#plasticbraceface

Top: before I started Invisalign

I waited about four weeks for my first refinement trays to come in.  When I picked them up they only gave me seven new sets of trays and only put one attachment on one of my lower teeth.  I thought it seemed weird, so I asked to see the video that showed the changes in your teeth.  In the video there wasn’t really any movement.  The girl who worked at the office said “Oh, are you trying to fix your open bite?”  I told her “I just want straight teeth.”  She kind of laughed it off and took me to the front to schedule my next appointment.  My appointment was scheduled for a longer period of time, because they assumed I would probably want another refinement.

I wouldn’t mind dealing with Invisalign if I was actually happy with the end result.  I don’t like relying on a system that gets sent off to a machine that is supposed to figure out the right process to straighten someone’s teeth.  I’m not sure if I should get my last refinement or just get traditional braces.  At least with traditional braces your ortho has more control over the process.  I feel like I’m spending thousands on dollars on pieces of plastic and having to deal with the struggles of Invisalign for a slight improvement in my teeth.

Any advice is welcomed. 

The top is before I got Invislign and the bottom is 6 months into it. 

I popped tray 2 into my mouth today.  The bottom went on easily.  The top tray not so much.  I struggled a bunch, but it finally fit.  My top teeth need a lot more adjustments than my bottom ones, so I guess that makes sense. 

My old trays were getting pretty gross.  I didn’t notice that until I compared them to the new ones.  They stunk and had a slight tint to them.  I clean my trays and teeth constantly, but plaque finds a way in, especially overnight.  When I take them out in the morning I notice a significant amount of plaque stuck on them.   

Maybe people are just being polite, but nobody has asked me about them yet. 

All in all, they aren’t as bad as I thought they would be.  Invisalign might be a huge inconvenience for an alcoholic though, haha.   

I’m getting used to Invisalign!  My teeth aren’t in any pain.  And I’m looking forward to moving on to tray 2 next Monday. 

The sides of my tongue are in rough shape and I can’t taste much of anything.  My top aligner by my two front teeth is too big or something.  It covers my gums and they feel really soft and tender in that area.  I tried to file it down a bit today, so hopefully that helps. 

I’m getting used to talking with Invisalign in my mouth, so that is a plus. 

So, teaching on Friday wasn’t that bad.  I lisped a bit, but I don’t think most people noticed it.