More filing!!

Went to the dentist yesterday and he did more filing on my upper teeth... The difference this time was that he used a thin strip of sandpaper to file my teeth! He said it was the only way to get into those tight spaces and shape + reduce the obstructions... Personally I think it's not as painless as the previous procedure (dremel tool with a sandpaper disc attachment). As you can imagine, sandpaper isn't as friendly with gums as dental floss, so when I got home and brushed my teeth, gum bled. (Well not exactly, just the spit was pinky but when I checked my gum, it wasn't bleeding...)

Although the gap between my front two teeth has closed, I still have a few very tiny gaps (newly created) + 1 big gap (was there before the filing this time round) between my upper teeth. Tiny gaps can't really be captured on camera, but here is the big gap:

The dentist told me that if the gaps don't close in my upper teeth after my last set (14th), I'd get an additional 1 or 2 trays. It's comforting to hear, especially when I only have 3 trays left for my upper arch and I'm a bit scared that my teeth won't be perfect by then! (Although the dentist has been right so far and said I've made good progress.) So fingers crossed!!

I didn't feel much when the dentist put in the 12th set. I mentioned it to my dentist and he said that I was used to the 'pain'. However, by the time I went to bed that night ... my teeth did feel pretty sore! I guess my teeth have moved a lot since the appointment. :)

Invisalign Tray 11: A Progress Update

I haven't been updating this blog for a LONG time... Everything is going pretty well so far- I'm on my 2nd week of 11th set and due for my invisalign appointment next Tuesday to get my next three sets of trays. Can't wait!! AND- that'll be the END of the invisalign treatment for my upper teeth! (14th will be the last set) Lower teeth will have a few more sets to go (22nd will be the last set).

Anyway, initially I thought that Invisalign was going to SLIM me down because I'd cut out my snacking habit. BUT I've actually gained weight.. I guess I've been scared of not being able to eat my daily allowance of chocolates that I'd just stuff myself with sweets after meals instead. So, in terms of calorie intake I haven't been able to reduce any but having 3 big meals instead of having 3 small meals with snacks in between has proved to have a detrimental impact on my bathroom scale! (Yes, just blame it on Invisalign! Nothing to do with me!! :P )

When I first had my teeth filed, I was a bit concerned about my gap created between my front teeth:


But now, to my relief, the gap has gone:


As you can probably notice, not just the gap is gone, my teeth are definitely more aligned and less flared out? :D

Lets look at something that's even more obvious:
Before: Lower teeth are so wonky!


















After: Much better- more aligned... but of course still room for improvement! But my lower teeth are now straighter than my husband's! Yoohoo!! :)