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Originally posted by cookie:
you guys all seem pretty happy. I'm on my second day and I really hate it... The plastic is always there and I constantly wish I could take them out. It's not painful, but so annoying and thought consuming. Anyway, my major concern is that I can't talk so well with them on. I sound very lispy and mumbled. Does anyone have that problem? Should it go away? Does is feel more uncomfortable the first few days/weeks? Also, what are buttons? Any answers would be really helpful, thanks!!

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I'm in my 3rd week (2nd set of trays). I had a lot of pain the first week--the lower tray was lacerating the underside of my tongue. I had the ortho's technician grind down the tray a bit, so it feels a lot better. Regarding your speech: I've had trouble with that too. My speech isn't quite as "lispy" now as it was at the beginning, but it's not completely normal either, at least to my ear. The trays collect saliva, and this affects my speech. I'm hoping this will improve over time. Buttons are little cement plugs that the ortho puts on your teeth, which helps move them. I got them right away, and they are there all the time--and unsightly, in my opinion. The buttoms hurt a lot in the first week, as you really feel them when the trays come out and you try to eat. But that's much better now. Like you, I spend a lot of time thinking about the trays and wishing I could just grab a cup of coffee like I used to. I think this is going to be a very long year for me.

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Originally posted by cookie:
you guys all seem pretty happy. I'm on my second day and I really hate it... The plastic is always there and I constantly wish I could take them out. It's not painful, but so annoying and thought consuming. Anyway, my major concern is that I can't talk so well with them on. I sound very lispy and mumbled. Does anyone have that problem? Should it go away? Does is feel more uncomfortable the first few days/weeks? Also, what are buttons? Any answers would be really helpful, thanks!!

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I'm in my 3rd week (2nd set of trays). I had a lot of pain the first week--the lower tray was lacerating the underside of my tongue. I had the ortho's technician grind down the tray a bit, so it feels a lot better. Regarding your speech: I've had trouble with that too. My speech isn't quite as "lispy" now as it was at the beginning, but it's not completely normal either, at least to my ear. The trays collect saliva, and this affects my speech. I'm hoping this will improve over time. Buttons are little cement plugs that the ortho puts on your teeth, which helps move them. I got them right away, and they are there all the time--and unsightly, in my opinion. The buttons hurt a lot in the first week, as you really feel them when the trays come out and you try to eat. But that's much better now. Like you, I spend a lot of time thinking about the trays and wishing I could just grab a cup of coffee like I used to. I think this is going to be a very long year for me.

ive been waiting 11weeks(18th Dec) since the moulds were sent away. i rang last week and told the site was crashing when they tried to access my information.

then yesterday they rang me telling me that the site was down all over the world and they couldnt get access to it.

just joined this site... it's day 3 of my first set of aligners, the pressure is there but is bearable...i am not looking forward to taking these things out to eat everytime and having to brush, especially in restaurants.... giving up on snacks is hard, but i wonder about when i want to go out and have some drinks, is it harmful to have them out for a few hours in a row???

my case is 29 upper and 18 lower...don't know how i am going to put up with this for a year and a bit....

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[/B] Originally posted by cuddles:
is it harmful to have them out for a few hours in a row???

my case is 29 upper and 18 lower...don't know how i am going to put up with this for a year and a bit....

seems like its gonna be a long year with some sacrifice and lifestyle changes....
[/B]

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Invisalign works great if you follow the 22hour/day plan closely. If you try to leave them out too long the teeth will start to move back and then you need more days to compensate. So its best to change your style a bit if you want good results.

I just finished about the same number of aligners as your plan, took exactly one year for me. I thought it would be a long time at the beginning too, but suprisingly I used to the new lifestyle and the year has gone by quickly! My teeth never have looked so good and they are in better condition (gums too) and whiter by brushing/flossing everytime I take them out to eat or drink something. So I plan to continue that style to keep 'em looking so great now too!

22hrs seems like a long time to keep them in...so did u rush ur meals at the restaurant, and what about the bar or all nite events, even a wedding reception, holidays.???

Has anyone started treatment with a chipped tooth? My front upper has a decent chip in the corner and I was told to wait until after treatment to fix the chip. I'm wondering what I'm gonna use as a retainer right after they fix it. Seeing as how I have to get new molds done after I fix the chip, what the heck am I going to wear until my retainers come in? My teeth are sure to move while I'm waiting a few weeks for retainers.

Actually, I'm on tray 8 right now. I did ask him about the tooth and fixing it before my impressions because I had to get some stuff done anyway..he said to wait until after treatment to get it bonded because the tooth in question is a really twisted tooth in front and it would make sense to wait until after it moves into place before fixing it.

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Originally posted by PilotKiwi:
Hi everyone, first off thank you to everyone for all of their information, I have been reading through all the previous pages of posts for days now. I just got my first set of aligners on Tuesday and like everyone else, I'm wondering what I got myself into. I have 18 for the top and 22 for the bottom, so I realize it won't be forever, but its hard to remember that right now. My tongue and lower gums are so sore I hate to even talk now (and I love to talk)... I hope it gets better!!

Does anyone have a strange feeling in their top aligner when they drink?? Mine seems to feel like it gets tighter when I drink water, really strange!

Talk to everyone soon.

Sarah in Virgina.

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Originally posted by BadBoy:
It would be best to fix the chipped tooth with a bonding before getting the impressions to start invisalign if possible due to the reasons you mention.
I too had a small chipped upper front tooth but didn't get it bonded until after the original invisalign series was done. Fortunately though my upper aligners had room for the bonded tooth, maybe that can be requested to make the length of both teeth the same in preparation for that. However if you can get bonding first before impressions that would have to be the easiest route.

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I started treatment with a chipped tooth. The ortho said that after I am all done, he will fix it (i.e., after any refinements). If that is included in my treatment price, even better! I really think that Invisalign makes my chippped tooth less noticable. I can't even tell that it is chipped when the aligners are in. When the aligners are out, it is a LOT more obvious (although we are our own worst critic).

Mine got chipped by my trumpet mouthpiece flying out of my horn and hitting my tooth my senior year of college marching band on a fast 'horns up'. At the time, finishing the season without having to deal with getting it fixed (without insurance) was definitely not a priority. So, I just had the dentist polish the rough stuff off. But, it will look dorky to have the tooth chipped when my teeth are straighter!!!

I wonder if there might be a manufacturing variation that would make a set of aligners susceptible to cracking?

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Originally posted by BennyTheJet:
Yeah, I hear ya. I have 28 lower and 37 upper so I have to sit tight with my last lower tray for a few months. Good thing the chipped tooth is on the top. What stinks is that as the tooth rotates the chip becomes more and more visible.

I hope my bottoms last that whole time. I've already cracked 2 of my bottom trays so far...

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I couldn't be happier with my dentist and all he is doing (on 15/18), and I believe it would be a nice thing to give him a tip after all is said and done. The only concern is that I am paying $5500 +tax for the entire Invisalign process. As a college student that is the single most substantial thing I have had to pay for outside of school.

I guess I am looking for other peoples comments and opinions on the idea of tipping your dentist/orthodontist and how you feel about it. It definitely wouldn't be a cash tip, more like a gift certificate to a favorite resturant.

Thoughts?

re you talking about IPRs which may be included in your plan and would be done at specific points prior to changing aligners? This involves making a very small amount of space between specific teeth so that there will be space for the target movement.

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Originally posted by doublerock:
I am due to change into my second set of aligners today. My dentist has told me that I need to do the moulding every 2 weeks before I changes into new aligners. That sound pretty troublesome to me not to mention the unpleasantness of the procedure.
Is this a standard practice?

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Originally posted by Betsy:
I have no idea what this means. What is "the moulding"? There should procedure required every 2 weeks. A

re you talking about IPRs which may be included in your plan and would be done at specific points prior to changing aligners? This involves making a very small amount of space between specific teeth so that there will be space for the target movement.

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