Hi everyone, it’s Anna here with another update about my progress with Invisalign.

This week I started on aligner number four. It’s been pinching a little, especially on the lower set where most of the pain is when I take off the aligners.  But overall it’s been an easy transition. After last week’s visit to the dentist to check on my teeth, I’ve just been settling myself into the routine of replacing my trays every other week or so. I’ve been finding it really easy to take them in and out to eat, brush my teeth and then clean the aligners before putting them back on. It really is just second nature to me now!

I can’t help but think about how great my teeth will look at the end of treatment and I’ve been doing some research about ways to retain my teeth in order to keep their final position.

One way this can be done is to have a metal wire discreetly bonded onto the back of my teeth.  This is a more permanent solution and is ideal for those who don’t want the inconvenience of forgetting their clear retainer. Some of these wires are specially shaped to make flossing easier, which is another benefit.

Here is what the metal wire looks like:

The other option is a plastic retainer similar to that worn during treatment. However, instead of trying to move the teeth, this final clear retainer is designed to keep the teeth in the final position. This has to be worn daily for a year or two, eventually reducing to one or two days a week – some people even choose just to wear it at night over one or two days a week eventually.

Here is what the clear Invisalign retainer looks like:

It could be more a more convenient option to have the metal wire bonded onto the back of the teeth, so you can’t forgot to wear the retainer or have to replace it if lost.

It’s completely up to the individual which they choose. I know before I started I was adamant that I wouldn’t be able to carry an aligner around, in case I lost them, but I’ve learnt since starting this whole experience that  wearing and carrying your Invisalign aligners around is pretty easy. I think wearing the retainers is a small inconvenience to bear for having a dazzling smile!

What option would you go for?

Until next time,

~ Anna

Hi everyone, its Anna here and I’m about to start with week 4 of my Invisalign treatment – time is flying! This week I popped into the Liverpool Dental Spa for a check-up and to get sets 5-8 of my aligners. My dentist showed me a CT scan (a digital x-ray) of how my teeth will look after treatment – to see everything laid out clearly on a computer screen was fantastic.

The scan allowed me to see how my teeth will look at every stage of the treatment.  It was quite surprising to see how different my teeth will look once this treatment is over!

The main difference I’ve been told will be with my top teeth. One of my front teeth is at an angle and once I’m done, this will come down and be in a straight position like my other teeth.  However the scan shows no significant progress will be made here until around tray 15.  This is because the space has to be created first for the tooth to move into.

Here is a front and side view of what my teeth looked like to begin with:

As you can see the side teeth are the problem here as one tooth is sticking out and the others are angled. My two front teeth are fine, but I had more of an overbite when I smiled.  The red marks on the teeth are my attachments or ‘buttons’ which will help to rotate the teeth into the final desired position.

…and here is how my teeth will look afterwards:

When you look closely, you can see a big difference between the two. The teeth are much straighter on this picture and more on show. When I look at the change between the before and after pictures the difference is quite astounding and a vast improvement.

My dentist also showed me where most of the changes with my teeth will happen. The CT scan below highlights in blue where most of the movements are being made:

As you can see, most of the changes are with that tooth on my upper set of teeth. It has to go through quite a lot of rotation in order to get it into the correct position. The rest of the blue is on the front half of my lower teeth. The bottom set here have to go through a lot of movement back and forth to accommodate for the side teeth which have to be brought further back into my jaw.

This picture shows in blue where most of the change is happening on my upper set of teeth.  This highlights where the pressure is happening.

Now I understand from a clinical point of view how my teeth are going to change and move. It was also reassuring to see the science behind my treatment and what to expect at each stage of the treatment.

I feel inspired now that I have seen the end goal of my treatment and I’m already looking forward to having a dazzling new smile!

Until next time,

~ Anna