Hi all,
I have been thinking about the Inman aligner for a long time now. I was unaware of the retainers after the IA treatment was over. Can anyone give a few details about their experience with this? Fixed, removable, temporary, permanent, appearance? This is the only thing that is putting me off at the moment. I haven't been to a dentist yet, so I haven't received any advice, but would really appreciate any opinions.
Many Thanks!
PinkyPeaHead
Inman aligners
Moderator: bbsadmin
Re: Inman aligners
Hi PinkyPeaHead (interesting name!)
I don't think many of us who are active on this forum have experience of the retainers, as we're all still undergoing treatment! As far as I'm aware though, the retainer part of the process is the most minor. If you can handle having something the size of a gumshield in your mouth all day, and learn to speak with it, then a small clear retainer should be a breeze! I also think they're generally only intended to be worn at night. At least that's my understanding of it!
Hope you all going well...one more week for me!!
xx
I don't think many of us who are active on this forum have experience of the retainers, as we're all still undergoing treatment! As far as I'm aware though, the retainer part of the process is the most minor. If you can handle having something the size of a gumshield in your mouth all day, and learn to speak with it, then a small clear retainer should be a breeze! I also think they're generally only intended to be worn at night. At least that's my understanding of it!
Hope you all going well...one more week for me!!
xx
Re: Inman aligners
^^ I agree. Plus believe me if you've been through all this for four months or whatever your treatment time is, you will not want to risk your teeth moving back!
I'm about 6 days in now (ooh almost one week down!!) and I think i'm doing ok. Got a bit of a routine going so I wear it until about 1030am when i take it out for a banana and to make some phone calls, have a bit of a chat etc. It goes back in from 1130 ish until 1400 when it comes out for me to have lunch, a brew and some more phone calls. Then I wear it pretty much non stop until the following morning just taking it out briefly to eat dinner and brush my teeth evening and morning. I manage ok.
I'm finding eating a little tricky though. My front teeth are still very sensitive which makes it impossible to bite. I thought after a few days this would settle down but it hasnt. Will it or should i expect this the whole way through?
I'm also finding my back teeth are a little sore and i'm not really sure why. Must be the metal clip bits pressing on them.
I havent been able to find a comfortable place in my mouth to rest my tongue so its making that a bit sore too.
Cant wait until i see some movement! That will make it seem more worthwhile i think.
I'm about 6 days in now (ooh almost one week down!!) and I think i'm doing ok. Got a bit of a routine going so I wear it until about 1030am when i take it out for a banana and to make some phone calls, have a bit of a chat etc. It goes back in from 1130 ish until 1400 when it comes out for me to have lunch, a brew and some more phone calls. Then I wear it pretty much non stop until the following morning just taking it out briefly to eat dinner and brush my teeth evening and morning. I manage ok.
I'm finding eating a little tricky though. My front teeth are still very sensitive which makes it impossible to bite. I thought after a few days this would settle down but it hasnt. Will it or should i expect this the whole way through?
I'm also finding my back teeth are a little sore and i'm not really sure why. Must be the metal clip bits pressing on them.
I havent been able to find a comfortable place in my mouth to rest my tongue so its making that a bit sore too.
Cant wait until i see some movement! That will make it seem more worthwhile i think.
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JackDaniels
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:35 am
Re: Inman aligners
Hi LilPickle, my front teeth were quite sore for more than a week, but the pain does go away. My back teeth were also quite sore while eating, so it's all normal.
Hope it goes well... and quick!
Hope it goes well... and quick!
Re: Inman aligners
Hey LilPickle. My teeth were extremely sore for about 2 weeks, and then still sensitive after that for another month or so. it wasn't till about 2 months into treatment that I could even bite into a sandwich! I generally broke stuff off and ate with my back teeth.
My back teeth were also sore at times, I think thats because they're taking quite a lot of pressure by being the anchor for the aligner, holding it in place while it does all that work pushing and pulling.
I've also found that my back teeth on the bottom have moved, so that my bite is slightly out of line! Has anyone else had this? I've looked in the mirror at them, and my top molars have stayed in place; it's the bottom ones that have moved. (The aligner is on the top). Quite strange...my dentist said it's because they're not being held in place naturally, by the top teeth biting on them. He says they'll settle back into place once treatment is over and I'm biting together 24-7 again.
My back teeth were also sore at times, I think thats because they're taking quite a lot of pressure by being the anchor for the aligner, holding it in place while it does all that work pushing and pulling.
I've also found that my back teeth on the bottom have moved, so that my bite is slightly out of line! Has anyone else had this? I've looked in the mirror at them, and my top molars have stayed in place; it's the bottom ones that have moved. (The aligner is on the top). Quite strange...my dentist said it's because they're not being held in place naturally, by the top teeth biting on them. He says they'll settle back into place once treatment is over and I'm biting together 24-7 again.
Re: Inman aligners
hey,
My teeth often feel a bit sentive so often use a knife and fork for things to chew at the back as opposed to bite (this was very disappointing when I had to do with with a bacon sarnie in the morning and thenfajitas in the evening!). I'm a bit worried that my front teeth are angling forward more than they used to and so clashing with my top teeth (I only have the bottom inman) and really do not wantmy top teeth to move!! I'm just about the e-mail my dentist as I don't have an appointment for 3 weeks and it's starting to worry me! Movement is definitely happening, and my teeth are really quite wobbly, but they seem to be getting worse, the one that was really far forwards looks loads better but the other side is now starting to overlap with it's neighbour which it didn't before... hopefully it will all sort out in the end.... did/does anyone else have this problem?
Also, with all the talk about retainers, I have found the following e-mailed to me when I was looking at my options, hope it's useful:
Laboratory made wire retainer and
Clear Essix overlay retainers. It has 3 advantages:
a. Better overall stability
b. Can be used for whitening
c. Back-up in case your wire ever debonds or breaks (very important)
so I will be getting the wire (I'm told it lasts about 5 years) and plastic overlays,I queried why needed one for the bottom if I was getting a wire and was told you can't always tell if it's debonded a bit and so movement can happen without you realising so it's worth having the plastic one to wear every now and again to make sure it still fits and for better stability.
My teeth often feel a bit sentive so often use a knife and fork for things to chew at the back as opposed to bite (this was very disappointing when I had to do with with a bacon sarnie in the morning and thenfajitas in the evening!). I'm a bit worried that my front teeth are angling forward more than they used to and so clashing with my top teeth (I only have the bottom inman) and really do not wantmy top teeth to move!! I'm just about the e-mail my dentist as I don't have an appointment for 3 weeks and it's starting to worry me! Movement is definitely happening, and my teeth are really quite wobbly, but they seem to be getting worse, the one that was really far forwards looks loads better but the other side is now starting to overlap with it's neighbour which it didn't before... hopefully it will all sort out in the end.... did/does anyone else have this problem?
Also, with all the talk about retainers, I have found the following e-mailed to me when I was looking at my options, hope it's useful:
Laboratory made wire retainer and
Clear Essix overlay retainers. It has 3 advantages:
a. Better overall stability
b. Can be used for whitening
c. Back-up in case your wire ever debonds or breaks (very important)
so I will be getting the wire (I'm told it lasts about 5 years) and plastic overlays,I queried why needed one for the bottom if I was getting a wire and was told you can't always tell if it's debonded a bit and so movement can happen without you realising so it's worth having the plastic one to wear every now and again to make sure it still fits and for better stability.
Re: Inman aligners
I went into see my dentist earlier this week and I thought I had to do more filing but he said my teeth were in the right place. I wasn't too convinced though as it seemed that the one that was protruding was still out a little but he took photos fron different angles and surprisingly, it's all in place! I saw the before and after photos and could see the difference so I got moulds done for my clear retainers and my bottom arch will suffer the inman aligner next! But I was so surprised it's done so quickly. It's been... 7 weeks there abouts.
To all the new wearers, yes, the first 2 weeks are the worst, even my 3rd week wasn't great but I wasn't too bothered with the pain of my teeth as I was expecting that and kind of wanted it as it meant the aligner was doing it's job but it was the sores of my gums I found the worst (where the metal bits hit the gums). My front teeth always hurt a little for the first 5 minutes after taking the aligner off, and I always thought of taking it off about 10 minutes before I ate but then I wanted to wear them as often as possible, so I just tolerated the pain. My back teeth didn't hurt at first but they started to around the end of the 2nd week. But I did find that my back teeth moved quite a bit, well I think they did because when I flossed, it felt there was a big gap where the metal bit sits on my left side only. And big chunks of food would get stuck there. I mentioned this to my dentist and he said it would move back and after a while, it seemed to. I don't know if it was because I started to wear the aligner less or what the reason was but I'm glad the gap has lessen.
JackDaniels (sorry for such a delay in my replies), I did think wearing the aligner after it has done it's job would move the teeth to a position that you wouldn't want it too either but I asked my dentist about it and he said you can use it as a retainer as it is customised to push it to the position you want it to, and not anymore as the springs or mechanisms don't allow it to more any more. But he might be saying this so I wear the aligner until I get my retainers.
I talked to my dentist about the fixed wire and the removeable plastic and he is very keen on my getting the wire. I really don't know and really can't afford to shell out another £300 for it. And like the fact I have the option of having a "device-free" mouth. Has anyone had any success stories with the plastic retainers!? (give me hope please!) Is everyone's retainer (wire and/or plastic) included or do you have to pay additional like me?
To all the new wearers, yes, the first 2 weeks are the worst, even my 3rd week wasn't great but I wasn't too bothered with the pain of my teeth as I was expecting that and kind of wanted it as it meant the aligner was doing it's job but it was the sores of my gums I found the worst (where the metal bits hit the gums). My front teeth always hurt a little for the first 5 minutes after taking the aligner off, and I always thought of taking it off about 10 minutes before I ate but then I wanted to wear them as often as possible, so I just tolerated the pain. My back teeth didn't hurt at first but they started to around the end of the 2nd week. But I did find that my back teeth moved quite a bit, well I think they did because when I flossed, it felt there was a big gap where the metal bit sits on my left side only. And big chunks of food would get stuck there. I mentioned this to my dentist and he said it would move back and after a while, it seemed to. I don't know if it was because I started to wear the aligner less or what the reason was but I'm glad the gap has lessen.
JackDaniels (sorry for such a delay in my replies), I did think wearing the aligner after it has done it's job would move the teeth to a position that you wouldn't want it too either but I asked my dentist about it and he said you can use it as a retainer as it is customised to push it to the position you want it to, and not anymore as the springs or mechanisms don't allow it to more any more. But he might be saying this so I wear the aligner until I get my retainers.
I talked to my dentist about the fixed wire and the removeable plastic and he is very keen on my getting the wire. I really don't know and really can't afford to shell out another £300 for it. And like the fact I have the option of having a "device-free" mouth. Has anyone had any success stories with the plastic retainers!? (give me hope please!) Is everyone's retainer (wire and/or plastic) included or do you have to pay additional like me?
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JackDaniels
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:35 am
Re: Inman aligners
Hi Tipps, that's great! Congrats! Are you happy with the results? So you got moulds taken for clears only, or wire with clears over? Did he say how long it will take for your retainer to arrive?
As I said, my idea is to get the wire and clears, but only wear the clears at night. Then have the wire removed after 6 months and continue to wear the clears at night. We'll thats my idea, I will have to take to the dentist about it next week. He said the wire and clear would be included in the price.
As I said, my idea is to get the wire and clears, but only wear the clears at night. Then have the wire removed after 6 months and continue to wear the clears at night. We'll thats my idea, I will have to take to the dentist about it next week. He said the wire and clear would be included in the price.
Re: Inman aligners
Congratulations Tipps! Have you got any photos??
Re: Inman aligners
Hi JackDaniels, I am happy when I see the photos where it shows the underside of my arch. But now I realise that my front teeth are a different length! I didn't realise it before as the protruding tooth was the thing that I focused my attention on and now it's pretty obvious (well to me!). And so with the different lengths, it doesn't seem that straight... and I don't know how one became shorter than the other. I can understand if the protruding one is longer as the "normal" one was hitting my bottom teeth and I used that side for biting, but it's the protruding one is shorter. So I'm a little bewildered by that. And looking at my bottom teeth, it seems like they might be different length too! But my dentist said he might try to do something about it after so I hope he does cos the different lengths do annoy me a little! My retainers will take about 2-3 weeked to arrive and they will be the clear ones.
And Dominie, here are my photos. The top ones are photos taken from the dentist's computer (so excuse the screen stripes) but they show the change pretty well. The bottom ones you can see the different lengths of my front teeth and how they affect the "straightness".
How are both of you getting on?
And Dominie, here are my photos. The top ones are photos taken from the dentist's computer (so excuse the screen stripes) but they show the change pretty well. The bottom ones you can see the different lengths of my front teeth and how they affect the "straightness".
How are both of you getting on?
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Re: Inman aligners
congratulations Tipps 
that's great news and your pictures look good too, I can understand the different length thing annoying you (not that I can see it...) but if your dentist can sort it out then that will be even better
I got some bad news today... e-mailed my dentist the other day as was worried about my teeth moving in the wrong direction so I went to see him this morning and turns out I've been wearing the inman wrong for the whole time (6weeks!!) really upsetting! he said that if (when wearing it properly) I don't see an improvement by the end of Monday then we may have to create a new inman and pretty much start from scratch! as you can imagine I am not happy especially if I have to start again!!
also, for those that are interested from an earlier discussion, when I first went to have it put in I was told to wear the inman as much as possible. However, today he said that really you should only wear it for 16/17 hours a day (why he changed his mind I do not know!!) and that it's good to let your teeth rest so for those of you that don't wear it at work don't worry!
speak soon,
a very disheartened dreamer
that's great news and your pictures look good too, I can understand the different length thing annoying you (not that I can see it...) but if your dentist can sort it out then that will be even better I got some bad news today... e-mailed my dentist the other day as was worried about my teeth moving in the wrong direction so I went to see him this morning and turns out I've been wearing the inman wrong for the whole time (6weeks!!) really upsetting! he said that if (when wearing it properly) I don't see an improvement by the end of Monday then we may have to create a new inman and pretty much start from scratch! as you can imagine I am not happy especially if I have to start again!!
also, for those that are interested from an earlier discussion, when I first went to have it put in I was told to wear the inman as much as possible. However, today he said that really you should only wear it for 16/17 hours a day (why he changed his mind I do not know!!) and that it's good to let your teeth rest so for those of you that don't wear it at work don't worry!
speak soon,
a very disheartened dreamer
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JackDaniels
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:35 am
Re: Inman aligners
Tipps - looking good! Your case looks similar to mine, but my tooth stuck out a fair bit more than yours, which is probably why it is taking a bit longer. I also have the problem of one tooth being longer than the other but my dentist said he could shave one down, or build the other up a bit to make them even. Will have to talk to him about that closer the time I guess.
Seems like a long wait for the retainer doesn't it. Did he say how long you have to wear the retainer for? Nights only? I feel my teeth moving back if I have the aligner out even for a couple of hours!
I hope I get some more filing done next week because I think they have stopped moving.
Dreamer - that's very strange and I can imagine you would be quite upset! How were you wearing it wrong?? Did the dentist not check to see how you wear it? Also, I was told to wear mine as much as possible, ideally 22 hours per day, but on the Inman Aligner website it says 16-20, so I usually aim to wear it 21 hours per day.
I don't know your situation fully of course, but I would certainly voice your complaint to your dentist. I know we often feel doctors and dentists know best and we shouldn't complain, but that's not really the case. If you feel you have received poor treatment or wrong information, don't take it lying down. You have paid a lot of money after all!
Seems like a long wait for the retainer doesn't it. Did he say how long you have to wear the retainer for? Nights only? I feel my teeth moving back if I have the aligner out even for a couple of hours!
I hope I get some more filing done next week because I think they have stopped moving.
Dreamer - that's very strange and I can imagine you would be quite upset! How were you wearing it wrong?? Did the dentist not check to see how you wear it? Also, I was told to wear mine as much as possible, ideally 22 hours per day, but on the Inman Aligner website it says 16-20, so I usually aim to wear it 21 hours per day.
I don't know your situation fully of course, but I would certainly voice your complaint to your dentist. I know we often feel doctors and dentists know best and we shouldn't complain, but that's not really the case. If you feel you have received poor treatment or wrong information, don't take it lying down. You have paid a lot of money after all!
Re: Inman aligners
Hi JackDaniels,
Yeah I guess you are right. I don't think he did checkat my last appointment how I was wearing it, I have been wearing the bar at the front below a blob of composite he put on(which made it gum like level) when it should have been above...I must have misheard at the first appointment. But now when I have it above it looks like the clips aren't all the way down over my teeth...confused!
Does anyone have a bottom IA that can tell me if the top of the bar at the front should be inline with the topof the teeth or a bitbelow it? paranoid about wearing it wrong, just hope it doesn't delay treatment too much
Yeah I guess you are right. I don't think he did checkat my last appointment how I was wearing it, I have been wearing the bar at the front below a blob of composite he put on(which made it gum like level) when it should have been above...I must have misheard at the first appointment. But now when I have it above it looks like the clips aren't all the way down over my teeth...confused!
Does anyone have a bottom IA that can tell me if the top of the bar at the front should be inline with the topof the teeth or a bitbelow it? paranoid about wearing it wrong, just hope it doesn't delay treatment too much
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JackDaniels
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:35 am
Re: Inman aligners
Mine is on the top, so I can't really say, but my front bar certainly sits in line with the bottom edge of my teeth (i.e. not near the gum).
I find it strange that he didn't look at how you were wearing it though. Plus when I first got mine, the dentist made me put it in and take it out a couple of times, just to make sure I was doing it right. If they do need to make a new IA for you, make sure you don't have to pay extra!! If he does want to charge you for a new one tell him you'll report him to the General Dental Council, and then find another dentist who does IA. Again, I don't really know the ins and outs of what has been said, etc, but that is worst case scenario I guess.
Have you paid for the whole lot up front already?
I find it strange that he didn't look at how you were wearing it though. Plus when I first got mine, the dentist made me put it in and take it out a couple of times, just to make sure I was doing it right. If they do need to make a new IA for you, make sure you don't have to pay extra!! If he does want to charge you for a new one tell him you'll report him to the General Dental Council, and then find another dentist who does IA. Again, I don't really know the ins and outs of what has been said, etc, but that is worst case scenario I guess.
Have you paid for the whole lot up front already?
Re: Inman aligners
yeah he did make me take it in and out a few times when I had it fitted. I don't know if he just didn't check properly or I did it right then and not since. He didn't mention money when he said may have to get a new one so fingers crossed it won't cost me anything, I certainly don't intend to pay any extra when it's expensive in the first place!! I'm paying mine off in monthly installments so that'sone good thing I guess. will just have to see what happens...it's just really upsetting and annoying!
let this be a lesson to all IA wearers- make sure you get the dentist to check at appointments and ask lots of questions so you are 100% happy where it sits when you first get it in!
let this be a lesson to all IA wearers- make sure you get the dentist to check at appointments and ask lots of questions so you are 100% happy where it sits when you first get it in!