Very hestitant to start Invisalign--Can you help?
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faithatlanta
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat Apr 24, 2010 12:55 pm
Very hestitant to start Invisalign--Can you help?
i had braces when I was a teenager. My main problem is crowded/crooked bottom teeth and mild overbite. My top two front teeth are fine and I have always been told I have a lovely smile. I am concerned about invisalign doing something that will cause my top front teeth to not look at nice and change the way I smile. Also, my ortho (premier elite provider) does not offer a computerized vision of how your teeth will look when finished, although I know some doctors do, so that makes it more difficult for me to move forward.
I have not been told how many attachments and refinements I will receive...should i know that at the beginning? i have backed out once before-- my new apt. is this week...need some advice.
I've been in treatment for 18 months due to a severe deep bite that re-occurred after previously having braces. Like you, my upper teeth looked good as did my lower teeth. However, my bite problem was causing gum and tooth damage and the problem had to be fixed even though there were no appearance issues.
Like you, I did not see the Clincheck computer model that many Invisalign patients are shown. This is likely due to the amount of vertical tooth movement and my treatment with Invisalign has gone beyond the normal switching trays every two weeks. In my case, the final step has involved cutting off the portion of my trays covering my rear molars so they can grow in a couple of millimeters. Since this doesn't involve switching trays, a computer simulation wouldn't be accurate. At present, both of my arches are perfect and there is only the vertical correction remaining.
I am going to an orthodontist with advanced credentials - in my case he has an advanced degree in orthodontics. Your choice of a premier elite provider is a good start.
Your concerns are those typically shared by every new Invisalign patient. Before you sign off on a final treatment plan, you should ask your questions about final appearance and attachments. Unfortunately, I don't think you can get an answer regarding refinements other than if they are included in the price. These happen when tooth movement is not fully predicted and changes are needed. I required a mid-course correction about nine months into treatment.
You'll feel better getting the answers up front also can determine how willing your orthodontist is to discuss your treatment in advance. This can be as important as the treatment itself. I give my doctor high marks in telling me what he is planning to in advance, even if not asked. This is very helpful when things don't seem to be going right or if there is a need for changes.
Good luck!!
Like you, I did not see the Clincheck computer model that many Invisalign patients are shown. This is likely due to the amount of vertical tooth movement and my treatment with Invisalign has gone beyond the normal switching trays every two weeks. In my case, the final step has involved cutting off the portion of my trays covering my rear molars so they can grow in a couple of millimeters. Since this doesn't involve switching trays, a computer simulation wouldn't be accurate. At present, both of my arches are perfect and there is only the vertical correction remaining.
I am going to an orthodontist with advanced credentials - in my case he has an advanced degree in orthodontics. Your choice of a premier elite provider is a good start.
Your concerns are those typically shared by every new Invisalign patient. Before you sign off on a final treatment plan, you should ask your questions about final appearance and attachments. Unfortunately, I don't think you can get an answer regarding refinements other than if they are included in the price. These happen when tooth movement is not fully predicted and changes are needed. I required a mid-course correction about nine months into treatment.
You'll feel better getting the answers up front also can determine how willing your orthodontist is to discuss your treatment in advance. This can be as important as the treatment itself. I give my doctor high marks in telling me what he is planning to in advance, even if not asked. This is very helpful when things don't seem to be going right or if there is a need for changes.
Good luck!!
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myhollywoodsmile
- Posts: 218
- Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:20 am
- Location: Brisbane
- Contact:
Hi there,
I am now fairly advanced in my treatment (awaiting second refinements) although I still have a long way to go.
I too had numerous concerns but I can say completely unequivocally that I am thrilled with how my treatment has gone.
I too did not see the clincheck. My provider says that it is only a guide to what will be done so he doesn't like to give it to people. More important is the knowledge of your provider.
I didn't find out how many attachments/aligners I had until they arrived. Having had attachments though I can honestly say don't worry about them. You really do get used to them very quickly.
Have you sought reassurance from your provider that the general appearance of your smile won't be changed?
Good Luck. I can't tell you what to do, but I can tell you that I don't have a single regret. My invisalign treatment has been far, far easier than I imagined.
I am now fairly advanced in my treatment (awaiting second refinements) although I still have a long way to go.
I too had numerous concerns but I can say completely unequivocally that I am thrilled with how my treatment has gone.
I too did not see the clincheck. My provider says that it is only a guide to what will be done so he doesn't like to give it to people. More important is the knowledge of your provider.
I didn't find out how many attachments/aligners I had until they arrived. Having had attachments though I can honestly say don't worry about them. You really do get used to them very quickly.
Have you sought reassurance from your provider that the general appearance of your smile won't be changed?
Good Luck. I can't tell you what to do, but I can tell you that I don't have a single regret. My invisalign treatment has been far, far easier than I imagined.
first set in today!
Hi!
I just received my first set of aligners today and I was excited to post about it. Since you were hesitant about signing up I thought this would be a great place to tell everyone about my new trays.
My teeth and bite are pretty complex... I have a crossbite, midline is off, they tell me that my upper palate is too small for my mouth, and a slight overbite to boot. I'm pretty certain that these problems only exist in abundance because they all inter-relate. Anyway, my ortho was up to the challenge for Invisalign and today I received and am wearing 1 of 31 upper and lower trays. I have Invisalign Teen, which surprised me, but as far as I can tell they are not functionally different than the regular Invisalign.
My concerns before wearing the trays (or even knowing how many I would have or what they would look like) were:
cost of treatment,
whether Invisalign would work in my case,
length of treatment,
visible 'attachments', and
how compliant I will be.
My responses to those concerns with a full hour or weartime are:
cost was ~$5000 in So. Cal. which I thought was very reasonable considering some of the other quotes...and this is a Premier Ortho with years of Invisalign experience,
Invisalign will help me with 90% of my problems (I was told that surgery is the only option to completely correct my bite. no thanks),
I was originally told 2 years of treatment time though 31 trays comes to 1 yr and a few months - I see refinements in my future at some point,
I don't have any attachments at this time and may never need them though my trays DO have the spaces for the attachments in the trays (even on my front tooth) - this bothered me for about 5 seconds but you really can't notice them unless I give a huge grin right in your face,
as for compliance... to be determined!
Go get those trays! It's not nearly as visible as you think and they don't hurt at all when I remember about my metal braces some 20 years ago. Good grief... so glad I don't need brackets ever again.
I just received my first set of aligners today and I was excited to post about it. Since you were hesitant about signing up I thought this would be a great place to tell everyone about my new trays.
My teeth and bite are pretty complex... I have a crossbite, midline is off, they tell me that my upper palate is too small for my mouth, and a slight overbite to boot. I'm pretty certain that these problems only exist in abundance because they all inter-relate. Anyway, my ortho was up to the challenge for Invisalign and today I received and am wearing 1 of 31 upper and lower trays. I have Invisalign Teen, which surprised me, but as far as I can tell they are not functionally different than the regular Invisalign.
My concerns before wearing the trays (or even knowing how many I would have or what they would look like) were:
cost of treatment,
whether Invisalign would work in my case,
length of treatment,
visible 'attachments', and
how compliant I will be.
My responses to those concerns with a full hour or weartime are:
cost was ~$5000 in So. Cal. which I thought was very reasonable considering some of the other quotes...and this is a Premier Ortho with years of Invisalign experience,
Invisalign will help me with 90% of my problems (I was told that surgery is the only option to completely correct my bite. no thanks),
I was originally told 2 years of treatment time though 31 trays comes to 1 yr and a few months - I see refinements in my future at some point,
I don't have any attachments at this time and may never need them though my trays DO have the spaces for the attachments in the trays (even on my front tooth) - this bothered me for about 5 seconds but you really can't notice them unless I give a huge grin right in your face,
as for compliance... to be determined!
Go get those trays! It's not nearly as visible as you think and they don't hurt at all when I remember about my metal braces some 20 years ago. Good grief... so glad I don't need brackets ever again.