POSTED UNDER Invisalign REVIEWS
Gaps and Missing Lateral Incisors.
ORIGINAL POST
April 5, 2015: I'm getting my first set of trays...
$5,200
April 5, 2015:
I'm getting my first set of trays in less than 2 days. I'm both super excited and really nervous. We will see how it goes I guess! I'm mostly nervous because I am a HUGE snacker and I'm also nervous about going out to the bar every now and then and wanting to have some drinks. I think it is going to be a hassle, but I also think that it may be worth it.
Here is the story about my teeth... I've always had gaps as long as I can remember, partly because of bottle rot when I was little and partly because I wasn't born with my lateral incisors. I have multiple gaps and I've always hated them! When I was a teenager I REALLY wanted to get my teeth aligned, but my mom couldn't afford it because she was a single parent. As I grew, my gaps got smaller... but they are still too big! After my early teens I became pretty comfortable in my own skin and haven't felt the need to align my teeth until recently. I have finally graduated and have a good career, thus can afford them on my own, so why not! The main reason I decided to go through with it is when I was talking with my boyfriend about getting my teeth aligned and making appointments etc we ended up going to meet a couple of his friends that I have never met. When he introduced me to them, I didn't smile my big comfortable smile. Instead, I just smiled with my lips and didn't show my teeth. It was at that moment that I realized I have more of a complex than I thought I did. So here I am writing this and drinking chocolate milk :).
My treatment is going to take about 2 years. My two front teeth are going to be moved together and then the rest of my teeth are going to be moved back to make room for 2 fake teeth where my lateral incisors are supposed to be. I have a few options after the alignment process with the lateral incisors. We don't know if I am going to have enough room for implants (which is the best option) when the process is finished. If there isn't enough room then my other option is a Maryland bridge. During treatment, after my teeth have moved enough to have some room for fake teeth, my trays will have pontic teeth in them to fill the gaps. I'm really stoked about the pontic teeth, because I think that it will change my smile a lot. It's estimated between 6-10 weeks to have the first tray with pontics in them.
I'll try and update regulary on here. Especially since everyone's updates have REALLY helped me in the starting process of Invisalign.
I'm getting my first set of trays in less than 2 days. I'm both super excited and really nervous. We will see how it goes I guess! I'm mostly nervous because I am a HUGE snacker and I'm also nervous about going out to the bar every now and then and wanting to have some drinks. I think it is going to be a hassle, but I also think that it may be worth it.
Here is the story about my teeth... I've always had gaps as long as I can remember, partly because of bottle rot when I was little and partly because I wasn't born with my lateral incisors. I have multiple gaps and I've always hated them! When I was a teenager I REALLY wanted to get my teeth aligned, but my mom couldn't afford it because she was a single parent. As I grew, my gaps got smaller... but they are still too big! After my early teens I became pretty comfortable in my own skin and haven't felt the need to align my teeth until recently. I have finally graduated and have a good career, thus can afford them on my own, so why not! The main reason I decided to go through with it is when I was talking with my boyfriend about getting my teeth aligned and making appointments etc we ended up going to meet a couple of his friends that I have never met. When he introduced me to them, I didn't smile my big comfortable smile. Instead, I just smiled with my lips and didn't show my teeth. It was at that moment that I realized I have more of a complex than I thought I did. So here I am writing this and drinking chocolate milk :).
My treatment is going to take about 2 years. My two front teeth are going to be moved together and then the rest of my teeth are going to be moved back to make room for 2 fake teeth where my lateral incisors are supposed to be. I have a few options after the alignment process with the lateral incisors. We don't know if I am going to have enough room for implants (which is the best option) when the process is finished. If there isn't enough room then my other option is a Maryland bridge. During treatment, after my teeth have moved enough to have some room for fake teeth, my trays will have pontic teeth in them to fill the gaps. I'm really stoked about the pontic teeth, because I think that it will change my smile a lot. It's estimated between 6-10 weeks to have the first tray with pontics in them.
I'll try and update regulary on here. Especially since everyone's updates have REALLY helped me in the starting process of Invisalign.
Replies (11)
April 6, 2015
Hello my no lateral incisors sister! I just started wearing my 1st invisalign aligner on March 9th, so Im just a little ahead of you. Having the aligners definitely cuts down on my snacking. When I think about a snack lately, I ask myself if its worth all the dental hygiene that follows for a quick snack and usually the answer is no. I have gone out for drinks since treatment started and Ive been drinking clear drinks that don't stain, like flavored Vodka on ice (Pineapple, mmm)
April 7, 2015
Hey there! It's nice to know that people have the same issues as me with my gappy and missing teeth lol. I was thinking maybe I'd do some gin and tonic or vodka and tonic when I go out. I was told to avoid sugar in the clear liquid so I'll try my best. Do you have any issues with sores in your mouth yet?
April 8, 2015
No. No sores. . But my lips get really dry and chapped and my mouth always feels dry. Im trying to drink more water, maybe those issues will go away.
I had my one month visit today. I got 14 attachments and elastics. . I'm not happy about that. I feel like everything is way more noticeable now.
April 8, 2015
Yay for no sore! And Oh no! I definitely understand. But we are our own worst critic... I bet other's arent even noticing. I remember talking to a couple co workers about getting invisalign... They didnt even realize my teeth were as jacked up as they are. I'll be getting attachments at my 1 month visit also! So I will feel your pain. I'm not sure elastics are in my treatment plan though. Are those something you wear all the time? And for how long?
April 9, 2015
I have to wear the elastics all the time, or whenever I have my trays in, which is pretty much all the time and he estimates that I'll have to wear them for the rest of my treatment. The elastics are used to correct my underbite. Maybe u wont need them if there is nothing wrong with your bite.
The attachments are now irritating the insides of my lips, especially the bottom. I see what you mean about the sores, but still no sores yet. I read in another review that putting dental wax on the attachments helps with the irritation, I gotta figure out where to get some.
October 9, 2016
Hi. I was wondering what was the full cost of your treatment? My Mandibular teeth are perfectly straight and no gaps but I'm also missing my lateral incisors.
I hate my smile and want it fixed but I'm afraid I can't afford it...
I hate my smile and want it fixed but I'm afraid I can't afford it...
October 11, 2016
Just the Invisalign was about 5500, but dental implant surgery is way more than that.
UPDATED FROM priscillab815
2 days post
Got the first set of trays on today!
Soooo, I got my trays in. They feel sooooo weird, but I'm sure that is something I'll get used to. I feel like my mouth is someone else's mouth lol. My bite feels funny because my teeth don't touch and my speech is a little off as well. But all in all, I'm super excited that the process has started! I'm just waiting for the soreness to kick in... I probably won't be as enthusiastic about it by then. The appearance isn't so bad. You can barely tell that I have these foreign objects on my teeth. We will see the difference with that when I get my 3 attachments in a month! ;)
UPDATED FROM priscillab815
17 days post
So went to put on tray 2...
Yeah so I was all excited to put my second set of trays in yesterday and guess what? My top tray doesn't fit the front part of my mouth. It is literally falling off of my teeth and is snug in the back. It's very noticeable and is soooo much over hang. I made an appointment with my orthodontist for today and he was stumped, as well as his whole staff on why my 2nd tray was fitting so terribly. My ortho felt that maybe there was a glitch in the Invisalign system between tray 1 and tray 2. He even tried tray 3 and it was even worse than the 2nd. They rescanned my top teeth and took pictures of how the tray looked in my mouth and are expediting it to Invisalign to see what the deal is. In the mean time I am wearing tray 2 on the bottom and good ol tray 1 on the top. I'm so discouraged about all of this. I was supposed to be getting my 6th tray right before my trip over seas in June and in that tray is my Pontic teeth that will fill my gaps. I hope my ortho is going to work diligently to get me in the trays with pontics before I leave, but only time will tell. I should know something within the next couple weeks. Has this ever happened to anyone before?
Replies (15)
April 30, 2015
Hey! Can't wait to continue reading your journey. I am missing my left upper lateral and have your same issue of gaps. I have damon braces though not invisalign, good luck! Hope you get this tray thing sorted out soon!!
April 30, 2015
Smoothielover, how is your process going so far? What are your plans for the missing laterals?
May 1, 2015
I've had my braces for 2 months. My next appointment is on May 19, where I will be getting the pontic on my braces. I am only missing one lateral which I would like to get an implant for afterwards, I haven't looked too much into it yet, the cost alone makes me not think about that yet lol
May 1, 2015
Haha yes implants are soooo expensive! If I have enough room I may get the 2 implants, but I need 10-12mm of space and I dont know if I'll have that when my treatment is done. We shall see! If not there are always other options like a Maryland Bridge :)
April 30, 2015
I've never heard of anything like that. . mostly trays that need a little filing. Maybe you can change your tray every 10 days and catch up once the new trays are in.
April 30, 2015
Hopefully we will speed up the process like you said and maybe wear a week or 10 days each until I get the trays with pontic teeth. :)
May 1, 2015
Haha yes implants are soooo expensive! If I have enough room I may get the 2 implants, but I need 10-12mm of space and I dont know if I'll have that when my treatment is done. We shall see! If not there are always other options like a Maryland Bridge :)
May 1, 2015
Happening to me right now... My top tray fits but it doesn't go all the way up to my gum line, stops about half way to it. I thought with my bad luck, I was the one in a million that this happened to. I had to go in and do impressions again for the top. My bottom tray fits perfectly. Excited to see your next post!
May 2, 2015
Omgsh well maybe there was some weird glitch in their system? I hope my trays come in soon. Ive been wearing these top ones for almost a month!
May 4, 2015
Kateee, do you have gaps? My ortho was telling me its an issue for people with spaces.
May 4, 2015
No, I don't. Just a bit of overcrowding but no gaps. Its disappointing because I was so excited to get started and basically get it over with and now my treatment is delayed for however long it takes to make the new trays. It took 9 weeks after my initial impressions to get the first trays in ugh!
May 5, 2015
Good lord! 9 weeks??!! Mine took about 3. I wonder why yours takes so long. My office called yesterday and told me that I have about another week left before I get the new trays in. Ughhh!
May 6, 2015
I heard from other people that 9 weeks was sooo long.. my ortho made it seem like it was the normal time. Maybe it depends on where you live and how long it takes to be shipped back? Im in Illinois.
Thanks for sharing your story. It sounds like you have quite a journey ahead of you, but you are well on your way! Organizing your snacking/drinking around your trays can be a challenge, but there a lot of strategies that people in this community use to handle the situation. What else are you concerned about?
That can definitely be a concern. If it's a tray causing the irritation, your ortho can typically file down any sharp edges. Dental wax can also be a big help!