Helloo everyone! I haven't posted on here in a little while, but i've just had my last appointment with my ortho (for the Clincheck) before I get my very own Invisalign! Im so excited but nervous at the same time. Watching my Clincheck video really had me determind to start my treatment as soon as possible, i've never seen anything like it. My teeth arnt too bad but the front 6 are crookered. My two front teeth point inwards, one of my canines is sticking out, and on the other side my lateral incisor is poking out. So yes, as you can imagine I have quite an awkward looking smile and i'll be glad to get my Invisalign so I know that im actually doing something about it!
I have some questions if any of you would be kind enough to share their experiances and thoughts about -
ATTACHMENTS: According to my Clincheck, I have about 5 or 6 attachments, all on the sides of my teeth which won't really be noticable. However, one of these attachments is on my lateral incisor which I might be slightly self concious about.. are they really THAT noticable? But to be honest, most of the time when im talking to my friends I hide my smile because im self concious anyway, so I doubt it would make much of a difference. I'd prefer them to know though as I wouldnt like one of them to awkwardly shout out WHATS THAT ON YOUR TOOTH BY THE WAY? I'd rather let them know. The reason I got Invisalign is because I dont want it to have a huge impact on my appearance. Another thing that slightly bugs me is the fact that its on my lateral incisor and its going to be there for at least 10 months :( .. I hope it wont effect my self confidence - what I have of it!
IPR: Right, this makes me sort of nervous. I have a 4mm overbite, my lower jaw is small and the teeth are in a perfect round arch but my upper jaw seems to be more crouded causing my overbite. I have to get IPR pretty much between every one of my teeth at some point during treatment.. and im really worried. I dont mind at all about having this done on the back teeth - nobody see's those. Its my front teeth im worried about and especially the front two. The larger part of the IPR will be done on my back teeth, but my front teeth are having a few milimiters shaved off too.. I think between my front two teeth they are going to use a 3mm. Im so nervous.. if anyone has any information about that I would appreciate it so so much. For example - Does it hurt? Can you notice it? How long does it take for the gaps to close and can/do the gaps get bigger? ahh.
Thinking about getting Invisalign gets me excited because it will be interesting and ill be looking forward to seeing the result even though it is quite a way away. It just scares me a little thinking about the process, I have a really low self esteem and id hate to be even more self concious than I already am.. ahh.. I cant think of any more questions but please if you have the time, id appreciate it a lot. Thank you. [/b]
Aligners in a few weeks! Questions if you have the time?
Moderator: bbsadmin
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NiiceSmilePlease
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:33 am
- Location: UK, Channel Islands.
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PrairieWinter
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 6:54 pm
Very exciting that you are about to start on your journey!
There are people far more knowledgeable than me on this forum who will most likely answer your queries, but I will just tell you what I know. I have only three attachments, one on the bottom, two on the top (I have no idea of the name of the teeth, but the upper ones are right next to my two front teeth) I think you can notice them, but not too bad. If you want to see a pic of what mine look like, go to 'our braces stories' and you will see mine.
As for IPR, I got it on a couple of teeth. You can only see it on the bottom tooth, but it is only noticeable when the trays are out. When the trays are in, you can't see the space at all, and my ortho said it wouldn't take too long to close up.
I have never done this before, so it may not work, but here is the link to my story/pics:
viewtopic.php?t=29000
Good luck to you!
There are people far more knowledgeable than me on this forum who will most likely answer your queries, but I will just tell you what I know. I have only three attachments, one on the bottom, two on the top (I have no idea of the name of the teeth, but the upper ones are right next to my two front teeth) I think you can notice them, but not too bad. If you want to see a pic of what mine look like, go to 'our braces stories' and you will see mine.
As for IPR, I got it on a couple of teeth. You can only see it on the bottom tooth, but it is only noticeable when the trays are out. When the trays are in, you can't see the space at all, and my ortho said it wouldn't take too long to close up.
I have never done this before, so it may not work, but here is the link to my story/pics:
viewtopic.php?t=29000
Good luck to you!
I dont think you'll have 3mm space created between two adjacent teeth. Your clincheck will show exactly which teeth need IPR, how much and when. You wont get all the IPR done in one appointment. The most IPR i've had was supposed to be .4mm (.2mm each tooth i guess), and i've never been able to see a gap. It doesnt hurt either. If the gaps dont close (which they should as they're part of the plan), you'll probably just have to get a refinement set.
An attachment on the front tooth will eventually be noticed by someone you're stood talking to, but it's not a giant eyeball magnet. In about 8 weeks i too will be getting a big attachment right on my upper central. Yay!
An attachment on the front tooth will eventually be noticed by someone you're stood talking to, but it's not a giant eyeball magnet. In about 8 weeks i too will be getting a big attachment right on my upper central. Yay!
I haven't seen too many negative comments from people who have had IPR. I don't think they will shave off 3mm. Are you sure it wasn't 0.3mm? I think my dentist said the most he ever does between 2 teeth is 0.5mm.
I didn't have IPR on my first round of aligners, but I will need some on my lowers during my refinements. I will need only 0.1mm in about 7 gaps each. 0.1mm is actually quite small, so I'm not too worried that something will go wrong. And it's the lowers, so they are less visible.
I just looked at my clincheck for refinements last week and will need an attachment on one upper lateral incisor also. But I'm not expecting it to be too visible. I'm currently wearing the last tray from my first set of aligners and that lateral tooth doesn't sit all the way in the tray, and I think that is more visible than the attachment will be.
(I need to post my new clincheck videos.)
I didn't have IPR on my first round of aligners, but I will need some on my lowers during my refinements. I will need only 0.1mm in about 7 gaps each. 0.1mm is actually quite small, so I'm not too worried that something will go wrong. And it's the lowers, so they are less visible.
I just looked at my clincheck for refinements last week and will need an attachment on one upper lateral incisor also. But I'm not expecting it to be too visible. I'm currently wearing the last tray from my first set of aligners and that lateral tooth doesn't sit all the way in the tray, and I think that is more visible than the attachment will be.
(I need to post my new clincheck videos.)
Re: Aligners in a few weeks! Questions if you have the time?
Hi there. I've got 6 attachments - including one on a central lower incisor and one on the upper lateral incisor. Those are the two most noticeable, but they are honestly not as noticeable as full braces. I have quite happily gone about daily life with Invisalign without people realising I have braces. I got so excited about them though that I told all my work colleagues and friendsNiiceSmilePlease wrote:I have some questions if any of you would be kind enough to share their experiances and thoughts about -
ATTACHMENTS: According to my Clincheck, I have about 5 or 6 attachments, all on the sides of my teeth which won't really be noticable. However, one of these attachments is on my lateral incisor which I might be slightly self concious about.. are they really THAT noticable? But to be honest, most of the time when im talking to my friends I hide my smile because im self concious anyway, so I doubt it would make much of a difference. I'd prefer them to know though as I wouldnt like one of them to awkwardly shout out WHATS THAT ON YOUR TOOTH BY THE WAY? I'd rather let them know. The reason I got Invisalign is because I dont want it to have a huge impact on my appearance. Another thing that slightly bugs me is the fact that its on my lateral incisor and its going to be there for at least 10 months.. I hope it wont effect my self confidence - what I have of it!
IPR: Right, this makes me sort of nervous. I have a 4mm overbite, my lower jaw is small and the teeth are in a perfect round arch but my upper jaw seems to be more crouded causing my overbite. I have to get IPR pretty much between every one of my teeth at some point during treatment.. and im really worried. I dont mind at all about having this done on the back teeth - nobody see's those. Its my front teeth im worried about and especially the front two. The larger part of the IPR will be done on my back teeth, but my front teeth are having a few milimiters shaved off too.. I think between my front two teeth they are going to use a 3mm. Im so nervous.. if anyone has any information about that I would appreciate it so so much. For example - Does it hurt? Can you notice it? How long does it take for the gaps to close and can/do the gaps get bigger? ahh.
[/b]
IPR - I think you probably mean 0.3mm too. I've had about 6 lots done so far (maximum 0.4mm) with another 6 to go. It didn't hurt at all - its kind of like getting your nails filed. Some gaps close quicker than others - I think it all depends on the treatment plan. So far they haven't been at all noticeable (I struggle to picture how narrow 0.3mm is!) although I haven't had the incisors done yet - that will be in January. None of my gaps have got bigger - my teeth are fighting for all the space they can get!
Initial set: 31 upper / 17 lower
1st refinement: 14 upper / 10 lower
2nd refinement: 10 upper / 5 lower
1st refinement: 14 upper / 10 lower
2nd refinement: 10 upper / 5 lower
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NiiceSmilePlease
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:33 am
- Location: UK, Channel Islands.
Thank you very much PrairieWinter, PaulInc, John37 and Wobblydeb! All your information and experiances were very helpful to me and I now feel more reassured! Also, yes you were probably right about the IPR, 3mm would have been a bit extreme for my front two teeth! So thats taken a lot of worrying off my mind :)
Another thing im worried about however, is ALCOHOL! I drink pretty much every weekend with my friends and I'd hate to not go out for a drink for 10 months. Because unfortunatly, I will be wearing my invisalign by the time I turn 18 too (in a few months). I've read posts about this, but I have a few personal questions about it! Because I drink cider and I wouldnt like the alcohol to get into my aligners and rot away at my teeth, I cant see any way of getting around it? I was thinking if I used a straw maybe the alcohol wouldnt get into my aligners (or as much anyway) and if I went to wash out my mouth every now and then I'd be ok right? And do you think it would change the colour of the trays?
Also HYGIENE. Couple of not so nice questions here guys. But with the trays you dont tend to get bad breath do you? What do you clean your aligners with and where do you get it from? I dont get bad breath normally, but when im out or im drinking I tend to always chew on gum, which I obviously cant do with my trays in (thats going to suck). Do the aligners tend to make your mouth really dry too? As in, your constantly needing to take sips of water? Thank you very much everyone!
Another thing im worried about however, is ALCOHOL! I drink pretty much every weekend with my friends and I'd hate to not go out for a drink for 10 months. Because unfortunatly, I will be wearing my invisalign by the time I turn 18 too (in a few months). I've read posts about this, but I have a few personal questions about it! Because I drink cider and I wouldnt like the alcohol to get into my aligners and rot away at my teeth, I cant see any way of getting around it? I was thinking if I used a straw maybe the alcohol wouldnt get into my aligners (or as much anyway) and if I went to wash out my mouth every now and then I'd be ok right? And do you think it would change the colour of the trays?
Also HYGIENE. Couple of not so nice questions here guys. But with the trays you dont tend to get bad breath do you? What do you clean your aligners with and where do you get it from? I dont get bad breath normally, but when im out or im drinking I tend to always chew on gum, which I obviously cant do with my trays in (thats going to suck). Do the aligners tend to make your mouth really dry too? As in, your constantly needing to take sips of water? Thank you very much everyone!
There have been some threads addressing drinking alcohol and other drinks with Invisalign. There are also threads discussing how people clean their aligners. So you can get a lot of info there.
I have not had a problem with bad breath, except now that I'm waiting for refinements I've been wearing the same set of aligners for a couple months and I think my breath smells more. I'm not sure if the trays are carrying a bacteria or something. But wearing them for 2 weeks didn't seem to cause bad breath. But I did notice I get more phlegm in my throat since I started using Invisalign, especially in the morning. I probably breathe differently when I'm sleeping or something. I haven't had a problem with my mouth getting dry.
I have not had a problem with bad breath, except now that I'm waiting for refinements I've been wearing the same set of aligners for a couple months and I think my breath smells more. I'm not sure if the trays are carrying a bacteria or something. But wearing them for 2 weeks didn't seem to cause bad breath. But I did notice I get more phlegm in my throat since I started using Invisalign, especially in the morning. I probably breathe differently when I'm sleeping or something. I haven't had a problem with my mouth getting dry.
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PrairieWinter
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 6:54 pm
Hi again!
The drinking thing: I drink about once a week, and have switched to vodka waters, or white wine. I always keep a glass of H2O handy so that I can swish my aligners a bit. Also, if I am at a place where I feel comfortable doing so, I will do a quick brush half way through. Cider should be ok...(though I am certainly not an expert) and a straw would be a good idea.
Honestly, I thought invisalign would adversely affect my lifestyle WAY more than it has.
Bad breath: not a problem! I brush my aligners with toothpaste/toothbrush once a day. I have heard people say that this can make your aligners 'cloudy' but I haven't found that to happen, and even if it does, you only have then in for about two weeks. If anything, i have better breath because I brush so much.
The only time you may have some bad breath is when you wake up in the morning. I always brush first thing in the morning, because i feel like my trays get sort of 'plaque-y' (i just made that word up)
I think you will find invisalign pretty easy to get used to...I did.
PS-happy 18th in a couple of weeks! that is very exciting!
The drinking thing: I drink about once a week, and have switched to vodka waters, or white wine. I always keep a glass of H2O handy so that I can swish my aligners a bit. Also, if I am at a place where I feel comfortable doing so, I will do a quick brush half way through. Cider should be ok...(though I am certainly not an expert) and a straw would be a good idea.
Honestly, I thought invisalign would adversely affect my lifestyle WAY more than it has.
Bad breath: not a problem! I brush my aligners with toothpaste/toothbrush once a day. I have heard people say that this can make your aligners 'cloudy' but I haven't found that to happen, and even if it does, you only have then in for about two weeks. If anything, i have better breath because I brush so much.
The only time you may have some bad breath is when you wake up in the morning. I always brush first thing in the morning, because i feel like my trays get sort of 'plaque-y' (i just made that word up)
I think you will find invisalign pretty easy to get used to...I did.
PS-happy 18th in a couple of weeks! that is very exciting!
I reckon my breath has been better than normal too. I don't put my aligners back in without at least a quick clean of my teeth, so I'm minty fresh all the time I always slept with my mouth open, so it isn't any worse in the mornings.
As for alcohol, I leave my aligners in, and make sure they have a thorough clean once I get home. Its only a few hours once a week - if it was any more I might worry. In fact I'm debating leaving them out for a couple of Christmas parties, and simply keeping that aligner in for a couple of days longer.
I always slept with my mouth open, so it isn't any worse in the mornings.As for alcohol, I leave my aligners in, and make sure they have a thorough clean once I get home. Its only a few hours once a week - if it was any more I might worry. In fact I'm debating leaving them out for a couple of Christmas parties, and simply keeping that aligner in for a couple of days longer.
Initial set: 31 upper / 17 lower
1st refinement: 14 upper / 10 lower
2nd refinement: 10 upper / 5 lower
1st refinement: 14 upper / 10 lower
2nd refinement: 10 upper / 5 lower
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ILoveNiceTeeth
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:48 am
- Location: London. UK
I can relate to this. I went out last weekend to a party at a bar and I couldnt eat/drink because of my invisaligns and I thought damn! Breath!!! I'm gonna wanna be talking to people and the last thing you want is someone with smelly breath talking really close to you as they are trying to talk over the loud music. I went to the loo to have a swish and came back out and my mate offered me a mint... "Do I need it?" I asked. He said I did. Apparently, it wasn't smelling of anything in particular but any more will be bad. I paused trying to think of the people I've spoken to so far (damn! wonder what that girl thought!). I took the mint unapologetically and started drinking with the invisaligns in. And my confidence was back... talking and flirting real close up. I got home and brushed before using my dental flouride.
My theory is this shouldn't really cause any long term damage. I do it about once a week/two weeks - social occasions I can't really get out of. Bearing in mind my ortho said I could drink in there - he had invisaligns too and said he drinks his coffee in them but I dont.
By the way, I'm so happy so far - no pain. A few rough edges on a tray or two, nothing I couldnt cope with - spent a lot of money on this so I just tend suck it in. Switched to trays 6/30 last night - I've been thinking I still havent noticed any change (front teeth gap - upper and lower ) and then I tried to put on my first set of aligners and I couldn't get it to sit on the teeth! I was so happy that my gap is slowly but surely closing!!!
For cleaning the tray, I soak them in Retainer Brite (recommended by the ortho) every morning - although I do it every other day sometimes.
My theory is this shouldn't really cause any long term damage. I do it about once a week/two weeks - social occasions I can't really get out of. Bearing in mind my ortho said I could drink in there - he had invisaligns too and said he drinks his coffee in them but I dont.
By the way, I'm so happy so far - no pain. A few rough edges on a tray or two, nothing I couldnt cope with - spent a lot of money on this so I just tend suck it in. Switched to trays 6/30 last night - I've been thinking I still havent noticed any change (front teeth gap - upper and lower
) and then I tried to put on my first set of aligners and I couldn't get it to sit on the teeth! I was so happy that my gap is slowly but surely closing!!!For cleaning the tray, I soak them in Retainer Brite (recommended by the ortho) every morning - although I do it every other day sometimes.
OK well I have 12 attachments. 8 on all of my front top teeth and 4 on the bottom, including all of the incisors. At first I really really hated them. now I only hate one of them that I think does not blend in as much as the others and is really prominent. With all those attachments, the good thing is that it is more comfortable with the aligners in than out, so I keep them in more.
I have had the filing thing too on my bottom teeth. It doesn't hurt and looks ok and i noticed movement straightaway with my second set of aligners.
As for lifestyle changes I have done the following. I have been out on nights out and drank white and rose wine and it was fine i just brushed and cleaned when I got in. I survived our Christmas do by taking my toothbrush for brushing after the meal, popped them back in , and drank the same as above again. It is really difficult to take them out with so many attachments, and agonising at first with a new set of aligners, so I quite often miss meals, mainly in the evening, which so far has had no noticable affect.
I have noticed a bad taste in my mouth no matter how often I brush so I suspect it does cause bad breath.
All in all i think I will survive the treatment.
Does anyone know whether it is ok to ski in them?
I have had the filing thing too on my bottom teeth. It doesn't hurt and looks ok and i noticed movement straightaway with my second set of aligners.
As for lifestyle changes I have done the following. I have been out on nights out and drank white and rose wine and it was fine i just brushed and cleaned when I got in. I survived our Christmas do by taking my toothbrush for brushing after the meal, popped them back in , and drank the same as above again. It is really difficult to take them out with so many attachments, and agonising at first with a new set of aligners, so I quite often miss meals, mainly in the evening, which so far has had no noticable affect.
I have noticed a bad taste in my mouth no matter how often I brush so I suspect it does cause bad breath.
All in all i think I will survive the treatment.
Does anyone know whether it is ok to ski in them?
OK well I have 12 attachments. 8 on all of my front top teeth and 4 on the bottom, including all of the incisors. At first I really really hated them. now I only hate one of them that I think does not blend in as much as the others and is really prominent. With all those attachments, the good thing is that it is more comfortable with the aligners in than out, so I keep them in more.
I have had the filing thing too on my bottom teeth. It doesn't hurt and looks ok and i noticed movement straightaway with my second set of aligners.
As for lifestyle changes I have done the following. I have been out on nights out and drank white and rose wine and it was fine i just brushed and cleaned when I got in. I survived our Christmas do by taking my toothbrush for brushing after the meal, popped them back in , and drank the same as above again. It is really difficult to take them out with so many attachments, and agonising at first with a new set of aligners, so I quite often miss meals, mainly in the evening, which so far has had no noticable affect.
I have noticed a bad taste in my mouth no matter how often I brush so I suspect it does cause bad breath.
All in all i think I will survive the treatment.
Does anyone know whether it is ok to ski in them?
I have had the filing thing too on my bottom teeth. It doesn't hurt and looks ok and i noticed movement straightaway with my second set of aligners.
As for lifestyle changes I have done the following. I have been out on nights out and drank white and rose wine and it was fine i just brushed and cleaned when I got in. I survived our Christmas do by taking my toothbrush for brushing after the meal, popped them back in , and drank the same as above again. It is really difficult to take them out with so many attachments, and agonising at first with a new set of aligners, so I quite often miss meals, mainly in the evening, which so far has had no noticable affect.
I have noticed a bad taste in my mouth no matter how often I brush so I suspect it does cause bad breath.
All in all i think I will survive the treatment.
Does anyone know whether it is ok to ski in them?
OK well I have 12 attachments. 8 on all of my front top teeth and 4 on the bottom, including all of the incisors. At first I really really hated them. now I only hate one of them that I think does not blend in as much as the others and is really prominent. With all those attachments, the good thing is that it is more comfortable with the aligners in than out, so I keep them in more.
I have had the filing thing too on my bottom teeth. It doesn't hurt and looks ok and i noticed movement straightaway with my second set of aligners.
As for lifestyle changes I have done the following. I have been out on nights out and drank white and rose wine and it was fine i just brushed and cleaned when I got in. I survived our Christmas do by taking my toothbrush for brushing after the meal, popped them back in , and drank the same as above again. It is really difficult to take them out with so many attachments, and agonising at first with a new set of aligners, so I quite often miss meals, mainly in the evening, which so far has had no noticable affect.
I have noticed a bad taste in my mouth no matter how often I brush so I suspect it does cause bad breath.
All in all i think I will survive the treatment.
Does anyone know whether it is ok to ski in them?
I have had the filing thing too on my bottom teeth. It doesn't hurt and looks ok and i noticed movement straightaway with my second set of aligners.
As for lifestyle changes I have done the following. I have been out on nights out and drank white and rose wine and it was fine i just brushed and cleaned when I got in. I survived our Christmas do by taking my toothbrush for brushing after the meal, popped them back in , and drank the same as above again. It is really difficult to take them out with so many attachments, and agonising at first with a new set of aligners, so I quite often miss meals, mainly in the evening, which so far has had no noticable affect.
I have noticed a bad taste in my mouth no matter how often I brush so I suspect it does cause bad breath.
All in all i think I will survive the treatment.
Does anyone know whether it is ok to ski in them?