Buttons (Attachments) and Invisalign Update

Okay, I'm currently wearing Tray 4 on both the upper and lower teeth. That means I'm about 7 weeks in, because I wore Trays 1-3 for 2 weeks each, and just switched to this tray last Wednesday. That's when I spent just 45 minutes at my orthodontist's office (the 1st appointment since getting my trays in mid August) getting the 7 attachments placed. The procedure was TOTALLY painless. I'd read other blogs, which stated there was scary drilling, sanding, etc. involved with the addition of attachments, but I promise, for me...it was a breeze. The only discomfort I experienced was from the lip retractors my ortho used to keep my teeth dry and exposed while he bonded the attachments to my teeth. My lips were dry and felt like they were cracking. That's it! Really.

The drilling everyone refers to, I can only assume it was the GENTLE polishing the ortho does to prepare your tooth surface to better grab the bonding/glue. No pain. He then fit the "attachment template trays", which were not overly tight or painful, and then went about placing the attachments. Once he used the high intensity light to dry/set them, he gently sanded off the excess with more "polishing". A few of my more crooked teeth were a bit sensitive, and when he drilled, I sensed slight waves of discomfort, but it was nothing compared to what I'd read about on other blogs. It's absolutely nothing to be anxious about. I promise!

He seemed very pleased with the progress and said the trays were fitting perfectly, so that's all I needed to hear. Now...about the appearance of the buttons...they're not bad at all! I know they make my treatment A LOT more noticeable to anyone really looking, but I was not upset about their appearance when I finally got to my car and gave my mouth a close/paranoid look in my rear view mirror. You know that feeling, "Oh my god, what must my mouth look like!?" My teeth are fairly white, and the buttons match EXACTLY, so they're great. My mom and sister swear you don't even notice them unless you happen to catch a side profile view of my teeth. Even then, they claim they're not distracting at all. So far, I agree.

I am slightly paranoid about them yellowing or becoming dingy somehow. Apparently, people have had issues with the glue just around the edges turning yellow. I hope to avoid this with my regular Crest Advanced White toothpaste, maybe the new Colgate Optic White? (is it any good?), and Luster Now toothpaste. We shall see...

So far, the buttons have not annoyed me at all. No lip or gum irritation. My ortho sent me home with three more trays, so I'm scheduled to see him in mid November for a check-up. With how busy work is, I'm sure the time will fly! So, please, don't let the attachments get you down...they're really nothing to fear.

A Typical Day with Invisalign Aligners

5:30 AM - Alarm goes off. Wake up, shower, do make-up, all with Invisalign still in from bedtime the night before (so about 9 hours of continuous wear). I usually rinse my mouth out with water in the shower. You needed that detail, huh? :)

6:15 AM - Wet hair, make-up done, time for some coffee and Peanut Butter Captain Crunch. Invisalign out and into a glass of Retainer Brite for soaking/cleaning.

6:35 AM - Time to blow dry hair, remove Invisalign from Retainer Brite, rinse well, and brush with extra soft toothbrush and mild dish soap to clean. They're sparkling clean and completely fresh.

7:00 AM - Finish any breakfast snacking, coffee, food, etc. Brush teeth, floss, and Invisalign back in. 45 minutes out of mouth so far. This will be the biggest stretch of time they're out of my mouth all day.

7:30 AM - Go to work.

10:00 AM - 15 minute break. Remove Invisalign and place in case in purse. I've been drinking water all morning, but I must admit to a terrible Diet Coke addiction. I get a small soda with straw and suck it down before next class. I brush quickly in break room, rinse Invisalign off, and back in it goes. 1 hour out of mouth so far.

12:30 PM - Lunch for 30 minutes. Remove Invisalign after kids have left classroom and place in case in purse. Lunch time...when finished eating, quick brush of teeth and spray of cleaner on Invisalign before popping them back in. 1 hour and 30 minutes out of mouth so far.

4:00 PM - Home from work. Take Invisalign out and soak in plain water. I have a cup of coffee and a snack. I brush teeth very thoroughly, floss, clean aligners with toothbrush and put back in after 20 minutes. 1 hour and 50 minutes out of my mouth so far.

6:30 PM - Dinner. Invisalign out and into glass of plain water.

7:00 PM - After dinner, quick brush and back in. 2 hours and 2o minutes out of mouth.

Bedtime - I remove them again simply to brush my teeth really well (using Sonic Care toothbrush this time), floss, clean aligners and put them back in. This takes about 10 minutes. That means I'm wearing the aligners for a grand total of 21 hours, 40 minutes a day. That's about the best I can do, and it seems pretty up to par. We'll see. I'll keep you posted.

Silly Facts:

• I remove the aligners 6 times a day.
• I floss 3 times a day.
• I brush about 6 times a day.
• I miss sipping coffee throughout the day.
• Dessert is not worth it.

Week 1 Invisalign

Now that I'm 5 days in, I thought I'd update with a few first impressions. So far, I am very pleased with how the trays feel. I can't complain at all. I understand that the actual movement of my teeth at this point is minimal (they will kick into gear with attachments and all), but I'm most impressed with how wonderfully the aligners conform to my mouth. When I first inserted the top tray, I noticed that it seemed a little "bulkier", for lack of a better word, on my upper left, back molars. It bothered me when speaking for the first two days, because I'd almost bump those molars with my bottom ones while forming some sounds. The interesting thing is, today, I've noticed it doesn't feel as pronounced. I don't know if that's just because I've become desensitized to it and am speaking around it, or if the trays have softened up, and my teeth are fitting better in them. The real test will be the start of Tray 2. We'll see. Here are a couple of notes about the first few days of Invisalign.

HAPPY:

1. Little to no pain. Most uncomfortable when removing trays (especially bottom teeth, which are more visibly crooked) the first two days of the new trays.

2. No real gum, lip, or mouth irritation.

3. No bad breath or foul smelling retainers yet (I soak in Retainer Brite once every morning during breakfast, and I brush the aligners with an extra soft toothbrush and mild dish soap whenever putting them back into my mouth).

4. No one mentions them or gives me funny looks. A few of my students have given me what I'm calling the "what's with the lisp eye", but I find the lisp fading FAST. Remember, this is only day 5. I've told several people, and they've all been amazed, because they can't see anything...nothing!

5. No problems sleeping. When first waking up, I don't even remember that they're there.

6. Unlike other people, I've had no notable dry mouth. I guess I'm just lucky. I do drink a lot of water as a regular habit, but really...dry mouth has not been a side effect.

NOT EXACTLY ECSTATIC:

1. Brushing/flossing at work and cleaning the trays to get them back in during a 30 minute, high school lunch break (I teach) is not the best. You might laugh, but I made a little "retainer cleaner" by buying a small, refillable spray bottle for my purse. I mixed clear Listerine and water in there. I find the retainer to still be pretty spic and span when I remove it for lunch, since I've brushed & flossed and only had water since putting it in after breakfast. I do a quick teeth brushing after I've eaten and then spray the retainers with the cleaner only. I rinse them well, and they're perfect for the rest of the day. Seems good enough for work, and it saves me from having to brush clean my aligners in the faculty bathroom. Once I'm home, I have some afternoon coffee & a snack, then give both my teeth and trays a more thorough cleaning before putting them back in till dinner. I'm a flossing freak in the morning and before bed.

2. I'm paranoid about losing the aligners. I refuse to set them on paper towel, napkins, etc., so I'm very careful to always put them in their case. I plan to buy extra cases, because keeping one in my purse is handy, one on the kitchen counter, one in my bedroom, office, etc. would be good. I can't see myself accidentally throwing away a retainer case, but I can definitely see my dog, who loves to chew ANYTHING plastic, getting a hold of a paper towel or napkin any day.

That's it! More soon. :)

Invisalign Tray 1 - First Day of Wear

I've been wearing Trays 1 of 20 for both upper and bottom for about 24 hours now, and so far, I have no major complaints! Yay, I'm optimistic that this will continue, but I'm also trying to be on the lookout for any tongue irritation or gum sores.

I saw my ortho at 9:00 yesterday morning, and he took me through inserting and removing the trays. When he first popped them into my mouth, my first thought was, "Wow! They fit amazingly well. I immediately and instinctively ran my tongue along the upper teeth (inside) and was truly amazed at how smooth the aligners felt. I can BARELY distinguish the inside edge of the aligner up there. It feels as though it seamlessly ends exactly where my teeth meet gumline.

I'm not sure if it's the way my tongue moves, but I can detect a little bit more of an edge along the inside bottom. Nothing bothers me, though. It doesn't feel to be pinching or pushing on my gums at all, so that's great.

I took the aligners out for two meals yesterday (lunch and dinner), so they were out of my mouth for about an hour total. I feel mild discomfort (more so on the bottom), and it's really only uncomfortable when removing the trays (because of the added pressure). Taking them out is a cinch (my ortho warned it will be more challenging after buttons are added), and I can put them back in without a mirror. Easy!

They are SNUG, and I can definitely feel them working. After putting them back in, it's VERY noticeable for about 5 minutes, then you just dismiss the feeling. I've only popped 3 Advils the entire time, and that was mainly because I was feeling anxious and getting a slight headache doing work stuff.

A sidenote, about 3 hours after my ortho appointment yesterday morning, I saw my dad for the first time in a while. I didn't say anything to him at first, and he did not notice anything with my teeth, but he gave me a "look" about my speech. I explained, and he was dumbfounded (good!). He was thrilled and said my teeth look great. I think the 2 hours we spent (with me talking a ton!) was great for getting me adjusted to any speech obstacles. It's been very minimal, though.

At this point, I'm a happy camper. Brushing and flossing right after eating is the biggest adjustment. I'm keeping an eye on the inside of my lower lip, because if there is any soreness, it's there, from rubbing against the bottom of the lower aligner. Any rough spots can be gently filed though, or you can use dental wax. This has not been necessary for me. :)

My ortho did give me some "chewies" which are silicone rolls (they look like cotton rolls) to chew on for the first couple of days of a new set of trays. Chewing on them helps to "push" the aligners snugly onto the teeth. When I used those yesterday, they helped to noticeably close the tiny extra space at the top of aligner (in other words, they pushed the aligners down fully onto the teeth). You may be able to see a little of the space in the above picture of me wearing the trays.

So...we'll see how day 2 goes. Thanks for reading!

GoSmile Teeth Whitening

Tomorrow is the day! I have a 9:00am ortho appointment to pick up my first two set of trays. Hopefully, it goes smoothly, and removing them is not too tough to start. My first day of school is Monday, so I'll only have two days to get used to them and hopefully overcome any speech impediment they cause before I have to talk/teach all day long. That is the part I'm most nervous about. If somehow, they cause soreness on my tongue or cheek, I'm anxious about how that will affect work and my comfort level throughout the days. The start of a new school year with 100 new students is stressful enough, if my mouth is in pain, I may be one grouchy, whiney baby. We'll see.

So, because I am scheduled to get 8 attachments week 6, I've been trying to get my teeth their whitest now. My thinking is, my ortho said the attachments will be matched to tooth color, so I'd prefer those big, honkin grain of rice looking babies to be shiny white if I can help it. I've tried a lot of different whitening products over the years. Everything from: Crest White Strips, Rembrandt strips, white gels, trays from the drugstore, mouthwashes, etc., but my absolute favorite is a whitening system called GoSmile. I've always purchased it from my local Sephora, and it's incredible. The thing I love most about GoSmile is that there are no strips or trays you have to wear...AT ALL. It comes with 14 ampules (little tubes you crack, which then allow the whitening serum to be activated) and I experience ZERO tooth or gum sensitivity when I use them. The best part is...they whiten my teeth big time and it lasts!

My teeth may be crooked and uneven, but they've been very white for the past 5 years since I discovered GoSmile. Even my dentist and ortho ask how often I get my teeth professionally whitened, because they can't believe how white they are. They are always shocked when I tell them about GoSmile. I typically use it every 6 months or so, because it's pretty pricey at $89.00, but a box of Crest strips is almost $40, and I hardly notice a lasting difference with those, so that's how I justify the price. They're well worth it in my opinion.

I will definitely post tomorrow with how tray 1 is feeling. Have a wonderful weekend.

Shopping - Which I do well...

So, because I'm in the very early stages of Invisalign, I did a ton of research online, trying to find out what I should have on hand for when I start actually wearing the trays. I decided to order the following items just to be safe...and also because I'm a worrier like that.

1. Retainer Brite - A soak for the aligners which will clean, deodorize, and brighten the trays. I bought a three month supply on Amazon.com. If you're interested, here is the link.

I know there is some talk about the danger of discoloring the trays by using soak for them, but my ortho said Retainer Brite is great. I plan to soak the trays while I eat breakfast every day and then lightly brush them clean/spot brush where needed. The Retainer Brite is supposed to be great at keeping any odor away and keeping the trays crystal clear. I don't like the idea of intensely brushing the trays every day, as I can imagine that would scratch them and potentially make them foggy and therefore more visible in my mouth.

2. Outie hooks - A plastic tool with a lever on one end and hook on the other, used to remove the trays if they're stubborn or tightly attached due to buttons or attachments.

I bought a few of these just to have them on hand. I am scheduled to have "buttons" or attachments applied around week 6 of treatment. I've read that many patients struggle to remove their trays after buttons are attached because they cause the aligners to fit VERY snugly. These hooks are supposedly a miracle-worker. Let's hope so.

Here is the link I used to buy my Outies.

3. Lots of floss and small toothbrushes for my purse at work. I had fun in the trial/mini size aisle at Target. Well, really...let's be honest. I have fun wherever I go in Target. It's amazing. Too amazing sometimes.

4. SmartMouth Mouthwash to help with bad breath from wearing the trays in general. Okay, so I have not seen SmartMouth recommended on any Invisalign experience blogs, but let me tell you...it is an all-time favorite, miracle worker of a product for me. It has been in my medicine cabinet for about 2 years now, and I do not ever plan to be without it. I have nightmares about this product disappearing from stores...seriously. So, SmartMouth is very unique, because it does not contain any alcohol, and it does not work as a traditional mouthwash does. A regular mouthwash kills the bacteria in your mouth for 30 minutes to an hour, but SmartMouth simply wipes out the bacteria's ability to eat or produce odor.

I swear by this stuff and know it will become even more invaluable once I'm wearing aligners all day. I plan to swish both morning and night. Please, read up on this stuff if you're interested. I buy mine whenever I'm at Target. I have also seen it at Walgreens, and I believe it's at Rite Aid, too! It's easy to find and really worth the extra few dollars. It blows Scope, Listerine, Act, Crest, etc. out of the water. Really. Click here if you're interested in reading up on SmartMouth.

My Invisalign Clin-Check Videos

Here are the animations Invisalign provided for my treatment. It is pretty amazing to see how recognizable and undeniably detailed the invisalign animations are. They're my teeth to the T. I said nothing to my mom one day as I showed her the first ClinCheck video on my laptop, and she said, "Woah! Those are your teeth on there!!" while pointing at the screen.

If you have not read my post below about getting started and the initial appointments, the gum tissue does not fully respond in the videos as it will in real life. After seeing the animations, I was generally pleased with the improvements, but was obviously concerned about the still crooked gum tissue. My ortho explained that it will move with the teeth, and even if there is still excess tissue on the left front tooth, it can be trimmed very easily.

It's not very obvious from this view but my front tooth (right front in this animation) is not only crooked but also juts out significantly. Check the side view video (3rd here) to see what I mean. I'm interested to see how quickly this tooth is noticeably pulled in. My primary concerns from this view are the tooth I just mentioned, the tooth just to the right of my right front tooth which needs to be pushed out, and then the overall widening of the arch if possible. This is confusing, I know. Basically, pay attention to the big front tooth on the right, and the tooth to the right of the front tooth. They have some serious work to do. Got it?

I like this view. It makes my teeth look pretty

decent to start with. Ignorance is bliss, huh?

In this video, I'm excited to see the pokey,

upper tooth being pulled in.

Initial Appointments - Be Ready to Wait and Wait Some More...

So far, if there is one thing I can advise anyone interested in starting Invisalign treatment at a specific time to do, it would be to start your research three months ago. Let me explain...

I had been contemplating Invisalign for several months over the past year. I researched online, read several blogs, and even visited a forum of Invisalign patients. Taking both the good and bad experiences into consideration, I decided it sounded like the best plan for me.

Because I teach, I thought early June would be ideal to begin visiting the orthodontist I'd chosen in order to get started. In my "brilliant" plan, I'd have nearly three months off to get started, adjust, and then return to work with my teeth straightening out in their perfect aligner trays. Now, I wasn't naive enough to think I was only going to visit the orthodontist once, and then POOF, the next day I'd have trays in hand, but I did not anticipate nearly two and half months of dead time while I wait for the magic. Here is the basic timeline of how my Invisalign treatment has come to fruition:

June 16, 2011 - Meeting the Orthodontist

I visited the orthodontist I selected for an initial consultation. We met for approximately 45 minutes. He took x-rays of my mouth, did an initial, visual inspection of my teeth and then explained treatment options.

I expressed my desire for Invisalign, explaining that with my job and because of my prior orthodontic experiences, I don't desire to go the traditional, metal route. He understood completely and agreed that Invisalign is a solid option for me, while still explaining that it will NOT completely correct the bite issues I have, nor the other technical issues he sees in my mouth. I expressed the "cosmetic" priority I wish to see addressed, and he both honestly and realistically explained what benefits I can expect from Invisalign. I was cautiously optimistic.

I was given an initial cost and time estimate for treatment. I was still excited...then, I was told I'd need to set up a "records" appointment. This would be the session where they would actually take detailed molds of my teeth in order to send them to the Invisalign Lab and decide on a treatment plan.

Okay, great. We set a date for about three weeks from that day. The reason being, I had just had a six month cleaning at my dentist, and I had two cavities I needed filled. My ortho was serious about me getting those filled BEFORE any molds were taken, because the aligners need to fit just right, and you don't want to run the risk that the fillings or work done will in some minute way change the structure of the tooth and the way the trays sit on them.

So...off to the dentist I went.

July 11, 2011 - Records Appointment ...aka...Try Not To Gag

(Note: This was the first appointment I was required to pay a fee for. I was charged $290 for a "records" fee. This guaranteed payment for the molds and initial assessment from Invisalign. If I decided not to pursue treatment, that would have been the only money I paid.)

At this appointment, I had several (about 15) photos taken of my teeth. For some, my ortho used lip retractors in order to get very detailed photos of my teeth and gums. It was not painful at all, and he explained every picture he took.

Then, we moved to the chair for molds. The regular (study) mold was taken. A tray (one for my upper and bottom teeth) was filled with a puddy or goo-like substance and inserted (first the upper, then the lower) for about 45 seconds each. That was a piece of cake. I believe those will be kept by my ortho for his own study and records.

After that, the Invisalign molds were taken. They were very similar to the standard mold, except that a special neon-colored gel was added to the top of the puddy just before it was inserted in my mouth. I did not notice a significant difference; the only tricky part is that these molds must remain in your mouth for about 3 to 3 1/2 minutes. The assistant helping me was great about keeping me calm, and she allowed me to lean forward when I began to panic about choking at one point. The upper set was more difficult for me, because the roof of my mouth (top/back of throat) was irritated and causing me to "think" I was about to choke. It truly is mind over matter, but overall, I did not gag, and they said I did great. Who knows..they're so nice, I'm sure they tell everyone that. :)

We had to do the top trays 3 times! My ortho wanted it to be absolutely perfect. Remember, your Invisalign aligners and how they fit depend on the molds, so I did not mind redoing them. If there was a tiny bubble, or it seemed like a tooth did not fully mold, he redid them. I appreciated this attention to detail. My gag reflex however...that was a different story.

Overall, if you've read horror stories about Invisalign mold appointments, don't sweat it. It was 30 minutes and not painful at all. I would just define it as uncomfortable because of the choke worry. A few Tips:

1. Be ready to lean forward in case you sense goo sliding back or down your throat. It is thick and will stop in its tracks if you lean forward. This will stop the gagging.

2. Stay calm and don't try to talk.

3. Breathe through your nose.

4. Re-schedule the appointment if you're sick with a cold or severely congested.

Okay, so once we were done, I left and was told the Invisalign lab would send my ortho a detailed "ClinCheck" - Clinical Check - of my teeth after they created a treatment plan. This means, they would provide animations of how my teeth would be moved into alignment. I would also know exactly how many trays on my upper and lower teeth would be needed, thus determining the exact length of my treatment.

Great, we scheduled an appointment for two weeks from that day (it generally takes 7-10 business days) my ortho explained.

July 28, 2011 - ClinCheck Appointment. This was an exciting appointment. I sat down in my Orthodontist's office, and he showed me the animations Invisalign sent him. He also e-mailed them to me, so I could share them with family. I believe it's also important to note that your orthodontist works actively in determining the Invisalign treatment. He explained that he requested a few changes to their initial assessment, added a few "buttons", which are tooth colored nobs attached to the teeth to help tweak the teeth as they move in the trays, and added a few notes. This was key in me deciding who I wanted to pursue treatment with. I'm not completely convinced that every dentist offering Invisalign is as well versed in orthodontia as need be, but that's a whole different post, isn't it?

There were detailed views of my teeth, moving into straighter position from both the front-on, side, and occlusal views. Check the post above for my Invisalign ClinCheck videos. My ortho explained that even though the gum tissue on the upper teeth does not appear "fixed" at the end, I should not worry. He said it's not as easy for Invisalign to determine how the gingival tissue will respond as it is to align the teeth. He explained that once we have the teeth straight, if there is still excess gum tissue on the top, he will recommend a periodontist and "trimming", done with a laser, can easily correct that. I was ecstatic. At this point, he anticipates 20 trays for the upper and lower, worn for two weeks each, which equals about 9 and a half months of treatment.

Then, refinement trays may be necessary, but he doesn't see the entire thing lasting more than 16-18 months. I decided at that point to sign away. I was then committed to payment and treatment. In my mind, the magic Invisalign robot was frantically busy making my trays. Yay! ;)

We set up an appointment for approximately 10-12 business days from then in order to actually fit my first set of trays...we're getting closer.

For an interesting and informative video on the Invisalign mold process, click here.

For a great video on how Invisalign trays are made, click here.

August 13, 2011 - Invisalign Delivery Day

I've been told this will be a quick (15 minutes or less) appointment, where my ortho will help me put on my first set of trays and practice removing them. We'll see.

So, in conclusion, here's the kicker...I start work on Monday, August 15. Remember the beauty in my plan, a whole two months to adjust and get started before going back to school and talking all day...yeah, that's not going to happen. But, it's okay. I'll figure it out, and I'll detail it all, so that it can hopefully help you.

Please post any comments or questions below. Thanks!

About Me

Hi Everyone!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. My name is Shannon and I am 27 years old. I live in Southern California and enjoy working as an English literature teacher. I previously had traditional, metal braces in my early teens (my teeth were severely overcrowded and crooked), and after several years of treatment, was somewhat satisfied with the vast improvements to my teeth. Unfortunately, I stopped treatment early due to finances and an overall exhaustion with the process. Now, almost 12 years after I removed my metal braces, I've decided to give Invisalign a shot at fixing my teeth for good.

I've never been confident in my appearance because of my teeth/smile, and I'm excited to see how Invisalign can help. I hope this blog will be both informative and entertaining, helping anyone out there to better understand what to expect if you too are considering Invisalign.

A few things about me:

• I have two maltese dogs. One is a 3 year old boy named Charlie and then there's Mia, a 4 month old girl. I love them to pieces...they are such a highlight in every day.

• I'm deathly afraid of spiders. They terrify me.
• I love dolphins.
• I hate ice cream...really.
• I could live on pasta and pizza alone, oh, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
• The beach is my favorite place.
• I drink way too much coffee throughout the day, and I'm not sure how I'm going to survive with trays in my mouth.
• I have a lip gloss addiction.
• I read constantly.
• I write...a lot.
• I love candles.

Thanks so much!

Shannon