The most difficult task is remember to put them back in your mouth after eating, especially in a restaurant -- some patients forget & they get tossed out when the table is cleared.

Have you started wearing yours yet? I'd love to hear more from people already wearing them.

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Originally posted by Chuck:
I am on day 3 of invisalign and I have had a nightmare of a start. I am not sure how much to blame on Invisalign and how much to blame on my dentist. My first day of wearing Invisalign, I thought it was very easy and was surprised how little it impeded my speech. Until 3 hours later when I tried taking them off before a business dinner. I sat in the bathroom of the restaurant trying to take them off and couldn't! My nails bent backwards and gums were bleeding trying. I called my dentist in a panic (who blew me off until the next day). I couldn't eat dinner with the invisalign on and, the worst part, had to tell my business colleagues why I couldn't eat with them (sort of defeats the purpose of Invisalign now...). The next day, when I went to see my dentist, he laughed and tried to pull it out. He did wrestle it out (pretending to do it effortlessly) but it even took him a couple of minutes and I swear I thought he was going to break it or pull out my front teeth with it. I have since learned to take it out on my own, but it still takes me on average 2 minutes to take them out (with paper towel). It's too late to turn back on the expensive commitment, but I would have thought twice had I known how difficult this would be. My dentist claims that no one has had problems taking them out and that I'm being too "tender" - but if I could video tape how it looks when even he tries to take it out of my mouth, anyone could see that this is anything but easy. I may be a unique case, but as my dentist said, my teeth are not that crooked (I had braces when I was younger but it got crowded upon my wisdom teeth coming in) and if I'm having these problems, I've got to imagine I am not the only one. Please be careful and be selective about the dentist/orthodontist you choose. I am writing Invisalign a letter of complaint and inquiry about their procedures (or lack thereof) for allowing Invisalign practitioners. My dentist, for example, didn't even have me try to take off my trays on my own before I walked out the first day.

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Originally posted by Angie:
I am on week 3 of my first tray of Invisalign. (I ws told to wear it for an extra week) The first two weeks it was difficult to take them out, but it gets easier as you wear each tray longer. However, today I just got "attachments" on two of my bottom teeth which is supposed to help them move more inside the tray. This makes the tray tighter and much more difficult to remove on the bottom. I find that using a paper towel on my fingers and trying to pull them off from the back is the way to do it. I will be trying to grow my thumb nails stronger to take care of this task also. As far as remembering to put them back in - so far I think I am doing ok at keeping to the only having them out 2-hours-a-day rule and try to keep my eating times as short as possible. This is keeping me from eating between meals pretty effectively, but I do feel like I am a bit rushed when I do eat a meal. Hurry and eat and get them back in!!

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I'd like to ask everyone, how long did it take between the time you had your invisalign molds made and receiving your trays? Did anyone get rejected at first. They took my bottom mold twice because the tech said if it wasn't perfect, it would be rejected. This meant redoing the mold and sending it in to wait another 8 weeks.

You WILL have slurred speech (s sounds and th sounds will be weird -- like a slight lisp) for about a week. But once your tongue and mouth get used to the aligners in your mouth, your speech will sound normal. You will THINK it does not sound normal but just ask your friends (the ones you trust) to tell you. I still think my speech is slurred (I'm on week 3) but it's actually not as bad as I think.

As for pressure -- when you first get your aligners in, make sure your ortho teaches you and WATCHES you take them in and out. This will help the process a lot.

Do NOT eat crunchy hard foods the first few days the aligners are in (i.e., apples, carrots, etc.) because your teeth will feel sensitive.

I take out my top aligners by using my left hand, middle finger and reaching back on the left side of my mouth -- way in the back. That's the quickest way to get the top ones out. For my bottom aligners, I use my left hand thumb -- reach back in the back of the aligner (left side) and pry up the aligner.

The first few times you take them out, your teeth will feel strange -- it feels as if your teeth will be coming out with the aligners because you are not used to something so constricting on your teeth. DO NOT WORRY -- it goes away. On day 2 of my treatment I seriously thought I wasn't cut out for the sensation but it goes away once you get used to taking them in and out. You will get so used to it that you won't even need a mirror to put the aligners back in.

Regarding pressure -- I think it's different for everyone, but there is a weird sensation in your mouth (from having the aligners in) and your teeth (from moving). Some people just pop some Advil in right when they changes aligners (every two weeks or so) and then go to sleep. The first day or two after changing an aligner (which I've done once so far) will be the tightest but then the aligners will feel looser because your teeth will have adjusted.

In any case -- the key is finding a great orthodontist who will help you with your questions and concerns. My dentist and his assistant were such sweethearts -- answering all my stupid questions and concerns.

My first set of aligners were also not very very tight. I did feel slight pressure, but had no problems taking ANY of my aligners out.

***The teeth usually start moving in the back of the month, then during the final stages of treatment, the front teeth start moving. That's when it gets exciting!!! (but a bit more painful). This is opposite to conventional braces where the front teeth move first.

I'm quite happy so far. I have 2 attachments on my left lower (that can barely be seen).

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Originally posted by Lena:
Boy, do I know how you feel. My dentist didn't tell me anything about these horrible things except that they're invisible and that supposedly I needed them to straighten my teeth. I walked out of the office wearing them without any explanation of how to take them off. They didn't even come with a pamphlet! My dentist used some sort of metal tool to take them in and out. First time I had to get them out, it took me something like half an hour and a few tears. Taking them off still hurts like *hell*. This is only day 2 so I suppose that's expected. Still, I wish somebody had told me about this, given as how I'm gonna have to live with 9 months of taking them in and out three times a day. I have a tender tooth from some root canal a long time ago that's always hurt when I pushed back or forth on it. And now it's constantly being pushed backwards. Owwwww...
Well, I guess there's at least the benefit of losing some weight with these hellish things, given that you can't snack with them and I don't generally have time to eat full regular meals. Sure wish somebody had warned me about that little caveat too... I am not very happy with my dentist at the moment

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I'd like to let this forum know how pleased I ‘ve been on the invisalign program, as well as offering some advice from my experience.

I'm now on my 24th of 25 aligners. Invisalign is amazing. I can't recommend it enough to anyone who wishes they had straighter teeth. I paid in full, privately with my orthodontist - it's the best thing I've ever bought! I'd do it all again in a flash.

Intially, I was worried about getting the appliance in and out - but you soon figure out which side to twist and pull to remove it. You are definitely the best person to do this, even at the dentist. The last 5 aligners simply go on and off with complete ease.

Although I'm due a new brace every Friday morning, I find putting a new one in on a thursday evening (after dinner) and sleeping with it for 10-12hours before having to remove it helps with getting the teeth into the next position. A quick 10mins breakfast and back in. Within 24hrs they don't even feel tight. I used to take a paracetamol/panadol at night to help ease the pain and get to sleep in the early braces.

On average I was getting 21-23 hours a day with my first 12 braces, but since then I've become lazy and get about 19-21 hours a day. I think you soon figure out how long to have your appliances out for depending on how tight they are when you put them back in.

Since then, I've become quite lazy, and often eat soft foods such as bananas on bike rides with the braces in, along with a soup here and there to keep warm. As long as I clean my teeth asap, I figure it doesn't really do any damage.

I've been using a whitening toothpaste and whitening floss throughout the treatment too, (this isn’t bleach) and I've noticed my teeth are always squeaky clean with three flosses and cleans a day. My orthodontist also recommended a daily rinse of fluoride helps. I can’t recommend enough the importance of a good flossing.

The worst parts… were always in the actual orthodontists chair, such as having with teeth shaved with a diamond tipped rasp! That thing hurt. And getting the actual moulds made up. The only downfall of actually wearing these braces is bad breath! You need to drink water all the time. I’m really, really paranoid about it and tend to keep clear of people in small spaces. I have found sugar-free mints such as Smint really help. But there's nothing better than a quick trip to the toilet and wash your mouth out with water, or even better mouthwash.

And that's about it – I am really, really happy with the treatment. I have a movie, which I'll happily post once it's on webspace somewhere.

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Originally posted by SG:
I'm a 26 year old female, and I just got my second set of aligners. The bottom ones don't hurt at all, only a little when I put them in! I'm worried they are not even working. Aren't they ALWAYS supposed to hurt?

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Quite often I would find that several braces weren't tight at all - I think as long as they fit your teeth snugly then you can trust your treatment program. If you have concerns - just ask your orthodontist.

(my dentist gave me a tool he called a smiley. It helps a lot in the removal! It's shaped like a smile and basically a crochet hook on both sides)