Inman aligners

[funster]

Hi Winning Smile et al,

I have had my top teeth in an IA for about 6 weeks now and I have had quite an adventure, which included having a discussion with Mr Inman himself, who seems like a nice guy.

Overall as a guy in his forties with typically receeding gum lines (yes this is probably a mid-life crisis for me!!!) I wasnt expecting too much, but the movement has been fantastically fast and I am nearly done bar one stubborn tooth that is slow to turn.

However my first IA (yes, I've had two) didnt really fit properly. Even the ortho struggled to insert it first time around. It got worse over time to the point that it would pop out all the time - the clasps at the side werent holding it in. I had to get another one (I complained - I prefer a "sh*t travels down" approach, hence conversation with Inman!). This of course meant a week or so without an IA whilst a remould was made. Getting to the bottom of this story, it seems that making the IAs is a pretty skillful/artistic job in itself. I just happened to be at the receiving end of a shoddy job. So my advice to others is: if it doesnt literally snap in snug first time your ortho puts it on then simply reject it and demand new moulds to be taken immediately. Otherwise, in my experience, it will only get worse and you will waste time later on.

As regards it not moving teeth anymore and having to have remoulds for a new IA (is that costing you extra, WinningSmile, I hope not?) I am going to make a statement in the next paragraph, but it is pure speculation on my part and may NOT be accurate!

My ortho has done a number of things that I didnt expect. One is the complete removal of the inside spring mechanism so the only pressure was pushing the teeth inwards - I had that for a couple of weeks, which was a nice break from the full IA. But the stuff that really amazed me was the very delicate job of putting plastic behind the side outer springs to make the IA work harder (same sort of thing as the notches they put on your front teeth to support it sometimes). Bottom line - it takes real artistic skill on the part of the ortho I think to maximise usage of the Aligner. My speculation is that your ortho, Winning Smile, just didnt feel comfortable adjusting it and so took, if you like, the easy option of just getting more moulds done. Which is why you shouldnt be paying extra for it. Obvisouly this way you are paying for it in your time though. Of course I could be completely wrong and I apologise to any offended party!!!

Overall my experience with this little piece of technology has been a positive one thus far. 10 years ago I asked my dentist what treatment would cost for this and £10k was the ball park back then, which is why I didnt bother. So it is an amazing piece of kit, but you do need a good ortho with great hand/eye co-ordination to get the best out of it.

One more note about lifestyle. Most of the time I have been wearing it 20 hours. However, especially coming up to xmas I have had plenty of time out - weddings (entire weekends!), parties, nights out etc that I didnt wear it at all. So you dont have to go mad to get results. Also I have had tea, coffee (both lukewarm though) and even the occasional cig with it in. However I do like to bathe it in listerine quite often. None of this is covered fully in the instructions, but it hasnt done my treatment any harm!

Funster

[beccam25]

Hi There

I am due to have my inman alligner fitted Friday lunch (top teeth) and i have to say after talking with two people yesterday that have had them i am absolutely terrified now!

I am such a wimp...i really want to know what pain is involved ? i know of course it will be uncomfortable but painful ? I have read all the posts on here and a few of you say yes and others not so much...I am having it fitted on my lunch then coming back to work..bad idea ?

I will really appreciate any response...pain relief tips...anything.

Thanks so much!

[Sian]

Hello, really hope someone can help me out, I particularly would appreciate your advice Dr Tif if possible please.
I have been having inman aligner treatment for 6 months - having worn the aligner itself for 11 weeks and a series of at least 7 clear aligners since then my teeth are still not straight. The complication is that my canine teeth were also slightly rotated however my dentist guaranteed he could fix this. He has filed my teeth a lot and he does not appear to have taken much care when he was doing so as the teeth on either side of my mouth are now a different shape and size to the corresponding tooth on the other side. In addition it looks like the bottom of my teeth will be very uneven when (if) the treatment is completed. I am so upset as in addition to the excessive length of treatment time, he has changed the shape of my teeth, and i am not seeing the desired results. I feel he is somewhat incompetent with this treatment and I dont want him to file anymore of my teeth. In addition he has left scratch marks on one of my front teeth when he removed the composite bonding. Unfortunately I have paid upfront otherwise I would prefer to discontinue treatment, I'm so worried he's going to ruin my teeth and Im not sure what I can do. Please can someone advise what course of action I can take please, I'd really appreciate it. x

[*Firefly*]

Tomorrow marks the 6 week point for me. Up until about a week ago I had been feeling like I hadn't really seen any movement. However, at some point last week I started to see what seemed like a significant difference. I have been trying to wear the aligner as much as possible - even at work and I think it is really paying off.

I wondered if it was just a hunch or reality that my teeth had moved when I realized I had a way to find out for sure. I had a bleaching tray created a few years ago from a mold of my teeth. I tried to put the tray in and...it doesn't fit! Not even close. They definitely have moved and now I think I see it more and more each day. In fact, I would say I am now getting quite close to totally straight teeth. Hooray! Maybe I'll have straight teeth for Christmas too.

Hang in there newbies. The thought of a quick fix for something most of us have waited such a long time for makes the weeks go by slowly. If you're like me you are checking in the mirror every chance you get - and yes, even after 6 weeks I am still doing that. I am finally starting to see that it is definitely worth it. I can't believe I am going to resolve this issue so quickly. The Inman is truly amazing. I just wish I had had this option 10 years ago.

[*Firefly*]

I just had to mention something that happened to me for the first time I can remember. A stranger I was chatting with at an art reception last night told me out of the blue that I have "such a great smile." Thanks Inman!

[Dominie]

I thought I'd write an update seeing as no-one has posted for a while! I had a check-up 2 weeks ago where my dentist Maurice (at the Harley Street Smile Clinic) made more gaps between my teeth, and a particularly large gap between the tooth that was set back behind the other teeth.

Since then that tooth has come all the way forward, and now the only tooth that needs to move is a stubborn one that is twisted and taking a while to move.

He said last time that I'd be ready to have them off in 3 weeks - so one week from now! hurrah! That is only 10 weeks of treatment - quicker than I expected.

Hope you're all going well! xx

[Lea]

Hi everyone,
It's been a couple of weeks since I last posted, it's interesting to read what Funster and Sian said about the skill needed from your dentist and the actual Inman 'craftsman' who make the apparatus. When I last posted I had just had my aligner sent back as it didn't seem to be working any more and the amount of composite on the back of my teeth was, quite frankly, ridiculous. So my dentist took off all the composite blobs completely, I had moulds taken again and the aligner was sent back and when I got it back, 9 days later (in which my teeth DID slip back by the way!!!) although it was the same aligner, I noticed that they had reshaped it a bit and it seemed a much better fit in my mouth. I kind of KNEW it felt right... I did have to have a couple composite blobs put back on, this time on the opposite side to last time, (which seemed strange to me?) but this time MUCH MUCH less noticeable!
Admittedly, part of the problem was that previously I'd only been wearing it for about 15 hours a day - NOT ENOUGH!!!I stepped up wearing it for 20 hours and 10 days later my dentist said I was about 4 weeks away from plastic aligners.

It's been 6 months since I started on this - my teeth have moved considerably, but there have been a couple of set-backs along the way - my advice is similar to that of Funster - my gut feeling has been right on a couple of things - when one tooth wasn't being touched by the aligner at one stage and when i felt I had too much composite on the front and back of my teeth. However - I have also been wrong on things too - like not wearing it long enough and not wanting initially to have any filing done. It's been hard knowing when I'm in the right and when my dentist is in the right!

I also share in your concerns Sian - I currently have a HUGE gap between my two front teeth - my bottom lip gets caught in it! So, yes, my teeth are now totally in line with each other, which is great - but this gap is awful. But I've been assured, over and over again, that the plastic aligner will correct this and that this gap is part of the process. So I just have to stick with it. Like you, I paid up front, but to be honest, even if I hadn't, I would still be doing this because I would hate to leave my teeth as they are now as I look like Madonna gone wrong

Fingers crossed this is just the final hurdle. Appointment end of next week - will keep you posted...

I have photos too so will try to post them...

[charlie8]

Hello everybody,
I am finally getting the Inman alligner - it is costing £2000 - which seems way to expensive than what some of you guys are paying. Iv'e been told ill wear the inman and then switch to clear retainers to rotate my cananies back into position - i guess this is why it is costing more,

i was just wondering if anyone has been in a similar position and if they know how long this may take.
My wedding is on the 1st April and im now not getting the inman till the 20th Jan!!! -
how complete do you think my treatment may be? i do hope it is near complete.
I work from home so will be able to wear it 20 hours a day.
Please advise,
thank you x

[tipps]

Hi everyone,

Thought I'd join the forum as I'm about to have my inman aligners and wanted to share my experience and also get some support from those who are going through the same thing and advice from those who have had them. I went in for my hygiene clean, photos and moulds done before Christmas. It didn't take that long. Had the big lens pointing at me taking what I'm certain will be very unflattering pictures. It was weird having to sit waiting for the blue material to set over my teeth and then having the moulds pulled out after which felt like my teeth were coming out too. Had a few blue bits in my teeth after but the whole experience was fine. Today I am about to go in again to get my top arch fitted. Starting to feel a bit nervous about it as my teeth aren't really that bad, slight overcrowding. A tooth turned and protruding on the bottom then started to affect slightly the top. But it's been bugging me over the years and after a few consultations to different dental clinics, I found one which I was comfortable with. This weekend I started to have the doubts since my partner reminded me again that I don't really need to have it done. But hopefully it's going to go smoothly and I won't have regrets. So I will write again later to update you on my progress.

[JackDaniels]

That's strange, I posted on here a couple of days ago but the post hasn't appeared!

Anyway, I got my Inman Aligner on Wednesday and just thought I would join in the IA chat. Things have been ok so far. The worst part is that it is very hard to speak and my teeth hurt when I take it out and even more so when I put it back in. However, once it has been in for a little while I don't experience much, if any, pain or discomfort. My back teeth have also started to hurt when it's out and I chew food, which is a bit annoying.

My IA is on my top teeth as one tooth sticks out a fair bit. The dentist said it's a fairly straight forward case and the treatment could be complete within 8 weeks. I am going to try to wear it for 20-22 hours per day, but if I'm on a night out or something it'll have to come out! I also have composites on the front of one tooth and the back of the other, just to keep it in place. Looks a bit daft as well but if it helps then it's fine. I just want to get this treatment over with and quickly and efficiently as possible.

I've been reading lots of the old posts on here which have been really useful. Nice to know I'm not the only one going through this!

I'll post some before and after pics as well once it's done.

[tipps]

I went in to the dental clinic on Tuesday and was shown cast of my top arch that they took the last time I went in. They also had a cast of how it would look after treatment. I was introduced to my top arch aligner and shown how to put it on, take it off and practised a few times. Got a bit of a surprise when I start to say something even though I knew it would happen... I had the lisp! The orthodontist said I might need a composite on the back of my tooth, not likely to have one in the front but see how the next 3 weeks go first. Maybe no shaving either! But I kind of was hoping for a bit of shaving as one of my teeth has a little hairline crack on the side and thought the shaving would get rid of but I could be wrong. Does anyone know? must remember to ask when I next go back.

So headed home with my new inman aligner, along with its bright yellow box and leaflet. I called my partner to see if he could understand me. Not bad, until words with "th-s", "s-s", "ch-s"! Got teased a bit by him when I got back. First night sleeping with it was a but strange. My tongue seems to be magnetised to the aligner and I wake up finding it hitting the top of my mouth aching from this unusual position. My teeth hurt when it's off but not when it's on and I have acquired a couple of ulcers. Also had a bit of gum bleed above one tooth from where the plastic bit covers and my gums are sore from where the metal touches. But I'm very prone to ulcers and bleeding gums (get it every time I change toothbrushes) so a bit of Corsodyl gel is slowly healing it all up.

My speech is worst than my first day I think because of the soreness. Been able to wear it for about 18-21 hours a day so far since it's a quiet period at work. But I came back home yesterday to take it off for a few hours as I thought my gums needed the rest. I keep wanting to wash it with hot water to give it a good sterile clean but have to remind myself not to! So day 5, sore gums and no visible movement yet.

[JackDaniels]

Hi Tipps, looks like we got our Inman Aligners at virtually the same time! Did your dentist say how long your treatment would take? Have you got the upper arch?

I don't have much pain when I take the IA out but it does still hurt pretty bad for about 5 mins when I put it back in. My back teeth also hurt a bit, do you have that too?

I'm still finding it hard to talk though.

On the plus side I think I have seen a bit of movement already.

[tipps]

Hi JD,

Yes, we did! Mine's going to take about 6 months, 3 months for each, and I'm starting on my top arch first. My front teeth hurt a little when I take the IA out for a bit but my back teeth haven't hurt at all, except a little today when I ate raw carrot for lunch, which probably wasn't the smartest thing but I had a craving. But they don't usually. When I put it back, it hurts quite a bit where the metal bit touches the outer gums when you have to "click" it in place by pushing the inner plastic bit up. I have mini sores there from the contact so each time I have to put it back I'm quite relunctant. But once it's on it doesn't hurt. Maybe try using sensodyn toothpaste. I'm not using it but I was going to if my teeth did hurt too much. But maybe your back teeth are hurting in response to the front ones moving? Good hear that you can see movement already. I can't wait for my turn! Keep me updated on your progress.

[JackDaniels]

I've started to think that the right side of my IA didn't seem to fully click into place somehow. I noticed that the outer spring on the right side doesn't move/slide as freely as the 3 other springs. So last time I put it in I pushed that spring a bit with my finger and now it sits better. However, I'm a bit worried about that spring now so I'm going to call the dentist about it tomorrow.

Not had any sores or bleeding caused by the springs though, but I gather that is quite common. That's probably worse the more you talk I would guess because you can really feel them rubbing on the inside of the cheek.

I hope the pain of putting it in goes away soon!

[Zedy]

I've had my aligner now for 8 1/2 weeks.

No pain, although the spring on one side digs in my cheek so I always keep a piece of wax stuck on it.

My speech has only recently improved, but for the first 6 weeks it was the same.

From weeks 1 - 4 I hardly noticed any teeth movement. But from weeks 4 - 6 there was drastic improvement, my two crooked teeth (on either side of the middle two) were pushed way back and almost fully aligned with the rest. I had another appointment after that with more shaving, and was told it might only take another 3 weeks. (which would be 10 in total, and I was originally told 4 months).

But although the teeth have been pushed back, from the side view they're still crooked because they need to be rotated. My dentist said if I'm not happy with that by the next time I go (and so far I'm not seeing any rotation, they're still not straight from the side), then he'll take another mould and I can get an invisible brace, I presume 'invisalign'. I hope that won't take long - and that I won't need any more teeth shaving because my teeth felt a bit sensitive after the last time.