Starting to worry...

[locksbylace]

I'm on aligner 5 of 12. I've been wearing them properly and the orthodontist hasn't said anything however I'm not noticing any difference. The trays feel tight when I change them but I visually don't see any changes. I've heard people say that they never saw results until a few months have past. But those people are also the one that say they have 20+ aligners. I'm almost halfway done with my trays!

My teeth must be doing something because the orthodonist did say my one tooth was shifting and making the tooth next to it pull back up (which conveniently is right in the front!). He wants to somehow use a rubber band to pull it down next visit. A little worried there!

But really...I see no positive results. Should I be worried? Has anyone ever had to continue their treatment because of this?

[Phantom Muse]

Often you won't really see a noticeable difference until a little bit later in treatment, only because your back teeth might be moving around to make room to fit the now-crooked teeth into their proper places. This has been my experience. I am one tray away from being done on the top, and I couldn't be more pleased. I noticed very little movement on the top until tray 9 (of 12). With my lowers, I saw minimal movement for trays 1-3 (of 7), but then things kicked into high gear and my lower teeth are now very straight.

Also, have you taken photos all along so you can track your progress more concretely? Sometimes when we stare at our teeth everyday, we lose perspective. Just a thought!

[CammiMadison]

It is encouraging to see that you don't see results until a little bit later in treatment. When you are in the middle of the treatment, you want to see results. I understand how you feel. Hang in there and hope for the best as time moves on.

[I Invisalign]

I'm on trays 22 of 28. I didn't start to see the movement until my three previous trays. Obviously there was movement the whole time but until I could actually look in a mirror and say for sure that Invisalign was moving my teeth, it was nine months from when I started.

I really expected to have had noticeable results within the first three months. At three months I was disappointed at my progress but was assured by my provider that I was on track. The only thing I could do was to keep going and see what happened.

In the back of my mind I knew it was probably too soon for results but knowing how much this was costing me, I wanted straight teeth and I wanted them NOW!


Anyway, you should feel luck to have only 12 trays. That's nothing! If I were you I would have been done long ago. Just stick with it. I believe everyone goes through the same feelings that you are having. As long as you are following the proper procedure you will get the results you are looking for.