Had my first dental checkup since starting Invisalign. While generally a positive checkup, as expected, there was more tartar around my teeth than usual. As much as I brush, floss and rinse, there is no escaping that having aligners covering my teeth 22 hours a day creates an environment conducive to dental problems. I suspect many Invisalign wearers end up with cavities or gum issues in the short term.
More concerning is that the dentist said he saw some possible bone loss on a molar. He said this was not unexpected due to the combination of my age (42) plus orthodontic treatment. He suggested I get a panoramic x-ray from my orthodontist and see if I need to see a periodontist - might need some bone filler. This is discouraging - I brush and floss and fluoride rinse diligently, and began taking calcium supplements when I began treatment. Not sure what else I could have dome to prevent this.
Will discuss further after my next ortho appointment in 3 weeks.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Bite is off
Really starting to notice the changes to my bite. This is a hopeful sign, but I am finding it more difficult to chew my food this week. The teeth on one side of my mouth don't come together well for chewing. I know this is temporary, as we move the upper teeth outward, but it is annoying - it seems like I am only semi-chewing everything, or favoring the other side of my mouth. We'll see where we are in a few weeks - it's not like I'm starving...
Monday, May 3, 2010
Lucky 7
I don't know why I continue to be surprised that a new aligner means pressure and discomfort for a couple of days... #7 went in last night without too much trouble - top was very snug - I used a "chewie" to help seat it, and chomped on it for a while to be sure the aligner was in well.
Yesterday I saw a friend whom I had apparently not seen in person for about 3 months. I immediately noticed he was wearing Invisalign, pointed to mine, and we chatted. Odd that his aligners were so noticeable to me - not sure if I am just more aware of Invisalign and am apt to notice another patient, or that his really were more visible than I think mine are.
He is on aligner 7 of 10 (I wonder if he is doing Invisalign Lite), and says he has been sick of it for some time and wants it over already. While I understand the hassles of Invisalign, I have found the whole process to be not so bad - especially since we must remind ourselves that we are moving our teeth, which are normally anchored into our jaws... That being said, I would certainly prefer my friend's 10 sets to my 22!
My friend and I have both benefited from the "Invisalign diet". I am down 25 lbs., and plan to continue to lose; Invisalign makes it that much harder to snack or graze, since I am always anxious to brush my teeth and get the aligners back in. My biggest snacking time is evening; I have found that by brushing, swishing with fluoride rinse, and popping in my aligners I am much less like to overindulge in snacking. If the urge to snack after dinner is great, sometimes I will force myself to brush and put in the aligners to stave off a snack attack.
Yesterday I saw a friend whom I had apparently not seen in person for about 3 months. I immediately noticed he was wearing Invisalign, pointed to mine, and we chatted. Odd that his aligners were so noticeable to me - not sure if I am just more aware of Invisalign and am apt to notice another patient, or that his really were more visible than I think mine are.
He is on aligner 7 of 10 (I wonder if he is doing Invisalign Lite), and says he has been sick of it for some time and wants it over already. While I understand the hassles of Invisalign, I have found the whole process to be not so bad - especially since we must remind ourselves that we are moving our teeth, which are normally anchored into our jaws... That being said, I would certainly prefer my friend's 10 sets to my 22!
My friend and I have both benefited from the "Invisalign diet". I am down 25 lbs., and plan to continue to lose; Invisalign makes it that much harder to snack or graze, since I am always anxious to brush my teeth and get the aligners back in. My biggest snacking time is evening; I have found that by brushing, swishing with fluoride rinse, and popping in my aligners I am much less like to overindulge in snacking. If the urge to snack after dinner is great, sometimes I will force myself to brush and put in the aligners to stave off a snack attack.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)