanks for reading

~Adam

Invisalign teeth shaving

So today I went to my Dentist for my 2nd appointment to collect trays 3 and 4. During this visit I had some teeth shaving done, because of the severe overcrowding (as the pictures demonstrate). People often wince with pain when they hear you talk about having your teeth shaved, as I did.

I had read a number of internet blogs and forums getting as much information about this procedure as I could, and all of the stories I had read commented on no pain being felt and that it was pretty comfortable to have done. But it doesn’t matter how many times people say this, it doesn’t make sitting in that dentist chair in preparation any easier!

However, I have to say the whole experience was pain free. I had both a drill and this shaving strip, which was kind of like floss, but flat, and with edges to slowly shave down the tooth surface.

I only had the top teeth shaved, as you can see from the pictures between the front teeth, and then each side of the second teeth.

The drill was a lot more present to use, because you don’t really feel what is going on, just hear it. Where as the shaving strip was weird, you could hear it and feel the edges of your teeth coming away. Because of how crowded my mouth was he had to use the strips then drill the rest. I am told I will need more shaving done again, but for now, I have had half it done, and the gaps should close up with the next few aligners.

So there you have it, my account of Invisalign teeth shaving! Nothing to be worried about at all. And if you’re thinking about having Invisalign, or worried about having this done, then I would check with your Orthodontist before paying for Invisalign. Mine said he has to shave only badly crowded teeth, so you might not have to go through this, but if you do, it’s okay to take and the whole lot only took about 30 minutes. I would rather this, than visiting the hygienist I will tell you that much.

Thanks for reading

~Adam

End of week 3

Nothing really to report here, tooth pain it getting a lot better now, and think it might have just been a one off, but I will make sure I get this check out next week when I go to collect my next couple of aligners.

I am also having my teeth shaved on my next visit, which I am not looking forward too at all. But having read others accounts of this, they all say it is nothing to be worried about and really you cannot feel anything, so I guess only time will tell, but I will make sure I report back on how it goes.

I will also make sure I post some before and after pictures from day 1 to the end of month one. I think for comparisons I will take these shots every month, although it doesn’t feel like there is much movement in my teeth at the moment.

Thanks for reading

~Adam

Tooth pain with Invisalign

Strange feeling in my tooth these past few days. I have a feeling in one of my top back teeth of pain. I have never had a cavity, any fillings or anything like that so don’t have anything to compare it too, but yesterday I was chewing gum (when aligners were out) and got a sharp pain in the tooth.

I don’t feel it when drinking cold water, or eating, just when I chewed gum. I have since done it again and the feeling came back, now when I bit down on my Invisalign trays when they’re in my mouth I can feel this pain a little bit there.

I am due to go see my Orthodontist next week, but not sure if I should wait that long. I have heard if you need any dental work you cannot have this until you finish your treatment. I hope there is nothing wrong because I don’t want to have to go through the next 8 months in pain.

Anyway, a short mini update, but will report back after speaking to him. I will also post some more pictures to see if there is any noticable change in the month I have been wearing them… A month already, time has gone fast!

Thanks for reading.

~Adam

End of week 2

Well it is the end of my second week now since getting my Invisalign fitted. I had read that putting the brace on in the evening before bed would help with the uncomfortable feeling you get when changing the brace. So last night, before bed I fitted set 2 of 16 (top)/19 (bottom).

I have to say it was very uncomfortable. I think this might be because I had been used to the previous trays, and they were so easy to put in and take out again, that I had almost blanked out my initial problems I had putting them in and taking them out again. It seems this set hurt my teeth more too. I don’t know if that is because the thrill/buzz of having my teeth finally fixed got me through the first couple of weeks, but this set seem to be causing more discomfort. This could also have something to do with my trays splitting and therefore not retaining my teeth correctly.

I have noticed with this set of aligners that the edges are quite sharp and one of the aligners has an awkward lip which is rubbing on my mouth when I talk as you can see from the image below.

I would make sure if you’re new to Invisalign you get a small file or something similar to smooth down the edges of the brace to help with this problem if you encounter it.

Nothing more to report, except after two weeks, no one has noticed the brace, or even said anything about it since I got it fitted which is brilliant. People have been so amazed with how clear they are and how hard it is to tell you’re wearing it. I’m still very pleased with the decision to go for the Invisalign treatment and although it can get a little dry in your mouth and my lips are dryer it has been worth it so far.

Providing nothing major happens, I will report back next week.

Thanks for reading.

~Adam.

I’ve split a tray

Just a quick note in before my week 2 progress update to mention that I managed to split my top tray at the front. As you can see from the picture it was in quite an important place. I am assuming that this would impact the trays ability to hold my front teeth in place. A quick call to the Orthodontist and he assured me it should be okay to hold until Thursday when I change to the next set of aligners.

It got me thinking that if I had been a couple of days into this set of aligners what would be the situation then. I am assuming that I would need new trays, and if I did, would I have to pay for them, or would they come free of charge? I am going to bring this up with my Orthodontist in a couple of weeks when I go back for trays 3 and 4. I am hoping that since I went for the full Invisalign treatment rather than express that this would be covered, as it was accidental damage.

Anyway, I will let you know how I get on in a couple of weeks, and now for my weekly update.

Thanks for reading

~Adam

End of week 1

Well it is the end of my first week already, since getting my Invisalign fitted. I have to say following all the reports and blogs I had read about pain and discomfort I have been very surprised with how I have taken to the treatment.

The first day was uncomfortable but not painful, and taking them off was not really pleasant. However, day 8 today and I don’t even notice they’re in half the time. I have no pain, no discomfort, and I cannot believe I waited this long to begin the Invisalign treatment.

I have to admit I am also a little disappointed that no one has noticed the brace either. I thought it should be a good thing, that not one person has noticed, even when up close. I am amazed in fact at just how clear they are. I think it might partly be due to the fact that not everyone is like me. Not everyone looks at the person they’re talking to and immediately revert their eye contact to the mouth of who they’re talking to, to see what their teeth look like.

So Wednesday (day 6) one of my attachments came off my tooth. I have seven in total. I had to go back to the dentist yesterday to get another one fitted. It was a quick and simple visit and now have all attachments in and brace back to normal. Some positives so far:

- I have found that since getting the aligners I can no longer bite my nails, which itself is a dreadful habit, but one I have since stopped. So an added bonus to having nice teeth will be nice fingers too!

- I also find I am not snacking on food or drinking as much coffee. I used to drink about 6+ cups a day (I work in an office), but now it is more like one every other day.

- As a result of cleaning my teeth up to 4 times a day, and using Sensodyne Gentle Whitening my teeth are getting whiter, before I have even had the whitening treatment.

So a few positives already noticed, and now a few things I have learnt so far with my treatment, and hope this might help some other people looking to start the treatment. As I learn more I will post them in my own FAQ at the top.

- Clean the brace regularly. The brace can get an odd odour at times, I am told this is because the teeth are locked away from the saliva which rinses the teeth so to speak. I make sure I always clean it when I take it out. I find I am cleaning them three or four times a day, usually when I wake up, once at lunch, once when I get home and then before I go to bed.

- Always take care when putting them in. I have caught my lip twice putting them in, because I got used to it and thought I could do it one handed, turned out I couldn’t. I have also pulled off one of the attachments, whether this be me using force taking out the brace, or it not being stuck I don’t know.

Thanks for reading.

~Adam

My Invisalign now fitted

So today at 12:05 I had my aligners fitted. When I got to the dentist we had a quick chat, calmed any nerves that there might have been and then talked about what we would be doing. First I had to have 7 attachments/buttons fitted to my teeth, three on top and four on the bottom.

Fortunately all attachments were on the sides so not clearly visible, you can slightly see the top ones, only when I smile widely, but given I rarely smile due to my teeth I should be safe for now. So first I had my teeth polished where the attachments were to go, and then he bonded the attachments, which was a little uncomfortable keeping my mouth open for the 20 odd minutes it took to do. Then he had to shape them and make sure there were not irritable points on them, this again was a little uncomfortable but nothing too bad. After this it was then a case of fitting the Invisalign and I have to say it was a relief when he did so, because there was no pain at all, just some mild discomfort, which I am still feeling an hour and a half after treatment.

But in all it was not an unpleasant experience, it was tolerable, and so far I am feeling good about making the decision. The aligners are noticeable when you look out for them, but would have thought anyone far away from me wouldn’t notice them, but the real acid test will be tomorrow at work to see the reaction from those that know about them, and those who don’t. So here are the pictures, close up of the aligners, I had just cleaned them as practising taking them out and putting them in again, which was fairly straight forward so you might notice a couple of water bubbles, but I don’t think they look too bad. 

Invisalign front photo

Side Invisalign Photo.

Thanks for reading.

~Adam

Before and after computer photos

I have received my before and after pictures for my teeth when the invisalign treatment is completed. I had to print screen this images because they send you a movie file, which cuts off a little short here, but these are the images I got back, not really from the best angles but you get the idea. I would have preferred to actually receive a picture image direct from Invisalign rather than have to manifacture these myself from windows media player. But none the less here they are. Before and after front.

Before Photo

After Photo

Before Photo

After Photo

Now to add some pictures of the aligners in

Thanks for reading.

~Adam

Three days to go…

Okay so with just three days to go until I have the aligners fitted, I thought I would post some before pictures to have something to compare too after my treatment is finished.

For those new to my blog, I am having Invisalign fitted for around 8/9 months, I’m sure after this point there will be some refinement time too. I am also having my teeth whitened and will have the chips repaired too – As you can see from the pictures my teeth as not looking too good – hence the reason for me making this decision. I don’t like to look at my teeth, I don’t like to smile, I don’t really have any confidence when I go out either. I am hoping the new smile I get will be well worth the difficult times which I know are ahead of me.

I have been reading many forums and blogs over the past few days in anticipation of my treatment beginning, and have to say I think I am well prepared for the months ahead. My only saving grace really is that I know others are going through this, and I have others to talk to about my experiences. I have a goal which is to have my desired smile by the time I go to America next Spring. Which is the 8 months or so estimated by my Orthodontist.

So anyway, here are the pictures I have almost avoided putting up…

Front Closed

Front Open.

Right View.

Left View.

Thanks for reading.

~Adam