#Transformingmysmile #Invisalign #smile #orthodontics

Hi Everyone,
This is Kathy, and I’m so excited to tell you all about how my Invisalign treatment is going. I’ve been in treatment now for 4 weeks and I started my third set of aligners yesterday.

Many people who know me well are wondering why I’m doing this. They couldn’t tell that my teeth were even crooked. Well, I’ve been in the field of orthodontics for over half of my life and I could see the change in my teeth almost daily over the last several years. I also know that if I don’t stop the progress now it could only get worse and would certainly not get better if left alone. Sure I could have retainers made to simply hold my teeth where they are now, but then the teeth that are out of line would still be out of line, my bite would still be off and the things that just flat out bother me about my smile would still continue to bother me.

I considered going in to traditional braces and am still not opposed to it but I was ecstatic when I found out I was indeed a candidate for Invisalign. I wanted to try something new. Why not? And if I can use this treatment to impact even one person and encourage them to go into treatment to straighten their teeth, improve their smile and improve their self-confidence, it will be more than worth it. A true Win/Win!

So the first couple of days into treatment my teeth were definitely sore. Many people think that because they’re not getting traditional braces their teeth will not be sore. In reality, even with aligners, your teeth are still moving through bone so there is going to be discomfort from time to time. I also had a few sores from the attachments on my teeth. Clear attachments are bonded onto a few of your teeth with Invisalign treatment to help hold the aligners in place. I have additional attachments because I’ll be wearing rubber bands during the course of my treatment as well. Dr. Linaker smoothed the attachments and a few edges on my aligners and I was good to go. Today, with my third set in for 24 hours I’m sore again but it’s mild and tolerable!
Having the aligners has definitely changed my eating habits. I don’t snack as much! And that’s a great thing because I used to snack a lot! Having to take the aligners out each time and eat, put them in the case, brush after and clean the aligners is definitely a deterrent to eating too often. I originally thought I would possibly drink less coffee and just keep my aligners in and drink through a straw. That idea went out the window after just a few days. I really enjoy my 2 cups of coffee in the morning so that is the longest period of time I actually have them out. You’re supposed to wear your aligners at least 22 hours a day so I choose my time wisely but my coffee time is valuable to me. I have also started a new exercise regimen so I’m hopeful that and less snacking will help with a few other much needed changes! :)
Even though it’s been only 4 weeks, I can already feel some changes in my bite and I am absolutely delighted. I have 24 sets of aligners, so only 22 more to go and then possibly a few refinements! I’m so thrilled and I can’t wait to see and show you all the end result!