Utterchaos

Long Process About to Start - Cairns, Australia

I was hoping to have new photos to put up but we decided to wait until the next consult in two weeks time. I agree that having the evidence of the changes in front of you is a great incentive to keep those trays in. Sometimes I get fed up with the cleaning ritual several times a day, but it can't go on forever, and it does make you think twice before you put some thing in your mouth!

Just wondering, do you have a permanent retainer in addition to your removable one? Seems that many people end up with a combination of both.

Perhaps appealing to his vanity: How can he expect to be a chick magnet if he can't smile with confidence? Might not be important now but maybe soon... ;) I saw a program recently (Embarrassing Bodies) where they tracked a young guy with terrible oral hygiene and teeth who turned his life around once he had everything corrected: more confidence=better relationships+better job=better life all round. Of couse it is not a magic bullet but it sure helps. As we know, youth is wasted on the young, and 20/20 hindsight is a wonderful thing!

Yes, I have been changing every 7-10 days depending how well the trays are fitting. I don't know if I will be able to stay at that rate, I will be guided by my ortho on that. She is happy with my progress so far having been very sceptical about the device at the outset. I have read that some Acceledent users have found the device useful for alleviating the discomfort of new trays but I can't say I've noticed any difference, not that I've had a great deal of discomfort at any stage. I do feel my trays fit more snuggly at the end of the 20 minute cycle, so I figure they must be working more efficiently. I don't find it intrudes on my daily activity at all as I can still do housework, read the paper, watch TV, check emails etc while I'm using it. I have seen a couple of online articles by practitioners suggesting that the same result can be achieved by the use of an electric toothbrush, but I haven't yet found any journal articles or clinical trials to support this idea. I have found that the electric toothbrush and water jet flosser have improved my overall oral health so perhaps that is the foundation for that recommendation.

Both the orthodontists I saw before commencing treatment included fixed retainers as part of the treatment plan - it seems to be almost the norm now. I think a plastic one for night time will also be required. ams111 - when I started my aligners I bought a little rechargeable water jet flosser which I find great. I am really hopeless at flossing and having to do it several times a day was rather daunting! I have a problem with very fast calculus buildup (something to do with excess minerals in the saliva apparently) and I find it helps a lot. I thought this might be a good option for those areas you're having trouble with around your retainers?