Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Some Interesting Reading
"Aligning the Supply Chain"
The growing complexity of managing Align's global manufacturing process
An overview of Invisalign
Dated Spring/07 with some case studies
From Align Technology's Point of View
Preview & table of contents from the Invisalign Manual Textbook
(just in case you're dying to know ALL about it)
So - got my last 2 refinement trays today & already made an appt. to get this lonely little attachment removed & final (hopefully) impressions made.
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4 comments:
I got my first set of refinement aligners today finally! I found out they actually came in a month ago but didn't get a call from the office staff until last week to make an appointment for this week, so it actually took less than 5 weeks from when the refinement impressions were taken until they got the refinement aligners, but I didn't get them until 9 weeks, oh well.
The total refinement aligners are: 9 upper and 6 lower.
I saw the Clinicheck for them on the office computer and its a nice simple clean movement and does exactly what I wanted - pushes one lower incisor down in 3 aligner movements and pushes some teeth around the pre-molars together (slightly less wide arch) to reduce the gaps left from IPRs.
No attachments, no elastics, no IPRs at all - just clean aligners and so far no pain or pressure with the first set today. I am very pleased, definitely should be worth the few months of extra time and I'll have a clean set left as backup retainers in the end!
Ohhhh - I'd make the office well aware of my annoyance for a month's delay in making the appt. to pick up those retainers - no excuse for that!
At this point it's water under the bridge, but worth having the disappointment on record - may prevent the same scenario for someone else.
Of these 4 tray sets in my retainment phase, I only really felt any appreciable discomfort with this very last set. The movements must have been just that much smaller with the first 3 sets that they didn't compare with my initial plan's usual movements. Wonder how it will compare for you, BB?
Was just reading of Betsy's problem with her Invisalign retainer at the forum. I'm pretty sure I'm scheduled to have final FINAL impressions taken at this appt. next week specifically for my Invisalign retainers if we decide no further refinements are needed/wanted. Will report in after the appt. on the 25th.
Glad to hear you're still doing so well - thanks for checking in, Badboy.
Regards,
Anne
Actually I didn't mind the extra few weeks "break" since I was able to wear my last initial series aligners only about half-time to hold the position until the refinement series started. Now I'm back to the 22hr/day wear again for both arches, took a couple days to get fully used to it again!
So far the first set of my refinement aligners have been about the easiest to wear that I can remember of any set. Of course a bit snug the first day, but already now after 2 days the teeth have apparently nearly completed the movements and its a lot easier to take them out and put them in. I noticed they appear to be clearer material than previous aligners, though of course I may just be so used to the more clouded last set I wore for so many months! But the new refinement aligners do seem to fit very well and pop right in even better than past aligners - might be cause now I have no attachments to deal at all with for the refinement series, also no IPRs either, should be a breeze! I was also pleased that the new aligners fit perfectly now over my recent front bonded tooth, a perfect fit now. I haven't experienced any rough edges anywhere on the new aligners or the initial series, never needed to file/sand any down for any reason that others have reported about so much. Maybe I am just lucky or is it a case of only those with that problem report on it, and its really a very small percentage with that issue?
I did ask my doctor this past week that when the refinement series is done if it ends as expected, if new impressions would be needed prior to ordering final retainers. She told me if I went with the invisalign clear retainers no new impressions would be needed since they would just make the retainers with the more durable material indentical to the mold of the final refinement aligners. Thats what I had hoped and I would have the final aligners for identical-fit backup for the retainers and I could use them initially for a couple months until I can go to just nighttime retainer wear. I have planned on going with the invisalign clear retainers at least for the first year or so and then I might try a Hawley for the bottom after that for longer life - but only after I'm at a point where I only need to wear retainers at night, maybe even only a few nights a week by then. I've heard the lower teeth retainers are especially important, so I would start with that to try that type out after a year or two.
Other type non-invisalign retainers are made by other dental labs so they of course would require new impressions made to send to the appropriate lab. In any case I would never go with the fixed type bonded wire behind the teeth option, thats like wearing a form of braces indefinetly which is what I wanted to avoid in the first place! I know a lot of doctors push that (mine included) but I think its due to so many patients not being compliant in the refinement phase and it does force compliance. But that won't be a problem for me - I've been very diligent in my compliance the past year and plan to keep it up with the removable retainers, I don't ever want my teeth to regress after going thru all this. Wearing removable retainers at night for the foreseeable future seems like a small price to pay for great straight teeth!
I know exactly what you mean about the break while waiting for refiners & then going back to 22/7! I also thought they seemed to be even clearer & shinier than the initial ones - maybe they really are improved. Have never had any of the rough edges either - not even in these refinement trays. Can't figure out why some do, either...
I tend to agree with just about every little thing you just mentioned - except the Hawleys - not sure I'd want to even try to get used to those. The permanent ones don't appeal at all - mostly because of the difficulty in cleaning around properly & the possibility of more damage to enamel because of that. My dentist is not pushing them at all due to the damage she's seen & their inherent problems. If no more impressions are necessary I won't be upset about THAT in the least.
I'm with you, BB - l'll be a "lifer" too - no problem there.
Wow - what a glorious day - got up into the 70's here & we've actually had sun for a few days now. We can almost hear the buds popping. Daffodils are blooming at last!
Anne
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