Metal Mouth Message Board

I am considering getting Invisalign but am concerned with what my teeth will do after I have completed the program. For example: 3 years after I am done my teeth start to slowly move.

I think that braces would be easier because the Orthod. would just have to adjust a wire instead of spending 1-2 hours taking a new impression of your teeth.

My regular dentist does Invisalign and he told me he would have to "shave" some of my bottom teeth to make room for them to straighten. This scares me because these are the only teeth I will have and he is talking about shaving a part of them off.

Invisalign doesnt seem guaranteed to work.

Just to add to what Meryaten has already said.

Bonded retainer, a small wire across the back of your front teeth will hold them in place. You cant take it out, and it's hard to floss around, so it does have some disadvantages.

IPR (shaving), my dentist removed so little enamel with the file that even *I* literally could not tell looking in a mirror which teeth he had done. IPR is about 100x more pleasant than having a filling and 1,000,000x better than having a tooth extracted, provided it's an option! At worst it feels like you've gone too far to the gum with some floss.

Hi,

I have 1 month left on my Invisalign course (Age 38 but now with the money to pay for it ).

I have been thoughtful of what happens at the end and my dentist has advised that I can have either a bonded retainer (as mentioned already) or Invisalign-style retainers that I would need to wear every night for the first 6 months and then 2 to 3 nights per week for ( think) 3-4 months.

Can anyone that has either of these retainers comment on any movement that they have noticed while using these, and also the benefits and disadvantages that they experience.

The receptionist at my dentist has a bonded retainer (which I had never noticed) and she says that she once got a seed caught in it, that had to be hoiked out but no other problems apart from that.

The convenience of just wearing a retainer at night appeals but I want to ensure that I get the best results so would take whichever would give the best results.

A more general question as well - would teeth move back to how they were pre-invisalign if just left alone or is that a bit far-fetched?

Thanks for taking the time to read and reply.

Steve

Can anyone else comment on this?

Thanks

They DEFINATLY will move back to where they were. I am going for the bonded route.

I'll be going the bonded retainer route as well

Adult teeth can (and will!) continue to move no matter what age. I have found out the hard way as I just started Invisalign treatment last week at the age of 59 after a deep bite returned and my lower teeth started contacting my gums behind my uppers.

I don't think there is good understanding about adult tooth movement yet. When I had braces in the '80s, I was told that once my teeth were aligned and retained, they would stay there - didn't happen!! I also had braces in the '60s as a teenager with similar results. I note that I do have an unusual problem where my lower jaw has a curvature that is partly responsible for the relapses. My latest orthodontist pointed this out after my records exam and noted he wasn't making any future guarantees!

My wife never had braces, but has a dental bridge for two teeth. She has had enough tooth movement that she now has difficulty flossing. Part of the problem is her bridge acts as a retainer, preventing some but not all teeth from moving. Our family dentist noted this type of movement was typical for older patients.

My orthodontist has also mentioned bonded retainers when I finish. After three ortho treatments, I'm going to follow more conservative advice. I also plan to take digital pictures of my teeth before each routine dental checkup to see if there is any difference from when I finish treatment. I'll probably set up a checkup with my orthodontist a few years out to be sure no problems are starting.

Good luck!! I hope these comments help.

Adult teeth can (and will!) continue to move no matter what age. I have found out the hard way as I just started Invisalign treatment last week at the age of 59 after a deep bite returned and my lower teeth started contacting my gums behind my uppers.

I don't think there is good understanding about adult tooth movement yet. When I had braces in the '80s, I was told that once my teeth were aligned and retained, they would stay there - didn't happen!! I also had braces in the '60s as a teenager with similar results. I note that I do have an unusual problem where my lower jaw has a curvature that is partly responsible for the relapses. My latest orthodontist pointed this out after my records exam and noted he wasn't making any future guarantees!

My wife never had braces, but has a dental bridge for two teeth. She has had enough tooth movement that she now has difficulty flossing. Part of the problem is her bridge acts as a retainer, preventing some but not all teeth from moving. Our family dentist noted this type of movement was typical for older patients.

My orthodontist has also mentioned bonded retainers when I finish. After three ortho treatments, I'm going to follow more conservative advice. I also plan to take digital pictures of my teeth before each routine dental checkup to see if there is any difference from when I finish treatment. I'll probably set up a checkup with my orthodontist a few years out to be sure no problems are starting.

Good luck!! I hope these comments help.

I had braces in my teens, and no mention was made of retainers afterwards. This was a complete waste of money, time and discomfort. My teeth moved back to their original positions - slowly so that I didn't really notice, but definitely. I now require at least two years of additional orthodontic treatment with these invisalign-type braces.

Fishamble,

My guess is you had braces prior to around 1990 or so? This seems to be around the time the long term retention recommendations came out.

Good luck avoiding "Round 3"!