Well, when I took out my top aligner last night I noticed there was a crack in it. I would have been more concerned but I am supposed to change aligners in 4 days so I just decided to change them today since my Ortho was so pleased with my progress this morning.
I forgot how tight these things are at the beginning. I was prepared to go through the same thing as I went through when I put my first set on, but so far no problems. I'm taking some motrin just to stay ahead of any pain. Right now I can feel slight aching in my jaws, but it isn't that bad.
We'll see if it stays that way. It took at least a day until I started getting uncomfortable last time. I have my next appointment in mid July and was told yesterday that I'd have to get some more filing done at that time. Not looking forward to that!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Week and a half in . . .
Well, I knew it wouldn't be a joy ride! The first week was rough. Although I had little to no tooth pain, the insides of my mouth were pretty ripped up from the button attachments (when I'd take off my aligner to eat) and from the bottom of the lower aligner catching under my tongue when I spoke.
After a visit with my ortho for one of the buttons that fell off the first time I removed the lower aligner we decided to give my mouth a chance to heal from the lower aligner. We decided to do a 12 hr on / 12 hr off deal and only wear it when I wouldn't be talking (which was only when I was sleeping of course). After only one day of doing this, I was fine to wear it full time again.
Now, I have no issues of pain or discomfort. If I have them off for more than 1 hr to eat I can tell there is tighness when I put them back on. The biggest challenge, if you would call it a challenge, is the life style change. I have to brush my teeth 3-4 times a day. Not that this is a bad thing, just incovenient sometimes (esp. when the only option is a yucky bathroom, in those cases I just get water, from another place other than the gross bathroom, and swish a lot! :)
I change to my next set of aligners in 1 1/2 weeks. Stay tuned!
After a visit with my ortho for one of the buttons that fell off the first time I removed the lower aligner we decided to give my mouth a chance to heal from the lower aligner. We decided to do a 12 hr on / 12 hr off deal and only wear it when I wouldn't be talking (which was only when I was sleeping of course). After only one day of doing this, I was fine to wear it full time again.
Now, I have no issues of pain or discomfort. If I have them off for more than 1 hr to eat I can tell there is tighness when I put them back on. The biggest challenge, if you would call it a challenge, is the life style change. I have to brush my teeth 3-4 times a day. Not that this is a bad thing, just incovenient sometimes (esp. when the only option is a yucky bathroom, in those cases I just get water, from another place other than the gross bathroom, and swish a lot! :)
I change to my next set of aligners in 1 1/2 weeks. Stay tuned!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Got 'em Today
Well, not so bad. The process took a little over an hour. They had to put on 7 attachments and file/sand in 7 areas between teeth to make room for the movement. I immediately felt the trays pushing and pulling on my teeth, but it didn't hurt. The most uncomfortable part of the process was the adding of the attachments because they had to use the lip spreader device and my jaws and muscles in my cheeks started getting tired.
I've been wearing them for 6 hours now. We had trouble with one of the attachments staying when I was at the orthodontist and it fell off when I removed the trays for lunch. No big deal, I just made an appt. to go back on Wed. to get it re attached. It was difficult to remove them for lunch, but that should get easier. My lips and cheeks are a little scraped up and raw from the trays and the attachments which rubbed during lunch so I picked up some orajel mouth sore mouth rinse to help out. I took some motrin before I went and then again this afternoon. Other than some tightness, I'm doing great.The amazing thing was that I could already feel a difference in my bite because the teeth are moving. Pretty cool.
The greatest part of all of this was that the receptionist at the orthodontist made a comment that they'd give me a call when my trays came in. She didn't even realize I had them in! I then went to a music class with my kids and sang with them, then to a Bible Study where I read to the class. NOBODY noticed and I told them that I'd have them today. I didn't say anything. We'll see how long it takes. Can you tell? Too cool.
I've been wearing them for 6 hours now. We had trouble with one of the attachments staying when I was at the orthodontist and it fell off when I removed the trays for lunch. No big deal, I just made an appt. to go back on Wed. to get it re attached. It was difficult to remove them for lunch, but that should get easier. My lips and cheeks are a little scraped up and raw from the trays and the attachments which rubbed during lunch so I picked up some orajel mouth sore mouth rinse to help out. I took some motrin before I went and then again this afternoon. Other than some tightness, I'm doing great.The amazing thing was that I could already feel a difference in my bite because the teeth are moving. Pretty cool.
The greatest part of all of this was that the receptionist at the orthodontist made a comment that they'd give me a call when my trays came in. She didn't even realize I had them in! I then went to a music class with my kids and sang with them, then to a Bible Study where I read to the class. NOBODY noticed and I told them that I'd have them today. I didn't say anything. We'll see how long it takes. Can you tell? Too cool.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
3 Days Left
It's almost time to get my Invisalign. I am SOOO excited, but am getting a little nervous as the date gets closer. I have NO idea what this experience will be like, other
than to read other blogs. That is the main reason I am choosing to blog this experience. I've gotten a lot of encouragement by reading other peoples' experience and hope I can do the same. The picture I'm including is the ever attractive picture of my teeth as they are today. Many don't think they are bad, but I've looked at them for the last 33 years and I'm ready to have them Straightened Out!
than to read other blogs. That is the main reason I am choosing to blog this experience. I've gotten a lot of encouragement by reading other peoples' experience and hope I can do the same. The picture I'm including is the ever attractive picture of my teeth as they are today. Many don't think they are bad, but I've looked at them for the last 33 years and I'm ready to have them Straightened Out!
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