So after a very long wait (basically a month), I have finally received my first three trays. I honestly do not understand why the wait has to be this long. I was prompted that my second payment will be processed shortly the day I've received these trays. I almost forgot I was going to go through this treatment.
Oh well, for those who wondered if I was still wearing my starter trays until I've received my first one, the answer is NO. Not for the reason that they are uncomfortable, nor I was lazy. It was simply because it broke after wearing them for 10 days. There was a crack on the upper tray where my crowded tooth sticks out. I contacted SCC's customer representative online (through live chat), this was really interesting. The person told me that I did not have to wear the starter tray anymore if they broke because it was just to confirm fit and it would not move my teeth. But I've experienced a different bite after wearing them for 1 night. I've talked to another experienced representative expert through email before and he told me that it is completely normal that I will feel my teeth moved.
After telling the representative that, her response was "Interesting". I mean, she just literally replied "Interesting". I was so surprised the way she didn't know what she was doing. So I asked her if the first trays that I will be made by the same materials and if they would break so easily like the starter ones. She said the material are basically the same. So I was concerned whether I need to keep wearing this broken one and when would they send me the first tray. She said I did not need to wear them until the first tray. But my treatment plan says that I need to wear the starter trays for 3 weeks?
Being so confused, I just told her that she and her other fellow coworkers must get more training on how to reply their customers. Obviously, I feel like they have a lack of coherent answers and I do not know who to trust. Then she said "okay" and logged off on me, in other words, she closed my chat without even saying any goodbye. This is just very polite as a customer service. :(
Anyways, I've read other comments saying that it is not necessary to keep wearing the starter trays. If you continue to wear them, you can keep your teeth in the same position without moving and get yourself ready for the real trays.
I was excited to see my first tray and I was happy to see that they are made with a harder and thicker material than the starter tray. They are also much tighter which mean my teeth are going to shift. Knowing that this will be a long battle (14 months long), I need to get myself ready for it. So I'd like to share my gear that I bring with me each day to work.
Due to work, I am always on the road and won't be able to find a bathroom very often. I figured I won't be able to brush my teeth between meals all the time. So I floss my teeth and rinse my mouth with scope instead. It actually does pretty well. And I brush my teeth the first thing I go home and make sure I rinse my trays with mild soap. I figured brushing them might be too harsh for it because I did that with my starter tray and it broke.
Another tip is to be very gentle when you put them on and off. Make sure you are not using brutal force to take them out and you're not biting down when trying to fit it in.
The small bowl I carry with me is to put them in and rinse them with water when I'm on the road so I can put them back on after my meal in the car.
When they mailed me these 3 sets of trays, they also gave me another pack of teeth whitening gel (5 tubes in total) and 2 new chewies and a new outie. I hope they will keep sending these as they send me new trays.
I'm also using the colgate whitening pen every 2 nights before I sleep to try to whiten my teeth. I am saving those whitening gels towards the end of my treatment.
Will keep updating after I'm done with my first tray. Thank you for reading.
