Just put in trays 15 today, which means I’m officially halfway through my Invisalign treatment. WOW! I can remember first starting out and thinking it’d be forever before I got this far. Went by a lot faster than I realized. And it did get alot easier. Some trays were awful and some were a breeze, but overall I think I’ve been pretty lucky.
So what have I learned these past seven months? Well, most importantly, I’ve learned a new confidence and belief in myself. Despite how easy and painless the commercials want you to believe, Invisalign is not easy and it’s not painless. It takes dedication and self-discipline, and when you put on new trays, it can hurt like hell. Attachments can make the trays no-so-invisible, eating gets deferred to designated timeslots, speech can sometimes be altered slightly (I currently have a whistling ‘s’), sharp, unfiled edges can cut your tongue, for some people the bite is temporarily altered making chewing difficult, and sometimes the feeling of two chunks of plastic in your mouth can drive you mad.
Now I didn’t say any of that to drive anyone away from getting Invisalign. But you have to know what you’re getting into. Overall, Invisalign is great, IMO.
Here’s a few things I’ve learned that have made my treatment go as smoothly as it has so far (*knock on wood*)…
1. Don’t shop around for a bargain. Shop around for the best ortho that you feel comfortable with. You get what you pay for, and cheapest is not necessarily the best.
2. You’re paying out a crap load of money. You’re spending several months, and for some, years, in this treatment. So for the love of God, follow your ortho’s instructions!
3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of your ortho and his/her staff. Again, you’re paying a crap load of money. Don’t leave the office until you’re satisfied your questions are answered.
4. Before putting on a new set of trays, always check for and file down any sharp edges with an emery board. And when at the ortho, feel free to ask them to cut off sharp edges first when they make you put on a new set there.
5. Take pictures often. We see ourselves several times every day. It’s hard for us to see changes, even when those around us can. Take pictures of your teeth with every new set so you can look back and really see your progress. Don’t get discouraged when you don’t see any changes right away. It takes time, and for many the first big changes are in the back. My ortho told me flat out that I wouldn’t see much difference until trays 18.
6. Put new trays on in the evening. Most find it best to do so before bed and just take a painkiller. This doesn’t work for me. After dinner, I drink some soda with a bit of rum. I’m not a heavy drinker, so this little bit does the trick for me, lol!
7. Keep a calendar and a pen in your bathroom and write down when you take your trays out and put them back in. When I started doing this, I was surprised at how much time I didn’t realize I was losing. Now it’s almost a contest trying to see if I can beat the previous days time.
8. Find others (I prefer the Invisalign forum on bracesreview.com) who also wear Invisalign. It’s great to feel a camaraderie with others going through the same process, and it always makes me feel better when my trays are giving me trouble. It’s also great for getting tips and advice from others who’ve had the same problems.
9. Water. Drink lots of it. I mean LOTS. It’ll help with dry mouth. Keep a bottle with you at all times. Vaseline is great for chapped lips. Doesn’t take a ton and lasts so much longer than chapstick. Makes them softer too.
10. DON’T GIVE UP!
When it comes right down to it, it’s a trial and error process. When you hit a snag, figure out a way around it. Just remember that no matter how hard it can be some days, this will all be worth it. In the end, you’re going to have a beautiful, perfect smile. You get out of it what you put in. Give it your all and the results will be grand. Besides, isn’t something so wonderful worth fighting for?
