Third 6 week Checkup

All is swell according to my teeth experts - movements are proceeding as planned so far - which I could pretty much tell already judging by how well each set of trays has fit. I'm actually in week 19 right now. Asked about the specifics of my IPR in the latter part of my plan & much to my surprise, I'll only need it done in one spot on both upper & lower - & right smack dab in the middle of each .30 mm (sounds like a lot to me!) I had thought there would be some needed between all 4 of my lower anteriors because of their crowding, but not so - thankfully!

I'm not real thrilled at the thought of having any removed between my upper 2 anteriors - who'da guessed that one? They're the ones that have always had the gap between them, afterall. Seems once they are directed close together, there would be a small open triangular space left at the top between them once the bottoms fit closely. OK - I get that part - but was certainly not expecting it. This will happen just before set #19 goes in - two months before my original treatment plan ends. I'll deal with that when the time comes...

This pic shows a "mini stripper" Interproximal Reduction tool:

I've seen others that have handles attached to one end - doesn't this model look a little awkward to hang onto??? Here I had been imagining some sort of power tool - with smoke & bits of enamel flying about while it whirred away - kinda like a belt sander - yikes! OK - so it may be best not to let your imagination get ahead of you...

Asked the receptionist how it was going - after her 14 month plan, she opted for one further refinement to push one of her upper anteriors a bit further back. This required 3 more trays & only took ONE week to get the new sets from Invisalign. That was good to hear after the person at the dentistry.com forum recently wrote of their problem of having to wait 5 weeks plus to get their proper revised Clincheck & trays made - apparently, they're STILL waiting! There just doesn't seem to be any predictable "norm" to how long these things will take.
This woman in my office is still opting for the permanent retainers - as did one of the hygenists there. I'm wondering if they are visible at all to others? I'm guessing they would take some getting used to just to be able to feel them with your tongue & all.


OK - these may well be the strangest looking trays you've seen yet: my lower sets are missing that right 2nd molar (details at the beginning of this blog as to it's whereabouts - does make it easier to remove, I believe) & my uppers have that left wisdom tooth skewed off the end of the tray. It doesn't actually even cover the entire crown since it's located so far back in my mouth & the torque from it wasn't needed. Here's a pic that compares my first set (on the top) to my 12th set (on the bottom):



Can you see how my top arch will have begun to widen?
(didn't even realize how "rodent-like" it was)






I can see a difference in the overcrowded front lowers, as well as a noticable improvement in my upper overjet - in another month, I should be able to see it plainly from looking in the mirror!