Video Blog #2

Main Content of Video: Showing the state of my teeth at the start of the refinement stage.

Start of Refinements: 1 of 12

I just got back from my latest Invisalign appointment and I have some mixed feelings about this so-called refinement stage. The one positive thing is that I do not need any more attachments! I am VERY happy, and somewhat surprised, that I don't need attachments for the duration of my refinements.

Now onto the things I'm not so happy about....

First of all, I didn't get any refining aligners for my upper teeth. The reason I'm not impressed by this is because for my original treatment plan, I was supposed to go through 2 more sets of aligners (I only made it to 22/24 before my dentist took the molds for my refinements). So I feel like my upper teeth are not getting that last bit of proper positioning. Also, now that I am essentially "done" with the alignment of my upper teeth, I'm supposed to continue wearing the last set of aligners that I used on my upper teeth (#22) until the end of my entire Invisalign treatment. I have a couple of issues with this:
1) Although I no longer have attachments, I have to wear an aligner that has the "bubbles" where the attachments were previously located. I would much prefer a new flat aligner, as that would make the aligner much less noticeable to others.
2) Aligners are typically used for 2 weeks at a time. Now I'm expected to wear this set for several more months, during which time they'll inevitably become worn and more noticable due to my efforts to keep them clean. I may address this with my Invisalign dentist at my next appointment in January (I only dealt with the dental hygienist today), as I am thinking that I may be able to start using this aligner as a retainer and perhaps only wear it at night.

Second of all, I am a bit disappointed that I have 12 more aligners for my lower teeth. That's half the length of my original treatment plan!

The first 4 packages of refining aligners for my lower teeth.

On the bright side, I am getting what I paid for in the sense that my lower teeth should be properly straightened by the time I'm done. Speaking of which, if all goes according to schedule, I should be done these refinements by May 13, 2010! :) I can't wait!

I suppose another positive is that this first "refining aligner" isn't hurting at all. I always like it when there's no pain for the gain.

Awaiting Refinements

Just as I suspected, my attachments were removed and new molds were taken of my teeth when I went to my Invisalign dentist yesterday. When I had my first set of molds taken in December last year, the molds of both my upper and lower teeth worked on the first try. This time, the first mold of my lower teeth worked, but it took 4 tries to get a suitable mold of my upper teeth. Other than that, the process was pretty uneventful. Until my new refining set of aligners arrive (in about 3 weeks), I will continue to wear the 22nd set of aligners that I've already been wearing for two weeks. I hope I don't have too many more aligner sets to go through for this refinement stage--but as long as my teeth end up straight, I'll be happy no matter how long it takes.

No attachments for the time being :)

22 of 24 aligners

I went to my Invisalign dentist yesterday and he seemed to notice something that I'd made note of recently: 2 of my lower teeth aren't moving properly. Now I am due to go back in 2 weeks so that he can check the progress of my teeth. If my teeth aren't doing what they're supposed to be doing by that time, my dentist (or more likely the hygienist) will remove the attachments and take a new mold of my teeth. Then that mold will be sent to the Invisalign company so that a refining set of aligners can be made to correct this problem. I am pretty sure that my teeth are not going to be rotating into their proper positions with my current set of aligners, so I anticipate getting a new mold of my teeth on Remembrance day. Here are my teeth as of today:

The two lateral teeth of the middle four are not in line with the rest of the teeth. Since my teeth are fairly crowded now (due to the aligners moving them closer together as they approach their final position), the refining set of aligners will likely have to push my teeth back outward again to create room for them to rotate. Once the refining aligners have rotated those problem teeth, everything would be pulled back in again--in correct alignment. Below I have depicted how the teeth need to rotate in order to get into their proprer places.


On a positive note, my overbite is gone. Take a look at the difference:

February 14, 2009
(while on aligner set #3)

October 30, 2009
(while on aligner set #22)

P.S. My teeth are hurting as a result of the aligners I put in yesterday. I am popping pain killers and making sure to only eat soft foods and soup. Usually any pain subsides after 2 days, so I just have to get through tomorrow.

Comparison of Smiles: Then & Now

Left: My current smile.

Right: My smile before Invisalign.

In both pictures, my upper and lower teeth are in as much contact as possible.

18 of 24 aligners

When I was wearing my 16th set of aligners I finally felt my upper and lower front teeth coming in contact with each other. What an amazing feeling! Now I am 9 days into wearing my 18th set of aligners.

Here are my teeth as of today (while not wearing the aligners):

There is no longer a space between my teeth when I'm biting down, and look at how my lower teeth are no longer crowded! :) I'm very pleased!

Only 6 more aligner sets to go through before I face the final "refinement" stage.

8 of 24 aligners

I put my 8th set of aligners in 3 days ago. I did experience more discomfort with these ones than with previous pairs, but the discomfort subsided after the first two days. While wearing my 7th set of aligners, I realized that there is a noticeable difference in my overbite as made apparent by how much of my tongue can be put through the overbite space.

Left: BEFORE starting my Invisalign treatment.
Right: On day 2 of aligner set #8.