Esther

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Originally posted by Betsy:
It is common for dentists/orthos to have to communicate back and forth with Invisalign to define the initial plan. I think Invisalign's turnaround time is probably consistent, but depending on the dentist's work load and the amount of tailoring required to finalize the plan, the time to complete will vary.

I didn't receive my aligners until several months after impressions. First we submitted as an express case but determined I would not get the results I wanted with the abbreviated treatment. Then my dentist went back and forth for a while to finalize my initial treatment (19 top/16 bottom). I just started my first (and hopefully only) refinement. It took Invisalign 10 working days from impression to delivery of my refinement trays. Add another 5 week days for my dentist (due to holiday). I waited 3 weeks for the refinement trays.

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I only use my fingernails to pop them out in the back. The trick to get them not to hurt is when you take them off from the back, use your fingernail to loosen the spots that have buttons in front. The tray has to be poppped off in the back on one or both sides for this to work. For the bottom I use my thumb nails and pop both sides up and work my way forward and lift the tray slightly where the buttons are and it comes right off.

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Originally posted by Ayla G:
Sorry all - been awhile since I've been online! Had the teeth corrected, but now working on getting my internet connection corrected!

As far as the retention process goes...I ended up with the invisalign retainer -- it is much like the aligners, but much thicker and w/o the attachments (yeah!). So far so good. They have been easy to get used to since they are similar to the aligners - w/o the hassle of moving teeth around! The only downside is that my mouth is dryer with these in than with the aligners. A little water does the trick, though, so it hasn't been all that bad. Best wishes to all in your treatment. I'd say that my overall invisalgin experience was a positive one (though I would have researched a more experienced ortho first!)... My teeth were corrected about 95% (refinement was not included in my express treatment) - I decided not to become obsessed over perfection though... After all, we are all human.

Best wishes to all,
Ayla

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There is non difference at all. The refinement trays are are just "refining" the result of the initial plan. It is interesting to me (now at tray 4 of 5 lower/8 upper) that although the movements in my refinement process are very small, each new set of trays is very tight and I am seeing the improvement already.

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Originally posted by Esther:
Betsy,
What is the difference between the regular invisalign trays to straighten your teeth and the refinement trays?

Esther

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Originally posted by supercat:
Hi!

I am just about finished with my first set and I accidently dropped my top aligner in the toilet during my morning routine! I tried to insert my second top aligner and IT DOES NOT FIT. Not even close!!! I would have had to change them out tomorrow anyways, so I didn't think a day would make much of a difference. It's bothering me because I can feel my teeth moving but there is no budging. It is like trying to shove a fat foot in a small shoe! I will call the Ortho in the AM. But, I was wondering if anyone on here had similar incidents? Please respond!

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Check to make sure the aligner you have is really your 2nd aligner. On both top and bottom, it should say 02, meanings it is the second aligner. That should be right next to wear it says "U" for the upper aligner.

Pop in the next tray a day early and don't worry about it. Most tooth movement is done in the first 3 or 4 days, as I'm sure you can tell by the pressure experienced after starting a new tray.

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Originally posted by JennyMac:
Hello all. My treatment is complete and I thought I'd write to say that I'm really happy (and happy it's over!). I had 15 uppers and 12 lowers. My last set of trays will be my forever set. I went through a bit of anxiety when I switched from wearing them 22 hours a day to sleeping only. I felt sure that my teeth would jump back to their original position, but they didn't, haven't. My last visit to my dentist felt like such a final hurrah that now I'm having some difficulty remembering to put my trays in at night--as if it's somehow all over and I don't have to worry about it anymore. I wish that were true, but how can I complain? My teeth look just perfect, and I want them to stay that way. Hang in there all you new folks. You'll be right here someday!!!

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Originally posted by marsha:
The first week was the worst for me. I'm on week three on aligner #1 and I don't feel anything. Advil helped with the tooth pain but that only lasted a day or two. It was my tongue that was a killer.

I got some good advice on that down the page in a thread called raw tongue. The best thing someone said was wait 8-10 days and all will be well. They were right and it didn't even take that long..maybe a week.

I'm getting #2 on Monday so I know I'll have the tooth pain and pressure again but I can deal with that! I'm just hoping my tongue won't start all over.

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I haven't experienced anything like that, even during my whitening process which sometimes can cause it, too. I did use a Sensodyne type toothpaste for probably a month in anticipation of that possibility though - so that may be the key. Hopefully it will help alleviate your pain as your teeth get it's full benefit.

Your treatment plan is about twice as long as my original, so I can only offer encouragement to hang in there - it's gotta get better soon! Relating back to your traumatic childhood experience takes me back to my own son's diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes when he was just eight years old. Although a quick urinalysis was all it took to do that - high blood sugar is indicative of that. It was the nightmare that followed that makes me cringe still.

You must try to separate these feelings - this is not at all like what you went through before - you are not ill. Try to remember why you are doing this & know it will come to an end. You will end up with a beautiful smile - & your teeth will be healthier than ever before. This is only temporary - does your doctor recommend any pain killers to help alleviate the pain? Use that special toothpaste religiously - I'm sure it will help more the more you use it.

Hope you're feeling better very soon ---
Regards,
Anne

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Originally posted by hdlern:
47yo male just got Invisalign braces today, 15 uppers 22 lowers. Today has been day one wearing them. First impressions. OH MY G-D THEY ARE PAINFULL. Partiularly my lowers. Uppers I can live with fine. I hope this settles down in a day or so or i'm going to rip it out of may head and say screw it. Maybe it's time to take some pain meds... Makes me think they might have missed the specs on this one. Can anyone tell me if subsequent aligners are as bad as the first one's? Any way, also VERY difficult to take out, makes you feel like you going to take the teeth with it. I will certainly be losing weight with these, snacking is just not going to be worth the effort. Also found out today that much more sanding of my lowers to fix the crowding then was previously told. Not really happy about that. My front teeth line up too perfectly causing them to be worn down and chipped terribly. So to create the necessary natural overbite (and then venneers) they need to push the lowers back. This too concerns me a little as I was originally told that they were going to bring my uppers more forward (still are but less so)rather then the bottoms back so much. Guess invisalign disagreed. Lastly, my upper feels like its putting pressure to move the top front teeth back, rather then the forward they ultimatley need to go? All in all I think I need to go back to my ortho for a conversation before getting to far into this. I'll update if anyone cares.

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Originally posted by Relle:
[B][/B]

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I want to believe that your ortho can help you through this. I noticed a person whose ortho gave him/her flouride-I wonder if that would help. Have you tried Aleve or Advil? It sounds like your discomfort is more intense that the people referred to in your ortho's statement that "Its not unusual....". Does your ortho understand how uncomfortable you are?

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Originally posted by Relle:
Since I placed 30/48 upper, I have been experiencing hypersensitivity to anything cold. While I have had some in the past with the lower trays and a little on some of the upper trays. this is the first time that it has lasted almost a week. I can't even look at a cold drink without cringing. If I suck in cold air, drink a cold drink, or talk too long, i get shooting, searing, intense pain that lasts for a few moments after I close my lips. While it does seem to be a little better since i have been using sensodyne at the suggestion of the Ortho. he says it's not uncommon for the front teeth to be supersensitive when they are moving. I am worried about permanent nerve damage and a dying tooth.. Has anyone else experienced this kind of sensitivity? I am almost too scared to place the next tray in case the pain gets better in the next week and by placing the next one, I have to start all over again. It is making my stomach churn just thinking about the possibility.
Not only that.. Is it just me, or as I get closer to the end, i find my self more reluctant to put in the new trays, I am getting tired of dealing with the discomfort.
Reminds me of when i was a kid and was being tested all day at the children's hospital for Diabetes/low blood sugar.
I went in with my mom, no food in my stomach since the night before. They drew blood from my little arm. They made me drink something like gatorade then every hour or so, drew blood.. by the time they did 3-4 pokes, i was crawling up the wall everytime they came back, each poke worse then the last. I was poked about 10 times..It sucked, i hated it, and that reminded me of my apprehension of placing the next trays.. This is starting to be for the birds..( 18 trays to go.. can I do it????)Lord help me!
Relle

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Originally posted by Betsy:
JennyMac, what do you mean that "My last set of trays will be my forever set." I don't believe the standard invisalign trays are manufactured to last for a long period of time. I will be choosing a retain from several options after completion of my treatment. All posts regarding retainment that I have seen have indicated that others are doing the same.

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Originally posted by JennyMac:
I can't really comment on what the "real" longevity is of a set of trays, but I guess I'll find out. I assume there is some savings in just using the last set versus some other kind of retainer, even if they have to be replaced at some point in the future. I'm seeing my dentist tomorrow (my new bite has cracked the enamel of one of my bottom teeth a little), and I'll have a discussion with him about it. Will let you know what he says.

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Originally posted by Betsy:
My childhood horror was having fillings done by a dentist that did not use novacain and charged by the hour. I had nightmares for months before the appointment (maybe it was weeks but I remember it as months).

I want to believe that your ortho can help you through this. I noticed a person whose ortho gave him/her flouride-I wonder if that would help. Have you tried Aleve or Advil? It sounds like your discomfort is more intense that the people referred to in your ortho's statement that "Its not unusual....". Does your ortho understand how uncomfortable you are?

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Originally posted by pat:
I am in the process of getting Invisalign braces and I am afraid I have not done my homework on them. Does anyone know how inconvenient it is to wear them and also to remove them in order to eat? I understand that you hve to brush and floss your teeth before putting the braces back on after eating. I would appreciate commnets from anyone who has gone thru the process. I am still able to back out of the Invisalign (at a cost) and go the traditional braces route but then again I don't think I want to do that.

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Originally posted by Betsy:
Has anyone else heard of dentists/orthos having their patients use their last trays as retainers?

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I have used my trays for whitening already. My dentist indicated that they serve this other pupose perfectly well.

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Originally posted by JennyMac:
Hi, Betsy. It's just as I assumed. He said they can last two to three years before they need to be replaced, depending on how bad of a tooth grinder or clencher you are, at which point they'll probably start to crack at the back. Then he'll just order me a new set. His father (my regular dentist) has been through the treatment and he mentioned that the last set of trays make perfect whitening trays. I don't find anything wrong with this approach...yet! Only time will tell.

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QUOTE]Originally posted by BadBoy:
I would recommend getting some feedback from some patients who have actually used the aligners for a long period of time and from invisalign reps. I've used my final upper aligner for 4 months now since I had more lower aligners than uppers and it is nearing the end of its useful life. I had to get a clear temporary upper retainer made since I don't expect it will last much longer. The temporary one by the way has an estimated 6month expected life from the dental lab. An invisalign rep told me that their clear retainers are made of a more durable plastic material than the standard aligners and have an estimated life of up to 2 years, so the standard aligner material is of course much less than that. From my own experience I'd estimate 6 month max, but depends on the patient. Some have reported cracks appearing in only a few weeks of use. But from my own experience and info from invisalign reps, I wouldn't count on more than a few months use of out of the final aligner set. Plan on getting impressions and ordering longer-lasting retainers (there are various types with different lifespans) and consider the final aligner set more as a backup to use until the retainers are made, it might take a month or so and you don't want to be without one when a final aligner does give out.[/QUOTE]

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Originally posted by Relle:
Hi There,
I am currently on 31/48 upper and 19/19 lower.. I have been using the last lower tray now for 3 months+.. I soak it in Efferdent 2x a week.. I use a toothpick to scrape off any deposits the efferdent and brush won't remove and if its REALLY stubborn I use the flat part of the eye of a needle to gently scrape off the deposits. It still looks pretty good, though not as nice as a fresh upper.. but, I think it will last until I am done in Oct with the final top tray.. I don't know how it will work if I will need refinements.Do refinements always include fresh trays for uppers and lowers?.It's my understanding that VERY few people with Invisalign don't need refinements. Most have to get new trays for a few more months after the initial treatmentis over. Does any one here have to go through refinements or already did so?
I have about 9 more months left and I can tell you time can't pass fast enough, but I am more than halfway there.The closer it gets, the antsier I get. I get a LOT of support from this board and I do appreciate it..It helps smooth the rough parts..
Thanks so much,
Relle

QUOTE]Originally posted by BadBoy:
[b]I would recommend getting some feedback from some patients who have actually used the aligners for a long period of time and from invisalign reps. I've used my final upper aligner for 4 months now since I had more lower aligners than uppers and it is nearing the end of its useful life. I had to get a clear temporary upper retainer made since I don't expect it will last much longer. The temporary one by the way has an estimated 6month expected life from the dental lab. An invisalign rep told me that their clear retainers are made of a more durable plastic material than the standard aligners and have an estimated life of up to 2 years, so the standard aligner material is of course much less than that. From my own experience I'd estimate 6 month max, but depends on the patient. Some have reported cracks appearing in only a few weeks of use. But from my own experience and info from invisalign reps, I wouldn't count on more than a few months use of out of the final aligner set. Plan on getting impressions and ordering longer-lasting retainers (there are various types with different lifespans) and consider the final aligner set more as a backup to use until the retainers are made, it might take a month or so and you don't want to be without one when a final aligner does give out.

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Picked up my aligners 13/14 the other day. My dentist said one of my teeth didnt look to be tracking to its fullest extent. He said instead of starting the next trays, to wear the current aligners another week. He took some pliers and put a dimple/dot in the aligner to create new/more pressure on the tooth to move it a bit more.

Also - I can identify with the user that dropped alingers in toilet by mistake. I almost did that twice - Thank God for quick hands! Yuck!!

I probably won't be logging back on soon, so I wish everyone all the best w/ the remainder of treatment. Great advice from all. Thanks.

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Originally posted by Betsy:
Ayla, how many hours a day are you wearing your retainers? Did your dentist offer you a choice between different types of retainers?

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Invisalign does recommend exactly when the attachments should be placed. One thing that will make it easier for you this way is to give you some time to get used to removing/replacing your trays before the added difficulty of all those buttons. It could be as simple as having a large enough block of chair time to be able to do it - (hope not) but it's a good question to ask your ortho when he does.

Don't hesitate to ask him anything you're wondering about - anything little thing at all.

That's what he's there for.
Anne