Started today, on my first tray!

[Stefanie]

I've been wearing my aligners fo roughly seven hours, and let me just say that while it hasn't been as terrible as I had prepared myself for it to be, it is uncomfortable. And not to mention, I have the most difficult time getting my bottom tray out!

Has anyone noticed that in the beginning of a new set of trays, it is more comfortable to leave the trays in, then have them out? Haha.

I'll complete my treatment around January 2010 [35 upper, 28 lower], which is about as long as my dentist had predicted. I'm not complaining. It's just in time [8 months shy, to be exact] for my wedding! Although, that's not the only reason I decided upon Invisalign.

But anyway.

I'm tad bit discouraged that I will be getting six attachments up top. FIVE of which are on my main front teeth. I knew I would be getting attachments, just not in such visible spots! Right now there are just grooves for the attachments in my trays [I'm whitening first] & I feel as though they are just too ridiculously noticeable, so I can't imagine how it will look once the attachments are actually on! Please tell me I'm the only one who will notice them as much & am just being overly self conscious about them?

I just keep trying to remind myself that it will be worth it in the end [I know it will] & that the attachments will probably be the worst of my treatment. Which, if that's the case, I truly can't complain.

I'm so excited to begin this journey!

[Adam]

Hey, congratulations on beginning Invisalign! I got mine fitted a couple of weeks ago.

I noticed that mine were uncomfortable for the first 2/3 days then I got used to them. I think this is because most of the movement is done at the beginning and then the rest of the time before you change aligner is more of a retainment period. I found it better to leave the trays in too. Because when I took them out the bottom of my teeth, at the front mainly were really sensitive. But this does pass after a couple of days. Like you I had prepared myself for the worst case scenario, so was pleased they didn't actually hurt at all.

I wouldn't worry about the attachments too much, you would notice them more because you know they're there. And to be honest, most people don't look at others teeth. I only do it because I know I have bad teeth so am always looking at other peoples mouth. Where as people who are okay with theirs tend not to notice. I don't have any attachments at the front so cannot comment how noticeable they will be, but would have thought it is less so than wire braces!

You should start up a Blog with pictures and information to track your progress! Like you I am having whitening too, but am going to wait for this because the attachments I would have though would work in the same way a sofa does on a new carpet. In that when you move the sofa after a year it is still nice and new underneath, but the rest of it is worn. I'm assuming it will be the same with my teeth and don't want to end up with odd patches on my teeth where the attachments have been.

Good luck,
Adam