All about Invisalign - seeking understanding

[invisalignviolet]

I just started Invisalign. I am on Tray 1. My stats are in my signature (Top 7/ Bottom 16), I have a few questions I cannot get answered after reading through countless threads:

1. What do the numbers on my tray packages mean? I have the following numbers on my Package 2:
U 2 of 7 (I get it, this is tray 2 of 7 for my upper)
L 2 of 16 (etc. for lower)

IPR (I think this means interproximal reduction, I had this already, I don't think I am getting more except to further shave off my snaggle in the future...My ortho shaved off about 6 spaces already)
Lower mm
4.1-4.2 0.3
3.4-3.3 0.5

2. If I only have 7 trays on the upper, does this mean I am done with upper in 14 weeks (assuming all goes well) and that I don't have to wear anything other than a retainer while my bottom fixes? If so...hallelujah!

3. I came across various posts regarding the 22 hour per day requirement. My ortho did not even mention it. He only said, only take your trays out to eat, rinse them, and put them back in. Um...I'm doing P90x...have to eat 5 times a day...and I eat about 4,000 calories per day. Is this going to be a major issue that I must eat a lot? I'm on day 4 and the moving stopped already....no more pain while the trays are on, and the pressure has significantly reduced when I take off the lower tray (where the snaggle has some serious pressure).

4. My ortho told me he averages 7 - 10 revisions with InvisAlign per treatment course. Mine was no exception. Any experience with what this could entail? I thought it meant he was experienced. However, he also eluded to the fact that I should not be surprised if treatment takes me an additional 2 months beyond the 8 that is planned. Is this normal?

5. Can you share your experiences with crowns? I am a bit more nervous now that I read more postings about them coming out. My teeth are CRAZY. As a child, I never grew teeth enamel on my molars due to a fever. ALL of my molars are full of temps, crowns, fillings, etc. because I am so prone to cavities otherwise on those teeth. However, this is not where the crowding is. It is all on my front lower 6 teeth. And I HATE the snaggle! This is what prompted to me to get this in the first place.

Background: I had braces as a youngster. Top teeth are fairly okay as is, and ortho was kind enough to leave off attachments of front 5 at my request of leaving off 6.


Thanks for all of your insight!!!

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

1. 4.1-4.2 refer to specific teeth between which you will have 0.3mm IPR and in the other spot, 0.5mm. Since it is between two teeth, half the amount should be on each adjacent tooth.


2. If I only have 7 trays on the upper, does this mean I am done with upper in 14 weeks (assuming all goes well) and that I don't have to wear anything other than a retainer while my bottom fixes? If so...hallelujah!
YES


3. I came across various posts regarding the 22 hour per day requirement. My ortho did not even mention it. He only said, only take your trays out to eat, rinse them, and put them back in. Um...I'm doing P90x...have to eat 5 times a day...and I eat about 4,000 calories per day. Is this going to be a major issue that I must eat a lot? I'm on day 4 and the moving stopped already....no more pain while the trays are on, and the pressure has significantly reduced when I take off the lower tray (where the snaggle has some serious pressure).
Pain and pressure does not mean movement, and when you don't feel those things, there is still movement occurring. 22 hours a day is a generalized requirement. Over hundreds of patients, those who wear them less than about 20 hours a day can expect a lack of movement.

4. My ortho told me he averages 7 - 10 revisions with InvisAlign per treatment course. Mine was no exception. Any experience with what this could entail? I thought it meant he was experienced. However, he also eluded to the fact that I should not be surprised if treatment takes me an additional 2 months beyond the 8 that is planned. Is this normal?
Unsure but it may be the revisions he is making prior to accepting your ClinCheck. If this is the case, it is good as he is critically analyzing the movements that are occurring without simply accepting the technician's work as most do.

5. Can you share your experiences with crowns? I am a bit more nervous now that I read more postings about them coming out. My teeth are CRAZY. As a child, I never grew teeth enamel on my molars due to a fever. ALL of my molars are full of temps, crowns, fillings, etc. because I am so prone to cavities otherwise on those teeth.
If your crowns come off because of your aligner removal, they were meant to come off anyways. Crowns that have been properly prepared and placed should not present any issues.

Great questions and good luck!

[invisalignviolet]

Mark,

Thanks for your reply. The answer to #2 brightened my day. I'm not sure WHAT I was thinking getting these on in the middle of summer, when I actually have a sliver of time to attend events and socialize (working FT and going for Master's at night 85% of the year kills my social life). Knowing that I will be free from these uppers in August provided I diligently wear them, where I actually took a 2 month break from school...will be heaven!

A bit sad the numbers on my packages don't highlight the movement of teeth. I was secretly hoping 4.1 - 4.2 meant it was moving two teeth .3 mm each. When I saw the .5 on one of those, I thought...wow!

Yes, 7-10 revisions before ClinCheck. I think he's a good ortho, glad you confirmed it.

I'm crossing my fingers I'll never need those rubber bands I keep reading about.

[angel9165]

I have crowns (actually bridges) on either side of my lower (now 5 as the one that was protruding was extracted) teeth and the movement has been fine. I am due to start tray(s) 8 of 14 tomorrow and the gap the was left from the extracted tooth has closed considerably. I don't believe I'll need refinements (this is my 2nd time w/ braces, the 1st was traditional brackets when I was 30, so 15 years ago) but I'm prepared for them if needed. I love to eat so I think I average about 20 hours of wearing the trays each day. So far, so good but I know what you mean about the social aspect. When my dentist asked me (just yesterday) how things are going, I told him great except these things are such a pain. They do the job though. I'm sure you'll do great!!

[ChicagoJohn]

I only have to wear 7 trays on my bottom (and 15 top). I'm currently on number 7, so I'm done with the bottoms. My dentist told me to just wear number 7 tray on the bottom full time for the rest of my treatment. While I'm happy that I no longer have to go through the ordeal of putting new trays on the bottoms, I now have to really work at keeping this same tray clean over the next 3 months. I would imagine that at some point I'll be able to start slacking a little bit on the bottom tray, like leaving it out a little longer that I normally would. I'll have to ask my dentist about that but knowing him, he'll just tell me to keep wearing it full time.

[Phantom Muse]

I have been wearing my bottom tray now for 8 weeks (and will wear it another 6-8 weeks). My ortho told me I could wear it only when I went to bed, but I find that it is more comfortable to wear it all the time. The meeting of plastic against real teeth doesn't feel good to me...

I do find that if I am out and about (and eating) I might leave the lower one out until I get home. After these months of so much time spent in public washrooms cleaning the blasted little trays, it's a treat for me to reduce that time!

ChicagoJohn... Are you pleased with your lowers?!

[ChicagoJohn]

Phantom Muse -- yes, I'm pretty happy with the results on the bottom. Basically my lowers were straight in the front already but the whole left row of molars needed to be shifted over to match the top teeth. They moved over and I've got much more room for my tongue to sit now. I never even realized that my bottoms had that problem before getting consulted about Invisalign.

How about your bottoms? It's nice to know that soon I'll be able to relax a bit with the bottom tray.

[angel9165]

If you soak your trays in Listerine Pre-Rinse when not wearing them, they will stay clean and fresh. I've been doing it from the start. I now actually soak my new trays before putting them in as they have a hazy look about them and that goes away after a good soaking.

[Phantom Muse]

Good advice, Angel. I need to make a trip to Target. My lower tray is fine, but I wouldn't mind a bit more *sparkle!* I actually have to thoroughly wash new trays before using them because the residual chemical or whatnot on the trays gives me a booming headache otherwise.

ChicagoJohn - LOVE my lowers; I couldn't be more thrilled! I actually can't remember what I looked like prior to them being straight. I will probably have 1-3 refinement trays to nudge one tooth just a teeny bit. The teeth look fine as is, but I can manage a few more trays if need be.

[angel9165]

Phantom...thanks for verifying what I thought all along...the trays have some residue on them. They look so cloudy right out of the bag.

[Phantom Muse]

My head was a mess after the first set of trays (but I thought that was just because I was having a hissy-fit about the treatment in general), but it happened again with the second set. I finally got it together and figured out the chemical sensitivity, so I now brush the new trays with toothpaste and then rinse them under running water for 5 minutes before using them the first time. I also drink buckets of water the day of a new tray - both before and after inserting them. No problems now!