Shaving teeth to coorect alignment?

Message

#1 Post by **sandra** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 2:38 pm

Did any of you have to have your teeth shaved down so they could be moved?

I am considering refinements, but I have real heartburn with having my teeth shaved. I can understand why this might be necessary, but I can't see how it would be desireable. Also, this treatment will be more aggressive than the original, with elastic bands.

My original goal was to have my bite corrected and I think that invisalign was NOT the right choice for me. I went to a dentist and really wished I had gotten a 2nd opinion from an orthodontist.
But at least my teeth look a little better, not that I cared.

Thanks!

#2 Post by **sandra** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:43 pm

I guess IPR is what I'm talking about? What does that stand for?

#3 Post by **Wobblydeb** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:38 am

I just had my first lot of IPR two days ago, and it was one of the easiest parts of the process so far. It was just like having my nails filed.

I have however had a tooth shortened slightly before now - about 15 years ago and had no ill effects. I think this helped me choose IPR over extracting a lower incisor. I had 0.4, 0.3 and 0.2mm shaved off in 3 different places. There's more to go too - I'll have a total of 2.2mm shaved off in about 10 places.

BUT.... neither IPR nor Invisalign is being used to correct my bite. Have you asked your dentist exactly what the IPR will achieve and seen an updated Clincheck for the refinement? If it will not correct the bite, and you are still unhappy with it, is it worth seeing an orthodontist now?

Did your dentist say that Invisalign could correct the bite? If so, it could be time for a conversation about the treatment not achieving what he claimed. It's a difficult thing to acknowledge and have to speak to your dentist about, but could mean you are happier with the outcome?

#4 Post by **Leelee** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 5:05 am

I completely understand why IPR is necessary, especially in cases of crowding, and have had this done twice now in between several upper and lower teeth. I can't say it was a bad experience, except for the dentist having his hands pushed against my face

But sometimes I wonder, with how much IPR was done, if it will help any. One of my teeth looks noticeably thinner than before, and it's kind of annoying me because I think it looks horrible, and the gaps there don't appear to have closed at all since the IPR was done. I know I'm only on tray 4, but I'm only going to have 10 trays total, and then an Invisalign retainer, so I'm a lil worried. I do trust my dentist, but even he can't know for sure how my teeth will move. Here's hoping my teeth come into line by the end of treatment in November!

#5 Post by **anastasia** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 12:30 am

I had a couple of my teeth "shaved" so that they would move better. My teeth are really crowded, so they get kinda stuck together some places (flossing has always been hell).

It was a bit uncomfortable, but it didn't hurt and my dentist assured me it wasn't as harmful for the teeth as it might sound when he is filing. He didn't shave off much, so I can't see the difference but flossing is way easier!

#6 Post by **Mark22** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 11:59 pm

I am a spammer and have been banned.

#7 Post by **myhollywoodsmile** » Tue May 04, 2010 4:31 pm

I had a little unscheduled IPR when two of my teeth weren't moving easily past each other. It wasn't too awful really and to be honest although flossing is infinitely easier I can't actually see any difference to the tooth just by looking.

I think as long as you have an experienced provider you should be fine. I have only heard of one poor IPR case and that was done by a new provider with no experience.

As always check your dentists or orthodontists credentials and experience before treatment and then you can be confident in their advice. IF you aren't sure about something the best thing is just to keep asking until you are satisfied with the answers.

Good luck with it

#8 Post by **DrJasonKTam** » Thu May 06, 2010 5:24 am

IPR is completely safe and painless if done correctly. There should be no sensitivity or predisposition to cavities. It is required to create space to allow teeth to move, but also to allow the aligner to grip the tooth on more surfaces.

I have to admit that I did my own IPR with diamond strips for my aligner treatment!