Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Attachment video
Monday, January 21, 2013
It looks like you're growing tentacles from your teeth!
Today was the day I knew I would really start to feel like I have braces. The clear Invisalign trays did a good job of covering my teeth and looking pretty natural. No more! After today I have attachments on my teeth and I really can't hide the fact I am wearing braces anymore.
The attachments (or buttons) are the color of my teeth, but they stick out at different angles and depths on selected teeth. It's not as if I have a nice straight row of them. If that was the case, I probably wouldn't have needed braces. The attachments help in the rotation and movement of my teeth. They are unique to me and my teeth issues. No two people will have the same attachments. That reminds me, my twin doesn't have any because she has straight teeth! Ugh!
Oh well, I'm taking steps now to fix my crooked teeth and hopefully I will have many years ahead of me to flaunt them in front of my twin!
The process was not painful, just cold! I don't know how I did this but I was sweating and feeling cold at the same time! I guess the sweat was from me being anxious, and the cold was from the tools and water they used to attach the buttons. I felt like a car wash was going on in my mouth. Throw in a few rags and that was about how it felt. I luckily haven't had too many dental treatments, so this was all new to me!
The process went pretty well, except for a bit of trouble getting the mold out of my mouth. I needed a few refinements so that I could floss between each teeth, but I'm good to go.
I have the trays in my mouth for the remainder of the evening. I had a nice dinner along with a 600 mg Ibuprofen so I'm hoping the worst is behind me!
I really like everyone at the office. I'm not just saying that because they read the blog. The team is great. I won't go back for another six weeks, but in that time I will wear three different trays. The current plan is to change trays every two weeks.
I no longer will be counting down 2013 by calendar months. No, I'm counting down by trays. I have tray 2 of 22 in my mouth, and three and four safely put away.
It's going to take some time to get used to these attachments. As my husband said, "they look like you are growing tentacles from your teeth!" Oh well, in only forty weeks or so, I can smile like a human again!
Still smiling
Sylvia
The attachments (or buttons) are the color of my teeth, but they stick out at different angles and depths on selected teeth. It's not as if I have a nice straight row of them. If that was the case, I probably wouldn't have needed braces. The attachments help in the rotation and movement of my teeth. They are unique to me and my teeth issues. No two people will have the same attachments. That reminds me, my twin doesn't have any because she has straight teeth! Ugh!
Oh well, I'm taking steps now to fix my crooked teeth and hopefully I will have many years ahead of me to flaunt them in front of my twin!
The process was not painful, just cold! I don't know how I did this but I was sweating and feeling cold at the same time! I guess the sweat was from me being anxious, and the cold was from the tools and water they used to attach the buttons. I felt like a car wash was going on in my mouth. Throw in a few rags and that was about how it felt. I luckily haven't had too many dental treatments, so this was all new to me!
The process went pretty well, except for a bit of trouble getting the mold out of my mouth. I needed a few refinements so that I could floss between each teeth, but I'm good to go.
I have the trays in my mouth for the remainder of the evening. I had a nice dinner along with a 600 mg Ibuprofen so I'm hoping the worst is behind me!
I really like everyone at the office. I'm not just saying that because they read the blog. The team is great. I won't go back for another six weeks, but in that time I will wear three different trays. The current plan is to change trays every two weeks.
I no longer will be counting down 2013 by calendar months. No, I'm counting down by trays. I have tray 2 of 22 in my mouth, and three and four safely put away.
It's going to take some time to get used to these attachments. As my husband said, "they look like you are growing tentacles from your teeth!" Oh well, in only forty weeks or so, I can smile like a human again!
 |
| I have seven teeth on the top and six on the bottom with attachments. One top tooth even gets two! |
Still smiling
Sylvia
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
originally written 1/7/13
Go ahead and talk about me!
Most people, myself included, don't like to have people talk about them behind their backs. But, I'm smiling big time today because I was talked about. My new orthodontist, Dr. Nguyen, or as I wish to call him, Dr. WIN, spoke about me to his colleagues and they devised a new treatment plan for me. The end result is that I will get the smile I want a lot sooner! Who wouldn't be glad about that! I will go from 38 trays down to 23.
I will probably cut my treatment time down from 1 1/2 years to just around one year!
I just put in my second Invisalign tray and I can feel the pressure has increased. But, no pain, no gain! I wore the first tray for four weeks instead of two while I waited for the new and improved set. The first set was getting really easy to take on and off. I can tell this new tray will be a test for my shoddy fingernails! Oh well, as I've said before, I want a nice smile, asking for great nails is probably just too much! I'll put up with the breaking, fragile nails if it means I get the smile I want.
The best news today was that I really like my orthodontist. He really listened to me at our first consultation. I had expressed some concerns about the front teeth not moving for close to a year and the end result showing what they call a "black hole." I'm sure some orthodontists would have just listened and stopped there. But, he consulted and talked about my case with others.
I'm glad people were talking about me!
Here's to 2013 and the year of the new smile!
Sylvia
I will probably cut my treatment time down from 1 1/2 years to just around one year!
I just put in my second Invisalign tray and I can feel the pressure has increased. But, no pain, no gain! I wore the first tray for four weeks instead of two while I waited for the new and improved set. The first set was getting really easy to take on and off. I can tell this new tray will be a test for my shoddy fingernails! Oh well, as I've said before, I want a nice smile, asking for great nails is probably just too much! I'll put up with the breaking, fragile nails if it means I get the smile I want.
The best news today was that I really like my orthodontist. He really listened to me at our first consultation. I had expressed some concerns about the front teeth not moving for close to a year and the end result showing what they call a "black hole." I'm sure some orthodontists would have just listened and stopped there. But, he consulted and talked about my case with others.
I'm glad people were talking about me!
Sylvia
originally recorded on 12/11/12
Invisalign Video Day 1
I took them out once to eat lunch and I'm not actually looking forward to dinnertime. They are a bit difficult to get on and off. I definitely have to do this in front of a mirror and I wish I had better fingernails to grab them with.
Oh well, I want a perfect smile, I guess I can't have great nails too!
written on 12/11/12
Today is the day!
For the first time in my life, I'm actually taking steps to correct the smile that has always bothered me!
I'm wearing my first set of Invisalign aligners! There's no going back. At least not for 38 trays!
The entire process may take around 18 months, and then I will need to wear the aligners 20-24 hours a day for another six months. After completion, I will wear the aligners only at bedtime. But, they will become a regular part of me. There will be no "unattached" stage to this relationship. They will become one with me!
From time to time I will blog about this new adventure. I went into it completely in the dark. I was literally lead by my retiring dentist into the Orthodontist office a few doors down. I had always complained about my crooked teeth, but never really thought I would be a candidate for Invisalign.
Now I'm not only a candidate, I'm immersed in a treatment plan that will see me go through 38 aligners, attachments, and who knows what else.
I'm armed with my Ibuprofen and a little bit more knowledge. I found out a lot of information on the Internet and had my Doctor address all my concerns today. At the first consultation I didn't know anything so I couldn't ask the proper questions. You know the adage, "ignorance is bliss," well, I think that's true. Now I'm in the know and have a bit of trepidation.
My 3D rendering does straighten out both my top and bottom teeth, but it also shows something called a "black triangle." This can result when you move teeth and the gum line doesn't come down all the way to fill in the new area exposed by correcting the teeth placement. Hopefully mine won't end up as in the 3D image. I would hate to go through two years of this and not love my smile.
I found these quotes about smiles, and I thought I would share them because they made me smile!
Keep on smiling
Cause when you're smiling
The whole world smiles with you
lyrics by Frank Sinatra
A woman whose smile is open and whose expression is glad has a kind of beauty no matter what she wears.
Anne Roiphe
A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.
Phyllis Diller
A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.
Denis Waitley
A smile is happiness you'll find right under your nose.
Tom Wilson
Today is the day!
For the first time in my life, I'm actually taking steps to correct the smile that has always bothered me!
I'm wearing my first set of Invisalign aligners! There's no going back. At least not for 38 trays!
 |
| You can hardly tell I'm wearing braces! |
 |
| It's scary to look at a closeup of the mouth! |
The entire process may take around 18 months, and then I will need to wear the aligners 20-24 hours a day for another six months. After completion, I will wear the aligners only at bedtime. But, they will become a regular part of me. There will be no "unattached" stage to this relationship. They will become one with me!
From time to time I will blog about this new adventure. I went into it completely in the dark. I was literally lead by my retiring dentist into the Orthodontist office a few doors down. I had always complained about my crooked teeth, but never really thought I would be a candidate for Invisalign.
Now I'm not only a candidate, I'm immersed in a treatment plan that will see me go through 38 aligners, attachments, and who knows what else.
I'm armed with my Ibuprofen and a little bit more knowledge. I found out a lot of information on the Internet and had my Doctor address all my concerns today. At the first consultation I didn't know anything so I couldn't ask the proper questions. You know the adage, "ignorance is bliss," well, I think that's true. Now I'm in the know and have a bit of trepidation.
My 3D rendering does straighten out both my top and bottom teeth, but it also shows something called a "black triangle." This can result when you move teeth and the gum line doesn't come down all the way to fill in the new area exposed by correcting the teeth placement. Hopefully mine won't end up as in the 3D image. I would hate to go through two years of this and not love my smile.
I found these quotes about smiles, and I thought I would share them because they made me smile!
Keep on smiling
Cause when you're smiling
The whole world smiles with you
lyrics by Frank Sinatra
A woman whose smile is open and whose expression is glad has a kind of beauty no matter what she wears.
Anne Roiphe
A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.
Phyllis Diller
A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.
Denis Waitley
A smile is happiness you'll find right under your nose.
Tom Wilson
I get to give myself a Christmas present this year. It's the second set of Aligners! After I wear those two weeks, I will go into the office for attachments. These are little bumps made from composite material that get bonded on to specific teeth to aid in the rotation and movement of the teeth. I'm not sure how many I'm getting but it seemed like a lot in the 3D imagery.
For now I have my go-to pain killer and hope that I'm doing the right thing!
My Orthodontist is Dr. Vinh Nguyen. I'm not sure how he pronounces his name, but I hope to call him Dr. WIN!
Sylvia
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