Invisalign: Stories

(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.

(Weeks 7 & 8) Aligners 4 of 24
Not much new to report. Tray #4 was a breeze. I've perfected my removal technique, and didn't have any issues with cracking my bottom aligner. I've been wearing my Invisalign aligners for two months now, and wearing them has become the "norm". In fact it feels weird when I have them out. I'm still wearing them about 23 hours a day. Moving on to tray #5. Two months down, nine months to go!

(Weeks 9 &10) Aligners 5 of 24
My teeth are definitely on the move, so much in fact I noticed my bottom teeth will now slightly wiggle. It's a bit unsettling to see your teeth wiggle around when the aligners are out, but it shows that my teeth are moving towards their new positions. My center bottom tooth no longer touches the gums behind my front teeth. It's been pulled down enough so it now has clearance. My bite overall has noticeably improved. So far, so good! Moving on to tray #6 tonight!!

(Weeks 11&12) Trays 6 of 24
Tray six felt very tight going on the first time. I would classify it as an aggressive tray. Lots of pressure on my lower teeth pushing them down. Upper wasn't so bad, just a little tight. Going into week two of the trays, my bottom teeth are still a bit tender. I've been eating everything with a knife and fork, sparing my front teeth any tearing. My front teeth still feel like they are loose, and I'm trying to go easy on them through this process. Three months down, eight months to go. On to tray #7!!

(Weeks 13&14) Trays 7 of 24
Tray #7 was a lot like tray #6, in regards to my lower aligner. Lots of downward pressure on my bottom front teeth. I compared tray #7 to tray #1, and the difference is remarkable. My dentist gives me three trays at a time so I also compared tray #1 to my upcoming tray #9, and I look forward to the upcoming big changes to my bottom teeth.
Recently I was contacted by a member and they asked if my attatchments ever pinched the inside of my mouth when I was eating. In my earlier reviews I never wrote about that. During the first month of my treatment I was having an issue with that. I have an attatchment on my bottom left canine, and often when I'd chew it would pinch the inside of my bottom lip, and quite painful at times. As my bite began to improve over the first month, I stopped biting my lip, and it's no longer an issue.
I also changed my Dentist's "time spent with me" rating to 3 stars because since my treatment started I haven't been examined by him. I've only met with an Asst., who just gives me my next 3 sets of trays. By the time I get through tray #9 it will have been 18 weeks. When I started my treatment I was told all of my appointments were included in the fee, and I assumed appointments meant that my Dentist would be more involved. I'll be sure to ask about this on my next visit. Getting started on tray #8!

(Weeks 15&16) Trays 8 of 24
Not much to report other than my bite continues to change, causing a bit of pressure on my top right molars while eating. I'm sure it's a passing thing.
My next scheduled Dentist appointment is next Wednesday, and I'll be sure to ask to see him, and question his involvement or lack there of, in my treatment. Tonight, tray #9...

(Weeks 17&18) Trays 9 of 24
Now four months into treatment I can see and feel real changes. My upper tray I'd classify as very aggressive. The first time I removed it it felt like I was going to pull out my front teeth. It reminded me of tray #1, but that went away after a few days.
I went to my Dentist appointment to pick up my next four trays to get me through most of the summer. At that time I asked my Invisalign coordinator about my treatment and would my Dentist examine me anytime during my treatment. She responded "not unless I lose an attatchment or have any other problem, that I wouldn't be seeing him on my scheduled tray pickup appointments." I asked about should he be checking the spacing or anything else during the course of my treatment. She assured me as long as my trays are fitting properly every two weeks there's nothing to worry about. "Let the trays do there job, and after I finish tray #21, my Dentist would examine me." "At that point he'll see where I'm at, and decide if I should finish the last three trays or make new molds etc."
I did get to see my last tray #24, and it was very exciting to see all of my teeth straight. We'll see what happens, I've been doing my part. I'm still wearing my trays around 23 hours a day. Keeping the faith and moving on to tray #10!

Weeks 19&20) Trays 10 of 24
I feel my progress is really starting to show. I see and feel real changes. My teeth are still on the loose side. The last few sets of aligners have been what I'd consider aggressive, and are really starting to shift my teeth around. Just a few weeks away from my halfway point. Starting tray #11 tonight!

(Weeks 21&22, 23&24) Trays 11/12 of 24
After a three week vacation and two more trays under my belt my smile is really starting to change. After viewing many vacation photos I'm starting to like what I see, a better smile and straighter teeth! I'm past the halfway point now and almost a week into tray #13!

(Weeks 25&26) Trays 13 of 24
Nothing new to report, just going through the motions week after week. My Invisalign treatment has become so routine it feels normal now. I'm still wearing my trays 23 hours a day. I'm doing my part to have a successful treatment. In my review, under the "was it worth it," I still have "not sure" checked. I'm going to leave it that way in my review until my treatment is complete, and see the final results, and then decide. Now on to tray #14!

(Weeks 27&28) Trays 14 of 24

I still have to be careful while eating. My top and bottom teeth are loose, and it's starting to irritate me. I'm getting to the point where I just want this to be over. Tray 15, here we go...

(Weeks 29&30) Trays 15 of 24
Thirty weeks down, eighteen weeks to go. I went in for a regular cleaning this week and spoke with my Dentist. He examined me and said everything looked like it was on track. He will examine me again at tray # 21 and hopefully no refinements will be needed. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Now on to tray 16....

(Weeks 31&32) Trays 16 of 24
Getting so close now I can taste it. According to my clincheck animation my next three trays, 17, 18, and 19, will conclude the straightening process. The remaining 5 trays will pull my teeth back, and hopefully correct the overjet a bit. We'll see, starting tray 17...

(Weeks 33&34) Trays 17 of 2
I now see a gap for the first time between my right central incisor, and my right lateral incisor. If you look at my start pictures you'll see that the right lateral incisor was turned behind my central incisor. I can now see the whole tooth, which is amazing after being patially hidden for so long. Everything seems to be on track. Next up, tray 18...

(Weeks 35&36) Trays 18 of 24
This set of trays was a breeze. I only had tightness with them for a few days. Most of the straightening has been done. Looks like now I'm just down to minimal movements. With luck the end is near. Tray 19 tomorrow...

(Weeks 37&38) Trays 19 of 24
Two more sets of trays to go before my Dentist evaluates my progress. As of now my left canine tooth sticks out a bit, and my overbite still needs some correction. Now that I'm an Invisalign pro I know that these corrections won't happen with my next two sets of trays. I anticipate getting new molds for refinement trays which at this point I won't mind. I'm nearly 40 weeks into my treatment, what's another few months... Tray 20

(Weeks 39&40) Trays 20 of 24
The last couple of trays were not that aggressive. I don't notice any changes other than my teeth don't feel loose anymore. I'm now moving on to tray 21, my last tray before my Dentist evaluates my progress. I don't anticipate any real changes with this tray either. I believe my initial coarse of treatment has reached the end. Here we go, tray 21...

(Weeks 41&42) Trays 21 of 24
I finished up tray 21 which I feel really didn't do much of anything. I've reached the end of my first coarse of treatment. I met with my Dentist on December 19th for my one and only exam with him during the last 42 weeks. He said my teeth looked fantastic. I don't agree, and I pointed out a few obvious things with my teeth that I wasn't happy with. I told him I'd need refinement trays. I got the feeling he was trying to rush me out of treatment. He had an assistant make molds of my teeth, not for Invisalign, but for my next consultation with him on January 7, 2013. This will provide him a 3D rendering of my teeth. We'll see what happens on the 7th. In the mean time anyone contemplating Invisalign, do yourself a favor and don't have anyone other than an Orthodontist prescribe your treatment plan. Do not use a regular or cosmetic Dentist for your treatment. Big mistake! I moved on to tray 22+. The + trays just tighten up the gaps in your teeth, the straightening part is over.

(Weeks 43&44) Trays 22 of 24
Tray 22 was a (+) tray. It was a bit tight getting on, and definitely lots of inward pressure on my teeth. The pressure lasted for the first week then subsided a bit. I'm waiting for my next consultation on January 7th to discuss future treatment, refinements. I think my teeth are much better from where I started, but I'm not totally happy. I'm not expecting a perfect outcome, I just want to get my teeth looking as good as possible. Tray 23+...

I met with my Dentist on January 7th for my cosultation., He started out by saying he thought both of my arches, upper and lower, looked fine. I told him my concerns regarding my teeth. The lowers I'm pretty much happy with, but they could still use a tweak. The uppers, I want to reduce my overjet as much as possible. He voiced some concerns with the angle of my teeth, and that pulling the upper teeth back will put my teeth at an angle that doesn't follow the bone structure. He said this could lead to stability problems, and possible gum recession. He also mentioned jaw surgery to remove bone, and then pull the upper teeth back. That sounds a bit extreme to me and not an option. Seems like my only two options are to leave my teeth the way they are, or get some IPR to reduce the overjet, and the possible complications that go with that. So far I haven't read anywhere about such problems trying to reduce an overjet with tooth angle and bone structure issues he mentioned. I now go back on January 30th to get my attatchments removed, and they'll make new molds of my teeth either for retainers or if I decide to continue with treatment. I think I'll opt for new molds and a new clincheck to show possible results with IPR, and then make my mind up after that. Stay tuned....

I'm now waiting to start round 2 of my Invisalign treatment. I will have 26 refinement trays, that's right another year of treatment. The new trays will address an open bite problem with my right side molars, lengthening and straightening my upper right lateral tooth, widening my upper arch which will help fix my bite issue, and will also allow my front teeth to be pulled back a bit to reduce my overjet. I will not need any IPR which is fine with me. So for now I'm just waiting on my new trays to come in to get started.

I started with my refinement trays. I have 26 trays and I wear each tray for two weeks. I just finished up on tray #1. 50 more weeks to go, that's right I'm counting. I'm hoping over the next year I get results I can live with. Moving on to refinement tray #2...

(Weeks 3&4) Refinement trays 2 of 26
One thing I've noticed with the first 2 sets of refinement trays and even a few days into the latest tray 3 is that they've not been very aggressive trays. My teeth haven't really been sore when I remove my trays. Usually my teeth are sore when removing a new tray for the first few days, so there seems to be minimal movement going on at this point. Looking at my clincheck it's showing movement so I feel I should be feeling it more. I'll ask my Dentist about it next week when I go in to get 3 new sets of trays.

(Weeks 5&6) Refinement trays 3 of 26
I picked up my next 3 sets of trays from my Dentist's office. Tray #3 fit better than the previous two trays. I told my coordinator about the loose fit I've been having with my trays. I also told her my teeth wern't feeling sore during the first few days of a new tray. She told me if I had the same problem with tray #4, they would probably have to do new molds, and new trays. I'll know in a few days...

(Weeks 7-12) Refinement trays 4,5&6 of 26 I'm now finishing up tray #6 in a few days. Progress seems to be very slow if any at all. I met with my Dentist about a month ago to talk about the fit of my aligners. He thought the fit was fine, but I'm still not very confident in their fit. So far the trays have been easy to pop in and out, even on the first few days. I'm not feeling sore teeth the first few days either on a new tray. I brought up my concerns again to my Invisalign coordinator yesterday when I picked up my next three sets of trays. She scheduled me an appointment to see my Dentist in 6 more weeks, after the next three sets of trays, so he can evaluate my progress and make sure my teeth are on track. Fingers crossed....

Yesterday I moved on to tray #7. I popped in the upper tray and it was floppy loose, not wearable. I immediately called my Dentist's office and they saw me a few hours later. They looked at the tray and finally agreed the trays aren't right. So they took new molds of my teeth and will send those back to Invisalign. The new trays should arrive in a few weeks they said. I'm afraid now that I've wasted 3 1/2 months fooling around with loose fitting trays. We'll see how many trays will be in this mid correction, hopefully not 26. This whole process is getting very frustrating to say the least.