Thanks to everyone for all your recent comments, it is great to see that people are actually reading this.
As I wrote in my last post I have a small crack in tray number 6, but had decided to ignore it. To cut a long story short, this morning I gave in to my conscience and called the orthodontist. I am paying so much that I really don’t want to compromise this process.
The good news is that he said that as long as the tray is still wearable and hasn’t completely broken I can just wear it. I think this is probably because I am in Australia, and all my trays are sent from the Invisalign production factory in the US. Consequently if we waited for a new one it might take weeks to arrive. I’m not sure the advice would be the same if I were a patient in the US, for example.
Anyway, I am happy to wear it, I feel that it is still doing it’s job as there is significant pressure on the teeth in question and the crack is very small. If it breaks I have to call him again. So, for the next 2 weeks I will be removing that tray very gingerly. I feel better however just for having called.
As an aside, 48 hours in, the trays are still very tight- so much so that I have had a mild headache for the last 2 days. I have noticed this Invisalign headache several times. It seems that when the trays are tight they give me a headache, particularly on the first day. The painkillers help, but I think it’s similar to when you clench your jaw and give yourself a tension headache, the Invisalign replicates that by putting pressure on your jaw. The aligners are gradually loosening, but still feel significantly tighter than other trays have at this point. Hopefully that means my teeth are really working hard this set and will soon be nicely aligned and straight.
>Where are you getting yours done Emma? I am in Melbourne as well and I am going to Straight and White.
>Hey there ! I’m an avid follower of your blog and pretty much devoured every post within an hour or so of finding your site (from Archwired). Our cases began around the same time – I started after you in January (I’m on tray 4), and am expected to finish in November (but I expect refinements are almost compulsory for many patients). I’m in Australia too, in Melb, and am getting upper and lower teeth done for overcrowding, 22U and 22L (except my upper look much worse to me and were the reason for me starting). I just recieved 5 attachments on the lower and 2 on the upper last Wednesday, and have been happily sympathizing with you when reading your posts!
Your writing is witty, descriptive and entertaining, and it’s so great to read along on the journey of someone at such a similar stage in this journey to myself. I always intended to start a blog myself, but my procrastination got the better of me – so now I’ll have to live vicariously through your blog!
x Emma.
>hey, thanks for letting me know about the attachments at the back of the teeth, that would have been perfect! i asked my ortho tho and he said he wasnt aware this was an option and that he doesnt think it would be as efficient…also that because all my aligners have been manufactured already, it wouldn’t be possible! oh well, i guess i’ll just have to be brave hehe! thanks for the advice tho!xxx
>Hi there,
I’ve had a few of my trays crack early on but none lately (knock on wood). I was never offered a replacement tray so am curious about how long that takes and the process as well (always told to move on). I live in Canada so I’d assume we’d have similar services compared to the US but that may or may not be the case.
I hope your current tray feels more comfortable soon. Although I have to admit, I’m kind of comforted that I’m not the only one whose trays takes a little while settle in.
All the best.
>No, the older trays felt a little bit thinner and more flexible. I could actually tell the difference between the sets when I put the new set in. The new set felt more firm.
The reason I suggested it was because like me, you are an Aussie and we both started at similar times.
Invisalign initially wanted me to pay for a replacement tray but I was lucky that the Invisalign Rep was in the ortho office when I rang. She was the one that checked them out and said that they did not feel right. As it turned out, there were a few other patients that got their whole set replaced. It was a faulty batch.
How exciting is it to see changes!!!
>Thank you Lizzy, I’ll get the ortho to check. What was the difference between the 2 sets, was it simply the rigidity of the trays?
>Hi Ya! It is LizzyM here. I was just reading about your crack (as in the one in your aligners hahahahaha).
I had a slight crack in my 5th tray and it turned out that my aligners were very flimsy and I got a whole new replacement set. It took 10 days to arrive. Not so bad. I am in Melb.
Next time you are at your ortho, get them to check out the trays and make sure that they are not faulty.
Great blog btw.