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Originally posted by Andy:
I've been using the invisalign for about 9 weeks now, and as a school student, I have to go to the bathroom and take them out before lunch. I have a tendency to be forgetful and not put them back in after lunch, sometimes leaving them out from 10am to 10 pm, before I put them back in again. Meaning i'm only wearing them 12 out of 24 hours of the day. How bad could this be 20-30 years from now, will I be losing teeth?

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Originally posted by KimInNYC:
I just want to thank everyone that has contributed to this message board. I am glad that I have found it. I just got my impressions for invisalign done yesterday(they hurt like hell. My orthodontist is a pefectionist), and I am patiently awaiting their arrival.

I am so happy to be getting these braces. Honestly speaking, it is like a dream come true for me. I am 19 years old, and I have hated my teeth all my life. I have a big gap in between my two front teeth, and my bottom teeth have very small spaces between them as well. I can't wait until the day that I will be able to laugh and smile without covering my mouth, talk to people without looking at the floor, and overall, just feel more confident and secure. My teeth have honestly ruined my childhood. I remember many times where I would exclude myself from everyone because I was ashamed of my teeth.

My mom has made it very clear to me that she is not helping me pay for these braces at all. I know it is going to be a bit of a struggle for me being that I am a 19 year old college student with no job, but I don't care because it is something that I have to do. They're costing me about $6500.I also need to get surgery because in between my gap, I have this extra hanging skin(there is a dental term for it, but I don't speak "dentist") that needs to be removed, costing about $400 more. It's now or never, the way I see it. I am depending on my scholarship money to assist me in paying for these braces. I'm hoping everything will go smoothly.

Thanks again to everyone who have shared their experiences. I hope that the pain that everyone is talking about, does not last long. Good luck everyone!

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Wow, I feel the same way about everything you've said. I'm 18 and my teeth have hindered my life. They're not crooked or anything but there is a huge gap between my two front teeth. I don't like to meet new people and usually don't go out with friends. It seems like everytime I laugh, I cover my face so no one sees my gappy teeth.

I was told I would have to have the same surgery you need. There is a hangy piece of skin above my gap that pushes my teeth apart. I have no idea what it's called and am nervous to get it done. I'd love to hear how everything goes after you have it. And how invisalign has helped!

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Originally posted by Danielle:
OH God- I've had mine in for 6 hours now and am in SO MUCH PAIN! This is the 2nd time I've had to pop them out for a "breather". I am going to take an Advil. I will have nice straight teeth but at the cost of a nice stomach ulcer probably with the pain med...
Can someone give me hope? I really am dying...

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Originally posted by george:

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Found some very useful tips here - especially like the paper towel piece for removing - works like a charm. I've 5 buttons (all on premolars: 5 bottom & 1 top) so I guess I'm one of the lucky ones - no one else can see them at all.

Neither my husband or sons can tell I am wearing them. I actually think my teeth look better with them in - the gaps are minimized & they appear brighter (must be the "lens" effect).

After my records appt. with final impressions made, my dentist "tweaked" the treatment plan several times until satisfied. Originally, my uppers (gaps & overbite) needed fewer trays (lowers are crowded), but was advised to have both sets in for the same duration & I'm quite happy with that. I think it would feel strange to have both & then only one for the remainder.

I was shown my Clincheck for my approval before we proceeded. The trays arrived within 10 days after that. So far I've only felt some pressure the first couple of days - it was most apparent once the trays were removed upon eating - then, I could tell it was there! No pain to speak of, though (& I forgot to take a painkiller before my appt. like I read here - turns out I didn't need it anyway). No rough edges, either.

The only thing I'm using to clean my trays is a couple of drops of anti-bacterial dish soap in the water they soak in. Just a Colgate Motion toothbrush to scrub. So far, so good.

That link above contains most of the same info that's outlined in the Advisalign Consent/Agreement form that we all sign
(didn't we?) My cost including whitening is $4500 Canadian with a payment plan.

Like someone (Josh maybe) said here before:
"Keep your eyes on the prize."

And INvisalign Consent/Agreement...
shouldn't type when tired...yaaawwwwnnnn
G'nite all.

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Originally posted by Nikki81480:
I only have them on my top teeth and they are hell to get in and out but not as bad as some of the other horror stories I have read.

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How long did it take you to get yours?? See my above post.

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Originally posted by Jwizzman:
Just got mine...I've had them in for a couple of hours, no pain no nothing, I did try to take them out and both took less then a minute, pretty easy.

the only thing that's bothering me is my mouth is full of saliva and i'm hungry, lol

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I've got moderate crowding in the uppers and lowers as well as a closed overbite. The ortho prescribed 24 upper trays and 35 lower trays for a total cost of about $6,500 in Ohio.

So I just went today to get my first set. They put 4 "buttons" on the top and 4 on the bottom, but they're not on the front teeth so they're not noticable. I feel the pressure with the trays, but don't seem to have any trouble getting them on and off. It feels a little strange having something in my mouth, but my speech doesn't seem to be affected. I was extremely nervous this morning, but so far so good.

Here's to hoping it works as prescribed! I'll be a model patient and wear them as often as possible. I wouldn't mind posting some pics to show progress. Is there a picture thread here somewhere?

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Originally posted by ABtwincity:
Jwizzman,

How long did it take you to get yours?? See my above post.

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I had to redo the imprints for the upper tooth, that was done on the 10th, since today is 30th...20 days exactly, I live in Amsterdam, The Netherlands so I was guessing US was faster.

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Originally posted by Jwizzman:
I had to redo the imprints for the upper tooth, that was done on the 10th, since today is 30th...20 days exactly, I live in Amsterdam, The Netherlands so I was guessing US was faster.

Did a bit of "experimenting" Worn them all day today, I've gone to the movies with some of my friends, had some LONG conversations and none of them noticed anything, lol
in fact...they still don't know
BTW: I have 9 trays bottom, 18 trays tops, I have 3 buttons on the bottom and 2 buttons tops

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Originally posted by Courtney:
Wow, I feel the same way about everything you've said. I'm 18 and my teeth have hindered my life. They're not crooked or anything but there is a huge gap between my two front teeth. I don't like to meet new people and usually don't go out with friends. It seems like everytime I laugh, I cover my face so no one sees my gappy teeth.

I was told I would have to have the same surgery you need. There is a hangy piece of skin above my gap that pushes my teeth apart. I have no idea what it's called and am nervous to get it done. I'd love to hear how everything goes after you have it. And how invisalign has helped!

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Hey,it's good to see someone who relates to me. About the surgery, I haven't had it yet, but from what the dentist has told me, I don't think it's that serious. He told me he is going to numb my mouth so I won't feel anything. It's just a quick ten minute thing. I'm not too worried. I've seen people get worse surgeries. I will definitely write back to let you know how it went. I'm still waiting on my aligners. It's going to take a while for me to receive them, I actually had to get my bottom impression done over last week b/c the invisalign company screwed up. So I'm just waiting. I'm excited!

Eric - I'll be right here along with ya! No previous braces of any kind here, either. & BTW - that is one of my favourite names (#1 son is proud recipient of it as well).

They don't seem too bad so far though. My speech seems pretty good, and the pain/pressure isn't bad either. Good luck and hang in there! I'll be checking in with updates.

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Originally posted by KimInNYC:
I have a question for anyone that can offer me an answer. I'm actual kind of concerned about the way the invisalign braces will look seeing that I have a huge gap between my two front teeth. I was wondering if anyone knows how the aligners will be created in that area. Like for example, will there be plastic from the aligners showing in between the gap, or will the aligners be made so that the plastic is only on the two front teeth and not in between the gap? I know this might seem like a ridiculous question, but any help will be greatly appreciated.

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I just started wearing mine last night. So far so good. I was extremely nervous too, but it's not bad at all.

I feel some pressure and my teeth are sore when I take the aligners out to brush and eat, but it's certainly not painful. Also, my speech is still good and they are truly nearly invisible. People can't tell I'm wearing them unless I point it out.

My only concern is that I am still very conscious that I'm wearing something foreign in my mouth. Many people say that after a few weeks you forget you have them on. I hope this is the case. Right now they still feel strange and foreign to me.

But I'm very excited about the process. I'm 31 and never had braces as a kid. I've been a little self conscious about my crowded smile my whole life. If I get anywhere near the results shown in the 3-D animation from Invisalign, I'll be ecstatic.

Good luck!

They don't take up a whole lot of space anyway & to me it's pretty exciting to see the difference in each set - proves you're on your way to that new smile!

my email is donuttony@hotmail.com

Thanks!

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Originally posted by Pluey:
What do you find is the best way to clean your Invisalign? I'm on tray 2 of Invisalign Express (of 8 on the top, 9 on the bottom) and have been brushing them when I brush my teeth and soaking in mouthwash in the morning. I read somewhere that mouthwash isn't good for them and my last trays started feeling pretty gross by the end of the 2 weeks, so I'm looking for a better way without having to buy the cleaning system.

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All you really need to do is brush them like you normally brush your teeth. Anything else is just wasting money.