POSTED UNDER Invisalign REVIEWS
67yr. OLD FINALLY GETTING TEETH STRAIGHTENED. Salem, OR
ORIGINAL POST
I've always wanted straight teeth. A friend of...
ItzmynJuly 3, 2015
$5,000
I've always wanted straight teeth. A friend of mine gifted me with a certificate entitling the bearer to a complete Invisalign procedure, so I started this journey of 42 trays on Monday. I have 12 attachments and 1 IPR so far. Do not have a problem getting the aligners into position, but getting them off to eat is rather difficult, so any helpful hints would be appreciated. No rough edges to deal with, and have not experienced any pain. Just a slight lisp on my "s & t's". I did notice that my right jaw is no longer sore when I wake up in the morning. I must have been clenching/grinding my teeth when I slept prior to Monday. And now, with the aligners in place, I cannot do that. I am to wear each tray for two weeks, so it looks like a 21 month process to my new smile. I guess the convenience of grabbing that quick Costco dog, or corn dog at the State Fair, or even popcorn at the movies is a thing of the past for the time being. But, it will all be worth it in the end.
Itzmyn's provider
Replies (5)
July 3, 2015
Also, my grinding stopped the 1st day. My grinding woke me up the 1st night I was wearing them, and never again after that. I had ground down my lower arch to a slanted "slide" over the years. My bottom arch will never be level, but it will be close, I think.
I am almost done, another month or so, hopefully.
I am almost done, another month or so, hopefully.
July 6, 2015
Thanks for sharing your story with us. It's great that you're taking this step for yourself, and I hope you'll let us know how the community can be a resource for you.
July 21, 2015
What a lovely, generous friend you have!
It really does get easier after the first few days. I really struggled to get my aligners out to start with, I'd get stressed and think they were stuck! Sometimes I even had to 'give up' and do something else for a few minutes before trying again. I'm now on tray 10, and can pop my aligners out in a few seconds with no stress! I found that the way my orthodontist suggested I remove the trays (which angle I should pull them) was completely the opposite of how I actually do it now and that contributed to the difficulty of removing them at first. You'll find what works best for you in no time.
Did you get your attachments on day one? Or after the first few trays? Keep us posted! Looking forward to following your journey!
It really does get easier after the first few days. I really struggled to get my aligners out to start with, I'd get stressed and think they were stuck! Sometimes I even had to 'give up' and do something else for a few minutes before trying again. I'm now on tray 10, and can pop my aligners out in a few seconds with no stress! I found that the way my orthodontist suggested I remove the trays (which angle I should pull them) was completely the opposite of how I actually do it now and that contributed to the difficulty of removing them at first. You'll find what works best for you in no time.
Did you get your attachments on day one? Or after the first few trays? Keep us posted! Looking forward to following your journey!
August 4, 2015
Hi, I am 55 years old and almost done with mine. On the first night of wearing my aligners I woke myself up in the middle of the night, trying to grind my teeth, but couldn't grind. I have not done it since, since I can't. I have had TMJ disorder for as long as I can remember, over 40 years. I never had any pain, just a popping noise in my right jaw whenever I open wide. Lately when I open wide, either no popping or a much quieter popping. I can still feel that bone sticking out though. My mandible or Maxilla, I think. Good luck !!!
UPDATED FROM Itzmyn
21 days post
Halfway through tray 2 of 42
ItzmynJuly 21, 2015
So far, so good. No pain. Leaving trays in as long as possible every day. Eating large breakfast, skipping lunch most days, and early dinners 5pm (retired so makes it easier to do this). I really love my waterpik and have been using one for several years. This makes cleaning between teeth and gums so easy. I do have a bit of discoloration on one attachment but it's not very noticeable. Removing trays is getting a bit easier also. Have been to two fundraising functions and nobody asked about, or noticed, the attachments, considering I had the trays out at these events. The TMJ pain in my right jaw has virtually disappeared since inserting tray 1, so that in itself is a plus! Tray 3 will go in on Sunday evening, 7/26.
Replies (1)
UPDATED FROM Itzmyn
2 months post
Tray 5, So Far, So Good
ItzmynAugust 29, 2015
Starting second week of Tray 5. These trays are a bit different than the first 4. They have an added bite guard on one of the crooked teeth and a tiny little bridge between my "fang" tooth and crooked upper tooth. I presume that this is to help pull the "fang" down into proper position as the crooked tooth straightens out. I am now into an easier routine of taking them out thanks to the little plastic scratch off device provided by the Oregon State Lottery Department! After reading several reviews on how to remove the aligners, I remembered getting this little plastic tool to help scratch off the lottery tickets when we were at the State Fair. It is perfect for aligner removal and small enough to keep in the blue aligner container. I showed it to my Ortho and he was amused. I suggested that he find out where the Lottery ordered them from and get some imprinted with his logo and give one to his patients. I'm sure Invisalign realizes that people have difficulty in removing the trays, and I'm surprised they don't include something like this as part of their treatment. They can't cost more than 5 cents when ordered in bulk. The State Fair opened yesterday, and I will stop by the Lottery display and pick up a couple extra tools. Might send one to Invisalign too. Still have not noticed any pain in teeth or gums associated with inserting different sets of trays. Asked my Ortho if they were actually working, and he said we're right on target.
And I sit outside of Costco eating during the day about twice per week. I eat on a table outside, brush & floss in Costco restroom, insert aligners, and then leave. Movie popcorn would be more difficult, unless you don't mind missing a few minutes of the movie. I never eat in theatres, never got into that habit, luckily.
Good luck with everything !!!