Dental Forum

Honestly, because I've only been on OC, I couldn't make a call about which treatment is superior. I've read about both products tearing, and people being unhappy with OC and Invisalign treatments. There are many who are very happy with their respective choices, and have never had problems.

I couldn't say if OC is clearer than Invisalign, since I haven't seen both side by side. My aligners have remained crystal clear even after 3 weeks of wearing them.

The quality of the OC aligners has seemed to improve, based on the comments from others on the board. Personally, my OC aligners have had no problems with tearing since I contacted OC about it.

The delivery of OC hasn't been a recent issue for me. I was told that my latest trays hadn't arrived at my ortho's office, but the office had simply misplaced them. There was no delay on OC's part of delivery (I even saw the box they were sent in- the postmark was from 10 days ago).

For the initial troubles with OC, their customer service bent over backwards to remedy the problems I'd had. I received a substantial discount for my treatment and a very sincere apology from the company.

I have been using Invisalign for about 9 months (I'm on tray 19; total of 21 for top, 24 for bottom) and am surprised to see any discussions re: Invisalign not being "clear" enough. After 19 trays, I can only say that they look great -- they may look slightly cloudy before putting on, but my teeth actually look whiter/shinier with them on than off!! So do not let the "appearance" of them be a turn-off.

I have also never had a tray crack, and had to have buttons ("speedbumps", or whatever) placed on 5 of my top teeth -- I worried over these for a month before I got them for no apparent reason since they are relatively invisible, and taking the trays on/off is only a slight bit harder than before I had to have them bonded to my teeth. I've had no problems with Invisalign, except for a lower tooth that is loose, which is supposedly due to its being "underdeveloped" when it originally grew in.

I also believe that it is important to get a practitioner who has lots of experience and is willing to communicate with you -- I am using my dentist, who I have been seeing for over 20 years -- and although I am doing well so far, I have slight reservations, since he is a relative "newbie" with Invisalign.

If you read all of the posting on this website, you may get nervous -- I certainly did when I first read them -- but I believe that we hear a lot more from people who have problems than those who are happy with their treatment and have a life to live outside of cyberspace (I originally found this site when I was having problems with a sore mouth towards the beginning, and was desperate to find info. from others going through the experience -- and I check in once in a while to see if there are any new tips on cleaning them, and esp. with end results).

quote:

---

Originally posted by Charles:
... When I wore my Invisalign trays, it made my teeth look more bright and white. The big advantage was that my Invisalign trays were very sturdy. I even chew food with them (I didn't feel like taking it off when I was at Costco to sample foods).

---

Hi Charles,
When you say that "When I wore my Invisalign trays, it made my teeth look more bright and white.", what do you mean exactly? More bright and white than when they weren't in? Or are you saying that they looked more bright and white than OrthoClear trays? Just needing some clarification. I have no life.

You mentioned that you chewed food while wearing your Invisalign aligners. Heck, I could chew food wearing my OrthoClear aligners, too, I just don't want to. I get all grossed out thinking about food getting into the aligners and causing susceptibility for decay. Smelly, too!

To answer someone's question, yes, my ortho has suggested I have permanent retainers bonded to the back of my front teeth after OC treatment is over. It made perfect sense to me, as my mouth is a little crowded anyway, and my teeth like to shift. He said I could wear it as long as it didn't bother me. I had a friend that had one just on the bottom teeth, so I'm already familiar with these retainers.

Just to share my input on eating with the trays in (which, yes, could be done in OC) - EWW!!!! I will suck on a breath mint with the trays in, but thats it!

My second set of trays have cracked, and I went in to talk to the ortho since I was still 1.5 weeks away from getting my 3rd and 4th set. I told him about a lot of the stuff from this board and he was very interested. I hope he looks into this. He told me to keep wearing it, even if it tore into 2 pieces. Ha..But he was checking on my next trays to make sure they were not delayed.

I think I know what you mean about the tray not fitting snugly on the molar. I just started my second tray, and I have had a simmilar situation for both this one, and the previous one. My back left molar, pops the tray up, so it doesnt fit in snugly. Just the one side. To remedy this, I found out, I clench my jaws together (not ridiculously hard), but just to supply enough pressure to get the trays to fit and mold into the teeth. After a day or two of clenching (maybe ten seconds each time, several times a day), the tray seems not to want to pop off. Try it, and let me know if this helps you out. :-) So far, the count continues, 3 weeks, and wife still hasnt noticed I am wearing them (23 hours a day). Takes some clever antics to clean them, but havent gotten caught yet!! Way to go Orthoclear!! lol

quote:

---

Originally posted by Micah:
Hello Friends,

I have been on my 3rd set of aligners for two weeks now. My teeth have adjusted comfortably, and the tenderness has subsided, just as I expect from the second week into every set. I do have one concern, though, and maybe some of you have had a similar experience. Although the trays fit snugly, I notice that only on certain teeth in the back on my right side, the trays are molded in such a way that there is space between the tray and the top of the tooth... Sort of like the tooth in the mold that they used to make the tray with was raised higher than usual. This prevents me from closing my bite, and is a little annoying. Anyone else? I'm thinking I may need to get new impressions taken.

---

I had the same problem as you (on my first set of aligners): the tray not fitting snugly on the molars. Mike, like you, I clenched down on them frequently in order to get them to fit properly. I never liked the feeling of the trays; they felt 'squishy' on my teeth, and it drove me nuts.

According to my ortho, my impressions weren't taken properly. From what I was told, the trays should be snug- even on the molars. New impressions were taken, and all of the trays made from the new impressions have fit perfectly.

Did you sign a contract with your ortho? If so, did it specify Invisalign as your product, or just 'invisible aligners'?

If you've got something in writing, signed by you, indicating that you'd be getting Invisalign, then you should insist that Invisalign is the product you receive. In this case, your ortho would be contractually obligated to provide you with Invisalign.

You're going to read about lots of opinions about which program is better: IA or OC. I'm sure that there exists a 'vocal minority' on these boards. You won't see as many comments from people who are having the "puppies and rainbows" experience with their aligners.

OrthoClear has improved their product lately, so don't stress too much about it. Just remember that if you are having any problems with your aligners, contact the OC customer service rep (contact info listed earlier on the thread), and make noise about it to your ortho. Don't let your ortho intimidate you into accepting something you're not happy with.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Christine:

Good luck, and welcome to the OC suffers!

---

I do know what you are talking about by clenching on the tray to get them to mold to your teeth, I've had to do that with my first two trays. My ortho says its a movement issue, where the teeth need a few days to move into the trays. But this time its different. The trays stay on just fine, but on a couple teeth the tray sits above the tooth while on the teeth immediately adjacent the tray is snug as can be. I gotta remember to contact my ortho on this. As well as about the other crack, just below one of my 'speedbumps' on my bottom front tooth. *sigh*

quote:

---

Originally posted by kelly:
In regards to my post about ordering invisalign and getting orthoclear... I checked my contract and it clearly says invisalign on it. Initially I choose my orthodontist b/c I liked him but now I'm feeling a little misled. Maybe I should ask for some money off and free teeth whiting

---

Hey Kelly,

First off, Mike-I can't believe your wife still hasn't noticed!!!! That's crazy, I mean, I know they are hard to notice, but for goodness sake, do you not talk while close to her?

Okay, here's my latest update:
I went in for my 6-month cleaning at my dentist's. They had to use special polishers to get around my speedbumps, but everything went well. Except...

I had to get a small filling! I was worried that it would require me to get new impressions (nooooooo!!!). Fortunately, my dentist was an artist. She made sure it wouldn't interfere with my trays.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Liz:
Hello everyone,

I just went in for a third consultation today (after having shopped around at different orthodondists), and this ortho didn't seem too thrilled about Orthoclear. I was wondering whether any of you, given your experiences with the cracking aligners, would have chosen Invisalign instead?

I'm trying to decide which to pick. I'd rather get Orthoclear because of the discount if the two are basically similar. Does anyone know about complaints about Invisalign? liz let me give u a piece of advise it seems that invisalign its a little more expensive but it is definately worth the price im on my 3rd month with invisalign and never had the problem of a tray cracking and ive been doing research on both and its very rare that a tray cracks with invisalign, y pay less and have a tray break and have to postpone ur treatment time

Thanks

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Christine:
Hey Mike-
I'm also surprised that your wife hasn't noticed yet! How do you hide all the dental floss? My dental floss use has increased dramatically- all the trash cans in my home are filled with it. Or were you a devoted flosser before?

---

Ok I broke down and showed my wife today my trays. Ha ha. She said she thought something was up, guess she saw me playing with them one night. But honestly, she was very impressed with how invisible they actually appeared. My schedule hasn't changed much lately, sleep with them, wake up, shower with them, take out for 10 minutes (eat breakfast), brush teeth and aligners, put in. Teach, 25 min lunch (take out, brush again)put back in, 30 min for dinner, brush, etc..you get the idea. Yes I do floss every time I brush with these new floss sticks...work great. We have talked closely since I have had them in, and nothing. My wife, also a teacher, is very observant, and if I can fool her, I should be hired by Orthoclear as a subject study. On second tray now, used to the pressure, after two days, its virtually undetectable. I have been blessed I guess with good teeth, never a cavity (knock on wood), but I am VERY careful about having food material still in my teeth when I put my aligners back on. They are basically spotless...lol Not sure if while on these trays, anyone got a cavity? But if so, I can see possibly how that happens.

quote:

---

Originally posted by kelly:
In regards to my post about ordering invisalign and getting orthoclear... I checked my contract and it clearly says invisalign on it. Initially I choose my orthodontist b/c I liked him but now I'm feeling a little misled. Maybe I should ask for some money off and free teeth whiting

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mike:
Not sure if while on these trays, anyone got a cavity? But if so, I can see possibly how that happens.

---

Hi Mike,

Yep, I got a cavity. I don't eat sweets, I brush/floss/rinse with fluoride 3 times a day, I don't drink sugary beverages, so go figure. Since I get to my dentist every 6 months, they were able to get it while it was still very small. I was told that I have deep crevices in my molars, so no matter what I do, I'm still likely to get them. Bad genes, I guess!

quote:

---

Originally posted by kelly:
So far I've had my Orthoclear for 6 days. I was inspired by the guy who didn't tell his wife about the orthoclear to do my own experiment, so I've been hanging out with my closest friends to see if they noticed. Most did not (or at least they didn't say anything. However, after driving around with one friend for about two minutes. She said, "hey you got your invisalign!" She had just had her braces removed about a month ago so maybe she was more "in tune with teeth" I guess there not that invisible after all.

---

Your trays should not break at all . They should hold up for the entire three weeks. On page 1 of this thread is the contact info for OrthoClear. Tell them about the problem with your aligners! They will take steps to ensure that it doesn't happen for future trays.

Your orthodontist sounds like he doesn't know what he's doing. Changing aligners before the prescribed time could compromise your teeth! Given your past history with this orthodontist, I would find another orthodontist ASAP. He does not have your interests as a priority. Good luck!

quote:

---

Originally posted by dannie:
Thank you guys soo much for contact info for OC. I had my impressions taken 10/4/05 and the expected ship date for my aligners is 12/12/05. I was told that they were manufactured 11/19/05. If so have they never heard of FedEx? Why so long between manufacture and ship?

---

Hi Dannie,

You mention that the ship date is "expected". This means they could be shipped out sooner (or later) than the date you were quoted. It's just a guideline (and in my experience, not always accurate!). I've had aligners ship out much sooner than the expected ship date.

I don't exactly know why OC would take so long between the manufacture and ship of the aligners, but here's my theory:

It could be that the trays were actually manufactured on 11/19, but it could take some time for OC to 'finish' them. A human being would handle your aligners to ensure that they are properly made, edges smoothed out, etc. Also remember that the aligners are manufactured in Pakistan- so there could be some delay in transit from there.

All of my OC aligners (currently on aligner #5) have had very smooth edges- I've never encountered any of the mouth sores or tongue discomfort as described by those in the Invisalign camp. This would lead me to believe that someone is going over my aligners in detail before they're shipped out. BTW, my aligners have all been shipped via Priority Mail from the SF Bay area.

It took awhile for my first aligners to arrive- 12 weeks in fact (I was told that it would take 8). Since beginning my treatment, my new aligners have arrived on time for my 6- week ortho visits.

The moral of the story? Don't panic! You'll be suffering like the rest of us in no time.