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*Treatment results may vary
Refinement Aligners 5-8: Subtle Changes
I just finished with my 8th refinement aligners and I am noticing that my intruded lower canine is looking more level with the other teeth. In addition, I forgot to add that my refinement aligners are raised slightly in the back, as to help with the open bite caused by the previous aligners. This makes the aligners a little uncomfortable and awkward-feeling for the first couple of days, but alas it is working: the open bite is getting much better.
Surprisingly, because it is supposed to take fewer aligners to fix than the lower canine, I see little to no difference in the main issue that I personally have: my intruded left upper central incisor.
Attached photo is at the end of aligner 8. I previously said I'd update every 3 aligners, but the changes are so small that even with every 4, it is hard to see a big difference.
Surprisingly, because it is supposed to take fewer aligners to fix than the lower canine, I see little to no difference in the main issue that I personally have: my intruded left upper central incisor.
Attached photo is at the end of aligner 8. I previously said I'd update every 3 aligners, but the changes are so small that even with every 4, it is hard to see a big difference.
Aligner 30 of 30 + Refinement Aligner 1-4: The End and the Beginning
Hi, I'm back! Actually, I never truly left as I regularly read updates to other reviews; I was just too busy with school, exams, and other aspects of daily life to reply or update my own review.
Anyway, I completed my initial treatment and I'm now on my refinement aligners. Aligner 5, to be exact. The refinements are to address two intruded teeth -- my left upper central incisor and left lower canine.
The total number of aligners needed to fix these?
19-24.
Yes, more than he predicted. Plus, I now have 18 attachments as an attachment was added to my lower canine to aid the extrusion process. My upper tooth requires 19 aligners while the lower requires 24. However, the orthodontist says, depending on the progression, the refinement phase will end at 19. I change aligners every week now, so I should be finished by the end of April/beginning of May if that is the case. Hopefully, it will be, because I graduate in May!
I'm supposed to be getting some more IPR a little later down the line but I will talk to the ortho about it because I don't think I will go through with it. I just want my two teeth to be back in the same vertical space they were before -- nothing more!
Attached are my teeth at the end of the 4th aligners. I'll be updating every 3 aligners from here, as there isn't a large amount of difference with the refinements as there were with the initial set.
Anyway, I completed my initial treatment and I'm now on my refinement aligners. Aligner 5, to be exact. The refinements are to address two intruded teeth -- my left upper central incisor and left lower canine.
The total number of aligners needed to fix these?
19-24.
Yes, more than he predicted. Plus, I now have 18 attachments as an attachment was added to my lower canine to aid the extrusion process. My upper tooth requires 19 aligners while the lower requires 24. However, the orthodontist says, depending on the progression, the refinement phase will end at 19. I change aligners every week now, so I should be finished by the end of April/beginning of May if that is the case. Hopefully, it will be, because I graduate in May!
I'm supposed to be getting some more IPR a little later down the line but I will talk to the ortho about it because I don't think I will go through with it. I just want my two teeth to be back in the same vertical space they were before -- nothing more!
Attached are my teeth at the end of the 4th aligners. I'll be updating every 3 aligners from here, as there isn't a large amount of difference with the refinements as there were with the initial set.
Closed: Aligner 29 of 30
I was beginning to question whether I'd get there before refinements, but finally, The Gap is closed. *Rejoices* Initially with this set, it would reopen slightly after 20 minutes or so of the aligners being out, but now it stays closed the entire time. In addition to this, the overjet is also gone. So it seems the treatment was a success, however...
My two front teeth are now uneven! It is a bit more exaggerated in close-up photos, but you can see that my left central incisor has intruded. I traced it back to a few aligners starting around 23, which had this defect. My tooth simply shaped to the aligners. I'm more than a little disappointed at this, because as others have mentioned, this is a costly and time-consuming procedure. I would hope they work out kinks like this in the future because now, even though my initial issues have been dealt with, I still have to go through refinements to fix this tooth.
My two front teeth are now uneven! It is a bit more exaggerated in close-up photos, but you can see that my left central incisor has intruded. I traced it back to a few aligners starting around 23, which had this defect. My tooth simply shaped to the aligners. I'm more than a little disappointed at this, because as others have mentioned, this is a costly and time-consuming procedure. I would hope they work out kinks like this in the future because now, even though my initial issues have been dealt with, I still have to go through refinements to fix this tooth.