After waiting 4 weeks (instead of the estimated 2), I finally got to return to the orthodontist to receive my refinement trays. I had learned before going in that it was 22 upper/30 lower. Which confused the heck out of me - why were there so many more trays for the lowers, which I'm pretty happy with, and came out better than the uppers?
When I got there yesterday, I was told that the trays will be changed WEEKLY instead of every two weeks. That was such a relief... so about 31 extra weeks instead of over another year. I also learned that my old attachments will stay on for the duration of treatment (I was REALLY hoping they'd be taken off, but oh well). Then I received five additional attachments on my central and lateral incisors. Yes, five attachments on my four front top teeth. I was a little disappointed, but it makes sense since those are the teeth that need the straightening now. But at least no more IPR!!
The reason for so many trays? It's going to be a subtle change. Brooke, the assistant, was showing me the ClinCheck and I could barely tell the movement from tray to tray (whereas in my initial round, it was clear). It wasn't until she went from Tray 1 directly to Tray 30 that I could see it's slowly but surely going to move my bottom teeth for my bite. That'll be good to have a better bite after all this!
Last night was upsetting. I felt like it was October/November 2012 again, where I couldn't get my trays off. Well, my bottom tray came off fine. The top tray was STUCK over those four attachment-ridden front teeth. I was frustrated and wondered if I would starve. After Facebooking my sister-in-law (who has attachments on her front teeth), I realized I needed to pull harder. I think I've always been afraid if I pull too hard, I'll break the tray. I pulled hard, maneuvered, and pulled again, and after some minutes the darned thing finally came off! I hope it gets easier!
The good thing about changing weekly is that it should be more subtle movement... and you'd think less pain, right? Nope. This morning, my top teeth hurt - though not any worse than before. Maybe it's my teeth saying "hey, we haven't had to move in over a month, what's the deal?" or maybe it's the new attachments. Or both.
I received Trays 1-7 and will go back in mid-April.
No pictures for now... I feel like these changes are going to be so subtle, especially since the focus is on the bite, that I'll post some later on... and not as often.
One more thing before I go: I am now using the Smart Track material. I don't really a notice a difference with it now compared to the older material, but then again I've had these trays for less than 24 hours :)
When I got there yesterday, I was told that the trays will be changed WEEKLY instead of every two weeks. That was such a relief... so about 31 extra weeks instead of over another year. I also learned that my old attachments will stay on for the duration of treatment (I was REALLY hoping they'd be taken off, but oh well). Then I received five additional attachments on my central and lateral incisors. Yes, five attachments on my four front top teeth. I was a little disappointed, but it makes sense since those are the teeth that need the straightening now. But at least no more IPR!!
The reason for so many trays? It's going to be a subtle change. Brooke, the assistant, was showing me the ClinCheck and I could barely tell the movement from tray to tray (whereas in my initial round, it was clear). It wasn't until she went from Tray 1 directly to Tray 30 that I could see it's slowly but surely going to move my bottom teeth for my bite. That'll be good to have a better bite after all this!
Last night was upsetting. I felt like it was October/November 2012 again, where I couldn't get my trays off. Well, my bottom tray came off fine. The top tray was STUCK over those four attachment-ridden front teeth. I was frustrated and wondered if I would starve. After Facebooking my sister-in-law (who has attachments on her front teeth), I realized I needed to pull harder. I think I've always been afraid if I pull too hard, I'll break the tray. I pulled hard, maneuvered, and pulled again, and after some minutes the darned thing finally came off! I hope it gets easier!
The good thing about changing weekly is that it should be more subtle movement... and you'd think less pain, right? Nope. This morning, my top teeth hurt - though not any worse than before. Maybe it's my teeth saying "hey, we haven't had to move in over a month, what's the deal?" or maybe it's the new attachments. Or both.
I received Trays 1-7 and will go back in mid-April.
No pictures for now... I feel like these changes are going to be so subtle, especially since the focus is on the bite, that I'll post some later on... and not as often.
One more thing before I go: I am now using the Smart Track material. I don't really a notice a difference with it now compared to the older material, but then again I've had these trays for less than 24 hours :)