mini update and photo

Hi everyone,
In five days I go for my appointment, THE APPOINTMENT!!! Just thought I would share a quick update with you - my teeth huuuurt :( They are still incredibly sensitive to pressure, hot, cold, anything, air, food, gum, toothpaste, mouthwash, water, etc etc. Also I am sharing a photo with you all - these are my rubber bands in perspective - see how small they are!!! That's why it hurt so much when my teeth were first starting to pull!

And yes this is completely un-blog-related, but Scoobie says HI!

And that his waggy tail is evidence that he secretly loves his turtle coat: I call him teenage mutant ninja scoobie

See, what an awesome little update - I bet you werent expecting doggie photos!

F

Disappointing appointment

Hello there everyone in cyber-space.

Just thought I'd update you - it's not much of an update to be honest, but I thought I should be a good blogger and keep you up to speed coz even the smallest thing for someone can install fear/happiness in others.
Yesterday I went to the orthodontist for what I very excitedly and wholeheartedly thought was THE DAY - when I get all my attachments taken off and my teeth shaped into the beautiful pearly whites I have always dreamed of getting. my appointment was at 4.30, and even though I knew, and they knew, that my appointment was going to be a long one, they didn't mention to me anything that would make me think otherwise.
Upon arriving, my orthodontist looked at my teeth and explained that he would start shaping them. Great I think. But after a while it became clear to me that not everything would be done in this appointment as it was getting rather close to 5pm, their closing time. Now forgive me for whinging, but surely, when my teeth alone are generating over 7 thousand dollars for their business, half an hour of over time won't hurt, considering they don't actually have to work it to pay bills like us common folk, and for the reason that I had to take unpaid time off work and spend around $40 petrol to get to my appointment, I find it a bit rude that they made me reschedule for another day, a middle of the day appointment, where I have to take even MORE time off.

Rant over - I am quite happy at how my teeth are shaping up! All the "notches" are being taken out and my teeht being smoothed into normal shapes. This does cause some sensitivity to my teeth but it's not too bad and I am told it will lessen with time, in the mean time I am to use a desensitizing toothpaste as a ointment twice a day.

In two weeks time I will be back there, at 4pm whith a whole hour up my sleeve, to get the rest done. This includes taking new moulds for my retainers.

I hope this was a good little update for you, although there is no not much progress to report I'm sure if you are interested in Invisalign, any information from humans you can get your hands on is a plus.

Til next time :)

Faith

Set 22 of 22!!

Well hello everyone!!
My lack of speediness in the blogging department once again shows that nothing too exciting has happened since I last checked in, apart from in the last week.
I have been on set 22 of 22 (hells yes!!) for three weeks and four days now. I was advised to wear this set (remember my bottoms finished way back at 14) for longer as my orthodontist wasn't too sure if my teeth directly on either side of my front ones (insert flash name here) would drop down level by themselves or not, so we decided to wait another week before taking any action in the hope that it happened. It did not. So now, as of Monday just gone, I have two metal attachments, one on the gum line of each of the two offending teeth, which rubber bands hook onto and to down the tooth, around the bottom and back up the inside where they slot into grooves made into my aligners.

 Not very sexy! But it does make me so greatful at how invisible my treatment has been so far, and reminds me how lucky I was not to have full metal braces. These will stay on for a month, a bit of a disaster it is my birthday in 5 days and I do feel self conscience around people a lot more than I used to, and also, I have lots of job interviews to go to and am worried that my appearance may affect getting work. In retrospect though, a month is a short time to be inconvenienced - I am lucky.

Now, I have talked about the pain invisalign causes in the past, but let me tell you, I was NOT prepared for it this time. Thinking my teeth were straight (well almost) made me think there would be no more pain - turns out that pulling teeth downward instead of just moving them is much, much more painful. Pair that with being cold and having no painkillers on hand, Monday night was not a nice one for me or anyone in my company - at one point I was awake in the night trying not to wake Josh with my whimpering.

I'm sure you all can see from the photo above that my teeth are looking great! The two teeth with the bands still need to move around a bit, which is a huge hastle because it means that I have to get all my buttons/attachments taken off, moulds done again and all the process started again for refinements. This will happen on the 18th of June at my next appointment. This appointment will be along one, because as well as that being done, I also get my teeth shaped to be all uniform, and my front one that is chipped filled in. In earlier photos I think you will see that my eye teeth and others too have notches in them - these are from when your teeth first cut thru at a child, normal wear and tear get rid of them - unless you have a screwed up bite, like I did. They have not had the chance to wear down naturally so my orthodontist will be working his magic and doing it for me. I think that bit excites me the most - finally having not just straight, but uniform teeth!!!

In past posts I complained about my bottom aligner that is being used as a retainer was getting scungey. Well, after more than 16 weeks of having it, my mouth just feels foul. The aligner has build up on i that a toothbrush cant get away, it is not clear now, rather opaque and foul smelling, and I am constantly paranoid of having bad breathe. Even now, just after brushing and flossing and soaking my aligners in denture cleaning fluid - the dissolvable tablet kind - I feel I do not have very fresh breath. Yes I can taste mint, but also yucky mouth taste too. If anyone has tricks to get rid of or help with this, please comment on this post - I feel pretty unhygenic these days :(

That's all for now - I'm sure this has served as a decent lengthed update for yall!!

Comment if you have questions etc!

Faith <3

Set 8 Progress Report

Hello everyone, sorry it's been a while, things have been so busy - work, the business, and running errands/doing favours for people, what can I say, I'm highly in demand and a hard worker!

I am onto day 5 of my eighth set of Invisalign Aligners, and everything is going well. Now, as I always comment on the pain factor, or lack thereof lately, you will be pleased to know, that this set was the most painful I have had in a while! I can really feel the pull on two different teeth - it's a sure sign it's working! One tooth is throbbing today, I think it's taken exception to being forced to be different, heck, I know I would!!

I finally rung my Orthodontist and discussed the whole thing about my appointment this time being two days earlier than all my others - this is explained better in previous blog entries. Anywho, he told me that he was happy for me to wear both set 8 and set 9 for 13 days instead of 14, since my progress is so good. Now, I got excited at this! You un-invisalign people probably won't understand, but two days is a huge difference to treatment time, considering if you don't wear your aligners for a minimum of 20 hours a day you may need time added on! So in my book, two days taken off for "good behaviour" is swell!!

I am really starting to notice the differences in my bottom teeth, they seem much straighter now! But in other news, I am struggling to find a good whitening toothpaste, any suggestions? Even though I am brushing my teeth sometimes 5x a day, they refuse to look any whiter or cleaner - I think I may have to shell out for a professional whitening when my treatment is done, since I am so obsessed with "perfect teeth".

Stay tuned people, there is always more teeth-ramblings to come!!

Faith :)

Aligner set 6

Hello hello hello!!

Just thought I would update you on my progress and what not and share with you a little mishap I had last week.
First, I will talk about the pain and progress. Yesterday I changed to set 6. And it hurts!!! Well only one one tooth, and its the same tender pulling sensation as I describe in my other posts. Not unbearable, but still not the nicest feeling in the world. I do have a mistake to correct, I am not half way through treatment for my bottom teeth just yet, I still have three weeks to go. I have no more shaving on the bottom teeth, and around set 16 on the top I get all of those teeth shaved. I have been good aparently, so I got given 4 sets of aligners yesterday instead of three.

Ok, my whoopsie. Well I can say that I successfully avoided a dilemma by not, by some miracle, being a fairy elephant and stamping on them. I put them on the bench, and one of my lovely kittehs decided it would be fun to knock them off coz I wasnt paying him loves. Anyway, I didnt realise, and went to the bench to put them back in..... WHERE ARE THEY!!??  So I got down on my hands and knees and combed the kitchen floor for INVISABLE plastic on a whiteish lino floor. Thankfully I found them before I stood on them, what would have been so bad.

So, as ever, please contact me if you have questions etc. And follow mr if you think it's worth it. I am off to open my package from Supre that just arrived :D :D

Loves!!!
Faith

Updates

Hi everybody that is dilligent enough to keep reading my teeth related ramblings time after time. I trust that you are all well and happy in which ever country you are in. I see I have some views from Finland and China, HI!!!!

Last night I changed into my 5th set of aligners. Half way through this set, I will be exactly a quarter of the way through treatment for my top teeth and half way for my bottom teeth. I haven't noticed too much difference, but BY CRIKEY this set makes my teeth very very tender. One offending tooth in partiular, being my one on the bottom right which is waaaay out of line still. Very tender when I remove the aligners to eat and what have you, and for the first half an hour or so after i put them back in. Also I have changed to soft food for the first few days, to the dissapointment of Josh, who won't be getting nice crisp potatoes with this Sunday's roast, and to me too, who won't be eating crackling :(

If you are that way inclined, please send a prayer for Leanne, my friend who is suffering the effects of getting all four wisdom teeth out at one time. Poor girl hasn't eaten in three days and the meds make her throw up anyway.

Be sure to stay tuned in for an update sometime within the next two weeks :) FOLLOW me! ;)

Tooth pain and tenderness

Good Morning everyone (Just)

Just thought I'd update yall on my teeth.

Everything is going well, fine and dandy, except my teeth are so bloody sore!! Like really tender to touch or eat crunchy things, and this is 4 days in to my newest set. And on day three, in the morning, I noticed a huuuge split in my top aligner, towards the back, behind my 2nd and last button on that side. So I was like FML this is going to break before I even reached one week, which is still possible actually but I choose not to think about it.

I have noticed myself noticing other people's teeth alot more that is probably healthy. People who I thought had nice teeth, now I look at them and can see flaws. Which isn't good really.

Anyway, work calls, follow me!!!

A punch to the face

Hi everyone out there who may or may not be reading this.

Just letting you know, I changed my aligners last night. All went well, it wasn't painful at all to be honest. Just tight. And they feel so nice and new!!! By the way, please please PLEASe invest in some kind of box (shoe box etc) to put your old aligners in, in order, coz it can get soo confusing! I stared at my lot for a looong time trying to remember what was what and what I was up to.

In the night, my partner nicely managed to uppercut me in the face, and so my teeth are real sore now, but they are fine, no damage done.

Back to work for me everyone, please remember to follow if you like my blog. New pics will be coming sometime, but there isn't much change so far, that I can see anyway - maybe coz I look at my teeth like 10 times a day...?

Faith :)

Progress

I am so happy with my progress - especially since yesterday was National Roast Day, apparently, and, as I have had my aligners in for almost two weeks now, my teeth aren't tender, and finally, FINIALLY, I could eat the crackling - crackling isn't fun when you have to suck it.

I'm still getting a split on every aligner, in the same place, being between my right front tooth and the one next to it (to the right). My orthodontist says it is because of the way I am removing them ,but, there is only one way I can remove them, and I be really gentle now on purpose.

Also, some info for yall, if you get a split in your aligner. If it's a straight split and not gaping like a V, it's fine to keep going. If it's a V, an open split, cut the aligner right through at the split, and insert it as two pieces for the time you have remaining. I had to ask about this as I was going away and my previous aligner, which I had to take with me incase I lost my current ones, had a big V in it.

Anyway, I am changing my aligners on Thursday, so 4 days away, and I'll keep you updated :D

Progress - Aligner #3

Hi Everyone
Well I promised to write after my trip away, and so I am!
The day before my trip I went to the orthodontist and got my teeth grinded a bit more, and got given three sets of aligners and made another appointment for in 6 weeks time. I was a bit worriedd about putting the aligners in during the day and having to take them out for eating sooner than I would if I had put them in before I went to bed, but it really wasn't that much of a deal, I got home, I was hungry, I took them out, I ate, I brushed and flossed, and put them back in. Easy as.
So, the next day, 7 hours and three flights later, I suprised my brother for his birthday. It was lovely to see him after two years and we did lots of fun things, such as: mini golf (x2), dinner at a restaurant, lunch at restaurants (x2) a trip to Kaikura and saw a seal colony (sooo cute) and saw the snow on the mountains, it's so pretty down there. Was great to bond with him. I must say I was a bit naughty Invisalign wise as I wasnt always close to amenities and a few times just flossed and them put them back in, but as soon as I was home I would give them the old 1 - 2.
A weird thing I have noticed - some people on their own blogs say about their aligners smelling nasty - well, anything would if you dont clean it enough, its basically collecting all the crap your teeth would if they are uncovered, but, anywaaaaay, mine smell like bleach when I pull them out of my mouth. Like swimming pools!! Weird or what???
So far I have gone 5 days without a crack, and the pressure isn't even on the pain register, I'm very happy. But not so as I found out the beautiful price of $3500 was only the beginning. Yup, total cost is $7000NZD. Eek!!!! Mind you, spare a thought for my friend Leanne, who has to get all 4 wisdome teeth out before her treatment, as they are growing wrong and pushing on her teeth.
Also, be it just my eyes, but, I think, that one of my bottom teeth is alot straighter already. I guess that could work, what do you think? I'm in week 5 of 22 weeks for the bottom teeth.
Hope my post has been informative, stay tuned!

A bit of a whoopsie!

Hi everyone! Ok well my 2nd set of aligners are hanging in there, no more cracks, and I have one week to go until I change them. My work will hate me, as, next Thursday I have half the day off to go and get the 3rd set fitted, and then, Friday and Monday I will be away as I am flying to the south island, Blenheim in fact, to suprise my brother for his 40th birthday. So don't tell him!!!! OK!!!

Anyway, my whoopsie: Yesterday I went for some job training, three hours worth, and I was so rushed and nervous before I left, that after I ate my afternoon tea, I brushed my teeth and ran out the door. I was about 10 minutes into my training when I realised I DIDNT HAVE MY "TEETH" IN!! Arghhhh!!! It felt so odd!! So I went the 3 hours feeling sooo guilty and hoping nothing bad will happen, but managed to calm myself down by thinking that my teeth do't know the difference between taking them out due to forgetfulness or due to a dinner party. Except at a dinner party, my stomach sure knows the difference!

I got home and ate dinner (thank heavens for slow-cookers, or I'd have to leave my man to cook. Not that he's bad at it, but he works so hard already) and then clicked my aligners in and I could feel the pressure already, I thought "wow" so they still work!!

Here's hoping I don't take my 3rd set of aligners out and the flight attendant whisks them away with my food remains... Thats's if they feed you on a plane jouny over only 1 hour and 20 minutes? I wouldnt know, last time I went on that trip was over 5 years ago! Anyway, I will keep you updated about my third set and my little holiday after I get back I suppose. Happy browsing!!!

Get Crackin....

Well well well. Exactly three days into my 2nd set of aligners (yesterday) I was happy as Larry and couldn't complain what-so-ever, until.............. Yes you guessed, I found a crack. And in the same place as the first one last time round, just on the opposite side. So now I'm worrying that I will get more cracks and not last my two weeks as I have 10 days to go as of today. The weird thing is is that I have had no trouble getting them out at all, so I don't know what exactly is going on! I am so happy with my treatment, but a lot less so with the aligners themselves. Maybe it's because of my buttons? Who knows? I am going to see my ortho on the 28th (also my brothers 40th birthday, love you bro!) and no doubt I will chat with him about my concerns.

Apart from the cracks, my treatment is progressing well, although, I got quite sad on Friday night when I was offered a lolly and couldn't chew it..... I improvised by sucking the flavour off it and then handing it to my boyfriend to eat for me :D sorry hunny.

Behold, a crack

Just letting you know I am able to remove the aligners without too much trouble, all is well. One toothie is very wobbly and sore to touch, but it's getting better :)
One thing I have noticed is that the left side of the top aligners doesnt fit onto my rare teeth, upon closer inspection we can see a split in it, it between the teeth, just after the back button. I know this can sometimes happen, and it's probably from me figuring out how to remove them right. I'm worried it will break as I do have to use quite a bit of force to get them out, and even if I wore this set for 2 weeks instead of three, there's still a long while to go.

Those fingernails aren't mine, they're my dads. Signs of a diesel mechanic right thuurr.

Explanations

Good morning everyone... (Good Morning Faith) How is everyone today? (Good thank you Faith)
Good, coz I have some explaining to do. If anyone needs the bathroom, go now, OK? Anyone? Good.

I realised last night that I didnt eplain too much of the procedure, which isn't helpful for those of you who are thinking about getting Invisalign.

When I went to the ortho yesterday, first he fitted his Invisalign mold, which is essentially the same as the real thing but thinner and more brittle. This he used to figure out where exactly to place my nine buttons. He first gave the offending teeth a quick clean and then rubbed a mild acid on them, to burr the surface of the teeth he was attaching them to. Then they blobbed little bits of whiteish goo to my teeth, put the Invisalign molds over it and shaped it with tweezers, then cured it with a blue light that made a whirring noise. Done. Easy as pie. Mmm pie.
Then Mr Rubber Glove Hands got a little thingy and shaved one tooth on either side. He put glasses on me, and the nurse lady was fanging away with the suction. Not pleasant, but not sore or uncomfortable.

Then it was time to fit them, which took a while, and grunting from both me and him (as he pushed down hard). I was out the door smiling.

Last night, I couldn't get my top aligner off for dinner, or to brush after, or before going to bed, so it stayed on, as well as the bottom one, as they do, for 22 hours a day. During my sleep I dribbled so much!!!! I guess my face isn't used to the intruders in it. This morning I took some painkillers and managed to pull both aligners out first try, and stuffed myself full of breakfast so I wouldnt have to eat until lunch. The worstbit of the whole thing is that my teeth are real sensitive and feel wobbly, and when the aligners are out on one side, the teeth get pushed around a bit, and it huuuuuuuuurts. But you don't leave it lilke that for long.

Anyway, this was a huge post, hopefully keep you reading till my next one, it may be a few days, since the eventfulness has now passed.

Love, light and happiness to all my blog stalkers!!!

Keeping Me In Line (Aligner #1)

So, today I went to my ortho and got my first set of aligners fitted!!! I had to get one tooth “shaved” on either side, (0.1 of a millimetre, and he will shave them more when I see him next, in 5 weeks) and nine buttons. Yes, NINE. Getting the aligners fitted didn’t hurt in the slightest, once they were clipped in, I felt instant pressure on a few of my teeth. I have to wear this first set for three weeks, then I change to set number two, and from then on, it’s two weeks each set. I have 22 sets on top, and 14 on the bottom. So, that's almost a year's worth of treatment.

My ortho said that these were one of tightest lots he’s ever fitted, which worried me, as I was already getting hungry (I was too nervous to eat a big breakfast) and don’t have much fingernail height left (from nervous biting). Anyway, the appointment took an hour, and I wasn’t in too much pain after so we had a walk around and did some shopping. I was told I can eat with them in for the day if they don’t want to come out, and if I can’t get them out tomorrow morning, to call my ortho and go down there, he can take my buttons off so it’s easier.

I was sooo hungry on the way home I thought I was going to faint, so we got some hot chips, and I was eating them like a hungry seagull! Gulp gulp gulp without chewing!! When I got home, I tried to get them out, to clean my teeth since chips had got in under them (GROSS). Well, what a mission! My Outie tool I bought broke first try, SHAME ON THEM. The freight was 10x more than the product when I bought them online from the USA. I drunk hot water to loosen them, and after much swearing and panicking, I tugged them out.  Found they hurt the most when they are half out, and pushing my teeth weird ways, and when I first clip them back in.

I look some photos for yall, so have a looksie, excuse the horrid face I have to pull to show you all my teeth! Oh, for those of you who worry about the pain, I had one painkiller and one anti-inflammatory and I was ready to roll.

So exciting!!

They really aren’t that visible, even with the buttons. My partner said 7, on a scale of 1 to 10, for invisibility (10 being invisible to the point of querying existence.) He also said, on a scale of one to Nigel Thornberry, I am rather dashing...... Gotta love him. I rung my dad when they were freshly in, and he said that I didn’t sound in too much pain, so he will ring them and tell them to make it worse, since he’s paid so much, he wants to hear me whinge I guess.

Anyway, that’s a wrap for me, my invisible readers, Over and Out, and look at my photos! And click FOLLOW if you like this!!

Until next time,

Faith J

My teeth as they are normally

Here you can see some of the buttons glued on, I have 9 in total.

My first set of aligners.

Invisalign Aligners #1 in place.