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My journey...Invisalign compared to Invisaligntype retainer?
Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 11:08 am
by DiaEmerald
So, my journey continues!
My last 4 months have been spent wearing a "distalizer" appliance with rubber bands to correct my bite. Got that thing off on tuesday...YAY! My ortho has just now given me an "Invisalign retainer" to wear for the next 6 weeks or so until my actual aligners are ready.
Question for those who have done invisalign and also have the retainer: Are the invisalign trays lighter/thinner? This retainer thing feels pretty thick in my mouth. Luckily I only have to wear it on the top!
Thanks,
DE
Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 11:25 am
by sarahr10
Yes, the actual trays are thinner than the retainers...I actually forget when the trays are in my mouth sometimes
Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 6:03 pm
by AnneC
DE, I'm guessing your present retainer was made in-house by your ortho much like the Essix type are. Invisalign brand Retainers are made from the moulds of your last treatment aligners. From start to finish, it goes like this:
Your clinician sends your records to California where your case is reviewed. 3D scans of your impressions are sent to Costa Rica for creation of your treatment plan. Once approved by your doc, the data is sent back to Santa Clara where a set of molds for each aligner are made. Those molds are then shipped to Juarez, Mexico where your aligner trays are manufactured. It's quite a global process before being delivered to your doc, then ultimately to you - whew!
As Sarah said, the regular aligners are made of a thinner gauge plastic . I think it's actually "EX40" which is used for their brand Retainers, which Align patented. Supposedly 5x more durable at .040" thick & with more elasticity than other commercially available thermoplastic retainers. They are extremely form fitting & look exactly like the regular aligners in your initial/refinement series. They just feel a bit more rigid when wearing them, but after a few days I didn't feel that difference any more at all. They don't go up over your gums at all - just the same as the regular aligners do.
Once you get used to them, you almost forget they're in place. I find myself searcing out an inside edge at times just to make sure I remembered to put them back in...
Hope all goes as well for you as it did for me ---
Regards,
AnneC