Currently Undergoing Invisalign- Kansas City, MO

I started Invisalign a few months ago in hopes to finally straighten my teeth. I grew up in a military family and we moved around so often that we had always planned to straighten my teeth when we finally settled down. Unfortunately, I never did get traditional braces. I'm 26 now and am planning to get married sometime next year, so I decided to finally get braces and apply for a loan to pay for the treatment. I know it will be well worth it in the end.

I reached out to several local orthodontists, but finally decided on Invisalign because 1) the treatment would be considerably shorter than traditional braces, 2) the clear aligners are not nearly as visible as traditional braces and 3) I could whiten my teeth early on in the treatment.

My first consult was quick and painless. I met with a dental hygienist and my dentist to have several photos taken of my teeth. We then reviewed the photos and discussed that I was in fact a candidate (even thought my general dentist had said for years that I would never be a candidate). I believe the Invsialign provider mentioned I was a Level 2 (out of 5) candidate, so my teeth weren't as bad as I thought on their scale of difficulty. My main issue is overcrowding, esp. my right canine tooth.

I then returned a few days later to have a digital mold created and applied for a loan through my Invisalign provider's office. The digital mold consisted of a dental hygienist taking pictures of each tooth from several angles and uploading them to her computer. I was able to watch the mold gradually build throughout the 45 minute session. My dentist then came in and showed me how my teeth would look in 6 months, 1 year and 1.5 years. She then pointed out a few cosmetic changes we could make, i.e. fix the small facial cracks towards the bottom of some of my teeth, which are included in the overall cost.

I was very happy with my initial consults and the Invisalign provider office. I am very much looking forward to seeing the completed look.

I received my first set of aligners approximately two weeks after completing my digital mold. The aligners are clear trays that fit perfectly over your teeth. I received Sets 1 and 2 during my visit. The dental hygienist gave me the aligners and showed me how to insert them. I found it extremely helpful that the hygienist also has Invisalign. She answered many of my questions - including how to clean them, how often to take them off, what if any adjustments would be made and/or what would happen if I broke or lost an aligner.

I wear my aligners for 22-23 hours a day. I only take them out for meals. The dental hygienist recommending brushing the aligners at least once a day with warm water and toothpaste. I decided to brush my teeth and my aligners after each meal though. It only takes a few minutes longer to do so and this way I don't have to worry about any food or drink residue left behind. I've noticed that since starting my treatment I've stopped snacking throughout the day. It's too much of a hassle to take the aligners out and brush them just to eat a bag of potato chips, so I now only eat three meals a day.

My first set of aligners felt tight. The dental hygienist and dentist noted that I might feel slight pressure within the first few hours of wearing the aligners (The initial pressure did cause a headache, but I haven't experienced it with my other sets). They also mentioned that I might have a slight lisp, so they recommended singing in the car on my way home from my dental visit. This would allow me to practice talking without being embarrassed. I think it's a great idea. I had to go back to work though, so I immediate had to try talking to my coworkers and customers. I actually think that going straight back to work really helped me. It allowed me to acclimate to the aligners very quickly (although I did have trouble with certain words).

It did take getting used to having my tongue occasionally touching the bottom of my aligners. Some of the aligners have a little extra plastic at the bottom to make sure it stays in place. I kept rubbing my tongue against this area by accident. It's not sharp, so it doesn't hurt. It was just a bit odd to think that I'd be having these aligners in my mouth now all the time.

I switched to Set 2 exactly two weeks after my I started Set 1. The second set was also tight, but I didn't experience a headache or any difficulties talking. I did, however, have a little trouble removing the sets. My dental hygienist and dentist recommended taking the aligners out by starting in the back molars and working your way forward. Your fingernails should easily be able to fit under or latch on to the aligner. Removing the aligners gets easier and easier with each day and each set.

My Invisaglign provider gave me a free Zoom Nite 22% Whitening Gel as part of my treatment. I was told to insert a drop of the gel for each individual tooth in my aligners over the next three days or until I ran out of the gel. I started whitening the same day I received my first set of aligners (Sept. 19, 2013). I found the whitening treatment to be pretty painful, but highly effective.

My dentist did ask me if I have sensitive teeth and/or if I've ever used whitening gels before. I've never had issues with hot or cold, but I also hadn't whitened before. I wasn't sure how I would react. Inserting the gel into the aligners was easy enough. Most whitening gels recommend wearing it for 1-2 hours, but my provider said I could wear the gel overnight and then brush my teeth in the morning. I didn't notice any pain while wearing the gel, but the next morning I would occasionally have sharp pains on my bottom teeth. I also couldn't comfortably drink coffee or tea. The pain lasted a few hours (off and on) and then I continued to whiten the next several days. I don't think the pain would have been as sharp if I'd only used the gel for a few hours instead of close to 8 hours, but I also don't think my teeth would have been as bright as they are now.

I was a bridesmaid in my best friends wedding a few days after starting Invisalign, so whitening my teeth was a huge bonus! I haven't felt as confident as I do now. My teeth are still overcrowded, but they've never looked as good as this. My dentist is really happy with the results. She mentioned that my teeth are probably close 5-6 shades lighter than before.

Four months later my teeth are still very white, so I definitely think it's worth it. No pain, no gain.