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Originally posted by simone.dawn@con-way.com:
mine were only 4500.00 massachusetts

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Originally posted by ryanlion07:
Swag.....I have only uppers and it cost me $3,400, and insurance is picking up 2/3 of it. I am in CT.

I picked up my 3,4 and 5th trays yesterday and again the ortho did some shaving. doesnt hurt at all. he is only shaving in between the lateral incisor, canine and first premolar to make a little room in front to move the lateral incisors which are the only ones which need fixing. They are not moving any of my molars.

with regard to switching trays prior to the 14 days I think its a bad idea. just some common sense says so, and my ortho says he wouldnt recommend it. Here is my theory. Moving your teeth is like bending a branch on a tree. u can put lots of continuous pressure and bend the branch all the way and this might cause the branch to snap, same way that moving the teeth to quickly can loosen the bone and case the teeth to fall out. Even though the teeth are not really moving during the 2nd week of each tray, the tray holds the teeth in their new position and allow it to get set. Also if you switch trays each week you will keep moving the teeth and then when your treatment is done your teeth will sort of "sling shot" back to its old position as it has never got time to "set in". Sort of like the branch again, bend it to quickly over time and when you let go it will just "sling shot" back to its old position. But if you bend a little each day and hold it in that position and then bend some more and hold etc etc then the branches shape starts to get more curvey over time just like how we all want our teeth to get.

those are my thoughts for the day....

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Originally posted by peggy:
re: Shaving teeth pain...
I had to have several of my teeth "shaved" plus have one extraction to get started on my invisalign treatment. It seemed that the shaving was going ok, just that the ortho doctor was a bit rough while she sanded away. I have noticed the teeth not as tight when I floss, etc., so guess it is necessary to make room for movement. I was also told there may be some more shaving as the treatment progresses. I am starting week 2 and am doing pretty good. My mouth is getting abit drier, but I just need to drink more water I guess. I will switch out my aligners every 3 weeks for the first few months, then every 2 weeks--I have a 24 month treatment and then maybe even wire braces to fine tune my smile at the end. It all depends on how the invisalign "takes". Take care everyone out there--it is always nice to hear how others are doing and get some advice to make the comfort level a little easier.

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Originally posted by p-man:
so does anyone here just have an upper set for invisalign? or do most be just do both top and the bottom at the same time?

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Originally posted by Jen:
Hi everyone! After what seemed like forever waiting for my molds to come in, I finally received my first trays this afternoon (yay!). I have a total of 23 top and 12 bottom. Not too long, I realize. But I truly never guessed how much PAIN this little plastic tray could cause! Somebody please assure me this will get better?! It just seems impossible to take out- like my whole jaw will crack in half if I keep pulling at it. It takes forever, and I gave up- didn't even eat dinner tonight. I had "buttons" put on some teeth, and I think that makes it more difficult to take off. Until today, I had never heard a thing about buttons, so I was surprised to have them put on. Does everyone who is treated with Invisalign have buttons? How many is common? And which teeth are they most often placed on. I feel weird, because I believe they are noticeable, and thus, kind of defeats the purpose of "invisible" treatment! I feel like I have a lot of saliva in the tray, and I think that makes the tray look a little funny, especially wherever the buttons are. Is that my imagination, or does anyone else have this? Does it ever get to the point where it is painless and not noticeable (like in the commercials, where the model takes them out of her mouth?!). Thanks for listening....!

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Originally posted by Mari:

Wow!! What insuance do you have?

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Originally posted by p-man:
so does anyone here just have an upper set for invisalign? or do most be just do both top and the bottom at the same time?

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Originally posted by Mari:
Can anyone recomend a good dentist or Ortho. in the Bay Area Ca???

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Originally posted by Gen:
I just had mine put in 2 days ago. At first, it wasn't so bad, but within a few hours it started to get sore and the pressure against my teeth made me want to grab them out and throw them against a wall. The feeling is like a glob of slime permanently stuck against your teeth. And theres also a tingling feeling that won't go away. I guess its from the teeth moving into alignment. Anywho, I'm still starting to get used to them. It gets the worst at work, because I get so bored that all I can do is think about them. I'm sticking to them, hopefully the soreness and tingling will go away.

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Originally posted by Sarah:

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[/B][/QUOTE]

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Originally posted by jim:
if it was that bad why are you still posting on this board? move on with your life.

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Yes, there is pain in the beginning. I'm sure its different for everyone, but if other people that are complaining experienced similar pain to what I did, then they will never be satisfied with any orthodontic treatment and need to toughen up if they want results.

I had braces when I was 10-11 (too young, which is why I now got the Invisalign) and the pain from having braces installed is FAR worse than I have from the first aligner. I was still eating hard sourdough pretzels the day after getting the aligners, yeah it hurt a bit but get over it! On day 5 really the only discomfort now is if I bite down hard. I do kind of feel like my teeth are "trapped in jail" wearing the aligners, but I also feel weird when they're out, so it's just a matter of time till I'm completely used to them.

Jeff888, particularly liked coming across your posts from time to time - it was like a bizarre reality internet chat show time lapse experience of Invisalign.

I'm in the Philly area, and I've got about 18 months at $4,500, of which insurance is covering a tiny tiny bit. I am doing it through my dentist, which makes me wary now that I have read these posts, but he's not a sketchy dentist (that one who told the guy to change his every week? sketchy), so I can live with that.

So far not much pain, some tongue soreness (I'm taking a nail files to these babies after I'm done typing this though), fairly high degree of difficulty getting out but I can see it getting easier each time. The Invisalign rep recommended a guitar pick so if it's not pretty smooth removal in a week I'll pick one up.

I tore a ligament in April snowboarding and haven't been able to exercise beyond walking the dog since then, so frankly I'd be thrilled if weight loss was a side effect.

The one thing I am not thrilled about is, like everyone else, the buttons. I have one on each of my top four central teeth, and I find them quite visible. I can tell it would be MUCH subtler without them. I was tempted by a similar and indignant post above to discuss with my dentist, but I don't want to have to wait for new molds, and I'm sure they locate the buttons in the best possible position to expedite treatment. I find it looks a bit like clear braces or something, and I'm quite self conscious. However, I'm probably going to suck it up, because (1) I hate my teeth and would be so happy if they were straighte, (2) I went through metal braces as a teenager (I'm 28 now), and that was pure torture, so not happening, and (3) my husband says it's really not that obvious unless you're super close. It's like a blemish, you always notice it more.

I am a coffee addict and always have a cup on the train on the way to work, but it kind of seems like a pain with these things in. I'm not sure what will happen if I give it up. I might try for a day or two. If I can't, maybe I can scale back gradually. I really don't want to wear them an extra month or two because I had them out for an hour commuting to work every day. Nor do I want to chug my coffee. It's a dilemna.

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Originally posted by invisadude:
Are your buttons lighter than your teeth? Mine are a little, and I think they'd be much more noticable if I didnt have a cleaning a few weeks before getting Invisalign. I want to ask if its possible to shove some whitening strips inside the aligner to hold them in place (those things never stay on for me).

I think after a while, especially if you're a coffee drinker or smoker, the buttons will lose their whiteness and eventually blend with your teeth

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Originally posted by turkey:
I love this board. I just read all 11 pages of this thread and am going to go hunt for other Invisalign threads. I am on day 2 (of the very first trays), and I don't know anyone else personally who has done this, so it's reassuring to find out everyone has the same issues. I wish I had found this thread first, although it might have scared me off, and I am (at this point) glad that I did it.

Jeff888, particularly liked coming across your posts from time to time - it was like a bizarre reality internet chat show time lapse experience of Invisalign.

I'm in the Philly area, and I've got about 18 months at $4,500, of which insurance is covering a tiny tiny bit. I am doing it through my dentist, which makes me wary now that I have read these posts, but he's not a sketchy dentist (that one who told the guy to change his every week? sketchy), so I can live with that.

So far not much pain, some tongue soreness (I'm taking a nail files to these babies after I'm done typing this though), fairly high degree of difficulty getting out but I can see it getting easier each time. The Invisalign rep recommended a guitar pick so if it's not pretty smooth removal in a week I'll pick one up.

I tore a ligament in April snowboarding and haven't been able to exercise beyond walking the dog since then, so frankly I'd be thrilled if weight loss was a side effect.

The one thing I am not thrilled about is, like everyone else, the buttons. I have one on each of my top four central teeth, and I find them quite visible. I can tell it would be MUCH subtler without them. I was tempted by a similar and indignant post above to discuss with my dentist, but I don't want to have to wait for new molds, and I'm sure they locate the buttons in the best possible position to expedite treatment. I find it looks a bit like clear braces or something, and I'm quite self conscious. However, I'm probably going to suck it up, because (1) I hate my teeth and would be so happy if they were straighte, (2) I went through metal braces as a teenager (I'm 28 now), and that was pure torture, so not happening, and (3) my husband says it's really not that obvious unless you're super close. It's like a blemish, you always notice it more.

LAST THING, I promise (SORRY for the post length, I type super fast and babble, terrible combination), a question: INVISALIGN AND DRINKING. I am a fan of alcohol and enjoy a glass of wine or three many weeknights, and generally go out for a night of drinking at least once a week. I realize I cannot be sucking back red wine in these things. The rep and my dentist told me water only. What about, say, vodka and club soda? Seems like that would be okay. Any professionals want to weigh in? I also sometimes end up having a few cigarettes while I am out, but I absolutely would not smoke with these in, so I suspect this will either cut back on my smoking or lead to some 18-hour Saturdays.

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Just put in the 3rd set (right before bed) and had no problems! Still a tad sore, but even just tension/soreness is relieved greatly by one Aleve.

Just sharing my pain Luckily, it's passing quickly.

How many aligners do you have? I have 12 bottom and 36 top. Jamie - Kansas City

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Originally posted by pharmgirl:
I, too, am a social drinker so I initally wondered what the lesser of two evils were: taking them out for hours (if I'm out on the town with the girls) or leave them in to drink, but rinse occasionally. I do take them out for red wine, but everything else I just have a glass of water handy and swish & swallow every now & then. Then after you're totally done, just take them out & brush everything. I think that's OK and probably better than leaving them out for too long. And I agree with the coffee comment. It feels wrong if you sip anything too hot with them in!

Just put in the 3rd set (right before bed) and had no problems! Still a tad sore, but even just tension/soreness is relieved greatly by one Aleve.

Bottoms up!

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The "lisp factor" seems to vary by person. A friend of mine told me she had a slight lisp for two weeks, but I had absolutely none from the second they put it in. I didn't feel comfortable lisping at work, so I made my appointment to get the first tray right before the long weekend. I figured if I was lisping I would make an effort to talk more all weekend and try to get rid of it. Hopefully you will not have one - if you do, read a book out loud or something! Good luck.

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Originally posted by ROBINCT:
Hi fellow Invisaligners!
I drink coffee all the time. The secret is to make sure it isn't too hot. I let my cup sit for a while with the lid off then drink it while it's luke warm, but not too cool. After I drink my morning beans, I rinse my mouth out as well as the aligners. If I have a LOT of extra time, I brush everything...teeth and all. That's rare, however. I don't think we need to be too fussy regarding what we drink provided you rinse/brush shortly after.
By the way, I'm getting my top aligners soon and was wondering how they impact speech. Does anybody have any suggestions on how to minimize the impact? I speak a lot in public and hope any speech impediment will be minimal.
Thank you heaps for any advice.

One day closer to a straighter, healthier smile!
Smiles to all
ROBINCT

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I go to Dr. Frank Lo downtown Vancouver who is awesome. My friend goes to Dr. Geoff Smith in Richmond who is good as well.

I haven't had any problems with pain or staining of the aligners by drinking red wine. I think if they are cleaned daily there should not be any issues.

I am 7 months into Invisalign and am very happy so far.
I also had a fair amount of slenderizing done and it's no big deal and totally painless. What orthodontist did you see in Calgary? I go to Dr. Rabinovitz in the Mission district. He is very experienced and does good work. Maybe call him for a second opinion.

Good luck!
Just came back from my Dentist/Ortho Invisalign consultation, and I would have to get 5-7mm of slenderizing done across 6 teeth. He said the recommended limit is only 4 mm, and that they don't know what the long term effects of slenderizing are as it's only been in practice for about 10 years. He's 50/50 (on the fence) about recommending Invisalign or traditional braces.
Does anyone have experience or knowledge on this much slenderizing? Am I in a lifetime of trouble if I do this?
Appreciate your comments... [/QUOTE]

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Originally posted by jdub25:
Im in Seattle, and they're quoting me 6,400 for 21 mos.
Anyone have any experience out here with a less expensive practitioner?

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I also had some teeth thinned out. She did it before I put the first set in and then again when I went to pick up sets 3-6. It kinda freaks you out because it looks like she's making big spaces between your teeth but I am *confident* the teeth will meet up when it's all said & done!