Inman aligners

[NewSmileSoon!]

maureen, the difference between Inman and the other treatments is that Inman can only correct the front 6 teeth, and the others can treat a whole arch, so it depends on what exactly needs to be altered as to whether it will be right for you!

NewSmileSoon, have you tried using dental wax on the outside of the brace to make a cushion between the metal and the side of your mouth? This should help any sores heal, doesn't affect the brace, and give your mouth time to adjust. You can get it in Boots, or from your dentist, and if you find it hard to get, chew a piece of gum and use it in the same way, really helps!

Hi Emmsyg

Thanks for your advice but I did ask my dentist for some dental wax at the outset to counteract any problems like this. I'm going to the Gentle Dental Clinic also and he advised that it would detract from the effectiveness of the springs, which when thinking about it, makes perfect sense. I gave myself a little break from the 22 hours a day on Saturday and Sunday as I had family in town, and what a difference it's made!! My aligner had hardly been out of my mouth all day yesterday and today and no sores!!

And my speech is definitely better. Only issue so far is the composite on the back of my tooth got knocked out today when I was eating - will have to ring the dentist tomorrow to find out how much of a problem this is. The aligner does feel like it's still sitting in the same spot but perhaps the same amount of pressure isn't on that tooth...

This forum really is the bees knees!

[emmsyg]

Glad you're getting on a bit better with it! Gentle Dental were really good I thought, seems to be a few people from Northern Ireland on this forum! I guess it depends where the pain is, I found dental wax really handy for the grips on my back teeth, but I guess he's right about the springs! Maybe that's why it took me 6 months!

[*Firefly*]

First, thank you to everyone who has posted previously. This site has been a huge help for understanding what to expect with the IA. I don't know if most of you are still in the UK or not. I'm in the US.

I just got my IA today - top and bottom. I feel like it is really a mouthful right now and I'm having a really tough time talking. Luckily, I expected this after reading through the forum. I've been wearing the aligners for about 5 hours now and I can feel a dull ache in my teeth. Good sign!

I can't wait to finally have straight teeth. I've wanted this my whole life. Braces always seemed like too much of a commitment and who wants to take the chance on braces in wedding photos? Invisalign - still a commitment and so expensive. I was thrilled to find there was something that would work so quickly and could be removed. Can't wait to see how this turns out in the end!

[*Firefly*]

Well, three days in now. The pain in my teeth is not nearly as bad as I expected. I can feel pressure and a dull ache when I take the aligners in and out but nothing like I feared. No painkiller necessary. The worst part so far is the constant pushing of my tongue onto the upper bar. My poor tongue is raw. I tried dental wax and it didn't seem to stay put well enough. I'm now trying sugar free gum which is slightly better. This problem seems to come from the need (pardon the graphic detail) to suck saliva from the aligner. I was told this would happen and would go away. Has anyone else experienced this? Does is go away? I'm also still finding it nearly impossible to speak clearly. I know it will be worth it in the end but right now the the of months more of this is a bit daunting.

[Jus]

Hello Smithy

Obviously its very difficult to comment on your case without seeing you but, it maybe that the aligner needs to be adjusted a little to increase the force. Sometimes some of the movements that are happening are not always totally apparent to the patient but may still be essential.
Composites can stay pretty much in place throughout but yes sometimes we do move them to other teeth as the teeth start to align out.

I have pm'd you

Kind regards

tif

Hi Dr. Qureshi

Welcome to the forum:-)

I have a question for you:

I've been wearing the inman aligner since the middle of august and is already very much satisfied with it! My ortho told me that I'm more or less done with half of the front teeth side, but the tooth next to my fronttooth still needs to be pushed a bit forward. Anway she put composite blobs on my canines aswell in order to make some kind of pressure on them which maybe will make them move a bit so they will be rotated in the right position as the rest of my teeth. Does it make sence what I wrote?
I was then told that if this wouldn't work then we would have to go for the invisible retainer (looks a bit like the Invisalign, I guess it's the same princip) but will this thing really make my canines move into the right position? I mean will this invisible retainer really make them move, and how much time does it in general take? I guess the treatment time will be longer than for the rest of the teeth that was done with my IA because the pressure with this one won't be as "strong" as with my inman, right?

Regards from Scandinavia

Hello

It is certainly possible to use clear aligners after the inman to perform final movements. They often work far better after and Inman Aligner because the inman mobilises the teeth nicely. To rotate your canines might take a couple of clear aligners, but it should work well after the Inman as long as they are fitted immediately.

you may actually find the pressure a little higher because clear aligners are far more rigid.

Generally lower forces means faster movements- hence why the Inman Aligner seems to work so quickly

regards

tif

Hi Dr. Tif

I just had my last consultation with my ortho regarding my treatment with my inman aligner. Everything looks really great, beside of the tooth next to my front tooth (I'm only doing my uppermouth) who I feel still is laying a little bit further back compared to the rest of them and which annoyes me ALOT But my ortho then suggested that we would try clear aligners in order to push this number 2 (the tooth next to the fronttooth) out and to rotate the canine next to it a bit.
But my question is then:

1. Do you think that this is even possible?

2. How can you push anything out with this clear aligner since there's not the same constant push as with the IA. Probably I'm just worried unnecessarily
Another question is:

3. How long time is (after your experience) the "normal" treatment time with this clear aligner. I mean in my case I'm actually done beside of these 2 teeth, and teeth number 2 won't need to be pushed out much more that maybe 0.5/1.0 millimeter. I have to say that I'm wearing the IA in general 21-22 hours a day.

4. And will I be able to speak with it properly? I mean it wont sound like with the IA attached?

5. Does the clear aligner look like the one from Invisalign? And will other people be able to notice it?

I look forward to hear all your answers.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards from Scandinavia

[Jus]

Hi, just came across this forum today which seems to be the best ive read.
I am like most of you and had braces when I was younger but after no retainer my teeth moved back.....im nearing 30 now and and want them perfect!

I had my impressions taken today so should have my IA in 2 weeks.

My question is this though........I have noticed a few people mention composite blobs on the front of their teeth........why would you need this and what purpose does it serve? My dentist didnt mention this to me and to be honest Im really not keen on the idea.

Thanks

Hi There

the composite blobs are there to make sure the bars sit in the correct part of the tooth. Say if your teeth tip out or inwards or are rotated, they bars might want to slide up or down to the gum.
The aligner would be less effective if you didn't place them in this situation.

They can be very small and if they are colour matched, virtually invisible.
Also they will be removed afterwards. Not every case needs them, but I
do teach dentists to use them in the above situation.

Ive placed literally thousands of them and many patients say the same thing- they are not keen, but honestly within a couple of days you will be fine.-
hope this helps

tif

Hi Dr. Tif

I just had my last consultation with my ortho regarding my treatment with my inman aligner. Everything looks really great, beside of the tooth next to my front tooth (I'm only doing my uppermouth) who I feel still is laying a little bit further back compared to the rest of them and which annoyes me ALOT But my ortho then suggested that we would try clear aligners in order to push this number 2 (the tooth next to the fronttooth) out and to rotate the canine next to it a bit.
But my question is then:

1. Do you think that this is even possible?

2. How can you push anything out with this clear aligner since there's not the same constant push as with the IA. Probably I'm just worried unnecessarily
Another question is:

3. How long time is (after your experience) the "normal" treatment time with this clear aligner. I mean in my case I'm actually done beside of these 2 teeth, and teeth number 2 won't need to be pushed out much more that maybe 0.5/1.0 millimeter. I have to say that I'm wearing the IA in general 21-22 hours a day.

4. And will I be able to speak with it properly? I mean it wont sound like with the IA attached?

5. Does the clear aligner look like the one from Invisalign? And will other people be able to notice it?

I look forward to hear all your answers.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards from Scandinavia

[NewSmileSoon!]

Well, three days in now. The pain in my teeth is not nearly as bad as I expected. I can feel pressure and a dull ache when I take the aligners in and out but nothing like I feared. No painkiller necessary. The worst part so far is the constant pushing of my tongue onto the upper bar. My poor tongue is raw. I tried dental wax and it didn't seem to stay put well enough. I'm now trying sugar free gum which is slightly better. This problem seems to come from the need (pardon the graphic detail) to suck saliva from the aligner. I was told this would happen and would go away. Has anyone else experienced this? Does is go away? I'm also still finding it nearly impossible to speak clearly. I know it will be worth it in the end but right now the the of months more of this is a bit daunting.

Hi Firefly

I agree with the lack of pain. I was expecting my teeth to get loose and for it to be agony putting the aligner in and out but it hasn't been so. Thankfully! I'm on day 18 and heading back to the dentist in the next few days to have the aligner adjusted. Think I'm kind of hoping that the pain will intensify at that stage because then I will feel it's being more effective. Some days I think I've seen movement and then other days I think I'm kidding myself so it will be interesting to hear to what my dentist thinks. How long is your estimated treatment time?

As for your issue with the bar, I'm sorry to hear your tongue is so sore -ow!! To be honest most of the pain I experienced was on the sides of my mouth which has eased now. That said I understand exactly what you mean by constantly sucking the saliva from inside the aligner and have wondered myself at how my tongue hasn't become sore! It seems to naturally sit between the bar and the inside bit of the aligner. I'm sorry I can't offer more advise re your tongue, only thing I will say is that if it's anything like the inside of my cheeks, it will definitely toughen up and be fine before long. In my personal experience, it took my mouth about ten days (and that was with giving my mouth unscheduled breaks of circa 9 hours on two consecutive days - right or wrong it gave my mouth a chance to heal and no problems since),

As for the speech, mine only really started to improve after a fortnight. I can actually make a phone call now and be understood (though still lisssssping!! Tough the letter D is a no-go and anything as others have said with ST is almost impossible too. There are some sentences I can say though and you wouldn't have a clue I had this little contraption in my mouth!

Just stick with it, dear - it will definitely get better!! All the best...

[xoxstefxox]

the back bit of the aligner that touches the back of your teeth well i somehow just pulled it out with the springs and had to put it back in, is this normal???? is it meant to be that loose that you are able to pull it out? i am really concerned that the aligner is not working, if someone can help me out!

[*Firefly*]

Hi NewSmileSoon thanks for you reply. It's nice to talk to someone else who understands this experience. I'm into this one week now and my tongue soreness is going away. My experience seems very similar to yours. I have been looking in the mirror constantly thinking maybe I am seeing some movement. I don't even know if it's possible after a week but I can't help looking. I also thought the same thing about the pain. Maybe it should hurt more - or maybe we were just better prepared for it so it doesn't seem too bad.

I have my next appoinment in two weeks. My dentist understood that I would not be wearing it to work so he told me it would probably take about 6 months. How long did your dentist tell you it would take? I have been trying to wear it as much as possible - even at work - so hopefully it will go a little quicker. I haven't been able to talk with it in at all. At work I just pop it out when someone stops by my desk - which isn't very often. I work from home 2 days a week which really helps. My boyfriend has also been out of town which has made it easier. I just pop it out when he calls. I say it but really its "them" because I have both top and bottom. How about you? Top, bottom, or both?

[NewSmileSoon!]

Hi Firefly!

My aligner is on my top teeth only. My bottom teeth are ever so slightly askew but I don't mind that at all. To be honest I think you're incredibly brave having an aligner on both sets of teeth! I can't imagine what that must be like!

I've been told I'll have it in for 8 weeks - have had it in for three weeks now so almost half way there! So they should be straight enough by Christmas.

I was back at the dentist for him to tighten the aligner. He seems to think that there has been movement, but I do think it's very slight. He filed my teeth to create some room and enable more movement. Not the most pleasant experience, but the fact that I was expecting it (from reading this super forum) made it less daunting! The aligner is much tighter and I'm happy I can feel so much pressure on my front teeth. I'm back to him again in two weeks time so hoping they'll have moved quite a bit more by then.

How are you getting on with yours...?

[NewSmileSoon!]

the back bit of the aligner that touches the back of your teeth well i somehow just pulled it out with the springs and had to put it back in, is this normal???? is it meant to be that loose that you are able to pull it out? i am really concerned that the aligner is not working, if someone can help me out!

Hi xoxstefox

That is perfectly normal!! My dentist cautioned me to be careful when taking the aligner out as that part of it can sometimes spring out. It's only happened to me once in the past three weeks, but I have been very careful with it. Just gently put it back in - there's absolutely no harm done!

All the best...

[xoxstefxox]

ah thanks new smile soon! you have put my mind at ease i can stop panicking now haha! It seems to still be doing the trick anyway!

[*Firefly*]

Hi NewSmileSoon,

It's been a week and a half for me now. I am getting used to this mouthful. Two aligners at once is definitely a lot - and my bottom teeth weren't that bad but I knew once the top were straight I would wish the bottoms were two and I'd rather get it all over with at once.

I find myself taking them out if I really need to talk to someone but my boyfriend tries to convince me to leave them in with him. He likes to tease and I think he finds it comical to listen to me.

I can't believe your treatment is only supposed to be 8 weeks! What a wonderful Christmas present. Can you see a change yet? I keep looking in the mirror but I really can't tell if there is anything different. Have your teeth felt loose the way other people have described? I have my next appointment in just over a week and I'm hoping the dentist will tighten these things up so I can really feel some pain.

[dreamer89]

hi everyone,

I'm thinking of getting the inman aligner - my bottom teeth are a bit over crowded with one sticking out forward and the others have started to move with it. Has anyone just had it on the bottom jaw? Does it affect your speech much being the bottom jaw? I'm a little bit worried about it all - especially the pain/aching I have in store!

Also - has anyone got the metal retainer wire fitted afterwards? I'm thinking this option sounds like the best way to stop them moving again!
Thanks

[ioanaK]

Hello everybody,

I had my aligner for 2 weeks now. I can really see changes. I have IA only on top. I was surprised today to find out that my aligner will not get tighten. NEVER. my dentist says that the way the aligner is build is just the way it will work..with no modifications. I got a little bit sad..coz for me is like: no pain-no change..My teeth didnt hurt about one week, and I have it like the process is very slowly now...Is that normal, to not tighten the IA?

good luck to all IAs : )