POSTED UNDER Invisalign Reviews
Fixing crowding, severe overbite and minor cross bite- Athens, GA
UPDATED FROM Ceclarlinetlo
1 year post
Attachments are off!
CeclarlinetloJune 11, 2015
WORTH IT$5,800
I got my attachments taken off yesterday. It was quite unpleasant. The sanding off caused a bad smell and a stream of air that made it hard to breathe through my nose. The tool also caught my gums on a few teeth and it hurt a bit and bled a bit. It's nothing that would keep me from doing this over if I had the choice but I am Glad it's over!
They took impressions of my teeth for my retainers and I go back in two weeks to get them. Then I will also get my final pictures and I can post official before and after shots side by side.
They took impressions of my teeth for my retainers and I go back in two weeks to get them. Then I will also get my final pictures and I can post official before and after shots side by side.
UPDATED FROM Ceclarlinetlo
1 year post
Finished with refinement - two weeks until my attachments come off
CeclarlinetloMay 24, 2015
Today is my last day of my last refinement aligners. I am counting down the days until my next appointment (June 10th) when my attachments will come off and I'll start the process for my retainers, and will only have one set of teeth to brush!
Overall the refinement process was not that bad. I only had a few days of discomfort and they were nothing like the pain from when I first started.
I don't know if they changed the way they make aligners since I started treatment or if there is a difference between aligners made to wear for two weeks vs one but I noticed a difference in the aligners themselves - almost like they are more translucent and better constructed. I didn't have any rough edges to sand down and i noticed the bite ramps were different too like the ramp itself was a little larger. Overall the differences I noticed were all improvements.
Overall the refinement process was not that bad. I only had a few days of discomfort and they were nothing like the pain from when I first started.
I don't know if they changed the way they make aligners since I started treatment or if there is a difference between aligners made to wear for two weeks vs one but I noticed a difference in the aligners themselves - almost like they are more translucent and better constructed. I didn't have any rough edges to sand down and i noticed the bite ramps were different too like the ramp itself was a little larger. Overall the differences I noticed were all improvements.
Replies (4)
May 25, 2015
What a difference from start to finish! Well done! I hope my journey goes as well as yours, helps us all to keep going reading reviews like yours. Thank you for posting. ( I am just about to go into tray 11 of 32)
May 25, 2015
Thanks! You'll be done before you know it! I can't believe it's already been a year and a half since I started.
May 25, 2015
That's wonderful!! I'm dreading the need for refinements as my original 38 trays wind down. I am on switching to tray 34 on Thursday, and then I have one more plus 3.over-correction trays (anyone know what purpose they serve?). I think if refinements mean only 1 week per tray, I'll feel a bit less stressed over the possibility. One more thing to ask my provider, lol. Living in the same tray for 8 weeks, though? That's 4 extra regular aligners right there!!!! Oh well, it is what it is, we've come this far, and invested a lot, might as well get everything we can from it. I must say, your results are looking amazing, and it seems to have been worth every little sacrifice.
May 25, 2015
Thanks! I'm not sure what an over correction tray would be used for - my best guess is that they purposefully moved some teeth past where they need to be to make room for other teeth to move and now they are pushing the teeth back to where they should be?
I think wearing my last original tray for 8 weeks was the only thing about this process that really bugs me -but line you said I think overall the results are worth it :)
May 26, 2015
Yeah, m guessing the same thing about those 3 trays. I'll let you know f I get an answer in my next post, lol.
May 28, 2015
You look amazing...what a wonderful smile, you must be very pleased. I'm on tray 3 of 14 so still early days. I'm glad you mentioned that trays vary in tightness as the latest one worried me in that it didn't feel bad at
all. It was good to read your posts and enjoy along with you the fabulous result.
May 29, 2015
Thank you! I would say out of 39 aligners (23 original trays and 16 refinements) 3-4 were extremely painful, 3-4 were painful but bearable, 5 or so were annoying - felt like I had something stuck between my teeth, and the rest didn't feel like anything at all really. I'm glad my review was helpful to you!
June 8, 2015
Amazing results! Looks sooo good! You must be thrilled. By the way, did you notice any changes in the look of your jaw after treatment? I'm wondering if the wider arch of straightened teeth also widens the lower third of the face a bit?
June 10, 2015
Thanks :)
I haven't noticed much change in my jaw - but I guess since the change was over 18 months It might be hard to tell. When I go back in two weeks they are going to take my "after" pictures and I can compare it to my "before" and see if there is a difference or not. I'll include that in my next update.
UPDATED FROM Ceclarlinetlo
1 year post
Starting Refinement
CeclarlinetloFebruary 3, 2015
Overall my appointment today went well - At first I was sad to see that I have 16 trays but then I was happy to learn I will only wear them 1 week a piece rather than two as I did for my first 23 trays. This puts me finishing these trays at the end of May, one month ahead of the time quoted at my initial evaluation.
I had to get an additional attachment but its on a back tooth so it's not seen.
Finally, I have to go back in elastics but only at night and with a lighter elastic.
This first tray is not too uncomfortable so far but I'm anticipating some pain with the elastics. We will just see how it goes.
I have to say I was worried about wearing the same tray for 8 weeks but it held up pretty well. It only got the tiniest bit yellow - I only noticed it in certain lights when I was brushing it - It did not make my teeth look yellow. I was worried it would smell but that didn't happen either. Something I did not anticipate was that It did crack a bit in the bite ramp but it held up fine. A canine tooth almost wore through the tray but it also held up enough for me to make it through the 8 weeks.
I see a light at the end of the tunnel!
I had to get an additional attachment but its on a back tooth so it's not seen.
Finally, I have to go back in elastics but only at night and with a lighter elastic.
This first tray is not too uncomfortable so far but I'm anticipating some pain with the elastics. We will just see how it goes.
I have to say I was worried about wearing the same tray for 8 weeks but it held up pretty well. It only got the tiniest bit yellow - I only noticed it in certain lights when I was brushing it - It did not make my teeth look yellow. I was worried it would smell but that didn't happen either. Something I did not anticipate was that It did crack a bit in the bite ramp but it held up fine. A canine tooth almost wore through the tray but it also held up enough for me to make it through the 8 weeks.
I see a light at the end of the tunnel!
Replies (2)
February 4, 2015
How did you clean the trays for those 8 weeks? Since they held up so well! Congratulations on only having two months to go!!!!
February 4, 2015
I used the same tooth brush and hand soap that I was using before but I brush for a bit longer and really made sure to check tiny crevices for any build up.
February 5, 2015
Cool! Good to know that that was enough :). When I just cleaned my retainers with hand soap and a toothbrush during my move, they got so grimy. But they're also two years old. I have to soak mine in something in order to clean them. I need some new ones!
February 5, 2015
I was wondering about the tray before refinements, I guess 4 weeks is doable. I take it you kept all your original attachments as well?
February 5, 2015
Yes. I had 10 and they just added one more so now I have 6 on top and 5 in bottom.
Replies (1)