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POSTED UNDER Invisalign Reviews

No More Old Lady Teeth - Lansing, MI

UPDATED FROM Deidre Brockhaus
2 years post

Still at it!

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Deidre BrockhausMarch 22, 2016
$5,200
My initial set of aligners (28) took me nearly two years to complete as my doctor had me move to a new set once every three weeks. My second set of 22 aligners took me a little over a year to slog through. So, yes, I am going on three years and we are still working on them. I am starting my honest to goodness very last set of 15 aligners, at a new set each two weeks, to see if we can get my bottom teeth just a tweak straighter. I am not bummed that there have been no miracles. My mouth presented a very difficult case and the change in my bite is amazing. I really appreciate the dedication of my orthodontist and I am sure I will be satisfied with the final result. Once done I plan on investing in whitening and I will have the smile I always wanted.

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Dr. Ward

Deidre Brockhaus

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Replies (1)

mazza40
March 22, 2016
Wow - you've done really well and you have come such a long way. I am just about to embark on my invisalign journey and hope I can persevere as well as you have :)
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Deidre Brockhaus
March 29, 2016
Thanks! I think the key is to try and be relaxed, have a sense of humor, about it all. I wasn't caught up in a time table about this so when the second, and now the third sets of aligners were suggested my only thought was "Yeah, lets do all we can, lets get my money's worth" ha ha.

You will create your own little rituals around wearing and cleaning your aligners, and that is as it should be as no one else has your teeth and your schedule. Don't let the abundance of advice out there overwhelm you, or scare you. If you have questions or concerns, no matter how "petty" they may seem, ask your doctor or his staff first before consulting we armchair experts :-D

It also helps, a lot, to have realistic expectations. I knew from the outset that my mouth is challenging and so Hollywood teeth were out of the question. My biggest surprise, however, is how much better/straighter the "inside" of my mouth looks, feels, and bites. It isn't something I can show off, but as I brush I am inwardly thrilled that my back teeth no longer look like a drunken path of teeth, and that for the rest of my life they will continue to look so much more "normal".

Best of luck to you on your journey!

Elaine
UPDATED FROM Deidre Brockhaus
1 year post

A New Start

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Deidre BrockhausMarch 12, 2015
My new course of treatment includes 22 more sets of trays (My first course, which I finished in December, included 28). I was dismayed by the number of new trays, but my doctor included one small silver lining, I only have to wear each set for two weeks instead of my usual three, so I will be done faster. I received several new attachments that are very difficult to see in the picture. I suppose that is good as two are on that "long" central incisor and one on the wonky lateral incisor next to it. I also received one new attachment on one of my bottom teeth. I have no illusions that I will achieve perfection, but a little straighter would be great. Then? Yeah, teeth whitening, ha ha. If and when I see some progress, I'll post another pic.

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UPDATED FROM Deidre Brockhaus
1 year post

Not Surprised

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Deidre BrockhausJanuary 31, 2015
I received my "last" set of trays at the beginning of December, but my dentist and I both acknowledged that the final set would not leave me with the results we wanted so a new set of trays have been ordered. I am concerned about several things. First, I have been wearing this last set for nearly two months now and they don't actually feel THAT loose. I mean they pop in easily enough, but I still have to "dig" a little to get them off. I wonder if my teeth have stopped moving! Second, I am a little anxious about how many, and where, additional attachments I will need and how many new sets of trays I will receive. I don't want another 28 sets! I'll report back when I get the news and I will post a new "Day One" photo...i.e. Day One of Set Two.

Replies (1)

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TwoPlusOne
February 1, 2015

Now that things have straightened out a bit, your central incisors look such different lengths.  Has the doctor addressed his plan for that?  And it is likely your teeth stopped moving, if you were in a single tray for that long.  Or maybe even backslid a little.  But once you get your refinements it'll loosen up again and you'll start seeing movement again :).  It won't feel good in the beginning though--like the beginning :-/.

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Deidre Brockhaus
February 3, 2015
The doctor says the length is due to decades of my teeth trying to compensate for my bite. He told me from the "get go" that I should not expect "miracles" but he agrees that we can do better than this. Thanks for the words of encouragement! Will post pictures soon.
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TwoPlusOne
February 5, 2015

I look forward to the pictures!  And it's such a bother about the teeth compensating for being crooked.  It's just proof what a huge impact crooked teeth can have on your life.  People who don't know think it's just cosmetic, wanting to fix them.  But it's not.  It affects your health in a very real way.  It's going to be so wonderful once your teeth all sorted out! :):):)

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