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