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!

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