Update!

It's been awhile since I wrote so I figured I should update my progress. Since I had to push my changing trays back a day because of forgetting to change a few weeks ago, I am on a new schedule. I have a check up appointment in a few weeks so I'll know for sure if I will be staying on this schedule now or moving ahead a day. I feel like I will likely be forced to wear my retainers a FULL two weeks, which is fine with me. I'll do whatever is needed to get the best results.

Things are going great. I am in love with the progress. My smile keeps getting prettier. I find myself not at all ashamed to show it anymore. Looking at old pictures I honestly can't believe how bad it was. Someone should have told me! LOL. At least it is now taken care of; something I'm super thankful for.

The newest set of retainers are more uncomfortable than the past ones, but I'm dealing. Since I have 6 attachments on my top set of teeth, taking off the top retainer is pretty painful. It catches on my teeth that already are sore from moving. And putting them back in, I have to make sure they're clicked in right, which sometimes feels uncomfortable. But it has only been 2 1/2 days with this new set so it's expected. By the end of the weekend, I'm guessing things will be much better judging from prior trays. Plus the way I see it, the pain is so minor (nothing that even requires medicine) and traditional braces are so much more work. I was able to take my trays out, enjoy a normal Thanksgiving meal, and put them back in. (although seemed like I ate all day. haha)

Once again, I am totally recommending anyone interested to get invisalign. And as a side note, I am not being paid by the company or "sponsoring" them in any way (although I wouldn't mind if they're interested lol) so this is my total honest opinion. I used to be so embarrassed of my teeth and at the age of 21 I did not want metal braces. The whole goal was to draw unwanted attention away from myself, not make me stand out more! Invisalign has turned out to be the best decision ever! I gained so much confidence and my teeth look amazing, which has encouraged me to floss better which I can tell is strengthening my gums. My dentist will be so proud! (I go to a regular dentist and my invisalign provider is a different dentist/orthodontist) I'm one happy camper. Having the smile I've always wanted is something that means so much to me. I'm so excited to be getting closer to that glorious moment everyday!!

OHHH and one more thing I should mention. It seems during certain short periods of time when my teeth are moving, the position of them is REALLY weird. I have noticed a few times when I'm eating my bottom teeth will kind of grind into my attachments on the top teeth (which is the most bone chilling feeling ughh) or my teeth will just grind against each other. It's super disgusting feeling and really drives me nuts. But it's only for a day or two and then it has moved past. It's crazy how the tiniest millimeter can throw everything off balance.

Updated pics!

Since it's 5 am and I haven't been able to sleep I thought I would post some updated pictures to show the progress. Things are looking good!!

Sorry for the blurriness. Hard to hold my webcam steady lol. I think the front view shows how much progress I have made. LOVE my invisalign.

Ah crap!

I have been feeling under the weather lately and very busy with school. I JUST now realized I was supposed to change trays yesterday. AHH. This makes me so mad! I never have forgotten before. I guess I will now be putting that into my planner as well. I swear sometimes I can't think without writing everything down. I usually change them after I wake up Tuesdays before school so 10:30 ish or after my appointments so 1:30 ish. Therefore it has been a whole extra day and some odd hours over. DANG!! I will see how it goes, but it's looking like I will be needing to switch to Wednesdays now. A full 2 weeks is most likely needed for proper growth. So frustrated with myself, but there's nothing I can do now but correct it.

On a happier note, someone was asking me about invisalign and I was talking about how much I love it and recommend it, and they said "wow you've only been wearing them 2 months and your teeth are THAT straight?!" which totally made me happy. I can see the difference and I'm glad others can to. Now I just have to remember to keep it up. Ahh!

Sheesh!

Time flies when you're using invisalign. Hadn't realized it had been so long. I had my second check up to see if things are moving along correctly. And they looked great. I believe the correct words were "good job. keep it up. you have a long way to go" ahh. It does seem like a long way away, but I feel like I have already come so far so I'm sure it won't seem long. It takes getting used to, but once you have your system down it's fine. One thing I haven't quite figured out was how to unobviously take out my retainers in times when I need to quickly. For instance, today I was shopping and they had free samples. I got some broccoli cheese soup and attempted to eat it with my retainers in, but the broccoli and carrots made that too hard. So I had to weirdly take out my retainers and put them in my sweatshirt pocket. It was awkward. I wish I had a better way, but I still have to figure that out.

I have been SUPER duper good about flossing. I got those little disposable flossers so I can use the small little heads and floss in between my ever moving teeth. I have really been able to see the movement of my teeth better as I floss in front of a magnified mirror. I can see little gaps indicating my teeth are moving since they weren't there before. I think flossing is important because your teeth are moving and there are surfaces visible you didn't have visible before. So you want to keep them clean. I also like to see the progress up close and flossing allows me to do that. I have not found a great way to clean my retainers. It seems like no matter how hard I scrub, they're never as clean as I wish they were. Not dirty or anything. Just not spotless.

My teeth are a little annoying right now. I'm almost ready for new trays. I've gotten to the point in this set where my teeth are basically all moved, they just have a little bit more to go. The trays feel clingy and my mouth feels like it wants to stretch. But I know this feeling all too well and it doesn't last long. I love that people can see progress. I definitely can, too. It keeps me motivated to take great care of my teeth. I'm spending all this time and money to get the smile I've always wanted, so I definitely want to take care of my investment. (Although, personally I guess I don't have that much invested in it haha)

My attachments occasionally bother me because they are noticable, but I try to keep in mind it's worth it AND it's a lot less visable then braces. I'm not usually talking right in someone's face and no one has ever mentioned anything about them to me. It's probably just me being self conscious because I noticed things on myself more than other people do. I'm still unsure if they will have to be on the entire duration of my treatment. I did learn that around tray 17 I will likely need some tooth sanding (eek!), but I'm only on tray 8 I believe so I have time before that. Otherwise, nothing new on the invisalign front. There isn't that much to it most of the time. Wear your retainers, that's the main thing.

Whoa!

I have been SO busy. Haven't wrote a post in quite awhile. Here's your update! Last I wrote, I didn't think I was ready for my new set of retainers. But it's been a week since I changed retainers and things feel fine now. I guess my teeth were tough to move. It feels like everything is back on track. I have a check up next week to see if everything is moving correctly so I will find out for sure.

Treatment is going fast. I still have quite awhile to go (estimated to be done in May '12 so 7 more months) It is going to be so weird to not have to wear retainers. I'm so used to wearing them. I like the feeling of my teeth being supported. It also feels so gross since my teeth are currently not in their permanent positions, when I chew sometimes my teeth bite my attachments and grind on them. I can't imagine not having my retainers to protect things like that.

Also, great news....thanks to some help, I was able to pay off my remaining balance of what I owed for my treatment!!!!!! It is the most amazing feeling to know my invisalign is taken care of. I can now finish my treatment without worries. My new smile is paid and full. I can now enjoy watching the results of my smile transformation.

Is it that time already?

Almost time to switch trays, and it definitely doesn't feel like it has been almost two weeks. My retainers seem to fit a little more tightly than they should this far into the tray. It doesn't seem like it has been this long. I guess I will just see how it goes. If I have any problem, I can call my orthodontist. I calculated I have spent just about $1000 so far in treatment. The payment plan definitely helps me not realize how much money I'm spending!! But it's so worth it. I think my smile is an amazing investment.

Things are pretty boring on the teeth front otherwise. So I'll keep this post short. I'll write more when more teeth developments occur. And post pictures soon.

All's good!

Had a dentist cleaning today at my normal dentist. I love my dentist and have been going there since I was young. Since they don't offer orthodontic services I had to go elsewhere for my invisalign, but I still go to my normal dentist for cleanings. This was my first time there since I started treatment. I got x-rays and a cleaning. I was worried my attachments would make things complicated, but it was just like normal. My dentist was happy I was getting treatment and said he couldn't wait to see my smile progress. He's such a nice guy!

Anyway, my hygienist gave me some tips and really made me think about it differently. I have been drinking cream soda with my retainers in because it's clear and won't stain.(I didn't tell her this! lol) But she brought up the point that anything with sugar can get under the retainers and if it sits there it can eat away at your teeth. So definitely not a good idea! I will be buying more bottled water for sure. Otherwise just have to work on my flossing, especially with my teeth moving. I love going to the dentist!

I'm on my 6th set of trays so things are moving along. Just made another payment today. Definitely nice to see my balance going down :) A good smile is a great investment to me. Just have to take good care of your teeth to make it worth it! One of my bottom teeth towards the front that was pretty crooked was very sensitive the last couple of days and experienced a lot of pain while taking my retainer out of brushing so I can tell it's moving. Yay! My teeth are all pretty much shifted forward now. Which is what the plan was.

Here are some new pictures I took: