Any Canadians experiencing long wait times for refiners?

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#1 Post by **KarenH** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 9:56 pm

I finished my first full invisalign set in August (13 U and 17 L). My dentist thought I needed refiners, which is frustrating, but I'm glad we're getting it right. Anyway, after about 3 molds of my teeth, they finally sent them in to the invisalign people in the US to get my refiners. My last dentist visit was September 21. It is now January and they haven't arrived yet! Apparently they have been held up at the border!! I am sooo frustrated and I'm wondering if this has happened to anyone else? I don't even like wearing my last pair of invisaligns anymore because I am so tired of this.

I want to know if this has happened to anyone else, or if possibly its just my dentist who I am afraid to say I haven't been super impressed with (especially how they have handelled this situation).

Also, does anyone know if its possible to switch dentists this late in the treatment? Thanks!

#2 Post by **Invisibeth** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:19 pm

That's crazy! Do you think it's a true story, or is it possible that your dentist is making up a story?

I just got my first set of liners. I went in for my final "work-up" just before the holidays, in mid-December, and got them 3 weeks later. I think they mentioned they work on a 3-week anticipation cycle.

I live in Windsor, ON, and order a lot of things myself from the US. If something is "held up at the border," you should just be able to contact the brokerage and have it released. I've not heard of anything like that before, being held "indefinitely."

I would contact the company directly myself, if I were you!

#3 Post by **sarahjane936** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:48 pm

Invisibeth wrote:That's crazy! Do you think it's a true story, or is it possible that your dentist is making up a story?

I just got my first set of liners. I went in for my final "work-up" just before the holidays, in mid-December, and got them 3 weeks later. I think they mentioned they work on a 3-week anticipation cycle.

I live in Windsor, ON, and order a lot of things myself from the US. If something is "held up at the border," you should just be able to contact the brokerage and have it released. I've not heard of anything like that before, being held "indefinitely."

I would contact the company directly myself, if I were you!

THREE WEEKS!!

I had my impressions done on Nov 15th and I'm still waiting. I'm doing Express, so I figured it wouldn't take as long. I'm getting a little worried that they'll NEVER come in.

#4 Post by **Over50** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:09 pm

Today I just viewed a shortened version of my Clincheck that the ortho had "approved" (meaning that he received an original from Invisalign, sent back his revisions, and has now received this version). The office said that after the final OK from the ortho to Invisalign, it should be about 7 to 10 days to receive the aligners. I should add, however, that my molds were taken Dec. 3. They had warned me that because of the holidays, things could move a bit slower up to this point.

#5 Post by **Invisibeth** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:42 pm

sarahjane936,

I'm a big believer that YOU are the customer. Invisalign is a big money-maker. If you're not satisfied before you've even begun this treatment, are you sure you trust your practicioner? As I said, I'm in Ontario, but I can tell you, there are dozens of local dentists/orthos all pushing this product. I'm pretty assertive, and I would suggest you ask them, point blank, what the problem is, and maybe consider going elsewhere??

#6 Post by **Invisibeth** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:42 pm

Meryaten wrote:Wonder if Invisalign give a slower turnaround on the lower-priced Express cases ...

Well, if that's the case, I should be getting them FedExed over night!

I never shopped around: is $6500 the going rate for 9 months (18 trays)?

#7 Post by **Devushka** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:35 am

I never shopped around: is $6500 the going rate for 9 months (18 trays)?

Mine is 19 U, 18 L and I am paying 4400(Canadian). I didn't shop around either but went for convinience of location....

#8 Post by **Invisibeth** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:21 pm

4400 for upper and lower!! I'm paying 6500 for upper-only!!! Now, I think there will be a price adjustment, since I *was* going to get lower and they haven't sent me the difference yet, but yikes!

What province are you in, Devushka?

#9 Post by **Devushka** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:49 pm

I am in Alberta, which is crazy because I would think it would be MORE expensive here than the other provinces/territories, but I guess not.

#10 Post by **Invisibeth** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:27 pm

Unlike Alberta, in Ontario?? Invisalign costs more than 3-bedroom houses these days. Ha.

#11 Post by **Devushka** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:42 pm

Yeah well everything here is more expensive than elsewhere in Canada -food, housing, gas. Just because of the oil industry. I just assumed dental service would be as well. Or maybe I just got lucky, I have no idea.

I cannot believe yours is that expensive! My goodness. You said you didn't get a second opinion?

#12 Post by **AnneC** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 3:40 pm

There is certainly something wrong there, KarenH. I doubt you'd be able to switch to another ortho or dentist without beginning treatment anew at this point. Your office can view your "case status" with Invisalign & should be able to give you a concrete answer as to your refinement package's whereabouts - being "stuck at the border" for 4 months sounds ludicrous.

It took exactly 7 days for my refinement trays to arrive at my dentist's office from the date I reviewed my new ClinCheck & my hygienist accepted it over the internet (which I watched her do). I know this because of the date stamped on my first refinement tray set package.

Somewhere I posted what the entire process is for your trays to actually be made once your impressions & treatment prescription are sent to Invisalign - it takes place across 3 continents if I remember correctly, before your aligners are sent back to your clinician's office, so it's pretty amazing how they usually get processed in a timely manner. If I come across the link, I'll post it.

I'm in Southern Ontario - paid $4500 for 23 tray sets in my initial + 4 sets in my one refinement series (hey - up to 3 refinements are included free with regular Invisalign so go for it - you won't get another chance!) & have been in retainment for 8 months now. That did include a take home whitening kit. I paid an extra $80@ for my Invisalign Retainers at the end.

Prices have gone up since I began my treatment, of course. This was with my general dentist - not an ortho & I had a problem-free treatment & very good result.

Best thing I ever did for myself!
AnneC
http://www.smilingwideopen.blogspot.com/

#13 Post by **Invisibeth** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:06 pm

Devushka wrote:
I cannot believe yours is that expensive! My goodness. You said you didn't get a second opinion?

Devushka

No, didn't get a 2nd opinion. Locally, I figured it was all the same (small market). But I probably should have gone to Michigan, given the Canadian $. When I was a teen, I had my ortho work done in MI, and, for crying out loud, I have my *hair* done in Michigan!

As I said, the total may be modified. I think that was the quote for U & L....However, my ortho is a really great guy. We had a few misunderstandings about the course of my treatment, but I really like him. Very kind and understanding...Ha! Maybe I'm paying for a great personality???

#14 Post by **AnneC** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:10 pm

Here's Invisalign's process in a nutshell:

Your doc sends your impressions, photos & xrays to be reviewed in Santa Clara, CA. If deemed appropriate for treatment & what your doc sent was complete, an order is created & your impressions are scanned to create a 3D representation.

That data file is sent to San Jose, Costa Rica where a treatment plan Rx is created. That plan is sent back to your doc for review using the ClinCheck software. Once he approves it (this may take some back & forth between them & hopefully you will be able to approve the final ClinCheck first) the Rx plan is sent back to CA where a set of molds is made.

These molds are shipped to Juarez, Mexico where the actual aligner trays are made in a manual process - one from each mold. Finally, the complete aligner set is sent back to your doc's office. You can read in detail what happens here:

http://mba.tuck.dartmouth.edu/digital/R ... 6-0024.pdf

You can see some pics & view a short video on the manufacturing process at Invisalign's website:

http://invisalign.com/generalapp/us/en/what/how.jsp

Considering how complicated the entire process is, it's pretty amazing how fast the turn around time can be - usually!

#15 Post by **Invisibeth** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:23 pm

Karen & Meryaten,

First, I see your point, Meryaten, about how delays could occur (easily!) at the dentist's office. I have mentioned how expensive my liners are, but having said that, the office runs like clockwork and, honestly, *every* staff member, from the receptionist to the technicians to the orthodontist, are so pleasant, professional, and efficient. I sense that the 2 orthos who run the place are really adamant about customer service, and insist upon perfection, so if, as Meryaten suggests, the process can be affected by the staff, then I'm glad for that.

However, as I mentioned earlier, Karen, I can't believe there is a "hold up" at customs. A lot of people in Canada (and elsewhere) wear Invisalign, and I cannot imagine this is a problem. I agree with Meryaten that you need to point-blank ask your dentist for an exact timeline. It's difficult to feel that you're being confrontational, since this person is responsible for ensuring your future dental treatment, but I think if you just kindly explain that your frustrated and anxious, s/he might be a little more forthright about exactly what's happened/ing. I mean, it's possible that someone in the office misplace or mishandled your files, etc., and they're just stalling rather than causing a ruckus, or something like that....