My Invisalign Story

I never had braces growing up and I’ve always been happy with my smile, so the need for braces or aligners was never there. Recently, I had been noticing my bottom teeth getting a bit misaligned, but it was also very painful. I’d go a few weeks feeling pain and soreness. So it was time to get Invisalign. Here’s my Invisalign story so far!

First Step

I went to the same Orthodontist my sister had gone to as a child. I went in for a free consultation to check out my options. He initially suggested braces since it’s more powerful to adjust my bite and align my teeth; I needed a minor bite alignment to maintain my teeth in place after the process and reduce the overcrowding.

I told the Doctor that at this time, I’d prefer trying something more invisible.. aka something like Invisalign. He provided me with payment options and prices to move forward with the process. After a few weeks, my trays were ready to be used.

Getting the Aligners

The day to get my aligners fit had arrived. I visited the office and the first step was a brief cleaning, then they made some space between a few of my teeth since I had a pretty crowded area (this was painless and quick!). Finally, they placed what are called "buttons" on four of my top teeth and two of my bottom teeth. 
These buttons are small auxiliaries that are used to help the aligners do their jobs. Some people don't need the buttons, while others may have a few that are barely visible. It depends on the individualized treatment. My buttons were placed on my front 8 teeth; 6 on top and 2 on my bottom row.

They placed in my aligners and I was good to go! They provided me with all 40 sets and I would only have to go in every few months to check my progress. 

Removing Aligners

At first, removing the aligners was quite difficult. I’d have a hard time taking them out since they were so tight on my teeth. I’d brush my teeth and floss after every meal, so it was something to get used to while at work. Now, it’s become an easier process to take them out. After tray changes, your teeth may be a bit sore but it’s still easier to remove the aligners now than with the first tray. I have to change my trays up every two weeks, but it’s different for everyone!

Best part, you can eat whatever you want! Unlike traditional braces, with aligners, you can take them off and enjoy any meal. It’s recommended to keep them on for at least 22 hours a day. Once I eat, I freshen up and place them back in.

Results

The first week was a bit strange. I had to get used to speaking with the aligners and it was slightly painful, but nothing extreme. I’m now on my 16th tray and it’s become easier over time! It’s been less painful but you still feel a bit of discomfort when changing trays. I take it as a sign that it’s working! I already notice changes in my smile.

I’ve only had my aligners for a short period of time, and some days can feel like a drag since I miss my aligner free smile and lifestyle, but overall, it’s been pretty easy to get used to! 

I recently found that Invisalign has their own application to help you keep track of your progress, plus it includes a few great features, including daily reminders. You can review how long you’ve worn your Invisalign throughout the day, set timers to remind you to place them back on when you take them out to eat, and also helps you keep track of when you need to change your trays. 

I’ll keep you updated in a few weeks on how my progress is going and where I am in the Invisalign process. To be continued...