2nd Visit

Second visit to Orthoworld yesterday, 23rd June 2010, with permission from Dr Burn's himself at to use his name in my blog now. I didn't feel at all nervous today as I knew what to expect. I simply went back to have the bottom set of impressions/ moulds (see picture above)re-taken due to the fact I have an odd sized jaw that the standard sizes wouldn't fit initially.

Maria, the dental nurse was well prepared for me, slightly pessimistic which was lightheartedly verbally noted by Dr Burns, with 3 nozzles just in case the first moulds didn't take again. Bless her, she must be psychic because 3 impressions later Dr Burns had a mould of a good enough standard to send away. I have to say it's a jaw aching experience, a bit like warm plastercine being squashed around your gums at the same time as having to breathe through your nose. The only discomfort was the mould pressing down on my partially erupted wisdom tooth. It makes me laugh that Dr Burns looks the other way when pressing the impressions down so he doesn't have to stare up my nostrils for half an hour, can't be the most pleasant view.

Dr Burns now sends the moulds off to America to be checked to see if the treatment will work for me. Invisalign then send a digital image back of what the braces should achieve during and at the end of the course of treatment. Then, when they call me it will be all systems go. I'm looking forward to actually getting the braces fitted now although I'm still apprehensive about the pain that people keep telling me the braces cause when your teeth start to move.

I've been trying to get into the habit of brushing and flossing my teeth every time I eat a meal and it's a bit of a nightmare to say the least. Especially when I'm at work and having to dash the bathroom inbetween work and eating to make sure I clean them properly. I think maybe if I get used to doing it now, then hopefully it won't be as big a shock once the braces are on. I'm becoming quite obsessive about other peoples teeth now. I find myself looking at everybody's to see how straight, crooked, white, stained they are!!!!!

I didn't manage to post this blog yesterday due to work commitments so I'm running a day late.

First appointment for impressions.

Well, today was my first initial appointment to visit my Orthodontist for the impressions to begin my Invisalign treatment. I was dreaming all last night of having my teeth pulled out so was rather nervous when I got there. My appointment was 1.15 and I was taken immediately for thorough photographing and xrays of all my teeth, jaws, gums and profile. Still a little nervous at this point but the orthodontist(whom I will name Mr B) was great as were the assistants.

After having my teeth thoroughly examined, prodded and poked,I had my first impressions done; not pleasant but in no way painful, although I began to think my dreams of having all my teeth extracted were happening when Mr B tried to remove them!!!!!

Impressions are done on top and bottom sets of teeth; having someone pressing putty like substance in my mouth whilst pushing my tongue back and just waiting..... and waiting.....and waiting until it sets. Then another set of impressions are done for finer detail to send to Invisalign. Then another set of impressions are done on my bottom teeth because I have an 'inbetween' sized bottom row of teeth that the dental trays didn't fit properly, hence another appointment booked for 2 weeks time for more impressions!! Oh the joys!!! Saying that, I am VERY excited at the prospect of straight teeth in 20 months time!

The dental assistant printed out the photographs of my teeth (not a pleasant sight) and also put them on a disc to upload onto here, what a star! The only downside to todays appointment was me having to stop talking and remain still for such a long period of time, a challenge in itself as my other half will happily confirm. Oh,and the dint in my savings when I paid the deposit for my treatment!

All I can say is that by 3pm my jaw was aching slightly but I was much more at ease with the treatment. I have a lot of crowding of my bottom teeth and some teeth out of line on the top which I am hoping will be near perfect when complete. When I get the braces, they have to be worn for 22/23 hours a day and changed for new ones every 2/3 weeks. I cannot eat or drink anything only cold water with them in and after removal for eating and drinking any other substance,must brush, floss, rinse and also clean the trays. Blimey! It's going to take some serious commitment but should be well worth it. Apparently the only severe discomfort is when you initially insert the first set of trays and each time you change them afterwards...... so pretty much a whole lot of time by the sounds of things.

After my next couple of appointments I receive a video disc of how the treatment starts and how it will look complete in digital images. I will post this video to my blog. Overall, very happy with my first appointment and looking forward to the next one.