Metal Mouth Message Board

Hello,

I have been in treatment for over 2 years now wearing Invisalign Aligners, had a couple refinements and now am wearing the retainers...here's my dilema:

After my last refinement, there was still one tooth that stuck out a little. Instead of one more refinement my Dr. opted to put me in retainers in hopes that the retainers will correct that one tooth. However I have been in retainers for a few months now and no change. So I went back and he ordered this tool which looks like a plier and used it to puncture a small indentation inside the aligner where that one problem tooth was to push it in some. So I wore that for another month or so...no change. I just went back recently and he added some more indentations and also filed the tooth on the side some. The problem with this contraption is that the indendation is so very very small that I don't see how it could possibly move the tooth enough if at all.

My question is, my Dr. says they don't typically like to restart aligners after you have had retainers (for some reason it can affect the treatment). Is this true? I know it would cost more to order aligners again and then even more to order retainers so I'm wondering if he's saying this because of the money. What I do know is that with each aligner that tooth moved. I'm thinking another aligner or two and that tooth can be were it should be. I feel like I am getting no where and he wants me to come back in 3 months...I know I am not a Dr. but it seems that is the only reasonable solution that would work.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

Hi,
my ortho told me that he doesn't like to use Invisalign retainers as once they have ordered retainers they take it that you have finished and starting again requires you to register as a new patient. Instead he uses similar retainers but made at t a local lab. He said that people often come back after a few months and want a few tweaks and he just does another refinement.

I would question your ortho closely on this and also check your original contract.

Good luck.

Thanks for the info, that's really good to know and I'll definately ask my dr. about that. My contract doesn't mention anything about that but he did tell me initially that I am entitled to unlimited amount of refinements. I'm getting the feeling it's a cost issue with him, but I don't think I should be responsible as it was his mistake to stop treatment too soon...well I shall see what happens on my appt. Hopefully I'll get some progress with this soon as I'm getting real tired of this draggin on for months now!

Thanks again for your reply