4th set already?!

Not much to update really. I have been getting on fine with them, I am surprised how normal it feels now to have them in. In fact I have to actually check they are in!

They come out so easily when its time to change, each set is cleaned and kept. I am glad I am on a 10 day cycle as about 7 days in I think I could change and 14 days would feel like forever!

Had the 4th set in for about a week, changing to set 5 on Saturday.

My lowers are def on their way! The one that is pushed back has moved forwards quiet a bit. My center line has moved round too.

My back teeth on the left side of the photo are starting to move further out to expand my arch, not sure about any other changes yet.

2nd set

Well I have to be honest, the first set of aligners really hurt! Got less and less over the first 4 days then was fine for the rest as it became quite loose. I was poppin pills for the first two days and started to wonder what I had signed up for! All is good now :-)

I changed over to tray 2 on Thursday last week so its on to tray 3 this Sunday. It was tight for the first few hours and its been fine ever since. Not going to post any photos yet as there really are no changes....

The novelty has completly worn off but I adjusted quickly to taking them out before eating and not being able to snack so easily. Not one person has noticed them! In fact, people who do know have to ask if they are in as they really can't tell.

I was given 'nite white' to whiten my teeth, so far I have used it 3 times over 2 weeks and it really has taken the yellow tinge off my eye teeth. Will keep going with it but it left my teeth a bit sensitive so am giving it a rest for a while.

Tip: follow the invisalign instructions for removing the trays! I did my own thing trying to wiggle them off and ended up cracking the first one a tiny bit. Followed their instructions of 'remove one side first then the other' and its so much easier. Not had to use the removal tool but then I don't have any attachments.

So all in all its going well!

1st set

I got my aligners today! I have to admit they are feeling rather tight. I am very impressed with how invisible they actually are! Silly I know but they really are almost invisible!

Above: my teeth with the first set of trays in

Although its not painful I can feel pressure on certain teeth and my bite feels strange. Its that horrible ache that you just wish would go away but isn't really enough to moan about. I was warned by my ortho about this!

At my appointment I was shown my aligners and he popped them in so I could have a quick feel of them. Back out they came so he could do a little prep to my teeth (cleaning, polish and a little IPR/filing between my teeth to make more room). Was shown how to put them in and take them out, how to use the chewies and aligner removal tool and an overview of the tooth whitening kit. I came away very informed and happy about what I have been given and what to do. I was given my entire set of aligners (23 uppers and 16 lowers) and I am changing every 10 days.

I was given lots of goodies too!

• Drawstring bag with my aligners in their box
• At home teeth whitening kit (enough for a few applications but I can request more)
• Chewie
• Aligner removal tool
• Invisalign starter kit with 2 aligner cases
• Various leaflets
• Mini toothpaste
• Tiny travel toothbrush and toothpaste kit
• Little bag to carry the case and bits around in
• Denture cleaning tablets

So far I have added a nail file to my bag for the rough edges and dental floss on a stick. I also placed on order online for a clear aligner cleaning set including a sonic cleaner with retainer brite, mirror, chewie, tool, fresh and go toothbrush/paste, interdental brushes, little mouthwash and another case all for £16. I plan on having a kit at home, work and for my handbag.

My ortho is happy for my to drink non-sugary drinks with them in including hot drinks as long as they are not boiling hot.

My next appointment is in 8 weeks (beginning of August) and a few days before I see my regular dentist. Be interesting to see what my regular dentist has to say about my treatment, as he has never commented on how my teeth have moved in the 6 years since I finished my NHS treatment.

As I have all my aligners I will post progress photos although I have already been comparing my first set to my last uppers set! Looking at my clincheck the majority of the movement is in the first 10 aligners with the next getting them in the right position.

Clincheck

Oh the excitement of the clincheck!

3 weeks after I had my initial consultation and impressions done/photos taken my clincheck was ready. Sent a sneaky e-mail to my ortho end of last week just checking it was ready and found out he had already done some tweaking with Invisalign to improve the process and movement.

This appointment lasted about 20 minutes and was more of a progress update. My uppers will take about 7 and a half month and the lowers about 5 months based on changing the trays every 10 days (and wearing them for 23hrs a day) plus probably another 2 months at the end for the refinement process.

I have 4 attachments on the top and none (yay!) on the bottom, although my ortho said he only puts them on if he feels its necessary and even then its about half way through the treatment plan.

My uppers and lowers:

Check out how much wider my arches get?!

Whitening is included in my package so my ortho is keen to start that straight away, its nice to know my teeth will be improving in colour before they even start seriously moving! Have always thought my eye teeth (big pointy fang teeth) look far dingier then the others and there is only so much whitening toothpaste can do.... Still, I don't smoke and I don't drink tea or red wine so they probably could be worse...

Had a quick chat about retainers, they will either be Invisalign retainers or he can glue my teeth together. Quiet extreme but can work very well!

My next appointment is in another 3 weeks when I meet my aligners :-)

The consultation

Well I finally had my first invisalign consultation yesterday and it went really well!

The background: I went through years of dental treatment as a teenager including removeable braces, fixed braces and a head brace (only worn at night thankfully!). I pushed to have the braces off sooner than I probably should have and the retainers were not strong enough to stop my teeth all pushing forwards when my wisdom teeth came through.

Above: My teeth after years of braces

Above: My teeth as they are now

Now: I am mid-twenties and my lovely smile has gone :-( The 'now' photo shows my top front teeth are tilted slightly, one is getting squeezed behind the front one and my eye teeth are so big and chunky they cover up the back ones. My bottom teeth are swinging off to one side and one is tucked behind.

So I made the decision after I got engaged to sort out my teeth. Happened to mention invisalign to my mum who was all for it so I did my research and made some calls. I found a few invisalign providers, one wanted £50 for a 15minute consultation, another wanted £65 for a 30 minute consultation. I carried on researching and found a really good package which was worth travelling for with a free consultation, so I clicked on their contact details and they are based about 40 minute drive away, perfect!

I had to wait 6 weeks for my initial consultation as the orthdontist was away for 2 weeks. He is a platinum elite provider who also is a speaker for invisalign so he must be good!

I was worried my teeth would not be suitable for inviaslign but Dr H has no concerns that I would be refused. I had my x-ray, the impressions done and the various photographs taken. We had a chat about what I wanted and what I wasn't happy with then he gave his opinions.

So now I have an appointment in just under 3 weeks time when hopefully the clincheck video will be ready! I was wondering if there would be a 6 week wait between each stage but its all moving nice and quickly!

The downside to making the decision to straighten my teeth is I am now obessed with looking at everybodys teeth at work, on tv, in the street, its a nightmare! I know I will never have a smile like Julia Roberts but I want one I can be proud of and hope someone might be a little jealous of :-)

So I will post again in 3 weeks when I know more about the treatment plan and how long its all going to take. Till then...