Finally getting started - Day 1

Today I finally got my first Invisalign aligners. I also was able to see the Clincheck video of what my teeth will look like. They look like they will look great! I also found out that I’ll need 13 aligners on my top teeth and 15 on my bottom. So, in about 6 months, my teeth should be the way I want them to be. I will have to wear a retainer full time for about 3 months and then just at night, from what they are telling me now.

I have five buttons already on. Invisalign recommended 8, but my dentist felt strongly that some were not necessary. One that they recommended that she did not do is on one of front top teeth. So, there is a bubble in the aligner for it, but no button on my tooth. If it weren’t there, I swear that I would not be able to see that I have them on, and therefore, no one else would.

I haven’t had any trouble taking them on or off, although once the buttons were on, it was a little harder. I so far have only taken them off for lunch.

They feel very tight, but they don’t seem to hurt. I keep biting down on them, and when I do, I feel like I lock them into place more. I wonder as the day goes on if they will hurt more. I also have not experienced any speech problems, but I do find that I’m making an effort not to have any. I don’t feel as though anything is cutting my gums or tongue at all, as I have read others do.
My dentist gave me some Retainer Clear to clean them. I will just use that until it’s done and then use the Kmart brand efferdent after that. As of right now, I plan to do what some people said and that is just use the toothbrush and then the efferdent every few days. Of course I will use the Retainer Clear first, since I have less of that.

As suspected, I’ve already skipped snacking at least once. And biting my nails is completely impossible.

My next appointment is in 6 weeks. They said I come in every six weeks to pick up the next few aligners and see how I am doing. I am anxious to see how I progress. It will be great to get this done in the winter so that by next summer I will emerge with fabulous teeth! :)