Zen & the Art of Lisa's Invisalign Experience

Trays: 5,5 + 6,6

2008-08-21T16:51:00.001-04:00

Got my toofies cleaned as well as 2 sets of trays for Invisalign.

Trays: 3 & 4

2008-07-21T12:58:00.004-04:00

Trays:
Picked up trays 3,3 + 4,4

I'm really lovin' this new set of trays -they encompass every contour of every tooth and they don't bring tears to my eyes when inserting the new set each time.

I will need to call the office and get the 3rd set. I made my appt but realized that I'll be out of town and really don't want to postpone the treatment as I may be participating in a high profile professional event in NYC.

Keep your fingers crossed!!

Round 2! New Set of Trays

2008-06-23T12:19:00.010-04:00

New Trays
Top: 12
Bottom: 8

Trays: 1, 1 + 2, 2

After waiting for weeks for Invisalign to send the second round of trays, they finally came -mid May. Unfortunately for me, that's the busiest time for my business -mostly travelling to tradeshows.

I made an appt with the dentist, alas, they were on vacation for a week, then it was my birthday -I wasn't going to have pain while enjoying my birthday cake!! At last, the date was settled for this morning. Dr Eric did indicate that if we had postponed the second round any longer then they would have begun charging.

Charging?? I waited a good long while before getting a call to return to the office. I guess patients are just supposed to wait by the phone and plan their lives around 3rd parties. Sheesh!

Today was a good day.
I was patiently waiting for Dr Eric to tell me that he was going to disk between my bottom front teeth but that announcement was never made. He did apply 4 more speedbumps to my teeth and now I taste as though I've been eating bandaids. Disgusting! I swear his speedbump application was different than before, but he claims that I had a glass of wine before the first time anyway.

Funnyman.

Seriously, it felt as though he had inserted a template onto the top and applied the paste into a window that created the speedbump then removed the template after 30 seconds. The template fit just as a tray would.

It came time to insert the new trays. Dr Eric remembered that I like to wet mine first before installing them in the upright position because it's just easier. The first one was pretty easy and incredibly, I dare say, comfortable. The second one I had to actually stand up and look into the mirror because the tray was being just a bit temperamental. I sat back down to have him adjust it as it was just flared beyond the actual jaw, but now fits favorably.

These new sets are very appealing in the sense that they're comfortable -they're deeper and they fit like leather glove. I didn't have to exhibit any temper tantrums in the dentist office today -no pain, no tears.

It looks like I'll have 12 trays for the top and 8 trays for the bottom.

I get to have chicken tonight!

Dentist Joke

2008-04-01T13:09:00.002-04:00

So a woman sitting in the dentist chair states, "Dr. I'd rather have a baby than a root canal!"

The doctor replies, "Well, make up your mind -I have to adjust your chair."

Blog Name Change & Friends

2008-04-01T08:55:00.003-04:00

So, it appears that folks are actually reading this blog. Thanks!

After visiting Sara's blog, I discovered that she had taken the care to add links and such. This is something I have done with my other blogs here & here & here, but was remiss to do so with this one.

In addition, I realize how awfully clinical & mundane (I am neither of those things) ECSHealth was positioned at the top, so I fashioned it after Robert Pirsig's book -one of my favorites.

My apologies to you, my avid readers. Let me know other things you'd like to see/read.

Recasting: Part Deux

2008-03-31T21:53:00.010-04:00

The casting was brief today, but Dr Eric assured me it was nothing I could have done to help or hinder the faulty casts last time. Moreover, he still had to take 2 impressions of the top side -bleck.

My tongue is numb and neither juice, Triskets, nor soup can remove that sour taste.

Ran out of floss
I can't believe that I actually ran out of floss today. Unbelievable. I never run out of floss. I always have several of those goofy little floss containers floating around in my travel kit, getting in my way as I'm trying to find my tweezers to pluck the sneaky hairs that fill in my gorilla brows. I have no hair on my head, but God forbid I should go without in my hybrid brows that my only two French ancestors gave me.

Proudly adorned with prominent company logos, I finally acquiesced (months ago) to seek out those pesky containers mysteriously filled with string. Hmm. I thought using my strong fingernails (my only redeeming body part) were supposed to pull the husks out from post popcorn fest each night.

Ever see that monkey that smells his fingers after prodding himself?

Well, that's how my fingers smelled after flossing today. I'm guessing that's why my dentist now wears a mask -I thought it was because he didn't want to be identified.

Recasting

2008-03-24T08:32:00.003-04:00

Got a call today from the office asking me to come in for another casting. Whaaaaa?

Evidently, Dr Eric's office just got an email indicating that the molds weren't good enough. And they're contacting him... now?

Anyway, I couldn't schedule for anything this week because over the weekend, I came down with a raging headcold. I must've brought the germs home with me after fondling the glossies at the gym that I recently got reacquainted with last week. Or, perhaps it was the germ ridden 2 year old that visited last week...

February 13: Cleaning & Casting

2008-02-13T08:15:00.002-05:00

I've got fangs!!!

While brushing (and flossing) my teeth today for my my semiannual toofy cleaning, I examined my teeth. By God, if I don't have fangs! My laterals still are flared a bit (hope that gets remedied in the 2nd session of trays) but fangs are quite evident.

I announced to Jennifer that I have been flossing and because I've been regular about it (at least 3x week) that my gums don't bleed! Woo-hoo!

While in the chair, I was lamenting however about my stained teeth. She checked my records and hinted that Invisalign includes a teeth whitening system at the end of the session! Woo-hoo! Love that.

This was a good day, until...

The second part was the recasting of my current mouth to encourage Invisalign that I need additional trays to conclude the session. Tracy & Dr. Eric had loads of fun caulking in that nasty blue material into mouth molds. Unfortunately, they had to take a few impressions due to the material and my teeth not playing well together. My tongue was numb from that crap and my face was speckled with it. Bleck. Nasty nasty.

It'll be a week or so before Dr Eric gets results, approves the trays and so forth.

Invisalign: Tray 19 + 20

2008-01-30T22:59:00.002-05:00

Didn't receive trays 19 & 20 until today because I came down with a raging headcold just after returning from Europe. Fortunately, no issues with warping or some such nonsense.

Invisalign: Tray 17 + 18

2007-12-02T22:49:00.003-05:00

Scored trays 17 & 18 today. I was supposed to take tray 19 with me but because I'll be country hopping for 3 weeks, I didn't want to risk losing the tray, so I opted to keep it in the office until I return -it's safer there!

Talked w/Dr Eric about my concern with the laterals. He assures me that at the end of the session, another impression will be taken and then they'll review how we feel about the conclusion.

I want my Hollywood smile!

Until such time, I'm off preparing for our belated honeymoon!!!

PS. Still flossing!

Invisalign: Tray 14, 15, + 16

2007-10-31T21:14:00.005-04:00

Had another disking done between the lower teeth (24/25) to allow the new trays to fit. Looks like I won't see the doc until well after Thanksgiving!!

Meanwhile, I'm still wearing tray 12 of my upper teeth but it doesn't look like my laterals have moved all that much. Darn it, I paid for the Hollywood smile! I want my Hollywood smile!!

Sidenote: So, I've been reaching for that obscure dental string called floss lately. Weird.

I've always been good at frequent brushings and having been donned with strong teeth, I feel I must shove that string between the choppers to feel cleansed before I have to return my trays to their upright and locked positions.

Sigh. Does this mean I'm becoming an adult?

Invisalign: Tray 13

2007-10-22T22:42:00.000-04:00

I know that I said I received both trays 12 & 13, but 13 was severely warped. Dr. Eric had to call Invisalign to get a new tray sent -that should take about a week or so.

Invisalign: Tray 12 +13

2007-09-19T14:48:00.001-04:00

I received trays 12 & 13 today.

As usual, I had to insert the subsequent set there in the office to make sure everything works. Because of the speedbump removal, the tray fits kinda cockeyed; I guess it always will until the end.

Invisalign: Tray 9, 10, + 11

2007-08-06T14:47:00.001-04:00

August 6
This time Dr Eric scrapped off the speedbump on my upper incisor due to the misalignment of the trays. He indicated that he'll do some refinement work at the end that includes taking another set of impressions (yuck!) and a few more trays. He was pretty fuzzy on just how many. Jeez! I thought I'd be done with trays!

The new trays were tight fitting but nothing that brought tears to my eyes. I think with this set, I'll have to take the emory board to the trays and file 'em down. I haven't had to do that in many weeks.

August 7
Update: This photo shows my teeth just after their 6 month cleaning! I'll be darned if these toofies aren't getting just a little bit straighter!

UpperTrays: 3 sets remaining!
LowerTrays: 11 sets remaining!

Invisalign: Tray 8

2007-07-18T14:47:00.001-04:00

I guess I didn't think anything (like to call the office maybe!) of the disconnect between the incisor speedbump and my reservoir. The assistant gave me tray 8 and as I inserted them, I had the same issues -so I revealed them to her.

Dr Eric had to don the latex gloves to poke around and check both sets and their mis-alignments. He asked me to wear this set for 2 weeks and let him know if there were additional issues. I continued to wear them with the pit sitting just cockeyed off the speedbump.

Oh well!

Invisalign: Tray 7

2007-07-02T14:47:00.000-04:00

Tray #7 was the set that I was given to take home so that I wouldn't have make a trip into the office. Boy! I thought I had done something wrong after all these weeks of inserting/removing the trays at mealtime... the speed bump on the upper incisor refused to fit into the reservoir! Hmm...

I continued to push and push and fit but to my knowledge it wasn't snug-as-a-bug in the pit. So, I waited until the next office visit.

Invisalign: Tray 6

2007-05-30T14:47:00.000-04:00

May 30

Dr. Eric shaved between 2 teeth, but cannot remember where. I'll get note the next time I go in.

The upper jaw still smarts each time those new trays get inserted. I still get teary eyed trying to shove them in.

Invisalign: Tray 5

2007-05-30T14:46:00.000-04:00

May 14

Again, on the eve of my tradeshow, I can barely stand up from all the long hours I'm working. I'm thinking Dr. Eric shaved between 2 teeth, but cannot remember where. I'll get note the next time I go in.

Invisalign: Tray 4

2007-05-07T14:46:00.000-04:00

May 1

I've been remiss in my updates. I'm so swamped with my upcoming tradeshow that I'm lucky to remember my middle name.

I think this is where they gave me Trays 5 so that I could skip the office visit.

Invisalign: Tray 3

2007-04-16T14:46:00.000-04:00

April 11

The trays are still pretty painful to insert. At this point, I won't like Eric just pop them in, I've made it clear that I need to stand by the sink to run them under cold water and then caaaaaarefully insert them.

Damn! That smarts!

Invisalign: Tray 2

2007-03-26T11:26:00.000-04:00

March 26...

Dr. Eric shaved between by two front (upper left & right central) and between my upper left central and upper left lateral today. The drilling wasn't so bad, I imagined a Dremel tool with a radial cut off wheel that skimmed between the teeth like a tossed rock skipping across water; next time I'll have to actually review his tool tray. It was when it took tiny sandpaper between my teeth and smoothed them as I do when polishing my woodworking projects that sent me giggling.

However, once that project was finished (seems like merely a minute for both teeth), he asked me to insert the new trays. "Holy Mother Mary of..." my upper teeth convulsed in spasmotic bitterness as I quickly tried to removed the implements of self-inflicting pain. For some reason, my dentist/ortho found this as a personal pre-lunch entertainment; think I'll call him Attila.

Now mind you, to conceal my interpersonal anguish like I'm fighting the yellow humor, I do my best to spew salty jokes whilst I pain. Dr. Eric felt I was the most animated respondent to the graduating trays and I retorted that vanity is pain and I wanted to quit this non-sense; he declined my invitation.

While I took 2 Advil before my visit ("To tolerate the torture." Dr. Eric replied), I will be revisiting my friend, Orajel. I-am-not looking forward to removing the trays tonight to brush my teeth. Oh crap, I just remembered, I "have" to remove my trays -I've got the end-of-the-day Flouride treatment to perform.

I'm gonna cry.

Invisalign: Week 2

2007-03-19T11:25:00.000-04:00

March 19...

Need to call Eric, seems I've busted the only speedbump affixed to the top row of teeth sometime this weekend. Geez, I thought the tray was easier to pop in and out.

Update: The folks in Eric's office got me in at 2pm Monday to fix my "speedbump." Eric thought my 'speedbump' analogy was funny -wasn't mine, tho, it was the folks on the archwired.com forum. In any case, Eric re-etched my canine and re-affixed the speedbump.

FYI: Speedbumps are required to 'torque-the-tooth' and because canines are the most difficult, it seems as though this particular canine will be taking the full 12 weeks.

Update 2: My upper require only 12 trays (24 weeks) and my lowers 20 trays (40 weeks)!!! This will allow me to look gorgeous on our honeymoon in December!!!!

Invisalign: Tray 1, Week 1

2007-03-16T11:24:00.000-04:00

March 16...

It's now Friday and the wave of insanity has now disappated. This is what I know about the first week of acclimation with Invisalign:

Never get your Invisalign installed while you're PMS'ing;
Give yourself at least 3 days before devising the strategy for offsetting the out-of-pocket money that you feel you owe your spouse because you 'just-can't-take-it-anymore!';
Buy yourself a tube of tooth ache pain reliever (I bought Orajel) immediately to numb any initial pain that occurs when inserting or removing your trays;
Keep the Dremel tool (or a nail file for short term) handy so that you can sand down the sharp parts that continue to cut the under side of your tongue;
If you don't have the pain reliever (and after brushing your teeth), detour the icy cold rinse water onto your teeth to numb the gums and run the trays under the icy cold water before inserting them to help alleviate any initial pain that occurs when re-establishing the trays in their upright and locked position.
If you work from home, sleep-in as much as possible. Kick the cats out so that they don't attenuate or otherwise beat the dreamy state that you covet.
When you do finally get up, begin drinking heavily (and I'm not talking coffee) at breakfast and don't stop until you go to bed. Make sure you greet your SO (in my case, Andrew) with two clean wine glasses and a freshly corked bottle when s/he returns home -this will make her/him think you haven't had a drop since the night before.

It's now Friday Night and I and the Invisalign have become assimilated. I'm a much happier person than I was 4 days ago -the wine doesn't hurt either.

Invisalign Claustrophobia: Analogy

2007-03-16T11:23:00.000-04:00

March 16...

Here's my analogy of wearing the Invisalign trays that I conveyed to my husband last night:

The upper tray is like an overweight sweater: It's the only one you've got and when you feel overheated, you remove it. Suddenly you're cold because you've got only a thin t-shirt and you realize that you have to put the sweater back on, otherwise, you'll freeze. It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario.

The bottom tray is much like wet jeans: They grind, pull, and rub and won't allow you to remove them because they're extremely tight and you'll require the help of others with plenty of tears.

Invisalign Claustrophobia

2007-03-14T11:22:00.000-04:00

March 14...

I never really thought I'd have issues with claustrophobia -until I had Invisalign trays inserted in both my upper and lower teeth.

Sometimes the waves of anxiety rise and fall, but when they rise, I just want to yank these suckers out. Ever see your dog pull at the bandages after getting stitches because he got into something stupid? That's how I feel.

After 2 days, I'm learning how much I don't like taking out the bottom trays -they smart, bringing tears to my eyes. However, sleeping is proving beneficial -I'm not chewing, gnashing, or otherwise pulling on the trays. Perhaps I'll sleep thru the rest of the year when the Invisalign comes to term.

I'm a big baby when it comes to pain and thought I had a pretty good pain threshold, but I also know I'm not big on anyone playing in my mouth.

Ahh, the price of vanity. Okay, it's not vanity, it's actually a medical necessity at this point, but I'd like to think that I'm a diva awaiting her closeup after the full treatment.

Post Adolescence: Adult Orthodontia

2007-03-12T11:12:00.000-04:00

March 12...

Well... not exactly a metal mouth, but after years of bitching about my lower teeth moving closer together and having more issues with tartar, I couldn't take it any longer. I am now experiencing extreme post adolescence in my early 40s: Invisalign.

Over the past 4 years, Andrew and I have discussed at length about the advantages of getting orthodontics (he's got perfect teeth!) and encouraged me to persue the opportunity while it was available to us. A decent dental plan doesn't hurt, either.

So, back in August, I decided to have the dentist review my case to determine my worthiness. After a harrowing experience with the molds taken weeks ago (I've asked for the photos and they think I'm kidding!), the set came in last week and the first tray was installed today!

When I entered the 'drilling room' as Andrew affectionately calls it, they told me I'd have to have some things done... what pray tell? Affixing little 'speed bumps' (as the patients of Invisalign affectionately call it) to the front of a few toothies to increase tension. Evidently, because the number of trays that are prescribed to me (only 20!) it seems that my teeth aren't as bad as other cases, so I'm allowed only 3 speedbumps (one on an upper incisor and one each on the lower incisors).

Then I panicked.

Laying on my back with my head dipped lower than my feet, I raised my upper body from the chair to address concerns about one of the more important traditions in my life -and that is drinking red wine with Andrew. He assured me that drinking wine with dinner was okay. I had to clarify that by telling him we sip wine through the course of the night -beyond dinner. "We just bought a case, Doc!" Then I had to tell his assistant that we tossed the Gregorian system long ago and use the big glass jar on our dry bar to measure time. Then I got one of those looks. Of course, I then had to tell her that each day I'm reminded how beneficial wine is for the human body.

After rinsing, drying, and affixing the speed bumps, my trays were promptly inserted. Initially, I didn't think the initial experience was too bad, really.

Spending a few hours alone stuffing cards, my acclimation was pretty easy -then again, I wasn't talking. I reminisced with Andrew upon his return home from work about our wine woes and talking was a bit difficult with the new trays. I told him to expect a call from Dr. Eric because he was going to be delivering the bad news, not me. (ha!) Andrew ran to the store to buy provisions for dinner and that sweet man bought a 1/2 case of wine... white wine!

When it came to popping out the trays for dinner, it was a bit unnerving. I could feel my heart racing as I felt like I was removing my own teeth for the pure sake of fun. Deep breath, they're out. Knowing now that I can drink white wine with the trays still in place, I won't keep them out for 90 minutes -ouch! they hurt when they get returned to the upright and locked position!

Photos forthcoming.