After only a few days I was called and told that the molds are in, usually they take 2-3 weeks, it only took about 3-5 days. Unfortunately, it wasn't a convenient time for me to pick them up, as I mentioned before, I live 2 hours away, and I was just heading out of state to a conference. I made an appointment to pick them up after I returned from my conference.
I picked them up today.
I picked them up today.
First, the attachments were added, all together I needed about 7 attachments placed on my teeth. This process was fairly quick, the teeth are prepared to attach the glue dots, as I call them, and then a template tray is placed on your teeth and the dots are cured, once hardened they are then polished and your bite is checked. From what I understand not everyone needs these attached, and the amount of them vary per case. As you can see below, they are virtually invisible on my teeth.
Next, was the sanded floss, a few of the bottom teeth were flossed in between, I was worried it would be noticeable, but when that was all done I was handed a mirror to practice inserting and removing the trays. It was true, the attachments were not very noticeable and matched my teeth, and the flossed teeth were not noticeable at all either.
I practiced on a "template" tray, which was a tray of my molded teeth, it was tight, but I was told, that the aligner will be tighter. I was told that to put them in I should push it on the middle (front teeth) first, and then snap the left side and then the right side. It was fairly easy, then to remove it, I would do the opposite, with my fingernail pull from the back right, the back left, then slowly remove it from the front.
I did this a few times, and I thought it was pretty easy. I was asked if I wanted to practice using the real trays, but I opted not to, I wasn't going to leave with them on, because it was early in the afternoon, and I still wanted to have lunch and dinner. I knew right after dinner I would put them in for the night.
What I was told:
- I would wear my aligners 22-24 hours a day.
- You can only drink water when wearing them.
- Only take them off to eat and brush/floss teeth.
I was handed:
- Four aligners all together, I was told that one set was for the first 3 weeks, and the second set for another 3 weeks, so I don't have to return for another 6 weeks.
- A blue and red tray holder. I was told that the blue holder will be my new best friend, I would carry my trays in there all the time, or use them as a holder when I go out to eat or couldn't/didn't wear them.
The red holder is to place the tray I was done with, so in three weeks my first set will be placed in there. I was told some patients will have a "relapse", they might go on vacation and forget, or opt not to take their aligners with them, and if that happens, they can open the red tray, and go back to the previous aligners, so it's good to keep them around just incase. And sometimes, in rare cases, they can break, if they break, you at least have the previous aligners to wear in the mean time.
- Lastly, I was given a toothbrush, and was told how to clean my aligners. Simply with water and toothpaste and a toothbrush. I was told some patients will put water and a bit of soap in a ziplock bag and shake the trays in there.
How does it feel?
My mouth feels a bit funny with the attachments, they were attached to my canine teeth, so I feel like Dracula. But I am sure I will get used to it.
My next step is to put them in after dinner tonight...
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