Am pretty sure I read somewhere that "EX40", trademarked by Invisalign, is .040" thick - just not sure which kind of thermoplastic it is. Supposedly it is much more flexible than the ones used by other commercial aligner type retainers & is said to last 5 times as long (unless you're a "grinder"). There is one type that is harder than the other, so let's hope these Invisalign are in fact the more durable kind. Time will definitely tell. For those of you just beginning treatment, aren't you glad we're out here testing the waters for you?
A couple of things to think about if considering Invisalign:
In many cases, adult orthodontia is a matter of personal choice & does not pose a risk to those with healthy teeth & gums. It's not an exact science however, & can take longer than planned. You WILL need retainers for an indefinite period afterwards.
With or without orthodontic treatment, teeth have a normal tendancy to slowly drift toward the front of the jaw. As a result, 65% of adults eventually develop crowded lower incisors. If you have any doubts if a particular dental professional's approach is right for you, seek a 2nd opinion.
Here is what to expect upon your first full clinical examination:
Ortho Exam
OK - as promised, here's my final comparison shots from my hygienist :
It's all been very good for me. Hope everyone else gets the results they expect - or even better. I'd recommend Invisalign to anyone whose clinician advises will be a good candidate.
11 comments:
Amazing pictures!
How wonderful your progress has been Anne - a true inspiration! Who knew having braces could make such a big difference? ;) I can't wait til I'm sitting where you are now (not for another 6 months I'm afraid). I've really enjoyed following your blog and reading all the useful links you've shared. All the best,
Ley
Thank you, Ladies!
(that is, if you are in fact a lady, Ley. I'm pretty sure LuLu is...)
;)
Anne
I must have messed up somewhere, my first comment didn't show.
AnneC, your smile looks fantastic! That is excellent progress. Those composite fillings really add to the positive picture. I'm thinking more and more about those myself.
And you're a local celebrity to boot, eh? Being in the local paper and all. ;)
Keep that smile happening!
AL
:)
You disappoint me AL...
You don't REALLY say "eh", do ya?
We must work together to stop that mythical stereotypical nonsensical mostly Amurrican flawed pattern of belief...eh???
Nor do we pronounce "about" as "aboot", despite having been told otherwise by some of my best friends who just happen to be Americans. We just don't say "abowwwt" like they do, so they hear us diffently. That's my theory, anyways.
Smile is happening as we speak -
without even trying these days - it just happens...
Thanks for checking in!
(& especially love the pics you've posted on your blog - now how about some of those toofins less two of yours?)
Hi Anne,
I've been checking your blog on and off for about a year now, and we seem to have reached the end of our invisalign journey at about the same time... Your smile looks great! I'm very satisfied with mine as well. I was a bit worried at the beginning after hearing some horror stories (mostly in the chat rooms) but everything seems to have turned out great.
I do have one question for you, and forgive me if you have answered this elsewhere: where did you get your tooth whitening kit? I did some research on the product on line and it doesn't seem to be for sale anywhere... I really want to whiten my teeth now that they're stright but I can't really afford the zoom process. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Hi toronto gal ---
I agree about the Zoom - think it's about 600 bucks at my office. Yikes!
My whitening kit came from my dentist - it was actually included in my Invisalign fee, so I'm not sure exactly what it would have cost otherwise to get it through them, but I'm thinking I heard about $200 maybe.
Just did a bit of surfing & found this site (amongst others) that will ship to Canada:
http://www.teethwhiteningsystems.com/teeth_bleaching_systems/teeth_bleaching_systems.html#
There's "refill" kits down near the bottom of that page that include a 16% carbamide peroxide syringes at @24.95 (US$) which is exactly what I used. Their syringes hold 5 ml @ which is more than mine did (only 3 ml @)& I only used 3 of my 4 over the maximum 12 days recommended, so that's lots.
I think I'll order myself some - it's been almost 6 months since I used mine, so I could safely do a touchup now.
Anyways - stronger solutions can cause sensitivity - they're generally faster, but are more likely to cause damage more easily.
Even 10% solutions are effective - that strength can be used overnight, so it can be more convenient than the 2 hrs/day with at least an hour in between for the 16% since we sleep with our trays in overnight anyways. It just takes longer - reduces risk of sensitivity, though.
I did use Sensodyne for about a month leading up to my whitening since I knew when I would be able to do it (after my initial plan was finished & my attachments were removed while waiting for my refinement trays). I continued to use it for awhile afterwards too, & had no issues with sensitivity at all.
Looks like shipping is ~ $10 on that site, so you compare a few others to see if there's a better price available. I'll try Googling to see if I can find any Canadian distributors...
Will let you know if any come up -
glad to hear your Invisalign went well!
Anne
(Oh - & I'd use my last tray set for the gel & not my Retainers I think. What type of retainers do you have?)
Hi again,
Thanks for the tips! Much appreciated. I have the plastic retainers -- didn't want to put any metal in my mouth. I will definitely check out that web site.
Thanks again!
TG
Wow! Your smile is gorgeous! Im jealous. I cant wait to be done with my treatment now. Congrats!
Nice to see you here, shawnna - & thanks!
You'll be done before you know it.
Time flies.
Really it does!
Anne
Your teeth are Fabulous! Honestly, the best case I have seen... Your results make me excited and I still have 15 more trays to go.
On another note, cant say I have ever said 'eh" a day in my life... I'm with ya on those American's having issues with their hearing :)
Congrats again!
Pricey (from Toronto)
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