http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/punkin/ Adult Teeth Braces Forums Discussing Dental Braces, Invisalign, Ibraces, Teeth Whitening, TMJ, and More! en Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:17:48 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/punkin/ http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/punkin/trays-5-38-36/ Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:26:43 GMT After keeping trays 4 on for one week longer, last night was the night to start trays 5. As typical, I waited until just before it was time for bed,... After keeping trays 4 on for one week longer, last night was the night to start trays 5. As typical, I waited until just before it was time for bed, took some Motrin, brushed my teeth, and popped the new aligners in.

They are always tight, but this time, I think because of the extra week, they weren't as tight. They went on a lot easier, and without any pain. There is a bit of pain this morning, on one particular tooth - the upper right canine for this set. It seems like each set of trays, while moving all teeth, focuses on one or two individual teeth. The last set was the lower left canine, and this seems to be the upper right. It's just a particular tooth that hurts more than any of the others. The pain is usually the worst when you pop on the trays - which of course makes sense. You've got something that is sore and tender, and you apply pressure to it, it's going to hurt.

I also managed to rip the upper tray I was taking out last night. Fortunately, it happened on the last night, but I'd never had that happen before. I wasn't being as gentle as I should, and it got caught up on one of the attachments, and when I pulled it, I could tell something happened. I pushed it back in and took it off the right way, and looked - there was a tear. I don't know if they were weakened from the extra week of wear and tear or what..

And, since Dr. R told me that sometimes these trays need to go a bit longer, and essentially told me if I felt the need to, I could keep them in longer, I think every third or fourth tray I might keep in longer. They obviously keep working even after the prescribed two weeks, so I think this will help my progress.

Until next time... ]]> Punkin http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/punkin/trays-5-38-36/ http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/punkin/aligners-ouch-26/ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:26:33 GMT So, I got my first set of aligners on February 4th. I had a morning appointment, which in retrospect, was NOT a good idea. The glue the attachments... So, I got my first set of aligners on February 4th. I had a morning appointment, which in retrospect, was NOT a good idea. The glue the attachments on - 13 of them in total, and then put the aligners on. She (my ortho, we'll call her Dr. R) said "They are going to be a bit tight". Holy heck, they were tight all right. She could barely get them off my teeth. So, she takes them off and puts them on a few times, and then leaves the room, telling me to practice.

The first time, I could barely get them out. I was getting all panicky, thinking I wasn't going to be able to do this, and wondering how on earth I was going to be able to survive 36 sets of trays. I finally got one half off, and then it popped back on, catching part of my cheek with it. It wasn't pleasant. I had drool running down my chin, I looked like a crazy woman :D

Anyway, I managed to get them off and on a few times, and felt comfortable enough to leave the office. I head back to work, and realize lunch is in about an hour, I'm starving, and I've got to figure out how to get these things out again LOL

Over the course of a few days, however, they got easier to take on and off - my teeth moved, and I just got used to the whole process. After 3 days, it was a breeze.

I am now on my 4th set of aligners and it's been 2 whole months. The time flew. Putting them in the first time is still tough, and they are still tight. There is some real pain sometimes taking them out for the first few days, but it does get better. Motrin is my new best friend.

I had my first check yesterday, and Dr. R said things are going very well. She wants me to keep this last set in for one more week, to move things a bit more, but in general she said everything was fine. My teeth looked clean, everything was moving the way it's supposed to, and we're still on track. :D

I still haven't gotten those pictures yet, but I promise I'll try to get them very soon...

Until next time - keep smiling :) ]]> Punkin http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/punkin/aligners-ouch-26/ http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/punkin/beginning-24/ Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:04:49 GMT OK, quick history. I'm 38 and have never had braces. I've always had issues with my upper canines sticking out (they grew in before my baby teeth fell out). My upper and lower lateral incisors and canines are very crowded (the lower being worse than the upper).

After years of visits to the dentist, and a tough time cleaning these trouble areas, I decided it was time to look into orthodontics.

During the summer of 08, I met with a few orthodontists, and found one I was comfortable with. She told me that I would be a candidate for Invisalign, but that I would have to have 4 teeth extracted. A little scary, sure, but I decided to give it a go.

Over the next 6 - 8 months or so, we did impressions, and xrays, and pictures, and all sorts of wonderfully fun things (nothing like plaster in your mouth). My ortho decided which teeth needed to be extracted (the 4 1st pre-molars), and sent me off to an oral surgeon. We met, and he asked me if I also wanted to have my ONE wisdom tooth, which was way up there in the top of my mouth, extracted while he was in there. I figured, what the heck, and said sure.

On January 23rd of this year, I went under the knife (and whatever else they used to rip teeth out) and had all 5 teeth extracted. It was relatively painless. The recovery was OK, and the only real issue I had was with the stitches bothering me after a few days.

Then, on February 4th (my daughters 5th birthday as a matter of fact), I got my first set of aligners put in.

My next post will be about my experience thus far with my aligners, and hopefully contain a few pics

:D ]]> Punkin http://www.bracesreview.com/forums/blogs/punkin/beginning-24/