Metal Mouth Message Board

I just started my second set of trays and they are really hard to get on - sometimes need to clench my teeth to get them all the way on the backs - which my doc said to not do. They also do not seem to go all the way on my front teeth - the gap/empty space between the end of teeth and the end of the tray seems to be more - as in can see more of the tray showing. In my first set the gap/space was very small and you really couldn't see it much.

Is a new set always this tight and hard to get on and will just get better fitting in a few days? I don't remember my first ones being this tight or hard to get in/out.

Hello,
Did your orthodontist give you "chewies"? I believe they are described in another post. They are basically small sticks that you can bite down on (usually starting at the back molars and working all the way around your mouth) several times per day. I find these to be very effective as they gently push the aligner up on to teeth, getting rid of the empty space between the bottom of your aligners and the bottom of the tooth.

I usually find that the aligners don't completely fit over my front teeth when I change into a new set. Using the chewies the first night and the next few days has worked for all my aligners so far (I'm on tray 10 of 20).

Hi

New sets can be quite tight. My new sets never sit properly on my back teeth until I have slept in them. Try to push them on as much as you can. If they aren't right after say two days, I would recommend calling your ortho but you will probably find that they settle down.

my aligners also never fit completely over my front teeth. i just try to push them up as much as possible. a new set should always feel quite tight at least for 2 or 3 days.

Thanks guys - they did start to fit better after the first night I slept with them in (I tend to be a clencher/grinder when I sleep) and while they are still tight, they're not as bad.

Mine didn't say anything about chewies but I might ask when I go back in a few weeks for my attachments. It's got to be better than using my teeth and clenching down to get them seated right the first few days of a new tray.

I can't really visibly see much difference but I know they are moving - I have two gaps (between my 4 front teeth and eye teeth on both sides) that I used to be able to get my bottom lip into and do a "bunny teeth" thing to my son with, and I can't get my lip in there anymore - at least not very far!

On my fourth trays now, and can say that I've never had an issue with this. Mine go all the way on and they click over my attachments at the front.

But then again, my back teeth are hardly being moved, it's all front stuff for me.

Mine can be really tight with a new tray, first time I take the new set out my front teeth always really hurt.

I sometimes have a small gap on various teeth for the first day or so. It usually closes up though fairly quickly. I don't have chewies ( my ortho says I don't need them) but I do tend to bite down on my aligners to seat them on my teeth.

It isn't uncommon to have a "bounce" when you are seating new aligners. They will feel tight in certain areas, but keep in mind that they are the shape your teeth should take after the end of the two week cycle.

Using tools such as aligner chewies will help ensure the aligners fit properly. The "bounce" should usually go away within the first few days.