POSTED UNDER Invisalign REVIEWS
53 Year Old Female in UK Finally Getting my Teeth Straightened! - United Kingdom
ORIGINAL POST
I'm 53 years old and live in the UK. I've always...
WORTH IT$6,000
I'm 53 years old and live in the UK. I've always hated my teeth which are very crowded and crooked. I've finally plucked up the courage to do something about it and have decided to go ahead with Invisalign.
I first visited my dentist about one month ago to discuss the possibility of having my teeth straightened and she recommended Invisalign. After having my impressions taken I have had to wait until today for my treatment plan to come back from the US and have just seen my dentist to see the pictures.
My dentist wasn't happy with the expected results as my top teeth midline was slightly off to the right on the final outcome so she doing some adjustments to the plan and has suggested an extraction of one of my bottom teeth.
The plan that came back has 49 trays which would mean almost 2 years of treatment not allowing for refinements. I'm perfectly happy to go through this length of treatment if it means I can finally smile without embarrassment but my dentist I'd hoping we can reduce this with the extraction.
I'm waiting for a phone call in a couple of days to see the changes she's made to my plan and hopefully it will only be a couple more weeks before I can start my treatment.
I first visited my dentist about one month ago to discuss the possibility of having my teeth straightened and she recommended Invisalign. After having my impressions taken I have had to wait until today for my treatment plan to come back from the US and have just seen my dentist to see the pictures.
My dentist wasn't happy with the expected results as my top teeth midline was slightly off to the right on the final outcome so she doing some adjustments to the plan and has suggested an extraction of one of my bottom teeth.
The plan that came back has 49 trays which would mean almost 2 years of treatment not allowing for refinements. I'm perfectly happy to go through this length of treatment if it means I can finally smile without embarrassment but my dentist I'd hoping we can reduce this with the extraction.
I'm waiting for a phone call in a couple of days to see the changes she's made to my plan and hopefully it will only be a couple more weeks before I can start my treatment.
UPDATED FROM Cazzieboo
6 days post
Appointment on Wednesday to see my updated pictures.
Just a quick update. I have an appointment on Wednesday to see the changes my dentist has made to my plan. I have found out today that she starts her maternity leave on Friday, baby due mid July and she 's back at work at the end of September. I'm really hoping this isn't going to delay me starting my treatment as I shall be quite depressed if it does. Fingers crossed that another dentist can take over my case until my dentist is back.
Replies (2)
June 9, 2014
I doubt that the maternity leave will delay the start, otherwise she would have said? I went today to my orthodontist to get my attachment out back on, she leaves for maternity in a few weeks. My next appointment is with her colleague but she said that she would be back for my appointment after that. When you go back this week, ask who will start your treatment and review whilst she is out.....I'm sure she has a plan! Good luck with the appointment and let me know what she says!
June 10, 2014
I agree with Nicky.j. Honestly, I hardly ever saw my orthodontist, since most of the time it's just making sure your teeth are tracking with the trays. The major work is done in the fashioning of the treatment plan and manufacturing of the trays. Then you do the heavy lifting with complying with keeping them in your mouth (ie. the hard part). ;). An assistant could do the majority of your appointments. IPR would be an exception but another doctor could do that if necessary. So yeah, just ask :).
UPDATED FROM Cazzieboo
8 days post
Plan finalised and aligners ordered!
I've had my appointment to see my final plan and my dentist and I are very happy with it so I'm going ahead. My aligners have been ordered and my dentist is going to call me when they arrive and arrange an appointment. She's kindly taking time out of her maternity leave as I'm having an extraction, one of my bottom incisors. My plan now consists of 32 trays which I'm very happy about as the original plan was 49 trays. When I'm ready to start tray 3 I'm having my attachments fitted, there are an awful lot of them, almost every tooth and 2 on some. I know this is going to a long journey and I may encounter difficulties along the way, but I'm determined to see it through so I can smile with confidence for the first time in my life.
Replies (11)
June 11, 2014
Congratulations, so exciting! Will you have the extraction just before you put the new tray in? Or do you get that some days before you start with the trays?
June 11, 2014
Hi, I get my first tray on the day of the extraction. My dentist is putting something that looks like a tooth in the tray so the gap isn't so noticeable.
June 12, 2014
Cool! I think they're called pontics--the tooth replacement things, I mean. I've never had a tooth extracted before. Is it going to hurt afterward? Did they say anything?
June 12, 2014
Hi, I had a tooth extracted about 30 years ago and I just remember it being sore for a while afterwards. They didn't mention how it would feel but I imagine I'll have some pain once the anaesthetic has worn off. When I was a child I had to have a few milk teeth extracted due to abscesses and also some of my milk teeth came through with missing enamel and decayed. I think that's the reason I was always scared of visiting the dentist as a teenager and was reluctant to have braces to correct my overcrowding. My Mum wondered if having the problems with my milk teeth was a contributing factor to my crooked and overcrowded adult teeth. Happily all my adult teeth are healthy, I do have a few fillings in my molars but I've had these for well over 30 years and nothing since. I'm just going to keep thinking 'no pain, no gain' and focus on how lovely it will be to have a nice smile!
June 12, 2014
Hi, good luck on your journey! I also had my Invisalign for my 50th birthday, I need 31 trays (so 62 weeks of treatment) and am currently on tray 9. I do think the time has gone quite quickly and find that day to day it's fine. If I have a special event; since starting I have had my birthday celebrations, 2 weddings and a 'Hen' weekend, so have found it a real pain as far as the restricted eating goes. That said, my weight has dropped a fair bit so I look at it that I'm killing two birds with one stone, so to speak. I really don't mind now and have got myself into a good routine. Next week I shall be 1/3 way through. Regarding your extraction, I too had some unpleasant experiences with the dentist and extractions as a child. However, I had a tooth extracted a short while ago and I can honestly say it is not worth worrying about. I felt nothing and had no discomfort at all afterwards. I hope you get on ok and GL.
June 12, 2014
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my update and for your good luck wishes. I'm feeling so positive about my decision to finally do something about my teeth. Please keep me updated with your progress, I wish you good luck too! X
June 13, 2014
Super excited for you! I look forward to hearing that the next step has been successfully taken. :) Good luck!!!!
June 12, 2014
great news! 32 trays is much better! I also had attachments on tray 3..and have two on some teeth too. I can say that they are not as bad as I thought! Obviously, it would be ideal if we didn't have to have the attachments....but as you said think of smiling with confidence at the end of the journey! When is the start date? Are you waiting for your trays to arrive now?
June 12, 2014
Hi, I don't have an exact start date as my dentist is waiting for my first trays to arrive back from the US and then she's going to call me to book an appointment. We're hoping it will be late next week, early the week after. She's taking time out of her maternity leave to see me which I think is really sweet of her and then fitting my attachments the day she starts back.
I've read your update and I'm pleased things are going well for you. I think the not being able to eat and drink thing will be difficult for me too. I never even gave Christmas a thought!
I'll be updating as soon as I've had my extraction and got my first trays, I'm feeling a little apprehensive but positive at the same time. X
June 12, 2014
Good Luck with your treatment! I can really relate to your comment about looking forward to smiling with confidence for the first time! It is so exciting watching the changes that happen! Viewing your Clinicheck video helps a lot, you should try to obtain a copy. Pain and discomfort initially if you get it is short- lived. Looking forward to watching your transformation!
June 12, 2014
Thank you for your good wishes. I'm so excited about starting this process. Good luck with your treatment and please keep in touch so we can compare notes!! X
Replies (8)
I am surprised that your doctor was worried about midline issues, but still suggested removing only one tooth. We have another community member, Henry Z, who had a bottom tooth extracted and will end up with a tooth in the midline. He knew this going in and isn't concerned about it. I just want to make sure that your doctor has shown you how they will avoid the midline issue if only extracting one tooth. It should be obvious on the ClinCheck when the changes are made and they show it to you.
Has your doctor talked to you about AcceleDent at all? Some doctors believe they are capable of shortening your treatment time (basically cutting it in half) but the device itself is expensive, even when bought second-hand. We have a good number of people here on RealSelf who are using it and switch trays once per week instead of every two weeks.
You are definitely not alone in getting your teeth fixed later. A lot of us are going back once we can afford it ourselves and/or are no longer worried about the stigma like we were as children. Here is a list of some of our older Invisaligners, but just some of them, because we're the fastest growing group of Invisaligners, so there are a lot of us ;).
MsKityCity is almost done. She's in her 60s and has had a very smooth treatment.
shawnward is 52 and about a month into treatment.
adam1995 is the same age as you, but also had braces before (in high school).
humbleoracle just started Invisalign not too long ago for her 50th birthday :D.
Gwenifer started about the same time and is 55.
knitsew is our newest just before you and is 57.
I hope you find great support in the community, and I look forward to following your progress!!! Please do keep us posted :D.
I'm so excited for you, that you are going to get to do this! The changes you will see will be truly dramatic and inspiring, and your dental hygiene will get so much easier! I can't wait to follow your journey!!!!