My Invisalign Journey - 2 years, NOT WORTH IT... Getting "real" braces.

(Week 1) I just started my invisalign treatment. I have an overbite, and my lower teeth are arched. My bite is way off so when I chew my bottom teeth will hit the gums behind my front teeth if I'm not careful. If the clincheck animation is correct, this treatmant plan should correct my problems. I have 24 aligners for the top and bottom. It's a 48 week plan not counting any re-finements I may need at the end of the treatment to adjust any existing overbite.

My first week of invisalign went pretty well. The first two days are the definitely the hardest. There was quite a bit of discomfort trying to remove the aligners. Some of the discomfort I'm sure had to do with my technique of removing them. I have a total of nine attatchments, four on the top, five on the bottom. I have fewer attatchments on my left side, top and bottom. I found that the aligners came off easiest by popping off both sides in the back, and then working the aligner off from the left side (fewer attatchments) to my right. You'll have to find the technique that works best for you. By the end of week one I was popping them in and out with ease. I only remove the aligners to eat meals, no snacking. With the brushing and flossing involved after eating, I think you'll find it's too much of a hassle to remove your aligners to snack.

If I want some junk food I'll eat it at meal time. I do drink water throughout the day. My mouth gets a little dry from time to time from wearing these. I've been wearing my aligners for 23 hours a day. (Week 2) Things are going well. My teeth have moved. The aligners are now on the loose side so I know my teeth have shifted. I'm getting so used to wearing the aligners now, I don't think about having them on. Getting them in and out now is a breeze. No one at my work has noticed that I'm wearing them as of yet. Waiting to start my second tray in a few more days.

(Weeks 3 &4) Aligners 2 of 24
The first few days of tray #2 went much better than tray #1 of my treatment. It was much easier to deal with the aligners. My teeth wern't as sore with the aligners in or while removing them. I did run into one problem at the end of the first week with tray #2. My bottom aligner developed a crack while removing it. The crack was behind the last attachment, and it caused my aligner to float a bit over my back two molars. I called my Dentists office the next morning and they ordered a replacement. They advised me to keep using it until the new aligner arrived. I've been wearing the aligners for a month now and wearing them has become routine. The biggest hassle for me is eating out in public, and having to brush and floss in a public restroom. Ready to start tray #3!

(Weeks 5 & 6) Aligners 3 of 24
My third set of aligners were tight to get on the first time. I put them in after dinner (6pm) and kept them in until noon the next day, 18 hours. I removed them for lunch and when I went to put them back in I had a much easier time. My teeth were a little bit sore, especially my bottom teeth. As you can see from my photos and animation, my bottom teeth will be pulled down as well as straightened. So far through my treatment I haven't had the need for Advil or any other product to deal with discomfort. It's really not that bad, and like clockwork after the first few days the discomfort went away.

A week into tray #3 my bottom aligner developed a small crack, and in the same place as my #2 bottom aligner did. I didn't bother calling my Dentist for a replacement. In a few days I'm going to the Dentist for my first scheduled appointment, and to get my next three sets of trays. I've change my removal technique on the bottom aligner and with the new trays I'll see if that will prevent a future crack. Looking forward to seeing some movement over the next six weeks.