I'M DONE!
I've been done with my 12 trays for about a month now, but I have had to wear the last ones until yesterday.
I went to the dentist to get my gap filled in yesterday, and everything went well. At first, my teeth looked so weird cause I wasn't used to having no gap, but I'm used to it now and I love it. Tomorrow, I go to the orthodontist and get final impression, retainer, and attachments off (= pictures will be up.

BEFORE

AFTER (up close)

AFTER


UPDATE!!
so it's been six months since I last posted on here. I guess I have some confessing to do.
-My filling that my dentist gave me for my gap has fallen out three times since october, and I decided that I will just get the gap filled for important events such (ie: prom, senior pictures, graduation). The dentist hits a nerve every time he tries to take the glue off my teeth, and if he keeps at it, I will need a root canal, which is something I will try my best to stay away from.
-Another confession is I don't wear my retainer. I know I know, so much money, and time went into invisaligns I should be wearing it. I don't know why I don't. I just forget to do put them in at night. I kind of want my orthodontist to maybe put in medal retainers like he said he would before my treatment had even begun. Maybe some tips in remembering to put in my retainer? That would be very helpful.

thank you everybody who has followed, and I'll be glad to know if my blog has helped in the decision making of getting Invisaligns. =)
-Gabrielle

8th trays, and an apology.

So, I'm on my 8th trays, and I really haven't even thought about updating this for some strange reason.
But I'm not completely satisfied right now with my treatment because the main issue I see with my teeth is the major gap in my two top front teeth. I'm more than half way through treatment and they look the same. Now I'm sure they've moved a little, but I only have 4 more trays, and my orthodontists never says anything about further treatment. I guess he thinks this will work. I was at my usual 6-week appointment today and all he does is make me take out my trays and then put them back in, and then I leave. I'm hoping that within my next 4 trays, I will be satisfied with my invisalign decision.

first trays

I will be getting my first trays tomorrow (wednesday, 25th) at 2:15, so I'm looking forward to the appointment, they said it will take about an hour or so. Kind of nervous, but hoping for the best.

update:

got the trays today. also i got attachments.

4 on top.

2 on bottom.

they say I'll only have 12 trays, which is a lot less than I thought.

but so far so good. A lot of pressure on my teeth but it's alright.

Third Visit.

My third visit was on February 20th, 2009. (yesterday)

Right away, I was brought into the room where my first set of impressions were done. 

This time, there were two ladies in the room. I was told that these were going to be very messy, and I was given this 'bib' the size of me. One of the ladies had a sucker thing, and the water thing, (sorry for my lack of vocabulary in the dental area) and dried off my back teeth. I then got this blue goop directly on my surface of my bottom teeth. I was told to bite down, and keep it there. This did not trigger any of my nerves, so I was perfectly alright with it. It took about a minute or two for the substance to be totally hard, and it was then taken out of my mouth. 

My teeth got dried off again by the lady, and she then had an injector type thing, and put the pink goo (which is the substance of the detailed impressions would be) and put them on my back molars, and back molars only. They made new trays for the impressions, that were made just for me with my first impressions. They fit better in my mouth and weren't so bulky like my first ones. I was told that these would be in my mouth for a long time, and are messy. One lady was there to apply the pressure, and the other lady was there to clean out my mouth with all the pink stuff that got in it because it was everywhere, (tongue, chin, bib, throat.) I requested her to do my tops first since I had the big issue with the first time. The tray was inserted, and I immediately began to gag. I'm not going to go into details, but I vomited, twice. But luckily, the drool can thing was there, and I got it in. The tray was in there for about 5 minutes, which really seemed like a lifetime. Taking them out was hard and the lady was having trouble, but I guess it was because the substance hardens so much. I was happy that the tops were over with. I rinsed my mouth and took off all the pink hardened stuff off of my face. Next were the bottoms. I wasn't nervous at all. Same procedure as tops. Only difference was that I did not hesitate, gag, or puke. They were done in 5 minutes, and I was all set to leave. (:

P.S, I should be getting a call from the orthodontist in about a month, when my trays first come in.

The second visit.

The second visit wasn't as bad as the first, because they told me what to expect. It was a short rundown of payments and the treatment plan again. They didn't do anything with my mouth ( which was nice after a shakey experience the first visit.)

My orthodontist was kind of worried since I'm only 16 (15 the time of the visit) and he had to keep reassuring that I had to go through with the treatment and can't cheat it. I told him I am willing to go through with it, for the results. 

As far as payment goes, the total is somewhere in the 5,000's. I can't remember exact numbers. My dads insurance is taking off 1,500, so its leaving us with a payment of around $4,500.00. We had to pay $235.00 just for the first impressions and x-rays, for records in the orthodontist office. The nurse, Maria (you'll probably hear about her again) set up a payment plan for my dad with $180.00 a month, for about a year. 

At first when I brought up the Invisalign idea with my dentist, he told me probably about a 6 month treatment would take place. My orthodontist told me about a year. He told me a number of trays, but I can't even remember, enough to last me a year I suppose. And in about 15 minutes, my first visit was over with. 

They scheduled me to go in for my third appointment (which would be getting DETAILED impressions) about 3 weeks later, and said it would take probably about 45 minutes.

The first visit to my orthodontist.

January 26th, 2009

I'd like to start off with this blog, to tell you I'm 16 years old, and I will be beginning my invisalign treatment around march 20th, 2009. So far, I have visited my orthodontist three times. The first visit was a simple look around, and they took pictures of my teeth, (which was really awkward) and we discussed the treatment and if it would be suitable for me to have it. They discussed it with my dad (because I am a minor) and we decided that I would do the treatment. 

The invisalign treatment requires a lot of impressions, something which I was terrified of. The lady who was taking my impressions was very nice and comforting, and brought me into a room with a big xray machine and of course the simple dental chair. She took x-rays of my mouth, ( one I had to bite down on this stick like thing, and the other, I had two things poking in my ears which was really awkward might I say.) Then I started to get nervous. I had never gotten impressions in my life, and people have told me how dreadful they are, and how they irritate the gag reflex. Right away, I told the lady that I have a hard time with gagging. She made this gooey mixture and put it in these silver trays, and simply slid them into my mouth, the bottom one was first. I did not gag until she had to take them out, (they took about maybe a minute, seemed a lot longer to me though.) Next was the top ones. Same procedure as the bottoms. Right away, I felt discomfort, and began to gag, A LOT. I actually attempted on ripping them out, but she told me not to, cause I would just have to do them over again. Finally, the impressions were done, and she then had me bite down on this piece of wax. (I recommend getting your top impressions done first, to get it over with.) I walked out of the office into the waiting room for my dad, and my first visit was done with.(: