[invisaline: Are. You. Kidding. Me.]

I was a praiser of Invisaline ... but now, honestly?  I'm frustrated.

I've been doing Invisaline for 3.5 years.  If I would've done the tracks, I would've been done long ago.  And Invisaline has apparently been giving me the run-around ... without me knowing it.

I've been waiting for my final set of refinement trays.   I say final set loosely - as this is, like, the 5th time I've had my "final set".  Anyway - I got my moulds done back in August, and they hadn't come in when I finally called their offices last week.

Today I found out why.

I was on my way to Superstore with the kiddies ... we were going to get all the supplies for the "Boxes of Love" that we do every year with our church.  I got a phone call, asking if I could come in right away ... the trays were in.

Beh.

I turned around and drove to the orthodontist's office ... the kids were fine there, it's loaded with video games and toys.  For twenty minutes I sat in the chair while the orthodontist put a new button on my eye-tooth (yay).  And this is what he told me ...

Apparently the delay was due to Invisaline saying my file was CLOSED because it had taken too much time to get my teeth "perfect".   Um.  What??  Isn't that what I paid for?  Sure ... everything has been paid for, for over 2 years now, so they're not making any new money off of me ... but that's really not my problem how they've chosen to do their accounting. 

There is no time-limit.  Besides ... when you pay for a service with specific results ... if those results are not met by the orthodontist, then it's the supplier's job to finish the job right, no?

Anyway, the orthodontist gave them what-for and I got my trays.  My FINAL set - he promised.  In fact, if he's not happy after this set, he's just going to put six clear tracks on my top teeth and be done with it ...  Ugh.

So.  How many trays to I have?

Twelve.

Seriously.  I couldn't believe it.  That's, like, another 6months.  But ... really.  They're not such a pain to have ... it's just so silly that it's not done.

But it will be.  SOON.

Ok ... enough of that.

Lots of things are happening with RedHanded Photography right now.  It seems as if EVERYONE wants their photos taken now that it's fall.  And the problem is, is that I've been booking for fall since spring.  Right now, I have 8 bookings, including a wedding - and if the rain comes, my life is going to be INSANE.  But after this Saturday's wedding, I'm off until the New Year for weddings - and honestly, that's where all the really long hours come into play.  Family shoots, engagement shoots, maternity shoots ... they're much calmer for me.  

So here's a little hint of what's going on over at my RedHanded Photography site today.  Click HERE to see more ... 

Have a great one!

[invisaline: The Bottomless Pit]

I like having a purpose in my day ... crossing things off of my list, being productive, feeling like I haven't wasted time.  Oh, don't get me wrong - I can be a the champion procrastinator too ... just because I cross things off of my list, doesn't mean that the things I SHOULD be doing even made the list *grin*.

My boys are at school, Katia is napping ... and now I have some time.  What do I like doing so so much?  Writing on my blog ... so, here I am.  And the list stays uncrossed-off right beside me *grin* ... 

I had an ortho appointment this morning.  And gotta say - a wee bit frustrated.  If you know anything about invisaline, you get a set of trays, you were them for 2 weeks, then you move to the next set of trays ... and so on and so on.  

I've been doing this for 2 years now,  no - wait, longer than that .., and I am supposed to be doing my "refinements".  For me, this translated to : almost done.

My last set of trays were a series of 9 (which equals 18weeks).  I finished those around New Years, and I thought that when I went today, the ortho-dude would say, " ... we have 3 more trays in your final set. It's the home-stretch!!"  

But no.

Thirteen.

THIRTEEN.

Twenty-six more weeks of bumps on my teeth and all the stuff that I really want to be over with.  THEN - get this - he breaks out his little filing machine and says he needs to create spacing (millimetre spacing, but STILL) ... and off he goes, filing spacing so that my teeth have room to go where he's like them to.

So.  Now ... I have a couple of strange "spaces" (hairline, but STILL) that probably won't be unnoticeable until tray number 12. 

See ... originally, the ortho-dude wanted to break my jaw, wire it shut for 2 weeks, and then line up my top and bottom.  I said no chance on that ... they don't have to be perfectly-perfect.  There is no modeling career happening *laughing* ... So, now that I didn't do that, he's moving them over with more and more trays.  He's a bit of a perfectionist, it seems.

ANYway - I guess that I'll be happy with the end result.  I was always so self conscious of my smile - my teeth - so once these bumps are removed (the bumps are there to hold the trays in place), I can't wait to smile, smile, smile.

Twenty-six weeks ... ugh.

I feel like I'm 17, hoping to have my braces off for prom.

There is no prom.

Just clarifying on that  ... *grin*

Have a great one!

[invisaline: I See the Light]

SO ... I'm done!! Invisaline ... well. Actually, that's a lie. I'm SUPPOSED to be done. I finished my last set of trays for my top teeth and went to the orthodontist to have him check things over. My bottoms have been done since November, but I always knew that the top may take longer.

But the COOL thing is, is that the bumps they soder on, have been taken off. THAT's exciting. Because I don't have these wacky bumps on my teeth that I think make me look like I don't own a toothbrush. At least that's how I feel about them.

They came off, because I am going to get molds for a NEW set of trays. Probably another 4 or 5 ... which, in "time terms" is about another 2-3 months. Totally not a bother - especially because I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. And they're NOT quite perfect ... and I've come this far, what's another couple of months? So I'll get new bumps. Ah well

This has been the EASIEST thing ever. I have definitely had nights of pain and cringing as I've had to take them out before I eat ... when I change to new trays, taking them out is THE most painful thing. Like being punched in the face. But it only lasts for maybe a day.

I am SO glad I did this and didn't wait another 10 years. I know that some of my friends thought I was crazy for spending money (we have GREAT coverage) when my teeth weren't SO bad. But you know what? I was self conscious about them. Every single photo, I never wanted to show my teeth ... my fangs.

But, alas, I no longer have those thoughts. YAY!

What do they look like at this point? Funny you should ask ... here's a pic. And you can click my "invisaline" category to see a picture of me wearing my first set of trays. Not really a good example, as the trays actually make the teeth LOOK straighter than they are.

I think they're well on their way. *SMILE WITH MY TEETH SHOWING*.

[talk, digiscrap, invisaline ...: SO Much Going On]

You know - I miss a few days, and then there's SO much to share - some deep thoughts and some silly ones too ... Let's start with the one that's on my mind the most.

Last night, I went to church while my husband watched our kids. We don't usually go on Sunday nights b/c of the wee ones - but a friend from out-of-town was leading so I really wanted to go. Worship was thick and wonderful, and the Word was too. I was struck by this verse: 1Kings 18:21 ... it speaks of either serving God, or not - one or the other. And I'm always fascinated by comments of those who say, "I don't serve any God." because we all do. Either it's Him or it's money, image, education, substances, slander, food etc ... we all have a god in our lives. And if you don't chose Him, you chose something else. It's that simple - and so powerful.

Wow. I think I need to just sit and dwell on that for a while.

Speaking of powerful - I went to an Encounter this weekend for the women of our church. I was there to lead worship to work with the Team there, but left so encouraged and validated - it made my heart sing. I was talking to my sis-in-law about it and said, "I HATE how I am so unconfident ... I need someone to say, 'good job'." Well. No longer. I'm not picking up that lie anymore and will walk through whatever doors He opens for me ... in confidence. That's the plan, anyways *wink*.

On other fronts, I'm done my LAST tray of Invisaline for my bottom teeth. And they are - well - straight. Good thing, huh *grin*. The top ones, I'm only half way. Can't WAIT until they're done too and I don't have to remove the trays to sing *laughing*.

AND ... *drumroll* ... Yin put me on her site!!! MY PAGES are on HER SITE!! Seriously - that is just the most lovely thing for me. Doing something I love and having a "professional" compliment it? So cool. You can check it out here ... you have to scroll down a little bit.

Wanna see some new pages?

Here they are ... click images to enlarge

[talk: Invisaline]

When I was younger, I chose to go to a private school rather than have my teeth straightened. Nobody really thought my teeth were all that bad, but I have always been self conscious about twisted teeth and "fangs". I've adapted my smile and such so that it's not as noticeable but, for me, it's something that I always thought about when I looked at photos of myself.

After I lost our last baby in February, I decided that I was going to use my time "wisely" until we decided we would start trying again. I couldn't have the needed x-rays while I was pregnant, so when I no longer was, I made an appointment with a local orthodontist.

My first quote was upwards of $18,000+ (depending on all that I wanted done). This did not include x-rays or retainers. This doctor also recommended my jaw be broken and wired shut b/c my upper jaw and lower jaw are "one tooth off" and the lines do not line up.

Um. Ok - so that was not an option. A stay-at-home-mom with her mouth wired shut is a recipe for disaster.

I went to another local ortho, and this time I was introduced me to "Invisaline". Basically, they look like "teeth whitening trays" and are removable for meals and brushing. They are supposed to be in for at least 22hrs a day (so, that's basically 2 hours for eating & brushing). And I was quoted $6700 for everything: trays, x-rays, mouth guard and retainers.

I gave it a big thumbs up!

So - little "bumps" were sodered onto 5 of my teeth - little niches where the trays click on to, and where the most pressure was to be applied. When I insert new trays, it simply feels like someone is pushing on my teeth. The very first set, though, was very painful and made me feel claustrophobic - but that passed within about 48 hours. I rotate my trays every 2 weeks - and am almost done my lower teeth with having 9 sets of trays (18weeks, essentially). Only 4 weeks to go!! I go to the ortho every six weeks to receive the next 3 sets of trays, and have them inspect that all is going well - and at my next visit my retainer will be put in behind my lower teeth and they'll be done!

Here's a pic with my 2nd set of trays in .... not the most flattering pic *grin*. I was in New York and taking a bunch of Advil because they had moved so much with the first two sets. You can see the bumps (I hate that it looks like there's food on my teeth) - though most people don't even notice I'm wearing them. I don't usually walk around with this ridiculous look on my face. And as of late, I've had to take them out to sing. Apparently my "s"s are a bit of a microphone nightmare *GRIN*.

It is SO exciting to see the changes ... Even just looking at this pic, I can see how my bottom teeth have straightened and although I'm only half way through my top teeth, they are moving and creating new spaces and such as they find their right place.

If you're interested in knowing more about it, just ask ... and I can give you the information on my local orthodontist as well. One thing to note, is that not everyone is a candidate for Invisaline.

When I'm done, I'll post my "before" and "after".