Okay, so when I wrote the post on attachments I only had my trays in for a few hours - not enough time to really know how I was going to feel. I have decided (purely in my own mind nothing scientific) that 19 attachments means multiplying the new tray pain by 19. My whole head and face hurt and I could hardly bare to chew anything harder than applesauce. By dinner time my new trays had triggered a migraine and I ended up taking some serious pain killers in hopes of sleeping it off.
The good news is that by morning, I felt 10 times better and was able to cope through the rest of the pain without anything stronger than OTC meds. Now, 4 days later, my teeth still ache and a couple actually hurt. Plus, I have taken again to using my home repair kit to fix some hot spots and doctor some mouth injuries. Wax and I know each other on a first name basis now.
I also find that they trays remain difficult to remove. I actually dread taking them out. And a couple of times I actually ate with my aligners in just because I couldn't bare to put myself through taking them out. I also find that I am very deliberate about what and when I eat right now (that could end up being a good thing, who knows?). Thankfully, putting the trays in isn't an issue. This whole experience has given me new empathy for my son with his contacts.
This leads me to a singular conclusion - on new tray days I will wait to put my new trays in until after dinner and take precautionary OTC pain medicine to help buffer the discomfort. It is my hope that I will sleep through most of the discomfort and wake up in the morning able to cope with the pressure. Hopefully that will work....
Friday, May 23, 2014
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Week 3 - Attachments and New Trays
Today was the big day – my
first follow up appointment which means I got my attachments.
Originally the ladies in the office estimated that
the visit would take about 30 minutes. Ummm…. not so much – closer to 2 hours!
I entered at 9, left at quarter to 11. So, ya. a bit longer than expected.
What are attachments?
The purpose of
the attachments as was explained to me is that some teeth are
more difficult to move than others. Attachments allow the aligner to apply extra pressure to the
teeth and force the root to move into a new position in the arch. The Invisalign
website offers some additional info about the purpose of attachments. But essentially,
that’s the reason.
How do they put them on?
I knew I was going in to get “composite”
today. Admittedly I had no clue what that really meant. For whatever reason, I
made up in my head that the dentist was going to apply some bumps or ridges to
my trays and file a few things then pat me on my head and send me on my way. I
couldn’t have been more mistaken.
As I said, I spent nearly 2 hours in
the chair with the Jennifer the RDA who is worth her weight in gold. Whatever
she is paid isn’t enough since she has to put up with me. Jennifer applied
little tooth-colored cement bumps to the front side of my teeth. This is what they refer to as “attachments”.
Seriously,
the attachments remind me of little thorns
sticking off my teeth. The feel funny but don’t hurt. They are
challenging to
see unless you are looking for them. The camera does not capture the
images too
well – which in reality is a good thing. But you will get the point.
Plus, I have a lot more than what are visible in these images.
The reason my appointment
took nearly 2 hours was that I ended up with 19 attachments! Jennifer said that
this was the most she had applied on a single patient. Yikes!
Now,
that doesn’t mean I
have attachments on 19 teeth. Actually, some teeth have two attachments,
others
just one. Thankfully, I do not have any on my two front teeth. Likewise,
I am
thankful that the bonding material was a close match to my teeth color.
Ifs the color did not match, then the attachments would be more visible.
I won’t lie to you. The
installing of the attachments isn’t very fun. The chemicals that are used taste
bitter. And if you have sensitive teeth or any gum erosion like me, at time it zings
your nerves.
But
this is where a really good RDA comes in handy. Jennifer was
incredibly patient with me and took my constant moaning about
everything. Her willingness to go at a pace I could handle was probably
the main
reason that my appointment took so long. Had she pushed or been more
assertive
with me, I would have been miserable. Thankfully that did not happen.
And there
is a bright point. While it isn't pleasent, it's not so bad as to
require the use of needles.
Now, for some good
news. Generally speaking, this part of the process is a one-time deal. They may need to adjust
individual attachments along the way, but as long as everything goes according
to plan, I won’t need to go through this again. This is not something I would
want to endure every couple of weeks.
There is one minor caveat, should
we decide any refinement needs to be done after the process is complete, then attachments
may need to be done again, but to what degree would depend on what needs to be
refined.
Also,
I want to point out that if one of the attachments falls off, that
means that I will need to call in right away to get a new one put on.
Why? Because a missing attachment means the aligner won't be able to do
its job. Hopefully that won't happen, but I felt it was worth the
mention.
How do the new trays fit?
Okay, so now you are
undoubtedly wondering how this changes the fit, look, and feel of the trays. In
my opinion, the trays are slightly more noticeable because they are not as
smooth as before. The trays now have protrusions which are there to accommodate
the attachments making the trays more noticeable. As you can tell from the
image, the difference is minor.
The
other thing to point
out is that with the new attachments the trays are incredibly more
difficult to get
out. They are much tighter than before. I find that I really need to be
comfortable
applying some force to the trays to remove them. I am also guessing that
the more attachments in your mouth, the tighter the trays. But that's
just my guess.
I
am told that the aligners will
loosen up after a few days - which I know does happen based on the last
two weeks. However, I suspect that each new set of trays will likely be a
similar experience of tight then eventually looser. It’s
just part of the process.
At
the moment, I doubt that I could remove the aligners
without looking in the mirror, if that give you any indication of how
challenging they are right now. So, I will need to make allowances when
at work
or in public.
My progress so far...
My progress so far is
shown below. I certainly have a long way to go, but the images do show some
movement in the teeth, which is encouraging.
What's next?
As for what happens now –
well, I was given 2 sets of trays – my new set and my next. I will wear these
for 2 weeks and the next for two weeks again. That means I follow up with the
dentist in a month.
From that point, I should only need to visit the dentist
after 3 or 4 sets of aligners (aka 6-8 weeks). I am told my appointment times will average
about 15 minutes unless there are adjustments that need to be made to the
attachments or the aligner trays.
I
also verified how many sets of tray I have. I have 35 sets to go. At 2
weeks per set, that means about 70 weeks of treatment until completion.
Of course this assumes that all my teeth cooperate and that there are no
hiccups along the way. If that;s the case, then I should finish by
September 2015.
In
addition to the 35 sets, I have the possibility of needing/wanting to
refine my smile. This means that if something isn't quite to my or my
dentist's liking, then I have 5 sets of refinement trays that will allow
us to polish the smile to perfection. But these are optional.
All in all, it sounds pretty great to me! In the mean time, I will keep you posted on my progress.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Week 2 - Progress and Affording Your New Smile
Week 2 Progress
Well, it seems the second week is off to a good start. The pressure in my trays is less. I still notice that my trays get tight again after removing them for even a short time. My lower tray slips of easily, but when I put them back on the teeth feel the more pressure than with my upper tray. On the upper tray I really have to force them off now. They were much easier to insert last week. However, once in I don't notice much difference in pressure, especially compared to the lower.
I no longer need to use my Home Kit (aka Wax, Orajel, and nail file) to treat my mouth sores. So, that's a relief. And the stink issue I noticed towards the end of the first week seems to have been resolved by dunking the trays in denture cleaner during dinner. YAY!
So, I think that I'm settling into the journey easily enough. I just not that pumped up about the length of the ride. Sigh. But like it was when I started my Master's degree, the beginning feels far from the end. Now with over a year under my belt and only two semesters left, I can see light at the end of the tunnel and am looking forward to reaching my destination. I can only assume my Invisalign experience will be the same.
Affording Your New Smile
As you know this is a BIG ticket item. I mentioned earlier that my Invisalign is costing upwards of $5500+. And for me, I don't have any orthodontic dental insurance. This means all of the costs of treatment land in my wallet - and my wallet didn't have the cash to cover the expense.
But I didn't let that stop me. I negotiated with my dentist on how to make it happen. We worked out that if I put half down upfront that the office would float me the rest in monthly payments provided I was paid in full prior to end of my service or two years (which ever came first). Okay, so that meant my upfront costs were half of what I expected.
Only problem was that I didn't have the down payment and felt there was some urgency that prevented me from waiting and saving the money. I kicked my self hard in the butt for not signing up for my employer's Section 125 plan which would have certainly covered the expense. But I will make sure that I do so in the future. If you have a 125 plan, this is something for you to look into.
That left me to figure out how to cover my down on my own. My credit card's interest and my balance at the time was topped out - so that was out. Besides, I'd rather save my available balance for emergencies rather than expenses. I considered my Visa a last resort.
Fortunately, my dentist shared an alternative option. They accept Care Credit. Never heard of it? I hadn't either. Well, it's really pretty cool. It's a credit account specifically designed to cover medical, dental, cosmetic, and veterinary (yes, like for your dog) expenses. You apply for it like any credit card or loan and there is an approval process and interest associated with the funding. But there are also short term, no interest financing options available as incentives.
There is one BIG catch to Care Credit. Although you are given a "credit card" if you are approved, it's not like a regular visa or master card. It's more like the old store specific credit cards. Not every dental provider accepts it. I tried to use it at the emergency room when my son had an accident and discovered that it didn't work.
If you are looking for financing options, it's certainly worth inquiring about. Even if your dentist doesn't accept it now, perhaps you can convince them to sign up as a provider. The important thing is to ask you dentist how other people do it. Undoubtedly they will give you suggestions on what might be available to you.
Well, it seems the second week is off to a good start. The pressure in my trays is less. I still notice that my trays get tight again after removing them for even a short time. My lower tray slips of easily, but when I put them back on the teeth feel the more pressure than with my upper tray. On the upper tray I really have to force them off now. They were much easier to insert last week. However, once in I don't notice much difference in pressure, especially compared to the lower.
I no longer need to use my Home Kit (aka Wax, Orajel, and nail file) to treat my mouth sores. So, that's a relief. And the stink issue I noticed towards the end of the first week seems to have been resolved by dunking the trays in denture cleaner during dinner. YAY!
So, I think that I'm settling into the journey easily enough. I just not that pumped up about the length of the ride. Sigh. But like it was when I started my Master's degree, the beginning feels far from the end. Now with over a year under my belt and only two semesters left, I can see light at the end of the tunnel and am looking forward to reaching my destination. I can only assume my Invisalign experience will be the same.
Affording Your New Smile
As you know this is a BIG ticket item. I mentioned earlier that my Invisalign is costing upwards of $5500+. And for me, I don't have any orthodontic dental insurance. This means all of the costs of treatment land in my wallet - and my wallet didn't have the cash to cover the expense.
But I didn't let that stop me. I negotiated with my dentist on how to make it happen. We worked out that if I put half down upfront that the office would float me the rest in monthly payments provided I was paid in full prior to end of my service or two years (which ever came first). Okay, so that meant my upfront costs were half of what I expected.
Only problem was that I didn't have the down payment and felt there was some urgency that prevented me from waiting and saving the money. I kicked my self hard in the butt for not signing up for my employer's Section 125 plan which would have certainly covered the expense. But I will make sure that I do so in the future. If you have a 125 plan, this is something for you to look into.
That left me to figure out how to cover my down on my own. My credit card's interest and my balance at the time was topped out - so that was out. Besides, I'd rather save my available balance for emergencies rather than expenses. I considered my Visa a last resort.
Fortunately, my dentist shared an alternative option. They accept Care Credit. Never heard of it? I hadn't either. Well, it's really pretty cool. It's a credit account specifically designed to cover medical, dental, cosmetic, and veterinary (yes, like for your dog) expenses. You apply for it like any credit card or loan and there is an approval process and interest associated with the funding. But there are also short term, no interest financing options available as incentives.
There is one BIG catch to Care Credit. Although you are given a "credit card" if you are approved, it's not like a regular visa or master card. It's more like the old store specific credit cards. Not every dental provider accepts it. I tried to use it at the emergency room when my son had an accident and discovered that it didn't work.
If you are looking for financing options, it's certainly worth inquiring about. Even if your dentist doesn't accept it now, perhaps you can convince them to sign up as a provider. The important thing is to ask you dentist how other people do it. Undoubtedly they will give you suggestions on what might be available to you.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Week 1 Progress (Part 2)
Okay, so I got a bit long winded last post and I left out something really important that you probably need to know. I never discussed what they look like when they are on. I am guessing that's really worth knowing.
Here are some of my "before images". Technically it's week 1 because I didn't do any official before shots, but I guess this is close enough for the miniscule movement one would expect only after 7 days.
As I said, they are similar to bleaching trays minus all the extra oozy goo. They fit so closely to your teeth that it's really difficult to see them unless you are inspecting my mouth or know what to look for. My kids and husband didn't even notice them until I popped them out at the dinner table the first night to show them off. Half the time my husband doesn't even notice them and has to ask if I'm wearing them.
I do notice a slight lisp, especially when they were new or when they have been out for more than a couple of minutes. But it diminishes quickly and isn't anything to become obsessed over. I'm a teacher, so my voice is my instrument. I need to feel comfortable talking and I feel pretty good about it.
I also feel it's worth mentioning that I can kiss my husband without him noticing that the trays are in. He reports that my teeth feel normal. I was a bit concerned about that. And if your know my back story, I absolutely could not kiss him with the Nitanium device in place, and quite frankly, I didn't feel much like kissing with it in either. I am confident wearing my Invisalign trays around my hubby and feel like that aspect of our life will go on as normal. I will say that I do notice my trays when I kiss him. So take that for what you will and prepare accordingly.
I haven't said anything to anyone about getting Invisalign just to see how people would react. So far not a single person has said anything. So that suggests to me that the trays are as invisible as I think they are and the company claims.
As week one comes to a close, I will say that I am feeling hopeful. I am not sure how fast the trays will work on my stubborn teeth. My dentist claims that each tray set is a 2 week cycle. I mention this because my trays are still feeling snug (okay, tight) on my teeth. I would think by the end of the first week that I would notice some pressure reduction, but I can't say that I notice much - at least not yet. But It's still early. I'm a bit anxious about what the extended visit next week will bring. But I will find out soon enough.
Thanks for checking in! Certainly more to come.
Cori
As I said, they are similar to bleaching trays minus all the extra oozy goo. They fit so closely to your teeth that it's really difficult to see them unless you are inspecting my mouth or know what to look for. My kids and husband didn't even notice them until I popped them out at the dinner table the first night to show them off. Half the time my husband doesn't even notice them and has to ask if I'm wearing them.
My Week 1 Trays You can see the tilt of the upper molars and see how narrow the upper palate is compared to the lower. |
Notice the change in bite compared to the previous picture It is much less deep here with the trays than naturally. |
I do notice a slight lisp, especially when they were new or when they have been out for more than a couple of minutes. But it diminishes quickly and isn't anything to become obsessed over. I'm a teacher, so my voice is my instrument. I need to feel comfortable talking and I feel pretty good about it.
I also feel it's worth mentioning that I can kiss my husband without him noticing that the trays are in. He reports that my teeth feel normal. I was a bit concerned about that. And if your know my back story, I absolutely could not kiss him with the Nitanium device in place, and quite frankly, I didn't feel much like kissing with it in either. I am confident wearing my Invisalign trays around my hubby and feel like that aspect of our life will go on as normal. I will say that I do notice my trays when I kiss him. So take that for what you will and prepare accordingly.
I haven't said anything to anyone about getting Invisalign just to see how people would react. So far not a single person has said anything. So that suggests to me that the trays are as invisible as I think they are and the company claims.
As week one comes to a close, I will say that I am feeling hopeful. I am not sure how fast the trays will work on my stubborn teeth. My dentist claims that each tray set is a 2 week cycle. I mention this because my trays are still feeling snug (okay, tight) on my teeth. I would think by the end of the first week that I would notice some pressure reduction, but I can't say that I notice much - at least not yet. But It's still early. I'm a bit anxious about what the extended visit next week will bring. But I will find out soon enough.
Thanks for checking in! Certainly more to come.
Cori
Week 1 Progress (Part 1)
So, I'm starting the blog a week into my experience. I officially received my first set of trays on last Tuesday, May 6th. I commented when I saw them of how much they look like traditional bleaching trays. However, they fit differently. Unlike bleaching trays, Invisalign trays fit much tighter and put pressure on the teeth (presumably to move them).
My visit took less than 10 minutes. I was shown how to them and how to care for them. I also discovered that I have nearly 40 trays (I am uncertain if that means 40 different individual sets of trays or 40 sets - I will inquire next week when I go back).
Here's the scoop on what they told me in the office. My first set of trays is my starter set and will move my teeth, but is more for me to get used to them. So, I can only guess that what ever discomfort I encounter during the two weeks between visits will be minimal comparatively. I go back two weeks from my initial visit to sit in the chair for about 30 minutes. The dentist will apply composite (I am guessing that's the official term for goo and cement) to the trays and this is when the real works begins.
I must wear the trays for AT LEAST 22 hours a day and should only take the trays out to eat or drink anything that will stain the trays. Care for the trays is like caring for your teeth or other dental appliances and requires brushing (duh). And I should limit drinks that stain such as coffee and tea or at least attempt to drink through a straw. The literature says no denture cleanser, just brush with a soft brush. Simple enough to follow.
So, I got sent home with a pat on the head and a starter kit that basically contained a red and a blue case. The blue case if for your current set of trays. The red for your previous set of trays. I was told to keep all my old trays in a baggie when they are retired. Not sure why, but I will do it.
Now, for the straight talk - I am sure you know that Ortho is not cheap. My procedure is about $5500+ and this about average for my region. I expected for that price tag that the appliances would be flawless and have no rough or pointy edges. However, this isn't the case. By the next morning my tongue, cheek and lip experienced some hot spots and sores. I discovered that this is a common issue, and fortunately easily remedied with a nail file, dental wax, and Orajel (aka: the home care kit).
I filed off the pointy and sharp bits on my own. Applied wax to the spot that were irritated to give them a break and supplemented with Orajel and some Tylenol. Problem solved. By day 3 I was good to go. Now I store a dental took kit in my night stand for future use and will file down edges of new trays before wear or as soon as I notice any irritation.
I am a week into my first trays and have already noticed movement. Likewise I notice that if I keep my trays out much longer than 20ish minutes, I notice the pressure when I put them back on. So, I happen to think that the 22 hour guidelines are on the liberal side rather than the conservative. My teeth are tender, but not unbearable.
The other thing I noticed was that I seem to have stinkier breath. I brush my teeth (and trays) now more than ever before (after every meal and snack), but my breath stinks and my trays are pretty rank. Tonight I am breaking the rules and will soak my trays in denture cleaner during dinner to see if I can combat the odor. I would rather not spend the next two years with the breath of 1000 dragons.
So, all in all, I feel that I'm off to a good start. I will add some photos of my trays and "before" smile so that you can better see what is happening.
Thanks for stopping by!
Cori
Update: I just tried the denture cleanser and it seemed to have done the trick! YAY! No more stinky.
My visit took less than 10 minutes. I was shown how to them and how to care for them. I also discovered that I have nearly 40 trays (I am uncertain if that means 40 different individual sets of trays or 40 sets - I will inquire next week when I go back).
Here's the scoop on what they told me in the office. My first set of trays is my starter set and will move my teeth, but is more for me to get used to them. So, I can only guess that what ever discomfort I encounter during the two weeks between visits will be minimal comparatively. I go back two weeks from my initial visit to sit in the chair for about 30 minutes. The dentist will apply composite (I am guessing that's the official term for goo and cement) to the trays and this is when the real works begins.
I must wear the trays for AT LEAST 22 hours a day and should only take the trays out to eat or drink anything that will stain the trays. Care for the trays is like caring for your teeth or other dental appliances and requires brushing (duh). And I should limit drinks that stain such as coffee and tea or at least attempt to drink through a straw. The literature says no denture cleanser, just brush with a soft brush. Simple enough to follow.
So, I got sent home with a pat on the head and a starter kit that basically contained a red and a blue case. The blue case if for your current set of trays. The red for your previous set of trays. I was told to keep all my old trays in a baggie when they are retired. Not sure why, but I will do it.
Now, for the straight talk - I am sure you know that Ortho is not cheap. My procedure is about $5500+ and this about average for my region. I expected for that price tag that the appliances would be flawless and have no rough or pointy edges. However, this isn't the case. By the next morning my tongue, cheek and lip experienced some hot spots and sores. I discovered that this is a common issue, and fortunately easily remedied with a nail file, dental wax, and Orajel (aka: the home care kit).
My Invisalign Home Care Kit Seriously, it should come with the starter kit you get from the dentist |
I filed off the pointy and sharp bits on my own. Applied wax to the spot that were irritated to give them a break and supplemented with Orajel and some Tylenol. Problem solved. By day 3 I was good to go. Now I store a dental took kit in my night stand for future use and will file down edges of new trays before wear or as soon as I notice any irritation.
I am a week into my first trays and have already noticed movement. Likewise I notice that if I keep my trays out much longer than 20ish minutes, I notice the pressure when I put them back on. So, I happen to think that the 22 hour guidelines are on the liberal side rather than the conservative. My teeth are tender, but not unbearable.
The other thing I noticed was that I seem to have stinkier breath. I brush my teeth (and trays) now more than ever before (after every meal and snack), but my breath stinks and my trays are pretty rank. Tonight I am breaking the rules and will soak my trays in denture cleaner during dinner to see if I can combat the odor. I would rather not spend the next two years with the breath of 1000 dragons.
So, all in all, I feel that I'm off to a good start. I will add some photos of my trays and "before" smile so that you can better see what is happening.
Thanks for stopping by!
Cori
Update: I just tried the denture cleanser and it seemed to have done the trick! YAY! No more stinky.
Half the price of Polident and took the stink out! |
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