The Countdown Begins!

I had another retainer check (aka they just give me new retainers) today at 8 am...yeah I wasn't pleased it was that early, but I had to work later in the day and when I called to reschedule, that's what I got stuck with. Nonetheless, I went back to get my new retainers and....they said I only had 3 sets left!!! So they gave me 2 of them instead of the usual 3 and I will come back to get the last pair in 4 weeks. The hygienist told me the last pair I'm supposed to wear for 4 weeks to make sure everything is in place and they like to give that to me separately.

So as the title states, the countdown begins. I noticed I have 3 more retainers in my set so I guess if I want to fine tune my teeth? Not entirely sure. Based on the progress so far I highly doubt in 3 new sets, my teeth will have enough time to correct themselves all the way, which worries me. I want my teeth to be PERFECT! The bottoms are very close. Just a few need to turn more and then the teeth in the way back need to line up. The tops, however, need quite a bit of moving. My smile has really improved, but I want more than improvement. I want perfection. I'm very nervous that they won't be everything I want.

What also bothers me is for the last couple months my top teeth have really NO pain. The bottom teeth are the ones that have the mild pain. I'm assuming pain equals progress. So if my tops aren't in pain, are they not changing much? Or is it just enough to do its' job? I really don't know. The tops don't hurt at all since I changed into my new trays today. I changed at about 8, went shopping, came home, ate breakfast, took a nap, and when I woke up from my nap at 11:30, my bottom teeth were quite sore. And still are. I took ibuprofen 3 times today I think. Come to think of it, I may have accidentally taken my last doese too soon. I took 800 mg at about 5:45 and then just a little bit ago at probably 11 took another 800. Yikes. Should be fine. Hard to go to sleep when  you're in pain.

I do like the whole process and my progress so far, I'm just a little I guess disappointed with my orthodontist. I have seen him maybe 3 or 4 times the whole time. They haven't kept me informed about what was happening. I was supposed to get my teeth sanded, they said, but they never mentioned it again. They never look at my teeth when I go in for check ups. They told me 10 months and now it has turned into a year. I really just hope things are where they should be. I know the retainers fitting should be a good sign, but I wish they would have been more involved. I'm the kind of person who likes to be very involved and know what's happening every step of the way. Having had teeth that made me so self-conscious, I really want and expect teeth that are beautiful and just how I was told they would be when I signed up for this invisalign treatment. I don't want to look at my teeth and say "they look better" I want to look at them at say "they look amazing!!"