Update: on tray set #34

Got my first trays today, and it went much better than I expected, based on comments I had read here and other places. Trays went on easily and pop off just fine (though I have long fingers and some decent nails!). They just felt tight, and after about 7 hours were aching like I remember feeling as a child when a molar was fighting it's way out. Then the aching subsided. It actually feels weird to take them off, like my teeth are suddenly fragile.

Lisped a tiny bit on my S's for about 2 hours then it was all gone. No more lisping! My kids didn't even notice until they remembered that I was supposed to get my trays today, and asked to see them. They are very smooth, smoother than my actual teeth so my tongue does just fine with them, no sore areas. The only thing I'm noticing is that I'm producing LOTS of saliva, which is making me feel just a tad ill at times after swallowing so much of it. I assume this will subside as my body/mouth adjusts to the trays.

About my treatment: I have 44 trays for both top and bottom, although we may stop as early as 36. My ortho plans over-correction into treatment just to make sure that things progress far enough. We are correcting many things (90% overbite, crowding, prominent canines, mis-alignment on right side and in front, plus most of my teeth lean inward), hence the large number of trays. My ortho is a preferred premier provider which I believe means he's done over 1000 cases. I made him show me clinchecks of other severe patients and they look great. They have never had to put braces on a single person after invisalign treatment so I feel like I'm in good hands.

I'll have 10 "attachments" total, starting with trays 4. Two on top, each side, and three on bottom, each side, but none on the front four teeth, top or bottom. Plus my first three trays, at least, have "ridges" on the top front four teeth and one of the bottom teeth. Ridges are like little horizontal lines/indentations, which make the very edge of the tray flare out just a tad. I haven't seen much mention of ridges on this site. The ortho originally thought I'd have to have rubber bands at some point, but there are none on my clincheck video so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I had assumed that the first set of trays didn't do much except get you used to wearing them, but they are definitely doing something! When I take them off there are definitely some teeth that are sore, so something is already being moved, however slightly.

Time for bed, hopefully the night will go smoothly. Will probably slobber way more than I'd like to :-)

Will load "before" photos in the next day or two.