Waiting

I'm just waiting for my third set of refinements :( It doesn't look like I'll receive them before I leave on my trip so will just take tray 9, refinement 2 with me and take it easy for the next little while. Would post pictures but I still have some packing to do since we leave tomorrow!

Refinements 3

Wow.... when I started my treatment I never imagined that I would go through 3 rounds of refinements!!! It was supposed to take 10 months originally and has stretched out to over 3 years. I'll post pictures before I go on vacation and update with details of my third round when I find out more!! Let this be a warning to you my fellow snaggle toothed friends....

Quick update

Not much to say really. Am going to go through with the last 3 overcorrection trays of 9 tray set (refinements round 2) and then will reassess if I need to go to refinements round 3. Argggh... will post pictures once I get to tray 9. Just switched to tray 8 on Monday.

Refinements round 2!

Well, I knew it had been a long time since I updated but I didn't realize that I haven't posted since August!! Oh my - since then the snow has fallen twice where I live, halloween has past and we've even instigated a garden light war in our neighborhood.

And my teeth... well when it comes to my teeth I suppose there's two ways to look at it. On the negative side, I had to go through a second round of refinements after getting through my uber round of 20U/13L refinements. On the more positive side, there are only 6 trays (+ 3 overcorrection trays) and I have really little attachments (see if you can spot them) this time around.

I just saw Dr. A yesterday and things seem to be on track so far according to him (I'm a bit concerned about my uppers) and I as given my 4 through 6 trays. Pictures below and my next update to come in 6 weeks!

wheee.... refinements round 2!

Well the good news is that I had kind of been hoping at the beginning of this set of refinements that I'd be able to get my attachments off before an upcoming wedding where I'll be a bridesmaid and I now have my attachments off. I have exactly two weeks to whiten before then too! The not so good news is that Dr. A and I decided that I am probably going to go for another round refinements. I kind of guessed this would be happen given the length of time the appointment was scheduled for but still a bit disappointed that my treatment is going to take a while longer before it's finished.

It's like playing Monopoly - except every time I get close to getting back to GO, collecting my $200 and moving on retainers, I keep getting sent back to jail for an involuntary break from treatment and then it's back to crawling slowly toward the GO again. I'll get there some day, even if it takes all 3 sets of refinements...

Here are pics of every fourth tray of this set of refinements:

End of first set of trays

Refinement tray 4

Refinement tray 8

Refinement tray 12

Refinement tray 16

Refinement tray 20

Attachments off!

refinement tray 18U/12L update with pictures

Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been really busy these past couple of weekends between hosting and attending bridal showers, helping with a friend's wedding, and starting a new job. This is supervain but I'm really glad that my teeth are so much straighter now and I feel pretty comfortable (despite all the attachments) smiling widely whenever I meet someone for the first time. First impressions are important and I think mine is much warmer now thanks to invisalign.

I'm at bit behind on posting as I'm on upper tray 20 right now (out of 23 trays - last 3 trays are over correction) and will be seeing Dr. A in about a week and a half but I have feeling that I'm going in for new molds since I've been booked for a full hour rather my usual 15 minutes in the chair. I kind of wish this was all over with but at the same time I'm not quite happy with my teeth right now and will probably go for second refinements if that's what Dr. A suggests at the end of our next appointment.

Pictures (sorry my front teeth look a bit gross around the front attachments, they seem to stain more easily):

Refinement tray 16U/11L update with pictures

Since I've gotten my new front attachments, my teeth have felt really sore with every tray change. It kind of reminds me of my first series of trays. Hopefully, this will result in some big changes! I'm not sure what's going to happen after this current series

I had a chat with Dr. A about retainers as well. He usually puts in a bonded retainer on the lowers and an essix retainer on top because apparently having essix top and bottom takes some getting used t0 (too bulky?). Given that my regular dentist is strongly recommending removable retainers. I'm going to look into my insurance coverage to see if it will cover Vivera for the first year and then maybe I can just get the essix retainers once I'm into night time wear only. Anyhow, I think he's going to take a close look and determine if I need to go for another round of refinements after tray 20.

Pictures: