So close... but so far....

Message

#1 Post by **KUMonkeyMomma** » Thu Sep 02, 2010 12:49 pm

Initially, after and early course correction on tray 4, I was to have 20 upper and 16 lowers. I go every 6 weeks to get the next sets of trays so that he can monitor my progress, put on/take off attachments if needed, etc.

Well I go in today all excited because it's my last bottom tray (i'll wear it throughout the rest of the tops tho) and the top tray doesn't fit. My dang upper left canine didn't move as it should have. He said he thought a while back that it might give us trouble but it was tracking fine up until now - he said he thought we'd have to do a correction before now so is happy we got this far without needing one.

He is having me wear tray 15 on top for another week (16 on bottom since that fit fine) and then try the tray again - because I did admit to having it out for like 4-5 hours on Sat while at the State Fair because I was drinking and grazing from the time we had lunch till the time we left, and I also did the same the weekend prior while at a wedding/reception - so maybe that compromised the moving by a few days, etc. If it doesn't fit within a week to week and half, they'll remove my attachments and reimpression the uppers and do a correction for the top. The bottom looks great other than a bit of filing and fine tuning for sharp edges from how they wore in their previous positions, etc., so I don't think we need to fiddle with those at all.

I was soooo close to being done. Hopefully if I do need a correction it won't be much more than the original 5 trays I have left. I know that I might need refinements too but hopefully if we're doing a correction this late in treatment, we won't need to.

Well that's my vent for the day!

#2 Post by **Wireless** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 7:58 am

Hang in there!! It's really easy to get unmotivated when you find out it's going to take longer than you were originally told, or to find out there are a lot more trays involved. I think the computer simulations and tray counts can give a false sense that the entire treatment can be easily predicted.

I started out with 21 trays after my orthodontist had told me I would require 18 months treatment. My take was that 42 weeks were involved and I would be through ahead of schedule. However, after about 8 months, I had to have a mid-course correction that added 10 more trays to my count. When I finished, my doc cut off the rear of my last trays to try to get my molars to grow out. This has been really slow and I now have essix retainers similar to my last trays as they had become loose and no longer fit. At this point, it looks like I am going to end up with 2 years plus of treatment. Ugh!!!

For a while this summer, I got really discouraged and started leaving my aligners out for an extra cup of coffee in the morning and got very lax. I've had to "regroup" and remind myself of the problems I'll have if I don't finish, which in my case is gum inflamation and possible tooth loss.

I think its normal to get frustrated and "need a break" when things drag out. Hopefully you can get past this and keep going.

For those considering Invisalign, keep in mind that the computer stuff is somewhat like a weather forecast and treatment plans will probably change as things progress.

#3 Post by **KimC** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 9:16 am

When I wore my braces, I always wish I could get a break from them from time to time even if just for short periods. I was often furstratd by not being able to get that break. After reading your story, I guess in the end, I am glad I didn't have a choice, because I could see how a little bit of freedom could lead to more and more and really throw off my treatment. hang in there, the end result is definitely worth it.

#4 Post by **Wireless** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 7:15 pm

KimC, I agree with your comments. I've had regular braces twice before - once as a teenager and once as an adult. Generally life was less restrictive than with Invisalign since I could eat and drink when I wanted to and there weren't that many food restrictions. Trying to cram three meals into 2 hours every day is definitely a pain - particularly when I'm go to meetings and business events where food is involved.

Invisalign is really great as far as appearance. Nobody has noticed I have them in. However, as an adult with braces before, I really didn't have any issues with people noticing. A good joke about being an overgrown teenager usually took care of any comments. I could deal with this easier than Invisalign for 2 years.

I would have gone with regular braces this time except my orthodontist found a resorbed tooth root and was concerned they would have exerted too much pressure causing the problem to worsen. He was right in his opinion as I did have a problem with the tooth during treatment that was easily handled with a mid course correction. Given the options and dental problems I could have had, this is still the best way to go. I just wish it wasn't taking so long!!

#5 Post by **KUMonkeyMomma** » Sat Sep 04, 2010 6:33 pm

I had regular braces as a teen too -and hated them! Which is part of why I went with invisalign this time. I don't generally leave them out for long periods of time like that - special occasions, etc is about it, and it just happened that I had two such occasions a weekend apart.

No one has noticed I have them either - and even those that know I have them say they don't even notice most of the time either. I'm more conscious of them then anyone else is I think.

A friend of mine's husband just started them a few weeks ago - and prior to getting them they asked me a bunch of questions (because we all know the site doesn't mention about attachments or any of that stuff we all know about). She hadn't seen me since before I started them (they live over an hour away and we met up a month or so ago at an event for our kids). She mentioned that he was getting his first tray in a couple weeks and thanked me for all the great info, etc and then she said "do you have yours in now" and I said "yes, you couldn't tell?" and I had to actually open up enough for her to see the edges and tell I had them in. She was surprised at how invisible they really are!

I'm not discouraged at all, and I knew that there was possibility of course correction and/or refinements - I was just hoping that I would be done by the end of the year for all the holiday festivities without having to worry about brushing and putting them back in soon after eating!