Halfway There (with Pics)

Discussions about treatment with invisible braces that use clear aligners, such as Invisalign, OrthoClear, the Red White and Blue system, etc.

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Lilypad
Posts: 198
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:03 am

#31 Post by Lilypad »

Thanks for your opinions Meryaten and Over50! I just got back from a checkup on the frenectomy with my periodontist. First thing he said was..."Your two front teeth are uneven!". LOL, then he checked my bite and said the left edge of my left front tooth was hitting on my bottom teeth when I slide my lower jaw forward. Funny, I've never noticed that. He said for sure to have him shape those 2 front teeth to correct that and also so they would look better.I asked him if it would hurt to lose the enamel and he said no. So, then I just HAD to ask him his opinion of the rest of the job. He said if it was him he would most certainly ask for a refinement. He said there is still a small gap between the 2 front ones and the right front two that I was concerned about. It was GREAT to have an unbiased professional opinion. Oh yea, and then he said the frenectomy looked good and the small space in my gum should fill in over the next 6 months. Soooooo.....I guess my journey is not quite over yet! I'll try to get some better pics this weekend, I just can't seem to get a good one with a digital camera, (these are all taken with a webcam) and I know they arent the best! Here's to plodding along..... :-88

Lilypad
Posts: 198
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:03 am

#32 Post by Lilypad »

Nope, I'm not quite finished yet! I saw the ortho today and he thought all my concerns were valid. So, he got out a little power tool and started shaping. Wow, amazing what a few minutes of that can do for the look of your teeth! I was quite impressed. Then he did some IPR? between a few teeth also. He warned me I would look a bit "gappy" until the new trays do their job. He took both attachments off and I was off to get new impressions. So, I'm back in aliigner limbo waiting for new trays. He said it's been taking 3-4 weeks to get new trays, and that I didnt have to be QUITE so good keeping the trays in for 22 hrs a day. Hmmmm, might be a good time to do some whitestrips. :-}

Lilypad
Posts: 198
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:03 am

#33 Post by Lilypad »

Waiting when you know nothing is going on is a little tough! The reshaping made a huge difference I'm glad to say. I'll show y'all the main reason for the refinement....note this is after he did the IPR and increased the look of the 2 gaps...... that's the main reason...Image He also did a little between the fron 2 teeth to get rid of the "dreaded black triangle due to some gum loss.....Image

Lilypad
Posts: 198
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:03 am

#34 Post by Lilypad »

Yay!!!! :jump: Got a call from the ortho today asking me to call and make an appointment. Soooo...I called and bless their hearts, I got in tomorrow at 11:30. It's easier to get in before school lets out and I have a light day at work tomorrow. It's been 3 1/2 weeks since I got my refinement impressions done. I JUST had to ask.....how many more aligners are there? She asked me if I minded holding while she went to ask somebody.....yea, I was willing to hold, LOL. And to my happy amazement, there are only FOUR! OMG, I might be done in 8 weeks. I have to admit, I've enjoyed the break of being able to leave these out for 2-3 hours at a time. I guess tomorrow, it's back to some pain and 22 hours. Wow, it's just all SOOOO worth it!!!!!!!! :-88

Lilypad
Posts: 198
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:03 am

#35 Post by Lilypad »

Well, after driving in a mess of freezing rain and sleet yesterday, ( I know, I know, not the brightest idea I've ever had!) :yikes: I am finally started on the refinement series. It took me an hour and 15 mintues to drive 26 miles LOL. Geez, I've forgotten how tight the new ones are. I really enjoyed the break waiting for them though, being able to keep them out for hours at a time was nicccccccccccce! The ortho told me he would put a bonded retainer on just the front 2 teeth and make an essix for me to wear at night for a year. Then after that 3 nights a week for life if I wanted to keep this smile. Oh, what we wont do in the pursuit of pretty pearls!!!!!! :lol:

Lilypad
Posts: 198
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:03 am

#36 Post by Lilypad »

Three more weeks............none of these aligners have caused any pain at all. I guess the movements are so slight that all i'm feeling is tightness. OK, I can do this for 21 more days. LOL +\+

bellini
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:24 pm

#37 Post by bellini »

The reshaping made such a difference!
Looks great!

Lilypad
Posts: 198
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:03 am

#38 Post by Lilypad »

Thanks bellini! And, yes I was quite impressed with what the rehaping did. I can't believe I'm almost ready for ....RETAINERVILLE !!!!!!! :dance:

Lilypad
Posts: 198
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:03 am

#39 Post by Lilypad »

3 more days........I'll see what he has to say about this lower tooth hitting on one of my upper front tooth....... :Questions:

Lilypad
Posts: 198
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:03 am

#40 Post by Lilypad »

Well, it seems as if I am in aligner limbo yet again! :( The ortho wants me to wear this last refinement tray for 12 hours a day for a month, more if I notice the gap opening between the front two teeth. Well, I left it out for 9 hours, Yikes, what a mistake that was. When I looked in the mirror I could see the gap was opening. When I put the aligner back in....MAJOR pain. I'm leaving it out for 3-4 hours at a time, just a little tightness then. He also shaved down the lower tooth that was hitting the upper tooth. I'm hoping he can do a bit more as it is still touching the top tooth. There is no way there is enough room there to put in a permanent retainer like he wants. So, I go back on May 22nd to see where we go from here. I'm starting to wonder.......Is this EVER gonna end???????? :roll:

aussie
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:17 pm
Location: Australia, NSW

#41 Post by aussie »

from the last pics up your teeth are looking fantastic lily!

from what i saw on my clincheck i'll have the same problem with my front 2 teeth when im done, well not really problem, but they'll require slight reshaping like yours.

lol, and dont worry too much about 'is this every going to end'

i've started on 34 uppers & 20 lowers :( !

so my absolute minimum aligner time is about 10 months lowers & 15ish months uppers. fingers crossed all goes well & i dont need refinements.

keep us updated lily!
started treatment 6 May 2008.
All up 34 Upper & 20 Lower.
Loving the invisalign, a great choice for correcting my teeth.

Devushka
Posts: 101
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:18 pm
Location: The Great White North

#42 Post by Devushka »

Awww that really sucks Lily, I am sorry!

I assumed because you had a frenemectomy you would not longer have to worry about your front teeth. That was one of the reason's I wasn't worrying about having to one day get one because I figured not only will it help with the pain(crossing my fingers now) BUT my front teeth wouldn't be trying to separate as much either.

Lilypad
Posts: 198
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:03 am

#43 Post by Lilypad »

Thanks aussie and Devushka! I went to the ortho yesterday and he managed to get the permanent retainer put in. It looked sooo tiny when they showed it to me as it only goes on the top two front teeth. Then he informed me that he was going to totally encase it in cement. Well, it's tiny NO more. This is gonna take awhile to get used to because my tongue seems to think it's a carnival ride! :lol: Then I was off to the dreaded impression lady once again.She told me these would not be nearly as bad as the invisalign impressions were and she sure was right, no blue gunk running down my throat this time! She took impressions on top and bottom for essix retainers since I had wheedled free bottom ones to have as a bleaching tray. She said they wouldnt be ready until next Wednesday so they trimmed the same ole invisalign tray that I've been wearing now for 2 months to fit over the permanent retainer. I'll try to get some final pics posted here this weekend to show y'all. Keep the faith, it may take longer than expected, but it WORKS! :-)o

Lilypad
Posts: 198
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:03 am

#44 Post by Lilypad »

Just a couple pictures to finish my story.......
Before Invisalign
Image

After Invisalign treatment of 10 months
Image

At this point I have a permanent wire retainer across the back of the 2 front teeth, an essix retainer for night,(which i'm not fond of), and still wearing my last Invisalign tray for about 6 hours during the day. Even with a couple of set backs I am EXTREMELY happy with the whole Invisalign process.

I want to wish everyone the best of luck with their treatment and keep the faith, at times it's tough, but it did work for me! :-88

User avatar
MsViola
Posts: 269
Joined: Mon Dec 25, 2006 6:26 pm
Location: Texarkana, USA

#45 Post by MsViola »

Your teeth are beautiful!
[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/]
Image

1/17/07 - Upper (Clear) & Lower (Metal - self ligatating) Braces
Estimated treatment time = 30-36 months

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