How about some updates from wearers-how is it going?
Moderator: bbsadmin
How about some updates from wearers-how is it going?
I would like to hear from people at different stages of the Invisalign process. So often the posts only focus on problems. But how are people experiencing the day to day wear? If you could state how far you are (number of trays, weeks into treatment) and when you expect to be finished, along with what you are experiencing now, I think that would be really useful information! Thanks!
I completed my initial set of 17u and 19l in December (should have been a month earlier). During the last 5 weeks, I wore elastics around my two upper eye teeth to coax them downward. I do not think that the result which came from that was worth the additional hassle and humiliation I had to endure. Well, since neither upper nor lower ended up perfect, I had the impressions for the refinement series taken then. It took two weeks for those to come in. I have 7 more upper and lower and an extra attachment on the bottom for a grand total of 1 upper and 3 lower attachments. I switch to refinements #2 this Friday.
My original treatment length estimate was 15 months, which is supposed to be around May 2008. It took 6 weeks for the original aligners to come in, so now I should be done in late June 2008. I feel confident that I will make it by then. And, by then, hopefully I can say that I am a CPA, too. My (hopefully) last section of the CPA exams will be on May 31st. Then, I will have a great smile and be well on my way up the ladder at work.
I have no regrets this far in to my Invisalign treatment. But, unfortunately, had I waited another year (which I don't think I would have wanted to), my dental insurance plan has increased the ortho benefit effective 1/1/08. Invisalign hasn't messed up my social life, been an major inconvenience/annoyance, or affected my speech. They have become a part of my life. So much so, that I missed those weeks when I didn't feel the pressure because there wasn't a new aligner for several weeks. For the results I have even so far, I am completely satisfied with the whole process but am now in it for perfection.
The only thing that I can say that isn't as easy is playing my trumpet for an extended period of time. I realized this last weekend when I played at two back-to-back college basketball games in the alumni pep band. I made it through the first game playing with them in, but I did considerably better without them in the second game. I played in the alumni marching band in October with them in without any problems but at the basketball games, it was the constant high, fast, and loud playing that was finally did me (and my lips) in. In the alumni marching band, it is only a couple of 4 minute songs and 10 or so formations on the field and then probably 3 real songs and 12 short cheers in the stands. A contributing factor is also the fact that I have been out of college for 4 years and so I am not in as good of "shape" for that league of pep band playing anymore.
My original treatment length estimate was 15 months, which is supposed to be around May 2008. It took 6 weeks for the original aligners to come in, so now I should be done in late June 2008. I feel confident that I will make it by then. And, by then, hopefully I can say that I am a CPA, too. My (hopefully) last section of the CPA exams will be on May 31st. Then, I will have a great smile and be well on my way up the ladder at work.
I have no regrets this far in to my Invisalign treatment. But, unfortunately, had I waited another year (which I don't think I would have wanted to), my dental insurance plan has increased the ortho benefit effective 1/1/08. Invisalign hasn't messed up my social life, been an major inconvenience/annoyance, or affected my speech. They have become a part of my life. So much so, that I missed those weeks when I didn't feel the pressure because there wasn't a new aligner for several weeks. For the results I have even so far, I am completely satisfied with the whole process but am now in it for perfection.
The only thing that I can say that isn't as easy is playing my trumpet for an extended period of time. I realized this last weekend when I played at two back-to-back college basketball games in the alumni pep band. I made it through the first game playing with them in, but I did considerably better without them in the second game. I played in the alumni marching band in October with them in without any problems but at the basketball games, it was the constant high, fast, and loud playing that was finally did me (and my lips) in. In the alumni marching band, it is only a couple of 4 minute songs and 10 or so formations on the field and then probably 3 real songs and 12 short cheers in the stands. A contributing factor is also the fact that I have been out of college for 4 years and so I am not in as good of "shape" for that league of pep band playing anymore.
All is cool with me...on 8 of 9 on bottom and 8 of 22 for the top. only one tooth needs to move a bit on bottom but im not stressing on it right now. the top is what i wanted to fix so now comes the fun part...all top.
wearing the trays when lifting ( im a powerlifter ) is way easier than i thought and i actually like having them in.
no probems..
wearing the trays when lifting ( im a powerlifter ) is way easier than i thought and i actually like having them in.
no probems..
-
waiting2smile
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:04 pm
Im on day 1 of tray number 53 of 55!! YEA!!!!!! 4 - 6 weeks for me and I'm very happy. I see pictures of my smile now and still cant believe those are my teeth. I wonder if I'll ever really see them as others. I posted my first pic since starting 3 years ago (way to embarassed in the begin 
) a few posts down (titled WOW!!! something..) and honestly that before pic was one of the nicest shots of my teeth, I had so you really dont get the full idea of how bad my teeth really where in the beginning. I one have certainly had my ups and downs through this journey but as I said I am very happy. Each day is diffrent as far as comfort with the trays but it really does get easy to deal with as time goes and boy does the time go! I can't get over the fact that its been 3 years. I think you'll find lots of useful info, funny stories and comfort (I know Ive need that a few times myself) on this board.
Best of luck to you and congrats for taking the plunge!!
) a few posts down (titled WOW!!! something..) and honestly that before pic was one of the nicest shots of my teeth, I had so you really dont get the full idea of how bad my teeth really where in the beginning. I one have certainly had my ups and downs through this journey but as I said I am very happy. Each day is diffrent as far as comfort with the trays but it really does get easy to deal with as time goes and boy does the time go! I can't get over the fact that its been 3 years. I think you'll find lots of useful info, funny stories and comfort (I know Ive need that a few times myself) on this board. Best of luck to you and congrats for taking the plunge!!
-
Iwantniceteeth
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:14 am
- Location: London UK
I'm on 8 of 24 u/l and have experienced no problems and no pain. It hasnt affected my speech, no one even notices I am wearing them (and I have 7 attachments) I'm hoping to be done by mid July but there could be refinements.
So far I am very impressed with Invisalign and wish I had done this ages ago. In fact, only today someone commented on how lovely my teeth were looking and I'm only just over a quarter of the way through.
I have been told that if my canine doesnt pull down with the trays, I may require a mid course correction (£300!!) which will require elastics. But so far so good and it appears to be moving down with just the trays.
So far I am very impressed with Invisalign and wish I had done this ages ago. In fact, only today someone commented on how lovely my teeth were looking and I'm only just over a quarter of the way through.
I have been told that if my canine doesnt pull down with the trays, I may require a mid course correction (£300!!) which will require elastics. But so far so good and it appears to be moving down with just the trays.
iwantniceteeth do u not just love the fact that in the uk orthos just wanna make as much £££££ as possible id been told £250 for a revision, when in usa u can have 3 for free i think £4000 should be more than enough to cover a revision, i bet invisalign does not get a penny of that or should i say dime 
I'm more or less finished with my treatment now. Started last February with 13 upper and 9 lower, finished all of that in mid August. Basically I had some minor spacing between my upper teeth and some minor crowding in my lower teeth. Once I was done my dentist equilibrated (sp?) my bite by grinding down a few spots on my teeth. Honestly it felt pretty weird for the first week or two but now I am totally used to my new bite and my teeth feel 100% normal.
Five months after finishing up i'm still wearing my last trays as retainers. My dentist made me a new set but my last invisalign trays just feel and look a little bit better. I try to wear them as much as possible and probably average about 18-20 hours a day with them in. I'll sometimes take them out for as long as 12 hours at a time while hanging out/drinking/eating with friends. After 12 hours I can definitely feel it a little bit when I put them back in but nothing major. I was told six months of wearing them all day then just at night after that but I think i'll probably go at least 8, give my teeth the time to really settle into their new homes.
In all honesty I have nothing but good things to say about invisalign. I definitely had a few doubts in the back of my head when I first started. (doesn't everybody?) But now after i'm done my smile looks completely natural and I don't even think twice anymore to crack a smile, even at the littlest of things. Before invisalign I would constantly hold back my smile for fear of being judged. Now I feel as if I can go out, socialize and truely be myself without inhibitions. In that respect invisalign changed my life. Now when I smile the last thing i'm thinking about is whether or not my teeth look good. Smiling now is simply more or less a side effect of being happy. And the less I think about stupid things like how my smile looks the happier I am. Nothing but good things.
Yes sometimes it can be a major hassle to live with these plastic things in my mouth. My blue retainer case has been a constant bulge in my pockets for the past 11 months. Sometimes i'm just hungry as hell but kindof embarassed to pop them out in front of people I don't know. Theres not always a water source to rinse them off in and I don't always have a toothbrush handy to clean up after eating. Not only do I have to brush my real teeth at least twice a day but I also have to brush my plastic teeth twice a day as well. And yep they were expensive and seeing the dentist a zillion times during treatment kindof got old. But for real, these things changed my life. Without a doubt the best thing I have ever done for myself.
Five months after finishing up i'm still wearing my last trays as retainers. My dentist made me a new set but my last invisalign trays just feel and look a little bit better. I try to wear them as much as possible and probably average about 18-20 hours a day with them in. I'll sometimes take them out for as long as 12 hours at a time while hanging out/drinking/eating with friends. After 12 hours I can definitely feel it a little bit when I put them back in but nothing major. I was told six months of wearing them all day then just at night after that but I think i'll probably go at least 8, give my teeth the time to really settle into their new homes.
In all honesty I have nothing but good things to say about invisalign. I definitely had a few doubts in the back of my head when I first started. (doesn't everybody?) But now after i'm done my smile looks completely natural and I don't even think twice anymore to crack a smile, even at the littlest of things. Before invisalign I would constantly hold back my smile for fear of being judged. Now I feel as if I can go out, socialize and truely be myself without inhibitions. In that respect invisalign changed my life. Now when I smile the last thing i'm thinking about is whether or not my teeth look good. Smiling now is simply more or less a side effect of being happy. And the less I think about stupid things like how my smile looks the happier I am. Nothing but good things.
Yes sometimes it can be a major hassle to live with these plastic things in my mouth. My blue retainer case has been a constant bulge in my pockets for the past 11 months. Sometimes i'm just hungry as hell but kindof embarassed to pop them out in front of people I don't know. Theres not always a water source to rinse them off in and I don't always have a toothbrush handy to clean up after eating. Not only do I have to brush my real teeth at least twice a day but I also have to brush my plastic teeth twice a day as well. And yep they were expensive and seeing the dentist a zillion times during treatment kindof got old. But for real, these things changed my life. Without a doubt the best thing I have ever done for myself.
i also sometimes remember just how it used to be, that id not smile even when happy or on photos but now i do not hesitate because now they are 1 of my best features and iv earnt the right financially and the dedication iv put in. I see my ortho and hyginist on wednesday to discuss what happens next or if thats it, im 75% sure im gonna push for 2 veneers to get rid of the black triangle and change the shape to a more rectangular shape rather than thin at the top and thick at the bottom thus creating the black triangle 
-
Iwantniceteeth
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:14 am
- Location: London UK
Diehard, it's SUCH a con having to pay for refinements! My treatment cost £4100 as I was a full arch case (as opposed to a half arch case @ £3600) I had to pay in addition to this £250 for the clincheck (which incidentally my ortho emailed to me) Then if I need a mid course refinement (please God no!!) then it will be another £300. Refinements at the end of the course would not be charged for I have been advised, and Invisalign will provide 3 additional trays free of charge. On top of all that, I then have to pay £300 for the permanent retainer I am going to have. Expensive, but from what I can see so far, worth every penny!
my treatment cost £4000 but i guess because i started a couple of years ago thats prob why as for the the permanent retainer i paid around £80 for a mini retainer which just covers the front teeth to give my molars a chance to move, so id say you r getting a raw deal on that, also the retainer will be thicker so expect to lisp again for a day or 2 also mine cracked in 1 place in 1st 24 hours but i can live with that.