Invisalign - DAY 65

I have finally made it to Tray #5. What can I say?

Oh, yeah, how about...

OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW!!!!!

After seeing Dr. Azani for my 6-week appointment to look over my teeth and get my next 3 trays, he assured me that everything was going right on schedule. He asked if I would like to put my new trays in and I opted to wait until I got home.

Once I got home, I had dinner then put #5 in. Well, 'put' is not the right word...maybe shove. My bottom tray went in and, although it was tight, it did snap into place. My top tray clicked into the back attachment, so I knew it was lined up correctly, but it did not want to fit onto the other teeth easily.

As I pushed and bit down on the aligner, it finally went over my teeth but it was pretty snug. I could feel my heartbeat in my right front tooth. Somehow, I think this tray is going to move this tooth a lot these next two weeks. My back teeth are getting a wider bite, and it really feels like a lot of pressure is being put back there.

I took my aligners out after two hours and I could feel the movement that was trying to happen in my teeth. There is still some tingling in my front right tooth, but I am sure that will be gone in a couple of days. So, I guess all I can say is...

OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW!!!!!

Pain Level - 8
Dedication Level - 8
Irritation Level - 4

Helpful Hint: I have read on other blogs that you should not really put your new trays in until you have brushed them out or rinsed them over cold water. You can see there is some film over the aligners and people have complained about sore throats and attribute it to this. Best thing to do is not put in the new aligners at the DDS office and just wait until you can clean them yourself.

Invisalign - DAY 64

I thought this day would never come. Today is the day we have our first followup with our Orthodontist and get the next three trays (5 thru 7).

I am kind of worried because on the weekends I am getting into the habit of taking my aligners out when I wake up and having them out for a while.

After taking 10 minutes to roll out of bed, I throw the aligners in the CVS Generic Polident solution, take a shower, spray the Flonase, get my contacts in, apply the underarm deodorant in my pits and product in my hair (hopefully, I don't mess those two up), SonicCare my teeth and take off for Starbucks, leaving my aligners in the solution to soak some more, even though they only need five minutes. Trust me, coming from my mouth, 5 minutes is not going to cut it.

By the time I get back home, Frappaccino fully inhaled, that's when I put the aligners back in, 2 hours after taking them out. I mean, why put them in before leaving the bathroom only to take them out 30 minutes later to have breakfast? Yeah, I know; it's 30 extra minutes, but what a pain.

Also, yesterday my wife and I had lunch with a couple of her ILM friends out at Octopus, a great sushi restaurant in Burbank. Since we were eating, out came the aligners. After eating and talking and eating and talking, three hours had passed and I still had to head home and brush before putting them back in. FIVE HOURS and I hadn't even had dinner yet?!?!?!

To top it off, with all the talking at lunch my attachment on my canine tooth started rubbing the inside of my cheek and now I have one of those tiny sores that looks like a pimple but feels like a cattle brand.

I think the Ortho purposely makes the attachments "pointy" so you will keep your aligners in and not tear your mouth apart. Well, Dr. Azani, lesson learned, my friend...lesson learned.

Until breakfast on Saturday.

Pain Level - 0
Dedication Level - 4
Irritation Level - 5 (just for the small cattle brand)

Invisalign - DAY 59

Things are back on track. We had a 'situation' with our dog when we got home last night so we had to take him to the vet immediately after walking in the front door.

He is fine now, but it did allow me to keep my aligners in for an additional 3 hours after work and then only take them out for 30 minutes for dinner before putting them back in for the night. Usually I take them out while my wife is cooking (or on the drive to the restaurant) and they are out for a while. So, while I am glad my dog is going to make a full recovery, I have to thank him for the additional time with my trays. Nothing but love for you, Max.

I thought I would take this time to explain what I am actually trying to accomplish with my teeth. I am not sure if I have explained exactly what the reason was behind getting Invisalign. I have my brother to thank, because he is two years older and his teeth are pretty messed up. Nothing but love for you, Chris.

Most people have their bottom teeth move throughout their lifetime. And, depending on how your bottom front teeth line up and the pressure put on them, they could stay straight, buckle into a 'V' formation, or 'tombstone' (one tooth gets pushed behind the other). Since my brother is older, I figure I am a couple of years behind what is happening with his teeth. His teeth are tombstoning, if not already tombstoned. This is the reason.

My bottom teeth, over the last year, have started to mis-align and one of them is beginning to slip behind the other one. I wanted to do something before I couldn't see it anymore. Also, the movement of the bottom teeth was causing my upper front teeth to get out of alignment. This was the last thing I needed...a snaggle-tooth with tombstoning.

Being an actor and watching how HD is really not an actor's friend (as well as not wanting to compete with Steve Buscemi for every role), I decided to get my bottom teeth straightened before they tombstoned on me. Nothing but love for you, Steve.

I have also talked with friends who have had a Lingual Arch added to their lower teeth to keep them from moving once they were straight. And, even though they all swear by this appliance, I think if I am diligent with wearing my retainer to bed every night, I would like to avoid the addition of any future apparatus on my teeth.

I still have yet to see any changes visually, but my bite has changed, that is for sure. Before this process, I was clipping the inside of my jaw with my mis-aligned bottom teeth and I have not done that since starting this process (even when they are not in). I think it will be nice to be able to finally 'see' the changes, but I am a patient man...at least for now.

Pain Level - 0
Dedication Level - 9 (I owe you a doggy massage, Max)
Irritation Level - 1

Invisalign - DAY 58

So this has been an interesting couple of days.

On Saturday, my wife and I went in for our annual 6-month check up with our dentist. For some weird reason, we love to postpone important stuff. I swear if my wife ever gets pregnant, out child will be 3 1/2 before she gives birth.

Stress levels were high that day since this was going to be our first visit back to our General dentist since starting Invisalign and having the attachments put on our teeth. Although my wife was really worried, I was only mildly so. However, I already had one come off, I didn't need to go through that again.

We arrived at 11 AM. My wife went in first. As I sat in the lobby playing Bejeweled Blitz on my iPhone (I moved up to second with a score of 300,950...booyah), I thought for sure I would see her turn the corner with tears in her eyes, but as she rounded it, no tears were to be found.

She told me the hygienist said she had been one of the easiest cleanings she had all day. Of course, of you brush your teeth 8 times a day, I would be surprised if the hygienist found any enamel, let alone plaque. I went in afterward and had one of my easiest cleanings to date, too. So, after making our appointments for six months later, we couldn't wait for our next cleaning in 2012.

That said, my dedication to this process has been waning a little, and I am blaming it Daylight Savings. Since we have moved the time forward one hour, I have to say that my aligners are finding it harder to locate the inside of my mouth.

I think my brain has turned to mush with the one-less-hour-of-sleep. I will take out my aligners to eat a snack and then "Bam", 2 hours has passed by and it is time for dinner. After dinner, I put them back in and realize I didn't have any desert so "Boom", out they come again, after only being back on my teeth for 30 minutes, for a trip to Menchies for some delicious Fro Yo. One hour later, belly filled, I come home, sit on the couch and hit the DVR when "Kaplooey", I realize my trays are not in. Holy "Time-Change-Fiasco", Batman.

I have come to realize that I don't take responsiblity for anything. Sometimes life is easier that way.

PS - If you are interested in the orthodontist office I am going to, they do have their own blog over here on Blogger; check it out.


Pain Level - 0 (seriously, it is non-existent)
Dedication Level - 2 (over the last couple of days)
Irritation Level - 2 (just with myself, but since the 'cleaning' day went well...I'm not that upset)

Invisalign - DAY 53

Dr. Azani's practice is so AWESOME!!! Thank you, Snow Orthodontics!!!!

This week I was given a Patient Login so I could set up appointments and the like (such as...where to...). After I logged in, I saw a tab that read "Videos". I was not sure what this entailed: was I being filmed while I was there? I don't want a video of me crying like a baby on the web.

After clicking on it, I was pleasantly surprised. Earlier, Dr. Azani had sent me a link to a video (called ClinCheck) that showed the progression of my 19 weeks with Invisalign. However, I couldn't share that video with family and friends. Bummer.

Now, with this "Video" tab, all of you are in luck. You can witness in slow motion (but faster than 19 weeks) what my teeth are doing and why I am getting headaches. These videos raised my spirits and they're so much better than getting frustrated over my own photos showing me nothing.

Before you click on the link below, a couple of things:

1. Once you click on the link, it is going to start the film on the left side of your screen. The number you see in the bottom right of this "movie" is the Tray number that will move the teeth into that position (after it gets to 20 and stops, click replay. It resets to the beginning and you can see how much they truly moved).

2. You will notice from the "Front View", my left front tooth starts out lower than my right front tooth, and immediately the trays start to push that tooth up to make it even with the other. That is probably why my tooth was tingling when I would tap it previously.

3. This link opens on the "Front View", but there is so much more to see. There is also a "Lower Jaw" and "Upper Jaw" view. Just click on the text above the movie for which one you want to view.

4. You can see on the "Lower Jaw" that my bottom front teeth do not really start moving back in place until about Tray #10. Up until that time, it shows the widening of the back of the jaw and the turning and twisting of my canine teeth. Pretty cool.

5. The "Upper Jaw" starts twisting my canine teeth immediately (along with the previously mentioned pushing up of the left front tooth) and then with Tray #6 thru Tray #11, my front teeth are moved forward to be aligned once again. The last couple of trays just keep widening my jaw and turning my canines so they are flush with the other teeth.

Again, pretty interesting. I am told that this is not an exact science so by the end of the 19 Trays there may have to be some Re-alignment Trays to fine tune what the previous trays could not, or did not, accomplish. Still, I am pretty stoked and can not wait to see the actual results.

Here is the link - Enjoy!!!!

https://login.sesamecommunications.com/gsnow/my-smile.html?uid=2441959


Pain Level - 3
Dedication Level - 8
Irritation Level - 1 (just having a good day, that's all)

Invisalign - DAY 52

OUCH!!!! OW!!!! SON OF A....!!!!

WHY, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY?!?!?!? WHY?!?!?!?

I am having some major issues with taking out these aligners now. I am only guessing that I have had longer nails when switching into the new trays every two weeks.

Clipping my nails yesterday morning (after going into Tray #4), I thought I would be alright. After all, I haven't had any problems in the past, why would this tray be any different? However, I have really dug under my thumb nails trying to get these aligners out this week. It also doesn't help that I was peeling an orange and the citrus really burned getting into the nail bed.

(Note to self: stop eating oranges and buy some bananas...maybe grapes.)

This is where I can see that crochet needle becoming very handy. But, since I currently don't own one, I have been digging under my nail each time I need to take the aligners out, re-injuring the nail bed with no hope of it healing any time soon.

So, there is this great 'Catch-22': 1) keep your nails longer, they break, or 2) keep your nails shorter and dig under them. Or option 3, just leave the plastic buggers in and take my chances with cavities...yeah, that sounds less painful right now.

Bring on that drill.

Pain Level - 5 (for my nails, not my teeth)
Dedication Level - 7 (back on track after yesterday)
Irritation Level - 9 (when a drill in your tooth sounds like a party, something is DEFINITELY wrong)

Invisalign - Day 51

Okay, I am starting to think I should listen to my own Helpful Hints. In yesterday's blog, I mentioned to put your aligners in at night and it should help to take some Advil, too.

I have been fighting a massive splitting headache all day. Now, I am not sure if it is from the new aligners, the lack of caffiene or food, or the extreme focus I had last night at the table read. Either way, it is a pain.

And, I notice that I am constantly 'chewing' on my aligners for the first couple of days after I put the new ones in. I don't know why I do this; I have never grinded (or is it ground) my teeth. I think with the constant biting on the plastic, it could be causing this ache. I don't know...it could be anything...just make it go away.

I also think this is going to be a bad day since I have already had my aligners out for 2 hours and still have to eat dinner and do the stage reading tonight, which I won't have them in for. That is probably another 4 hours right there. I guess one day every now and then where I slip is not so bad, right?

Right?

Damn.

Pain Level - 7
Dedication Level - 2 (I am projecting for the day ahead)
Irritation Level - 7

Invisalign - DAY 50 - Start of Tray #4

So, I was sitting there watching the Oscars last night when I thought I would torture myself some more by putting in my new aligners. It couldn't be more painful than watching the awards show drag on and on and on and on and...

Thank goodness for Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. If the show would have been hosted by David Letterman again, I don't know if the pain in my skull would have ever subsided.

Yep, that's right. Tray #4 was going in. But before I put in the new one's, I took some photos of my teeth to compare them to Day 1. After putting them side by side, I have to say I have not noticed any additional movement. I can tell they have been moving, but they must have only shifted millimeters because my teeth look like they are almost in the exact same spot.

I have heard that most people do not visually notice any movement in their teeth until halfway through the process. However, I look at my wife's teeth and I can notice hers are moving. It is frustrating.

I told Dr. Azani what I was doing, taking daily photos, and he told me that I would get this way. I knew it was going to be slow-going, but how can I see a change in my wife's teeth and not mine?!?!?! ARGHHHHH!!!

I was going to post new photos but if you go back to my photos of Tray #1, you can get an idea of what my teeth look like at the end of Tray #3.

Alright, bring on the dancers for the "Best Original Score"...I am not in enough pain yet!!!

Pain Level - 3
Dedication Level - 9
Irritation Level - 9

Helpful Hint: If you find that you are prone to headaches after putting in your new aligners, it is suggested you put them in before you go to bed, and take a couple of Advil to boot. By the morning, you should be fine with no pain at all.

Invisalign - DAY 46

Wow, I can't believe it has been 10 days since I have written anything about the invisible aligning of my teeth. So much has happened, you would not believe...

Uh, there was the...

Um...well, I did...

OH...the thing with the thing...you know...with whats-his-name...come on...

Okay, in all seriousness, it has been pretty chaotic over here. Let me tell you, the best thing that could happen to you while you are doing Invisalign is to get jury duty. Yes, you laugh, but there is no time to truly get away and eat or drink so they stay in for most of the day.

I had jury duty this past Thursday and Friday (luckily, I didn't get selected for the criminal case that I was pulled for). The worst part was trying to find a place to take out my aligners. I try not to take them out in front of anyone as it can get pretty 'slobbery' and no one needs to see me slobbering all over myself.

Side note: did you ever notice that there is never any healthy food around a courthouse? Just my observation. The 'weight-gain' rule for vacation applies to jury duty, too. I am just saying.

So, my front tooth was hurting a couple of days after the new tray was in. I think it is because the upper aligner is starting to move that particular tooth back into place. I don't visually see any difference with the placement of the tooth, but I was feeling a dull pain for about a day. You know, one of those 'if-I-tap-on-my-tooth-it-feels-like-it-might-have-a-cavity' kind of dull pain. Gone now, though.

I have to tell you, my dedication has slipped a little. There was one day this week where my aligners were out for about 6 hours. Not good. I had them out for a half hour for breakfast, about 45 minutes for lunch, then I needed to snack before my meeting with my agent at 2 PM so I took them out around 1:30. I decided to keep them out while I had my meeting, too.

My meeting went until 3:00 so I figured I would brush my teeth when I got home; no reason to put my trays back in, right? I brushed my teeth and decide to drink a soda. So now it's 4:30 and my wife calls me and tells me she is hungry. Since I never put my trays back in after the delicious beverage, why put my trays back in just to take them out again? Makes total sense. We eat and get back home around 5:30 PM.

Needless to say, not a good day. I had them out for 4 hours...in one shot. It is amazing how the time just gets away from you sometimes.

I think I made up for it last night. "Compulsions", the phenominal web series, was screening last night at Tavern on Brand. I decided to only drink water and keep my aligners in all night. I have been taking my aligners out for 'industry' functions recently and, as you have read, I have not been doing that well on those occasions. Hopefully the hours I didn't take them out for the screening fixed any backward movement from the previous bad day.

Also, I noticed it has been a while since I have posted any photos. I took some when I switched over to Tray 3 but never posted them. I will be taking new photos this coming Monday (the start of Tray 4) just so you can see the progress. Hopefully, it will be visible.

Pain Level - 5
Dedication Level - 5
Irritation Level - 4