Technical Stuff & Random Thoughts

First the random thoughts:
(before I forget what it was I was thinking - again)

Personally, I don't think most of our dentists/orthos are being totally up front about the length of our treatment. I mean they certainly downplay the possibility of refinement (which may be quite likely needed or wanted in the majority of cases) AND the retainment phase. Those points are pretty much glossed over (unless you are quite knowledgable about the process beforehand & ask at the very beginning) - mostly 'cause it's much more daunting a commitment when you realize that "46 week" plan may often grow by months in length when you finish your original movement phase & then go on to refine a few more movements to optimize your results.

And THEN after THAT, you may be advised to wear your final aligners full time for 3-6 months before starting to wear the retainer aligners - more fulltime wear or maybe only at night time? Forever even? Only as long as you want your teeth to stay in those positions, is all. Who really knows - these teeth are danged unpredictable things: dynamic they are in that they will continue to move over time being affected by whatever forces aging may bring upon them...

Still - it does sound a whole lot better to put your initial treatment time into a nice, finite & neat package. It is what keeps me goin'...must keep in mind how bad you want this.

Now, what was that other thing?

Oh - it amazes me time & again how often people close to me will forget that I'm wearing these things even after almost 5 months. I find myself repeatedly having to politely decline their offers of a drink... or a licorice... or a chocolate dipped strawberry... or that glass of red wine... or... whatever - simply because I've just got through the brushing, flossing, rinsing, etc. & can't be bothered to do it all over again 15 minutes later. I sometimes get the feeling that they think I'm being antisocial or ungrateful even - why don't they get this?! Most times I can't be bothered to explain anymore even to those that don't know - I just say no thank you (& hope they leave it at that). Let them think what they like...it just gets tiresome is all - nor is it everyone's business to know. For some, it'd be just TMI anyway.

You know - even though I've watched my home version of my Clincheck over & over again, I still cannot for the life of me imagine what I will look like with straight teeth. I look in the mirror & try to see it, but can't. Not yet, anyways. Guess I'm just too used to this mug the way it's always been. Might be like looking at a stranger in the mirror when I'm done...a welcome stranger, nonetheless.

Oh yeah - one more thing: have read conventional braces wearers saying countless times how when there archwires & brackets were finally removed upon their treatment's end, they were so startled to see how BIG their teeth now looked (presumedly since they'd been partially obscured by all that metal/ceramic for so long). Now - the thing that I notice when I remove my aligners, is how small my teeth appear. I attribute this to the "lens effect" of our trays - being a clear plastic "coating" they really minimize the spaces & maximise the teeth - making them appear brighter than they really are too, in my opinion. Interesting how the different appliances have almost opposite effects on our perceptions.

OK - here's the techie part: a couple of links to past Invisalign Summit overviews where professionals gather annually to compare notes & reveal what treatment options have worked in their patient's favour. First the 2002 Summit (thankyou, Betsy for this link) -
Copy & paste into your browser if it doesn't work, please:

http://www.pcsortho.org/bulletin/bulletin03/Spring03Pdf/9%20p%2024-27%20invisalign%20summit.pdf

And 2005:

http://www.pcsortho.org/bulletin/bulletin05/Winter05pdfs/p%206-8%20Editorial.pdf

I love this stuff!