“After my braces I still wasn’t completely satisfied with my smile. I can’t believe what Dr. Wendling has accomplished-- the improvement is wonderful.”

– Sue A.

Invisalign^® Blog

Serving Portland, Lake Oswego, & West Linn, Oregon

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Invisalign Week 16 Thru 23

So, by now I have breezed through retainer sets # 8, 9, 10, 11 and I just started #12. Everyone, including me, is amazed how the time has gone so quickly. I can't believe that I only have until #18 to make it to the official Invisalign finish line!

I have found it quite amusing how "relaxed" I have become about taking the retainers out. In the beginning, I would always go the privacy of the bathroom to take them in/out. And, even in there, I felt a bit self-conscious about it if others were present.

Now, it I find myself sitting at the table doing it -- no big deal. The absolute best, though, is the day I was in NYC running late to a lunch meeting at Bryant Park. As I am walking as fast as I could down Madison Avenue, I was simultaneously taking out my retainers. Yes, this requires careful coordination. It would be un-zesty to drop them on the sidewalk.

And, as I did this the blasé self absorbed New Yorkers didn't pay any attention at all -- not one single person noticed.

You may/may not know that when retainers come out of your mouth, they have a bit of "saliva string" attached. My trick to minimize "the saliva string" is to suck on them after they are dislodged, but before you take them out of your mouth. This makes it much less messy for you and disgusting for onlookers.

And, in the event of an emergency when you don't have a "retainer retriever" plastic tool handy -- use a plastic spoon. It is strong enough, yet it won't hurt either your or the retainer.

I look forward to better understanding what happens next. Given how much the teeth shift if they retainers are out of my mouth for even a few hours, it seems like keeping the straightened teeth aligned will be important...

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Invisalign Week 12 Thru 15

I am delighted to share that Dr. Sue confirmed I am progressing on track and on plan.

It was interesting that at my last cleaning Liz, the Hygienist, had the opportunity to clean areas that she could never get to before. The added space between my teeth is "virgin territory" for cleaning. So, this was good news and exciting for us both!

I have noticed that when the retainers are out for a few hours, you can feel initial tightness when you put them back in. This begs the question -- "what will keep the teeth straight once I have come to the last retainer?" In asking this question of Dr. Sue, it seems that I might need help keeping the lower teeth in place with an inside wire -- which sounds fine to me. And the top....we will see.

All I know is that I see a MASSIVE difference in my smile -- and it feels great!

My latest "ah hah" pertains to cleaning the retainers. I shared previously that I rarely drink anything but water while the retainers are in (just the occasional coffee or latte with a straw). And, I never eat anything with them in. As a result they don't get very discolored or dirty. So, I have had great success keeping them clean by brushing them every time I brush my teeth. And, just to make sure they I am getting all the "nooks and crannies" I use a Q-tip and swab out each tooth area. Works great - and is faster than using the ultra sonic cleaner.

One final tip relates to "emergency situations" where I don't have the "pick" to remove the retainers. Because my retainers are VERY tight, I can't remove them with just my fingers. I found the guitar pick too flimsy. But, I have had great success with a plastic spoon -- which you can find anywhere. The edge of the spoon hooks under the retainer nicely, and it doesn't damage your teeth, gums or retainers. Perfect!

On Sunday, I start set #8....stay tuned.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Invisalign Week 5 - 11

WOW -- I am already one-third of the way through my treatment plan. It is surprising how quickly the time has gone and how easy it has been.

So what are my insights? Well….at this point, I have a better appreciation of what it takes to have the retainers in for a minimum of 20 hours a day, so I no longer need to keep a daily log. But, doing it in the beginning was key, as it reinforced what the schedule actually feels like on a daily basis. One thing I have noticed -- if the retainers are out for a few hours, I definitely feel a bit of tightness when they go back in. This really reinforces the need to keep the retainers in for the 20 hours a day.

I have become much better at surreptitiously taking the retainers out in public. Initially, I needed to always go to the bathroom - but no more. I am now much more adept and take them out in the blink of an eye in a hallway, at my desk, or even at the table in a restaurant.

When I changed to retainer #6, I did a side-by-side compared to retainer #1. I didn’t' think much could have moved, as it has been so easy. But, much to my surprise and delight, there has been significant movement of the teeth. What a great feeling!

And, of final note, I find that I have become an unofficial Invisalign spokesperson. As I interact with people whose teeth are crooked, I start to recount my experience with Invisalign….hummm….maybe I should start to work on commission from Invisalign?

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Invisalign Week 3 and 4

I can't believe it has been a month already. The time has gone by quickly. And, if this is like most things in life, the beginning always seems to be the slowest and most difficult. So, the good news is the past four weeks have flown by, and I can't believe I have completed 2 of my 18 step program to straight teeth.

Floss, Floss and More Floss - During the past four weeks, my teeth are definitely moving. Yes, food gets lodged in new and different places, so I have added floss as part of my WMAAT (with me at all times) arsenal of items -- along with my mini toothbrush, toothpaste, the essential "retainer remover", green chewie (which I think tastes a bit like vanilla), and the fashionably attractive Invisalign carrying case.

H20 - One thing I hadn't expected from my "Invisalign experience" was a developing a drinking problem….. water. I can't explain it, but I feel like I am more thirsty, and am definitely drinking more H2O -- which is great! Given that liquids dark in color can cause discoloration if they get under the aligners, as well as anything with sugar causing decay, it seems like the best thing to drink has been water.

Cleaning the Aligners- So far, there hasn’t been any real discoloration of the aligners during the two weeks. I brushing the aligners with my electric toothbrush after I brush my teeth. And, once a week I used the sonic cleaner. So far, this seems to be doing the trick of keeping the aligners clean and my plastic coated smile bright!

Sensitive Teeth - I was advised the straightening process may cause my teeth to become more sensitive, given my current issue with gum recession. I have been using ACT more regularly, and so far so good -- no additional sensitivity at all.

On the last day of my aligner I opted to use whitening gel in the trays that day. It worked great! In fact, I may fulfill my ultimate vision of perfect teeth - both white AND straight.

Sooooo…..Why did I wait so long to do this?

Posted by Barbara Basney

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Invisalign Week 1 and 2

I would not have believed it possible, that on the cusp of my 50th birthday I would consider getting braces…much less actually make the decision to get them. It should be understood that the reason I never had braces as an adolescent…like most kids…. was that I didn't care about the crookedness of my teeth. I simply wasn't that vain. I had a vision of being like Lauren Hutton and Madonna, where my imperfection (one of many) was core to "me" being "me." On the other hand, I have a high regard for issues related to health and well-being. So, when Dr. Sue told me my crooked teeth were causing gum recession akin to an 80 year old, she definitely got my attention, as well as my agreement to sign up for the Invisalign program.

So, here I am on Day #1. Just installed set #1 of 18 -- which translates to the 9 month program to dental alignment. As I was flying out to the East Coast the same day, I was a bit apprehensive. Suppose I couldn't remove the aligners? Suppose I broke the cool little plastic tool ( officially called a Retainer Retriever) that helps to extract the aligners? But, my concerns were unfounded and I have no issues at all.

As I started my journey to straight teeth and healthier gums, I wasn't quite clear on what would be my new daily regimen. I was a bit concerned to learn that it is best to always remove the aligners before eating/drinking anything but H20. Hummmm…for me that is a problem. In assessing my average day, I am eating or drinking something most of the time. I am an admitted "nibbler" -- not a fan of big meals, but of constant and steady grazing. Given the need to remove the aligners before eating/drinking and then flossing/brushing before putting them back in, it makes one more selective about what/when the effort is warranted. Losing weight could be a result, but not yet for me.

I have a job with extended hours, travel and quite a bit of socializing -- lunches, dinners, functions -- the thought of having braces was a bit embarrassing.. However, much to my surprise, no one could even tell I had them. I would have to point it out -- and even after doing so no one could see them. This is amazingly great!

In addition to the promise of straighter teeth, there are other considerations pursuant to Invisalign that I have noted:

1) I now drink less caffeine. One cup a day.

TIP - drink through a straw if you want to diminish the chance that the coffee will get under the aligners and stain your teeth.

2) Log hours each day that you wear/don't wear the aligners.

Knowing the goal is 20 hours/day, I was not sure if I could do that -- it seemed like a lot. It helped me to track the hours to better understand what 20 hours would really feel like on a daily basis, and what kind of regimen would be required.

3) I have found the cute little "hook" device invaluable for removing the aligners. Having no fingernails to speak of, I would be in dire straits without the Retainer Retriever.

TIP - get several in case you break one.

4) My dental hygiene has never been better! I was previously a twice a day brusher and once a day flosser -- which isn't horrible. But, with Invisalign, the need to brush before putting the aligners back in truly necessitates a higher level of dental hygiene.

So, after Week 1 and 2, so far, so good.