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Author
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Topic: Invisalign Braces
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coolie
Junior Member
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posted 10-23-2006 12:32 AM
 
Mel, it's important to get both upper and lower sets of teeth done so that your bite will match up together properly.
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lovethem
Junior Member
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posted 10-24-2006 01:50 PM
agreed. I thought at first i would only need aligners for my top teeth becuase my bottom teeth looked fine to me, but if you're moving one set you need to move the other for your bite. crossbite: When normal straight teeth are closed, the upper teeth sit on the outside of the bottom teeth on the right and left sides of your mouth. A crossbite is when they don't do that on one or both sides.
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asha85
Junior Member
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posted 10-24-2006 10:37 PM
i think it just depends on your individual case and should go by what your orthodontist says. I have a gap in my front teeth and am recieving invisalign express just for my top teeth and my ortho and invisalign sees no proiblems arising with my bite in the future.
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Ayla G
Junior Member
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posted 10-25-2006 07:01 PM
Y ep, certainly a case by case basis. I got invisalign to correct a gaps b/w a couple top teeth, but bottom was recommended as well so the bite would remain intact as the top teeth got shifted to accomodate the teeth being pushed together. Each case is different, so go with your dr/ortho's opinion.Happy to report that I get my retainer tomorrow (after a few unforseen complications with my bite have finally been corrected - it seems they overcorrected a bit too much!) and get these attachment bumpy things smoothed off. How lovely to have smooth teeth again....  Best wishes, all!
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Betsy
Preferred Member
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posted 10-28-2006 12:05 PM
Ayla, what type of retainer did you choose? Several of us on the board are getting close to finishing. We will be very interested in your experience.Also, how did your refinement(s) go? I am on the last tray of my initial plan (16 bottom/19 top). I need refinement on the bottom but possibly not the top. Did you refine both archs or just one. If just one, did you continue to wear you last initial tray? if so, with or without the original buttons? Were the buttons removed prior to taking impressions for the refinement trays? quote:
Originally posted by Ayla G:
Y ep, certainly a case by case basis. I got invisalign to correct a gaps b/w a couple top teeth, but bottom was recommended as well so the bite would remain intact as the top teeth got shifted to accomodate the teeth being pushed together. Each case is different, so go with your dr/ortho's opinion.Happy to report that I get my retainer tomorrow (after a few unforseen complications with my bite have finally been corrected - it seems they overcorrected a bit too much!) and get these attachment bumpy things smoothed off. How lovely to have smooth teeth again.... Best wishes, all!
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InvisibleMany
Junior Member
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posted 10-28-2006 06:28 PM
Hey, I have had Invisalign for 10-months and it has improved my teeth, but I still think my front teeth are a little out of whack, but my ortho says that they are "as good as I'm going to get them."Let me know what you think. Do you see that one tooth is a little in front of the other? http://www.rootofsite.com/teeth/
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oksylvi
Junior Member
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posted 10-29-2006 02:03 AM
invisible many:
Are these before and after pictures? The right canine looks only a tiny bit ahead of the left one in the bottom picture. You had nice teeth to begin with!
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thisisrightnow
Junior Member
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posted 11-06-2006 11:01 PM
So here's my situation, I'm 22 now and I first got braces put on when I was in the 5th grade, I wore them for 2 years and then my dad took them off, because he said I wasn't wearing my headgear, but it was all a matter that the brackets weren't aligned, so whenever I put my headgear in, it'd snap back in my mouth.Here I am almost 10 years later and I still have an overbite that makes me self conscious. The braces did bring my two front teeth in some, but not enough to give me the straight teeth I desire. I saw a commercial on TV today for invisalign and I was just ecstatic, cause it's just the thing I need. I didn't want to go through the whole braces ordeal again, and I feel I'm too old. So now I have a few questions about it. I believe my bottom teeth are straight, since when I did have braces, they were put on both my top and bottom, which I feel was unnecessary cause my top weren't straight, not both. Do you have to get them put on both top and bottom if you don't want to? Or will the orthodontist determine that? And I read somewhere else that when you go in for your consultation, right then and there you need to have an insurance plan picked out and they'll create the molds for your teeth and you'll have to pay the $250 then? Is that true? Cause I don't want to pay that much until I have an insurance carrier picked out, and I have the money. I basically just want to price for how much it'd be. And secondly, I have read that some insurance carriers cover 50% or more of Invisalign, some end up covering most of it and you'll have to pay a little out of your pocket. Can anyone recommend any national companies or companies around Indiana that would be able to cover 50% or more of the cost. I found a company where I'd have to pay around $1800 to fix an overbite or straighten teeth, but I don't know if that supports Invisalign or not. And also, are there any other companies out that are very similiar to Invisalign, but cost less? Sorry for all the questions, but this is something I am VERY interested. I would love nothing more than to have straight teeth once and for all.
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sahanduiuc
Junior Member
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posted 11-11-2006 02:38 AM
My experience with Invisalign is quite disappointing. I paid 5,133$ in the second meeting. I put them on for all the time except a quick 20 mins lunch and dinner as I don't have time for breakfast. RESULT:
1-after 15 frames , gaps started to surface between my teeth and invisalign frame.
2-My doctor said he would not make any correction.
3-The last 2 frames didn't even fit.
4-Invisalign does not have an inquiry number I can use to complain.
5-I needed some of my teeth to be rotating,spinning,some had to have their torque fixed and one had to be brought down as it was stuck up in my jaw, He didn't do any of them.
6-Initially he promised me to design 18 for each jaw and if I am not happy continue to 22 per jaw. He did not honor his word.
7-There was gap between my 2 front teeth and he did not correct it and said Invisalign is not able to correct this kind of gaps.
8-My orthodontist is Dr.Christopher Jordan in Champaign , Illinois , 61820 , and I extremely warn you against refering to him.
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Betsy
Preferred Member
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posted 11-11-2006 12:39 PM
I completed my initial Invisalign plan yesterday. 19 trays top/16 trays bottom. When I started 9 months ago, my left central protruded significantly. Now my teeth are perfectly aligned! My results are impressive and I continue to feel that Invisalign is the best thing that I have done for myself in a long time. I had impressions done for refinement trays because my left lower canine was rotated into alignment but it is was left higher than the neighboring teeth. My dentist expects to have the refinement trays within 2 weeks. I'll find out shortly whether or not the Orthoclear program impacts this expectation.
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Betsy
Preferred Member
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posted 11-11-2006 12:47 PM
Hard to tell. Does your dentist disagree that one tooth is a little out of whack or does he agree that they are out of whack and indicate that another tray would not correct this?I had an upper front tooth way "out of whack" and my 9 month treatment has corrected this perfectly. My plan includes a free refinement which I am doing for the bottom arch. Do you have a refinement available to you? If your teeth are not quite in alignment, I guess I don't understand why you would not do a refinement. quote:
Originally posted by InvisibleMany:
Hey, I have had Invisalign for 10-months and it has improved my teeth, but I still think my front teeth are a little out of whack, but my ortho says that they are "as good as I'm going to get them."Let me know what you think. Do you see that one tooth is a little in front of the other? http://www.rootofsite.com/teeth/
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BadBoy
Preferred Member
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posted 11-11-2006 04:23 PM
Congratulations Betsy!
I'm getting close to the end of the initial Invisalign treatment too, at 20/26 on the lower arch (upper arch had 18).
I am hoping the refinement stage doesn't get too delayed.
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AnneC
Preferred Member
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posted 11-11-2006 04:40 PM
I'm clapping for you, Betsy - YAY!!!It just occurred to me that tomorrow I'll be switching over to set # 21 - which only leaves 2 more after that in my plan. I'm kinda glad you're just that far ahead of me - I get to benefit from your prior experience this way! BB - how's that whitening going? Are you seeing a significant difference? I am getting really impatient to start that phase. So far Invisalign has been very, very good for me... sahanduiuc - your experience sounds VERY disappointing. Invisalign is merely a tool, just as conventional braces are - it's the clinician's ability to use these tools effectively that makes all the difference, even when teeth don't move according to plan. Can you not get him to refine your case at all?
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AnneC
Preferred Member
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posted 11-11-2006 05:41 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by thisisrightnow:
[B] Do you have to get them put on both top and bottom if you don't want to? Or will the orthodontist determine that?And I read somewhere else that when you go in for your consultation, right then and there you need to have an insurance plan picked out and they'll create the molds for your teeth and you'll have to pay the $250 then? /[B]
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thisisrightnow: your doc will determine if both top & bottom trays are necessary to get the best result. Different offices may do things in other ways, but my first consultation was free & was only to determine if my case would benefit from Invisalign. Once I decided to proceed, then I was told of the fee schedule - a payment plan was worked out & a deposit was collected, so I was committed at that point already. Then my "records" of photos, panoramic xrays, & impressions were taken so a definite treatment plan could actually be worked out between Invisalign & my dentist. It was at my next appt. that I was able to actually review my ClinCheck video/plan & accept it to go forward to having my trays ordered. Took about 3 weeks to get my trays in. Sorry - can't help you with the insurance questions as I'm in Ontario. Best of luck with whatever route you take.
Anne
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deoxyribose
Preferred Member
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posted 11-12-2006 02:12 PM
here's an odd question for anyone out there that can answer it. has anyone ever "rolled" with your aligners in? if so, how did you handle the jaw-clenching reflex without damaging your aligners? hehehe, told you it was an odd questions but would love to hear any input.
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Winston
Junior Member
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posted 11-14-2006 01:05 AM
Hey everyone,I'm planning to get Invisalign and I'm wondering if there is a way to research orthodontists - to see how long they have been working with Invisalign, how many patients have they treated, etc. Has anyone ever had these inquiries, and if he/she did, how did you resolve them? I know the obvious answer is to ask the orthodontist but I am from NYC and I am extremely skeptical of what they would have to say. Thanks for any help.
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AnneC
Preferred Member
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posted 11-14-2006 09:20 AM
Winston, have you narrowed your search first through Invisalign's website?http://www.invisalign.com/generalapp/us/en/getting/findLocation.jsp Once you have a list of favourable locations, why not just phone or e-mail each individual office with your questions? Their office should be more than willing to provide you with that info without having to actually make an appt. first. Practitioners that are members of ADA have strict ethical guidelines they must adhere to - you're going to have to give them some credence. You can also ask for past patient referrals. If they won't give you any, that should be reason to look elsewhere.
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Shawn
Junior Member
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posted 11-19-2006 09:02 AM
I received my first set of aligners about a week ago and was surprised to see that the right side of the aligner was shorter than the left, only fitting over half of my last molar on the upper right. The other half of the molar was exposed. Furthermore, the aligner had a gap of at least 1mm on the inside of this tooth, and since the aligners only went halfway around the tooth, this overhang was catching my tongue.I notified the orthodontist immediately, and after looking at it, she had me take them off so she could cut off the inside right corner of the aligner where the gap was. Now the overhang is angled and doesn't catch my tongue as much, but the aligner is not touching the inside of my tooth at all. And it's only touching half of the outside of my tooth. And there's a gap over the top of the tooth as well. I then expressed concern about the aligner not covering all my teeth, but she said that it was not uncommon for Invisalign to send "partial" aligners depending on the treatment necessary. I don't think I believe her; I think instead that they screwed up my mold and somehow Align built the aligners anyway. Has anyone else received such a "partial" aligner? After wearing the aligners for a week, the outside right corner of the top aligner (which ends halfway around the last molar) has been digging into the inside of my cheek, causing a big and painful sore. I was also never shown my CliniCheck video�never even aware of it until I read this forum. And all this from a well-rated Premier Provider. I am very upset that my aligner was not made properly to wrap around all my teeth. Any suggestions on how I can get my orthodontist to fix this? If they have to take another mold to fix it, will my 13 buttons need to be removed first and re-applied?
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Shawn
Junior Member
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posted 11-19-2006 09:26 AM
Also, my second aligner has the same problem as the first. The orthodontist cut that one as well, but I haven't tried it yet since I'm not done with the first one until Thursday.
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AnneC
Preferred Member
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posted 11-19-2006 10:26 AM
Shawn, my trays have never completely covered one back molar - it's a wisdom tooth actually & it's just too far back in the top of my mouth to have the aligner fit over it. It's also not meant to be moved at all in my overall plan, & it's anchorage is just not necessary for any of the other movements. Never had any problems of irritation like you're experiencing though. You may have to have each tray trimmed from here on in. Invisalign makes the trays according to the clinician's treatment orders - covering that last molar completely must not have been necessary for your plan & your doc would know about this before the trays were manufactured. She did see you wearing your first tray before you her office, didn't she? Can't understand why some are not encouraged to view their ClinChek - my doc wanted my consent to proceed after I saw mine for the first time. I've seen the full version & it's many different angled views to review my progress at almost every visit since. The "home" video just doesn't show all the movements clearly in it's simplified version. I'm halfway through set 21 of 23 & have not had any problems at all. You can see my strange looking trays at my blog - my lowers are actually lopsided. I have one less molar on my lower right since a 20 yr. old crown's root split & it was removed just prior to my impressions. Gaps, crowding, awfully crooked teeth - you name it - I had it all. Correction of all these problems have been easy in my case, with only 5 attachments. Can't wait to finish, but so far it's all been good. Best of luck with yours - let us know how you progress!
Anne
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Shawn
Junior Member
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posted 11-19-2006 05:00 PM
OK, I can see how an aligner might not be made to wrap around a wisdom tooth, since they're so far back. But I've had all my wisdom teeth removed.I'm most concerned because the aligner does not fit properly over that last half a tooth; it's like they got the impression of that tooth way too wide, creating the gap on the inside. The top of the tooth is not matched correctly either by the aligner, so the aligner is hanging down there, and I don't know if it's wrapping around neighboring molars correctly because of that.
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Stop-Lip-Chewin
Junior Member
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posted 11-21-2006 12:17 AM
I just found you all after getting my first aligners today! I have 11 bottom aligners and 19 upper ones. It�s actually shorter than I thought it would be since I switched from Orthoclear to Invisalign after the buy-out settlement. They aren�t quite as clear as I thought they would be, but I�m probably just extra self-conscious.I�m a linguist grad student and curious to see if any of the other linguists I work with will see or hear a difference. We spend all of our time looking at mouths and analyzing speech so if anyone will notice, it will be the lingies! Because people stare at my mouth so much, I have to admit that I am very nervous about the aligners becoming more visible through clouding. But I haven�t noticed posts here complaining about that. Is it really true that I could use hydrogen peroxide or efferdent without making the aligners less invisible?!? That�s great! My experience seems pretty typical reading the posts. I got over my lisp quickly by reading out loud to myself and practicing trouble spots. And being a linguist geek I�ve noticed that I�ve compensated by moving my tongue back away a bit from the aligner for my s/z. A super added bonus is that I can�t chew on my lips anymore. I�ve been doing that nasty and ugly habit for years when I�m under a lot of stress. I am soooo happy despite the discomfort. I might be aware of the aligners but I can�t wait for the day when I�m not self-conscious about my crooked teeth!!!
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BadBoy
Preferred Member
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posted 11-21-2006 02:24 AM
Thanks for the report Stop-Lip-Chewin! Great to hear orthoclear patients are already recieving new invisalign case aligners, so it isn't take many months as some feared afterall? Thats great, I hope your new invisaligners work as well as mine - I recently finished my set of 18 uppers and have a few more lowers to go. Then I can have a short refinement series for fine-tuning, but doesn't look like I need much at all.
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oksylvi
Junior Member
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posted 11-21-2006 07:10 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Stop-Lip-Chewin:
Hey there SLC,
Were you in the midst of Orthoclear treatment during the buyout or were you a new Invisalign case? Indeed, would be very good news if Invisalign aligners are starting to arrive for former Orthoclear patients!
I just found you all after getting my first aligners today! I have 11 bottom aligners and 19 upper ones. It�s actually shorter than I thought it would be since I switched from Orthoclear to Invisalign after the buy-out settlement. They aren�t quite as clear as I thought they would be, but I�m probably just extra self-conscious. I�m a linguist grad student and curious to see if any of the other linguists I work with will see or hear a difference. We spend all of our time looking at mouths and analyzing speech so if anyone will notice, it will be the lingies! Because people stare at my mouth so much, I have to admit that I am very nervous about the aligners becoming more visible through clouding. But I haven�t noticed posts here complaining about that. Is it really true that I could use hydrogen peroxide or efferdent without making the aligners less invisible?!? That�s great! My experience seems pretty typical reading the posts. I got over my lisp quickly by reading out loud to myself and practicing trouble spots. And being a linguist geek I�ve noticed that I�ve compensated by moving my tongue back away a bit from the aligner for my s/z. A super added bonus is that I can�t chew on my lips anymore. I�ve been doing that nasty and ugly habit for years when I�m under a lot of stress. I am soooo happy despite the discomfort. I might be aware of the aligners but I can�t wait for the day when I�m not self-conscious about my crooked teeth!!!
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AnneC
Preferred Member
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posted 11-21-2006 09:04 PM
Shawn, you certainly have a valid concern - something is not right there. Invisalign has very consise criteria regarding impressions & will send them back if they are not up to their specifications. Your ortho should either have requested that the tray not cover that tooth entirely or Invisalign should have notified her that this would be the case if deemed unecessary in your treatment. Either way, she should have known it was coming. You can tell from the other 3 back edges of your trays how they are made to wrap around the entire tooth with their finished edges.I'd be requesting another appt. to get this straightened out - can't see that your attachments would need to be removed if another impression was needed - your tooth positions/shapes are what is important here. Let us know how you make out ---
Anne
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Ewok2000
Preferred Member
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posted 11-21-2006 09:23 PM
Hey shawn, when I started invisalign, my first aligner didn't fit over my back teeth so I got an appoint. ASAP and we decided getting new molds was neccessary. After another 4 weeks of waiting, I got the new set and they fit like a glove. And everything has gone relatively smoothly since and I'm on 15 of 22 top/bottom now.
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Betsy
Preferred Member
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posted 11-23-2006 12:19 PM
I agree with Anne - I don't think your attachments will be removed before a new impression. I recently had impressions taken for refinement trays. My dentist indicated that the refinement plan would determine if we remove the attachments from the original plan or if they are still needed (or a a combination). I have 6 attachments - 4 bottom and 2 top. quote:
Originally posted by AnneC:
Shawn, you certainly have a valid concern - something is not right there. Invisalign has very consise criteria regarding impressions & will send them back if they are not up to their specifications. Your ortho should either have requested that the tray not cover that tooth entirely or Invisalign should have notified her that this would be the case if deemed unecessary in your treatment. Either way, she should have known it was coming. You can tell from the other 3 back edges of your trays how they are made to wrap around the entire tooth with their finished edges.I'd be requesting another appt. to get this straightened out - can't see that your attachments would need to be removed if another impression was needed - your tooth positions/shapes are what is important here. Let us know how you make out ---
Anne
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markymark
Junior Member
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posted 11-27-2006 06:54 PM
Hey guys I am on tray 13 of 13 for my top teeth. So far everything has been doing good...not a whole of pain, slight lisp, very little trouble of inserting and removing trays. My only concern is that I am on the final tray and my left lateral incisor tooth still has to rotate more and pull down...I am concerned that not everything will be completed in the next two weeks. Does anyone have any thoughts on what the doctor will do if things aren't matched up properly? Is there a chance he will add on more trays? or what else should I on my suppose final visit? thanks guys
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BadBoy
Preferred Member
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posted 11-27-2006 07:19 PM
Its very common for the first set of aligners to be followed by one or more series of "refinement" series. They make new impressions and submit for another round. I've heard several refinement series of invisalign aligners are included in the total price now? Be sure to tell your ortho if you have specific teeth you want adjusted after the first series. They can probably offer more ideas as well after the impressions thru the clinicheck software, be sure you have the ortho show you the refinement plan in detail on the computer!
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Joojie
Junior Member
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posted 11-27-2006 09:30 PM
I am a runner and no problem with the aligners. I've run some races with them in my mouth too. The only thing I can say is that you might have dryer mouth than usual if you are a vigorous exerciser b/c the invisilign might mean you don't close your mouth as much so it dries out too.On another note, I was worried that my partner(s) would be able to feel my invisilign during more intimate moments but so far- no one noticed!! YAY
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dyingsun16
Preferred Member
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posted 11-27-2006 09:54 PM
quote:
Originally posted by BadBoy:
I've heard several refinement series of invisalign aligners are included in the total price now?
This is true. Invisalign (not EXPRESS) offers as many refinement trays as needed if your teeth are not satisfactory to you. It's one of the benefits over EXPRESS.
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Betsy
Preferred Member
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posted 11-27-2006 10:40 PM
My plan included up to 3 refinements. I have completed my initial treatment and my first set of refinement trays are in production. I expect to only need one set for the minor adjustments that I need. quote:
Originally posted by dyingsun16:
This is true. Invisalign (not EXPRESS) offers as many refinement trays as needed if your teeth are not satisfactory to you. It's one of the benefits over EXPRESS.
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markymark
Junior Member
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posted 11-27-2006 11:36 PM
Okay thanks guys....I wouldn't mind a few more sets at all, as long as things keep improving.
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dyingsun16
Preferred Member
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posted 11-29-2006 02:39 PM
Perhaps it might be helpful to be made clear that "refinement trays" and "additional trays" are two completely different things. Invisalign has up to 3 refinement trays at the end, which brings the arch back in usually to correct any overcorrection that may have occured. They may or may not be used, it depends on how your results are after the initial plan.If, after that, you are still not happy, invisalign will continue to make and send additional trays to continue your process, and these are additional trays, not refinement like above.
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Betsy
Preferred Member
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posted 11-29-2006 10:26 PM
What is the difference? Do you pay for the "additional trays"? Both terms seem to describe more trays after your original plan is complete. I am currently waiting for my first set of refinement trays. quote:
Originally posted by dyingsun16:
Perhaps it might be helpful to be made clear that "refinement trays" and "additional trays" are two completely different things. Invisalign has up to 3 refinement trays at the end, which brings the arch back in usually to correct any overcorrection that may have occured. They may or may not be used, it depends on how your results are after the initial plan.If, after that, you are still not happy, invisalign will continue to make and send additional trays to continue your process, and these are additional trays, not refinement like above.
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