Dental Forum

Did you (or will you) get a chance to look at the Clincheck after the impression is made and before the aligners are ordered? I know for Invisalign many orthodontists arrange an appointment specifically for that but I wonder whether it's also true with OrthoClear.

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Originally posted by Helen:
Did you (or will you) get a chance to look at the Clincheck after the impression is made and before the aligners are ordered? I know for Invisalign many orthodontists arrange an appointment specifically for that but I wonder whether it's also true with OrthoClear.

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Hi Helen,
I didn't see my OrthoView (OC's proprietary software) until after my aligners were ordered. In fact, my orthodontist didn't even mention that it was available until I asked about it. I was able to view my OrthoView at a regular visit- no special appointment required in my case.

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Originally posted by AnnaMarie:
Hi Mimi. I got Invisalign to correct crowding. I was especially self conscious about my top right canine which was very high. I was assigned 17 upper and 12 lower trays. I am currently on the 11th set. I hadn't really noticed the progress myself until I visited my family in London in Sept (whom I hadn't seen since May) and they were very impressed. On my last ortho visit the Dr showed me the photos they took before I began treatment and that's how I appreciated the improvement. I have eight buttons, one on each canine and premolar. I'll try to scan my pre-treatment photo and send.

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Original quote....
"I'm 4 months into treatment with invisalign and i have been wearing them faithfully since day 1 for about 23 hrs a day but i havent noticed much of a change,do u think it is because i look at them everyday?"

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Originally posted by kelly:
...as soon as i walked in he said "if you have a problem with your orthoclear you need to talk to me directly instead of calling orthoclear b/c it caused problems" ... I wanted to say "if all my questions were handeled properly I wouldn't have to email the company" but I wussed out.

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Wow, Kelly, I don't know why you're staying with this ortho. You have every right to have your case transferred to another orthodontist. I wouldn't give another dime to your current ortho's office. Remember, your ortho works for you , not the other way around.

With regards to the clincheck, yes OrthoClear has one called Your OrthoView. Your dentist can log in and view your case from any web browser. I've seen my own OrthoView case several times, and I'm sure that others can testify that they've seen theirs.

If I were you, I'd change orthos and send formal complaints to both OC and IA about this guy. In addition, let all of us here on the board know what your ortho's name is so we can make sure others avoid him!

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Originally posted by mimi:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by AnnaMarie:
[b]Hi Mimi. I got Invisalign to correct crowding. I was especially self conscious about my top right canine which was very high. I was assigned 17 upper and 12 lower trays. I am currently on the 11th set. I hadn't really noticed the progress myself until I visited my family in London in Sept (whom I hadn't seen since May) and they were very impressed. On my last ortho visit the Dr showed me the photos they took before I began treatment and that's how I appreciated the improvement. I have eight buttons, one on each canine and premolar. I'll try to scan my pre-treatment photo and send.

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Originally posted by Mike:
Ha ha...I am glad to start a trend with Kelly. I think it's natural to want to tell or show a spouse or friend right away, but I worked to avoid the temptation in order to run the experiment. Eventually, I got tired of hiding while cleaning them, etc...and showed my wife. As for your friend, I think some people are "teeth people," for lack of a better term, and admire people's teeth...almost like having an affinity for looking at teach other's teeth. I have a friend like that, she saw them too, but she has always complemented me on how white my teeth are, so I knew she was looking. Just hearing that your friend had your braces off AND knew what Invisalign was, definitely gave her a heads up...LOL But cool experience nonetheless, good luck with your aligners, I got another week or two before aligner 3 !!

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Originally posted by Micah:
Hi OrthoClear-ers

Yesterday I sent an email to Adam, the Customer Service Rep. at OrthoClear, as recommended by Chritine (Thanks for the contact info!) describing my cracked aligner situation. This morning I received a reply from him and it went as follows:
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Dear Micah,

I appreciate your taking time to let me know about your experience with OrthoClear aligners, and genuinely apologize for the difficulty youve had. Unfortunately, the anatomy of certain patients teeth may result in the aligners cracking. When this occurs, we use a different material in replacement aligners to minimize the problem.

We received the request from Dr. Caswell to rebuild your aligners, and have expedited your case. Your new aligners are being fabricated right now and will be shipped to the doctors office tomorrow. Im sure you will be contacted by Dr. Caswells office as soon as they arrive.

Your experience with our aligners is exceptional, making your feedback particularly useful. I would appreciate any additional feedback you may have as your treatment proceeds, and hope it goes smoothly. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Adam Kadleck
Director of Customer Relations
OrthoClear, Inc.
Phone: (415) 420-1255
Fax: (415) 362-4840
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I will be tracking the time it takes for my aligners to arrive starting "tomorrow." I will also be looking forward to better quality aligners since a "different material" will be used. Again, I will keep you all posted.

I also took a look at the FDA site (thanks, Mer) and it does appear that there is an OrthoClear establishment in Lahore, Pakistan (ORTHOCLEAR PAKISTAN PVT. LTD.), and it is listed as "manufacturer" under ownership of ORTHOCLEAR HOLDINGS, INC. based in Palo Alto, CA.

In other events, I had contacted my Ortho via email asking about installation of my 'speedbumps,' and she had responded saying that they will be installed with my second set of aligners at my Sept 30th apptmnt. Also at that visit I can watch the "before & after" animation too! Apparently, you have to be logged in as a doctor to view the images, so patients aren't able to view it on their own.

Happy(?) OrthoClear-ing!

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I just stumbled across this site and this specific thread and wanted to write in about my experience with OrthoClear.

I went to one of the top Invisalign providers in my area. He had just started using OC with his patients too, and told me that he thought I'd be a good candidate for either. I was impressed with the differences between OC and IA, so I decided to go forward with OC.

I have a pretty complex case that will take about 2 years to complete. I am paying $3900 for the treatment (would have been $4800 for Invisalign). I paid $1500 down and then $100/mo over the next 24 months.

I started treatment in September and just put on my 5th set of aligners on Monday. So far everything has been great. No tearing problems at all. No delivery problems. My teeth are sensitive with that slightly painful pressure feeling for about 2-3 days and then fine.

I drink coffee with my aligners in and do not notice any problems with them. I do NOT eat anything with them in - as others have said - gross. I clean them daily with Polident type denture cleaner and brush them every so often too. Seems to do the trick.

So far, very impressed. Haven't noticed any real change in my teeth appearance, but it's only been 3 months into a 24 month treatment, so I'm not expecting that yet (although it sure would be nice!).

One concern I have (it may be nothing). When I picked up my #5 and #6 sets from my ortho on Monday, he told me NOT to set up an appt for 6 weeks later. That they would call me once the next 2 sets came in and then we could make an appt. When I went out to the receptionist, she asked if I needed to make an appt, and the ortho asst said "no, he's orthoclear" and the way she said it, made it seem like something was up... like they knew something I didn't, and there was a chance there's going to be a problem???

Look forward to following everyone's progress...

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Originally posted by Nicole:
Hi everyone (hi Mike, we talked a while back); I just got my aligners on today (two weeks ahead of schedule!) and I am THRILLED with them so far. First thing: they are pretty much impossible to see. I have told a few people at work that I got braces today and they have no clue what I'm talking about, until I physically show them, by pointing to the plastic. Second: the pain is extremely mild (so far) and I wouldn't even call it pain, I'd call it "pressure," but, like someone else said, it's a feel-good pressure -- similar to the feeling you have right after you floss (if you haven't flossed in a while.) I drink tea religiously at work, so I thought I'd have to cut it out or drink clear (lemon) herbal tea. My doc said even drinking coffee is fine (as long as it's not hot) b/c the trays only last for 3 weeks and stay really clear. I am planning on seeing how it goes for me (i.e. the need for coffee/tea, etc.) and plan to keep mouthwash/toothbrush at my desk. Anyway, i am so happy with this initial step. I can't get over how invisible these things are. Amazing!

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I have a question for those of you with the buttons on your teeth and windows in your aligners. I've been on tray #7 for over a week. When I first put on the bottom aligners, one of the buttons (on a crooked front tooth) did not lock into its window like all the others do. The tray kind of just sat on top of the button. I thought the tooth would move into position, so I let it be.

But it's been bothering me, especially since I haven't seen (or felt) any movement in that tooth, so I called my ortho about it. They said that this wasn't normal, and to simply enlarge the window so that the button could 'click' into place.

Lucky me, I own a Dremel with a cone-shaped sander. It was perfect for widening the window. Never thought I'd use it for something like this!

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Originally posted by Jane:
Hi Everyone - I'll be getting OrtoClear in a few weeks and I was just wondering if they are really as clear as the ortho tells me...

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Hi Jane, I've had them on for about 4 weeks and they are nearly invisible. I made it thru a zillion holiday parties without anyone noticing. When I tell my friends, I smile and show them when they're like a foot away and they still can't see them! I think people are expecting to see the traditional metalwork on your teeth, so they don't really know where to look when you show them. You'll see what I mean when you get them.

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Originally posted by Helen:
Hi, everyone, it has been exactly 4 weeks since I had my OthoClear impressions done and the OthoView is still not avaible since my ortho's office hasn't called me. Do you think I can contact OC costumer service about this? I wish I can get everyting done before I graduate, so every week counts.

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Call your Ortho about this first and let them check in. It takes 4-6 weeks for the first set.

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Originally posted by eas423:
I just started OrthoClear yesterday and am having problems with pain and jaw locking. I understand the pain is from my teeth moving, however, is it like this every 3 weeks when I get new trays? It is really uncomfortable - to the point I don't want to take the trays out to eat because I know how bad it will hurt to put back in. As far as the jaw locking, it started when the ortho used the cheek retractors to put on my buttons, but hasn't subsided yet, and is just adding to the discomfort...is it really worth this?

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Originally posted by tjhooker:
I was just scanning the ortho clear discussion because my ortho wants to use ortho clear, when I came across your post. I'm being treated for TMJ and one of the symptoms of TMJ is jaw locking. Describing the onset after the use of the cheek retractors leads me to think that perhaps your jaw was over extended and you tempomandibular joint was displaced. Many orthodontic treatments can cause tmj. If your pain continues I hope you'll seek another opinion.

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Originally posted by Nicole:
Hi Jane, I've had them on for about 4 weeks and they are nearly invisible. I made it thru a zillion holiday parties without anyone noticing. When I tell my friends, I smile and show them when they're like a foot away and they still can't see them! I think people are expecting to see the traditional metalwork on your teeth, so they don't really know where to look when you show them. You'll see what I mean when you get them.

Have fun with them. I totally love them. Even with the second set, i can already see a slight difference in the alignment of my teeth.

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Originally posted by mimi:

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Re: wondering whether any of you, given your experiences with the cracking aligners, would have chosen Invisalign instead?

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Originally posted by Jane:

Hey Nicole - Thanks for the info. What about the lisp I've heard about? How long does it take to go away?

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Hi Jane,
I don't think it's a significant lisp. I had it for the first day or so -- nothing that was noticeable to others. I am a reporter, so I have to talk on the phone all the time. I noticed that if I just talked slower (I'm a fast talker) I could get my words out clearly.

Second thing: in regard to another post above, I wonder if regular braces are better than aligners for people with bigger problems than just a little cosmetic straightening. Turning a tooth around or adjusting an overbite may require more of the serious hardware that comes along with regular braces, even though I know the aligners are supposed to fix this problem.

Any thoughts?

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Originally posted by Liz:
With my first set of trays, I notices that one of the teeth was made bigger (longer). Meaning one of the plastic parts of the model hangs down a bit below the actual tooth. It's the only way people can really tell I'm wearing them. Have others had this problem?

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Hi Liz,
My trays seem like that, too, only just on my bottom teeth. My teeth don't fit all the way into the tray, so there's empty space at the deepest area of the tray. I hope this makes sense!

I thought the extra space was because of air in my impressions, but I've had 2 sets of impressions made, and the resulting trays have been the same.

I'm on my 9th set of trays, and the extra space hasn't been an issue for me. My teeth are moving along as they should.

I wanted to thank all of you for taking the time to post to this website. It has helped me to feel better about deciding to go through with OrthoClear, rather than Invisalign and/or braces. I didn't notice a lot of posts from patients who had finished their treatment to see how things are going. If any of you have completed your treatment, I would really appreciate comments about what type of retainer you have, whether your teeth have moved, follow-up treatments, etc.

I plan to contact my ortho tomorrow to start the process. FYI, I've already done the consultation visit, and since I had braces when I was in high school, I only have a few teeth that have shifted, which makes me a good candidate for OrthoClear. BTW, I live in GA, and the price quoted to me for upper and lower trays was $3,000. Discounts available for paying with cash.

One tip that I want to share is that it REALLY pays to shop around and get more than one opinion. I went to three orthodontists before I found the one who was responsive to my questions and who genuinely seemed concerned about my needs. Also, his prices were a LOT more reasonable. One ortho here quoted over 5,000 for Invisalign, and didn't mention OrthoClear as an option. I'm glad I got another opinion.

Again, thanks so much for the helpful information, guys! I look forward to reading more of your posts. Do some of you have before/after pictures posted to Yahoo Photos or other webpages? If so, I'd LOVE to see them.

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Originally posted by Christine:
Hi Liz,
My trays seem like that, too, only just on my bottom teeth. My teeth don't fit all the way into the tray, so there's empty space at the deepest area of the tray. I hope this makes sense!

I thought the extra space was because of air in my impressions, but I've had 2 sets of impressions made, and the resulting trays have been the same.

I'm on my 9th set of trays, and the extra space hasn't been an issue for me. My teeth are moving along as they should.

I can't wait for this to all be over- I've only got about 5 months to go. I miss snacking!

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Originally posted by cally:
Hi Orthomates-

Is anybody experiencing delivery delay recently? I am now doing with my 6th trays and waiting for my 7&8th, but they are, allegedly, coming late for my next appt, delay of almost one week!!! This is not the first time, actually they have delayed from my FIRST sets... it is pretty frustrating.
I am satisfied with OC treatment itself so far, but am a bit tired of this schedule thing... Should I contact with OC directly?

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Thank you for the info. It is good to know that not all the OC trays are coming late - I am now crossing my fingers, hopefully my next trays will be ready without delay despite of their current status which my ortho checked thru online.

You can see some differences already? Congrats, it should be pretty exciting! I haven't see my own yet - can't wait!

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Originally posted by Jason:
Cally - I am on my 8th trays right now and so far, fingers crossed, all of my sets have come in on time. However, since I picked up my 4th and 5th sets of trays, my ortho doesn't let me set my 6 week appt before I leave the office. They tell me that they'll call me when the trays come in, because there's a chance they could not make it to the office by the time of my next appt. So I've been a little concerned about that. But so far for me, I've gotten a call from them about two weeks after I get my sets, telling me that the next two pairs have come in. So next week, I'll be going to pick up #9 and #10. I've been very satisfied with OC thus far. After nearly 6 months of treatment (out of 24 months projected) I've started seeing some differences.

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http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2338/1404/400/after.jpg
This is what my teeth looked like after four months using OrthoClear (my treatment is supposed to last a little over 12 months total). Can you see my buttons? I don't have the aligners on in this shot. You can see that my front teeth are a bit more in line with each other on the top. On the bottom, you can't see any more gaps! Overall, my lower arch has been widened quite a bit (the uppers as well, but not as much), and my teeth are finally starting to fit properly in my mouth!