I always wanted to fix my smile. I'm a professional and do a lot of public speaking; could not do metal braces --- even the tooth colored ones. So, my bottom teeth have always been fairly straight for never had them corrected as a youth. My upper-teeth have had some issues: I have always had a misaligned midline --- I think my jaw has grown a bit asymmetrical. When I bite down my jaw naturally goes to my left. My two upper-center teeth have always had a gap. My upper canine teeth grew over crowded next to their incisors and are slightly behind them. My premolars at the top before my actual molars are both rotated a full 90° (I may need an assistant bracket to turn those two premolars 90°) So, I have 6 buttons along the bottom and 5 along the top. My teeth are very tender and there's a pretty consistent dull "throb." It has gotten better since day one. I got them early Wed. morning so I consider this day 3 (Friday). I have a blister under the left side of my tongue from the bottom of the tray. I finally picked up an Emory board and did some filing while the trays were out during dinner. Better, but will need a bit more filing. My last 2 days has consisted of breakfast, drinking a smoothing for lunch so I don't have to take them out, and dinner. I'm starving by the time dinner is served. Sure I will lose weight on this. Tonight I was really looking forward to taking a break from the Invisalign. They're not hurting as much as they were, just a dull annoying throbbing. It's hard to sit still. I set my timer on my phone for a full hour to take a break this evening from the trays --- and boy did I take advantage: enjoyed a glas or two of wine. I've used Ambesol for the blister under the tongue. It helped. I'm keeping my trays clean with toothpaste and a soft toothbrush. They've seemed to come clean pretty easy --- I clean the inside and the outside of them. There is a…smell developing. Can't say its a bad smell, but it's not a pleasant smell. May try washing them in anti-bacterial soap tomorrow. I only drink water throughout the day and a smoothie for lunch w/a straw. With this 1st set of trays my two top center teeth are touching for the 1st time since I had my baby teeth: that's nearly 30 years. Very happy. I thought sleeping with something in my mouth would be challenging, but I sleep curiously well. I somehow ignore the throb while sleeping. The 1st day the trays were in was the toughest. I was salivating like I was going to gag, but never did. It felt like I had someone else's teeth in my mouth and it was hard to close my mouth b/c of my back teeth rubbing. I've had a slight lisp but it's gotten better. The blister made it laborious to talk so I choose not to. I had a pretty bad headache the 1st night that Advil didn't relieve. Looking forward to tomorrow (they say it gets better after the 1st 3 days). Overall, I'm glad I'm doing this. It will be worth it. It's just annoying right now due to the constant deliberate tugging of 11 teeth with all the buttons. Updated on 30 Mar 2015: Updated on 30 Mar 2015: So, I made it through the weekend and let me tell you what: the emory board was my best friend. Literally, LITERALLY made an overnight difference once I knew what I was doing. First I took care of the 1st edge that caused the blister and then after about 3 more filing sessions I was able to fine-tune the little nuances I didn't notice before b/c of the egregious edge causing the blister. I can't express enough how much the emory board really was a game changer. So, yeah, I noticed that I was missing two attachments and am scheduled Wed. morning to go back in and replace. I'm getting pretty use to the trays now. Sometimes I do, sorta', forget about them. Much easier to talk now especially since all of the blisters have healed. Any sort of speech impediment is greatly diminished. Only gets tedious to talk when I'm speaking for a long period of time b/c my mouth begins to dry out. Speaking of mouth drying out, the biggest annoyance now is how dry my mouth feels. Think I'll try some Biotine and see if that makes a difference. It's mostly the driest where the trays are pressed up against the inside of my cheeks and around my lips. I guess we don't realize how much moisture gets around our teeth and keeps our inner-cheeks wet until we put a plastic cap over our teeth. It's getting pretty easy to take the trays on and off --- don't know if missing two attachments is aiding in ease of removal --- although the bottom trays are the hardest to get out b/c it's just hard to get your hands in your mouth to remove off of your back molar as suggested on the bottom. Looking forward to my next tray, but that's still over a week away. Just ready to move on (I have to wear mine 14 days at a time). My routine is still trays out in the morning for breakfast, coffee and cleaning. Smoothie during the day. Out for a full hour for dinner time and relaxing (and wine). Wearing the trays for at least 22 hours, if not a bit longer. Had my 1st restaurant experience over the weekend; just brought my case, kept dental floss and an… inter dermal brush (I think that's what it is called) brush in case and no problems. Just took them back out that night for quick cleaning. Cleaning still consists of brushing my own teeth, mouthwash, floss, brushing each tray inside and out individually and popping each one in after each is freshly cleaned. No staining. No bio-film. Maintenance is pretty easy. The smell, again, isn't' a bad smell or a good smell --- neutral I'd say. The only way I can describe it is perhaps a "wet" smell after they've been sitting in the tray for nearly an hour. I don't believe they smell while they're in my mouth or when I take them out; just after they've been sitting for about an hour. Teeth are only tender when I 1st pop them after being out for a bit and I still notice tenderness when I bite in to something. After they've been in for some time I tend not to notice much pain or discomfort. If I'm adapting this fast I can see why people around tray 12 (about half way through) report they don't notice them anymore and they almost become apart of you. Not there yet, but of course, this is only tray 1 and the end of day 6. We'll see how I feel after I get my missing attachments replaced. Updated on 4 Apr 2015: So, I woke this morning (Saturday morning [day 10]) and I made an, errr, executive decision: I popped tray 2 in this morning 4 days early. I'm sure that many would say, "don't do it," but here is why I did it: I had my missing attachments put back on 3 days ago and there was no additional discomfort. I've acclimated to my trays very much. My lisp has completely disappeared. All mouth blisters and discomfort have vanished. I already forget that they are in (and no one has noticed I have them yet unless I tell them) and my teeth were not sore anymore with the trays in, with the trays out nor while eating. I did it b/c I've read so many reviews on here where the wearer contacted their orthodontist and it was recommended to switch the trays from every 14 days to every 10 days if the process was going really well. I would have --- I really would have --- contacted the ortho to get his blessing first, but it's Easter weekend and no one was in the office. So, I'm going to call the office Monday morning and tell them what I've done (It's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is for permission, yeah?). Then I'm going to ask them to release tray 3 to me so that I'll be able to switch before my 4-week check-in on day 20. So, seriously, everything is going really well. Been reading a lot about this Acceledent and will ask about that too. I'm a very impatient, results driven person and if I can get this done in half the time I'm all about that. The new trays are tight, but fit extremely well. No soreness yet, but we'll see what tomorrow and the next day brings. My old trays held up very well. No discoloring, no bio-film. Very low maintenance and easy to clean. Wore the 1st set of trays for 22+ hours easily every day; got a little lax last night and may have had them out for about 3 - 3.5 hours while I drank too much wine. ;) Only thing I have to complain about is the acid etching the ortho did on my tooth to reattach the missing buttons left a serious canker sore in my mouth; haven't had one of these in over 15 years. Doing some salt-water rinses to help the healing and dabbing Anbesol on there to dull the sting. No, it's not from the liners; the sore is too far down on the gum where it attaches to the inside of my cheek and the liners are no where near the sore nor my gums themselves. I'll update on the Orthodontist's thoughts on my decision when I get in touch with them on Monday. Updated on 12 Apr 2015: So, my Orthodontist gave me his blessing to switch trays every 10 days and he released tray 3 to me. I have today and tomorrow in this tray and on to tray 3; this tray is starting to feel "loose." I'm pretty comfortable in my trays now. I hardly notice that they're there most of the time. The emory board is still my best friend as I've had to soften the edges on this tray twice. I noticed that over time the trays almost begin to curl a bit with wear. I don't know if it's due to the stress on the trays or if they're not pulled as taut as the teeth begin to move and that causes it, but it happens. My routine is still pretty solid. Out in the morning for breakfast and coffee and back out at night for dinner and relaxation. During the day I still do my smoothies and I even have an occasional Diet Coke. No discoloration, no bio-film and no smells. My routine when I take them out is I rinse them in water when I first take them out and put them in their tray. When I'm ready for them to go back in I brush my teeth, floss, mouthwash and then I brush each tray, inside and out, individually with a toothbrush and toothpaste (Colgate Total) and then I pop them back in. I haven't had to use and soap or antibacterial soap on these. My attachments have stayed put this time and I have the hang of getting my trays in and out without putting much stress on the buttons. The only thing that I noticed, this morning actually, is this: on my top central incisors (my two upper front teeth) my left tooth has two buttons and my right one has none. I would expect that my left tooth could be sore, but this morning my right tooth was very tender --- and kind of late in this tray I might add. So, I find that odd. I'll monitor as it goes on, but I only feel it when the trays are off and not when they're on. I would guess that it's probably tray/tooth movement related. I'll post some pics side by side of my brand new tray 3 next to my 10-day old tray 2 for any discoloration and wear and comparison. Updated on 14 Apr 2015: So, I wanted to post this due to the concern of discoloring, bio-film and scratching caused by toothpaste (I clean them 2-3 times a day with toothpaste and nothing else), eating, drinking and wear. The pics below are this: Trays in blue and my 3rd trays literally out of the package and never worn before. Trays in red are tray 2 and are literally…right out of my mouth after 10 days of usage. I didn't even brush them yet in this pic before putting them away for storage (I did rinse them in running water though for this pic). You can see that there is little to no discoloring and are nearly indistinguishable between the two. I drink a smoothie every day with my trays in and a diet coke, or two, with my trays in. Also, I did communion with grape juice for Easter with my trays in. No issues. No worries. Updated on 14 Apr 2015: Wanted to update photos: This is only 20 days in and the beginning of tray 3 (day 1); very excited the way my upper center bicuspids touch already. Did some filing before I put the new tray in, but will need some more softening; it's the usual spots. Many people complain about having to refine their trays at home, but you have to remember that you're introducing a hard, rigid device inside of an area that's always been a wet, soft tissue area. Considering the technology, it's pretty impressive to me and I respect the whole process. Updated on 24 Apr 2015: After reading other reviews of using "chewies" instinct told me to order some off of Amazon and boy I'm glad I did. When I popped tray 4 in this morning I almost panicked b/c it wouldn't stay on my upper-right molars…then I remembered my chewies and I wish I had been using these since the beginning for all my trays. Not only are my trays holding tight now, but probably tightest it's been since my 1st tray. I KNOW my teeth will be sore tomorrow. Here is my latest pic of what tray 4 looks like after chewing on a "chewie." 4-week checkup went well. Don't need to come back until 7 weeks. Orthodontist will look in to Acceledent and he gave me trays 4 - 9. Still same routine. Only cleaning with Colgate Total and a toothbrush. Pre-emptively filed them before putting them in and no issues so far. Order some chewies! Updated on 25 Apr 2015: …for real. Couple of things: First, on my upper-right, 1st molar there is a notch that is factory cut out on the tray. When I pulled my tray out last night --- the ones that didn't go in so well in the morning --- I noticed that the part that should have been cut out from the factory wasn't fully detached from the liner and was folded inside the tray when I inserted the tray in my mouth. So, I think my tray didn't fit just right due to the extra piece of plastic folded between my tooth and the liner. That chewie sure did it's job though; chewing on my chewie pressed that piece pretty smooth. I took a pair of cuticle scissors after discovering the extra piece of plastic, and confirming that it didn't belong by looking at my next set of trays, and cut the rest of it out and it's a better fit today. Still using the chewie too. Still highly recommend the chewie. Teeth are not as sore as I thought they'd be, but definitely the tightest pair since the 1st tray --- I think the chewie helps to seat them very well. Also, before Invisalign, my left upper lateral incisor was slightly behind its lower counterpart (as can be seen in my first photo I posted [on the right in the photo]) and now they are moving those teeth apparently b/c they are lined up perfectly above each other right now and when I'm eating with my liners out (not that I ever eat with them in) they will hit each other and the sensation sends cold chills up my spine. Not cool, but worth it to see movement. The tray feels more foreign than the last two, but is doable (again, could be due to the chewies). I did develop something unexpected though --- another blister under my tongue like day 1, tray 1 ---- even after I filed them twice for comfort. Actually had to use Anbesol today. I've taken the emory board to the trays three times now for "refinements" in less than two days. Back to the flossing, definitely a lot of movement, I have spaces between teeth now that were never there before. Can't wait to begin to see where they all land eventually. I'm impatient, but it's exciting to see so much progress in only 1 month and I still have 11 to go. They did mention at the orthodontist's office, not the doctor himself though, that I may have more buttons attached or adjusted on my next visit in 7 weeks to begin getting them to " really adjust." Not sure where additional buttons would go as I already have 12 --- I had apparently already lost one the 1st day when I did the original count and it is indeed 12 --- and all of the factory notches in the trays are filled with attachments. She must mean adjustments(?). Another assistant told me that they may need more molds on the next visit before I get to the brackets for my 1 upper pre-molars. Who knows. Updated on 4 May 2015: All is well and nothing unusual. Waiting for my Acceledent from my ortho to arrive. Updated on 6 May 2015: This is me with Acceledent in. Pretty uneventful. Loving the reviews on it from everything that I've read on the net. Tray 5 has been very achy so Acceledent couldn't have come at a better time. B/c of Acceledent I was given two more trays and by tray 11 some serious things are happening - I told my self I wouldn't look ahead, but I can't help it now. Very exciting to know that my teeth will be there by the time I get to my next visit. Updated on 12 May 2015: Seriously, Acceledent is the bomb. Tray 6, Day 2, and there's no soreness or discomfort. What else can I attribute my comfort level but Acceledent? It's the only thing different. I'm about 36 hours in to this tray and they're as comfortable as trays that are near their end. I will stick with this tray the full 7 days, but I very much think I can be changing trays every 5 days if they're this comfortable now. Updated on 18 May 2015: …very tight. Teeth were sore this morning (changed last night before bed). Changed tray 6 after 7 days of Acceledent. They felt loose and ready to go. Can't wait to see what Acceledent does for these trays being that they are so tight Chewies, emery boards & Acceledent is my winning trio. Updated on 20 May 2015: Seriously, my teeth were shaved down without me even knowing it was going to happen today when I woke up. I went in to pay my bill for May due to me not having an appointment this month and I started chatting with my Ortho. I mentioned that with Acceledent I think I can switch trays every 5 days to which he says, "Go for it." I told him that I'd need more trays to get through to my next appointment with the earlier switch out. He went to the back and came back and apparently tray 12 has my IPR done in those trays. So, he asked if I had a few minutes to get in the chair, and I did, so he made 7 IPR refinements to my lower teeth. For those that say IPR doesn't hurt I have to beg the differ. He used a sanding wheel and it drove the nerves in my teeth crazy from the vibration. Wouldn't say "painful," but extremely unpleasant. After it was all said and done I had an additional 4 trays to take home with me. I'll be on tray 15 before my next appointment in late Jun. That's pretty incredible being that I just started in May. Acceledent is the bomb. So, the punchline is that I got my IPR done a bit early due to Acceledent. My teeth were a little achy after the IPR so I use Acceledent a 2nd time tonight. I already use it twice on the days I switch trays --- once in the morning on the old trays and then again at night after I switch to the new tray before bed. I'm a pro at this. I've read that using it twice doesn't increase the time, but it feels like it does for me; maybe it's just a placebo effect? Updated on 29 May 2015: I'm already half way through tray 9 and I started in March thanks to Acceledent. It's funny saying that I'm "half way through," when it's olny day 2 of tray 9, but I'm changing them ever 5 days with no problem. My bite is definitely changing. My teeth look better with the trays in than without. Acceledent is worth every penny. I didn't take any photos of tray 8 b/c I went out of town for Memorial Day weekend and I went through that tray in the blink of an eye. Not even filing the trays anymore; right out of the pouch and in. The lighting in this parking garage is poorly lit; swear my teeth aren't this yellow. Updated on 1 Jun 2015: Just changed to tray 10 and did Acceledent. Everything is all good. Haven't had any pain or issues since doing Acceledent and going through trays every 5 days. My bite is changing as you can see how much my midline is lining up. I'll update more on these trays if any bring unusual happens. Updated on 8 Jun 2015: Every time I put in a new tray after only 5 days I think to myself, "this one…this is the one where my teeth say, 'no more.'" But, they don't. My trays feels loose and my teeth are not sore by the 5th night. I change them after dinner to give them around the 11 - 12 hours of solid wear before breakfast. The back molars don't seat very well on the new trays, but I chew on my "chewie," (buy chewies!) for about a half hour and then they seat nice and snug. I do Acceledent on the new trays before bed and Acceledent again in the morning. I'm on night number 2 of tray 11 and already these feel comfortable. This tray is making some serious changes though: teeth that were rubbing while chewing are now past each other. My bite is changing. I feel teeth connecting when I close my mouth that I've never felt before. My teeth are starting to look different with the trays out as well as in (something I was getting a little concerned about). Well pleased. Looking forward to my ortho appointment later this month. Hopefully I get the bonding on my rotated pre-molars to attach rubber bands to begin turning those 90° while also pulling my canine teeth from behind the bicuspids. Fingers crossed. Updated on 12 Jun 2015: Updated on 12 Jun 2015: Switched to Tray 12 and they went in curiously well. There is something different about these trays than the previous 11; tray 12 has slits cut out on the back end of my 1st premolar and on the front of my canine teeth. I am assuming that this is where my bonding should go? Tried to take a pic but it doesn't show up. I hope tray 13 & 14 (14 is the tray I'll be on when I go to the Ortho on June 24th) aren't expecting major changes in these teeth without the bonding and the rubber bands. There is some front tooth soreness today and, dammit, the two teeth that would scrape each other in tray 10, and seemed like it was corrected in tray 11, are doing it again in tray 12 (grrrr). It is an unpleasant sensation, to say the least. Acceledent is still my hero. Haven't had to file a tray for a few trays now. No blisters, no soreness. All good. Updated on 20 Jun 2015: Still going… Updated on 25 Jun 2015: I went to my orthodontist appointment and things went well…really well. As I suspected, I should have has the rubber bands since tray 12. My orthodontist was so impressed at the way my canine teeth and 1st molars are moving without the rubber bands that he decided to leave them off and see where this takes me. He said my trays are still fitting perfectly and he believes it's the Acceledent that's promoting the movement so well. He gave me trays 16 - 22 and I have another appointment Aug. 12th. Of course I checked out tray 22 and my canine teeth are nearly in place and my molars are almost completely rotated in to their correct position. I can't believe how much I'm able to get down is such short time between 4 orthodontist appointments. This tray has left my front teeth pretty sore b/c he said he was moving the teeth twice as fast with the anticipation of having rubber bands. Said if I feel like my teeth aren't ready to change give it an extra day; just listen to my body. I'm pretty pleased. Updated on 28 Jun 2015: Still going. Teeth sore, but not as bad as the last tray. Still seating really well. Changed to the 15th tray on the 5th day as usual. Al good. Updated on 18 Jul 2015: Still chugging along. You can see that without the rubber bands my canine teeth are sitting towards that back of the tray, but are making the movement with each new tray. Using Acceledent, of course. Still changing every 5 days. You can see that my canine teeth are moving forward and from behind the bicuspid teeth. Also, the 1st premolars are beginning to rotate without any rubber band assistance nicely. They've always been rotated 90° my whole life. Seeing them coming in to their correct position is exciting. Went to my semi-annual cleaning last weekend and my hygienist had nothing but good things to say about my teeth and my gums. The dentist also inspected my teeth and said everything really looks great. So, 2nd and 3rd opinions look great. More than halfway through my 1st order and looking forward to my August visit.
