My Invisalign to braces journey

[Lirvinrn]

As of last month.....

I was almost 2yrs into Invisalign and so miserable and unhappy. Here is my complicated course. I started with my 1st ortho doc who estimated 12mos. I did not have any major issues. Just mostly cosmetic. I started with 19 trays. About 75% way through, that ortho left the practice and I was given a new ortho doc. She pointed out that the first doc didn't address my bite being off and recommended a revision, which we did after 17th tray. Well the revision came back with 35, yes 35!! trays. Needless to say, I was less than pleased with this.

Partway through this revision, my 2nd ortho then left the practice. This should have been a red flag. I then had a follow up with now my 3rd ortho. This guy was so rude and basically told me I should lower my expectations of my results. This doc's tech actually told me to sit in the "naughty"chair when showing me into the room. Talk about unprofessional. At this point, I threw my hands up with this office and decided to follow my 2nd ortho, as she seemed to know what she was doing. I did my research and learned I was allowed to transfer my case and receive all my trays and records. Trouble came when I was already paid in full with the original office. I learned from my new office that the original ortho office owed me a refund based on the estimated remaining treatment time. The original office refused and I had to threaten going to the local news and/or BBB in order to receive my entire record and proper refund.

So... Somewhere along the way, I ended up with rubber bands to try and correct my bite. These things suck. They cut up the inside of my cheek making it painful to eat, sleep on that side and properly brush there. I am living on Biotene and putting gauze in at night. Oh and speaking of eating., I have lost about 10lbs and am depressed over the stress of taking the trays out to eat versus leaving them in and being hungry all the time. Not fun when I work 12hr shifts in an ER and have a toddler to chase.

I am on tray 31/35 I think. Ortho doc said the last 3 are only place holders and don't really move the teeth. That being said, my teeth are not where they should be, if this is to be the "end". My bite is still off slightly. Enough that I notice. Also, my lower second bicusbid (Google) is supposed to have turned and it didn't. The attachment on that tooth isn't even aligned with the "hole" on the tray anymore.

I am so disappointed with this experience. Almost 2yrs and still not the result I want. I wish I knew then what I know now. I would never recommend Invisalign. Regular braces seem so much more flexible in the ability to make mid-course corrections.

January 3rd: I had traditional braces placed. Ceramic clears on front top, metal on bottom. So far, so good. Having trouble eating, have to eat soft stuff. No horrible soreness though. Excited this process will be over soon!

[NICURN85]

Hi and welcome,
I am so sorry to hear about your story with orthos being rude and then leaving. I hope everything is going well now with the metals. I have a full metal set. Since you are moving from Invisalign to metals what is your new estimated time in braces? When I first got mine I lived off baked fish and salmon along with mashed potatoes. I hope with the metals you will have a better experience and receive the best results. Make sure to keep us updated and I look forward to following your story.

[Tobilei]

Ugh, I'm so sorry to read your story Worrying about Invisalign not doing the job I wanted to was the biggest factor in my decision to get regular braces. I'm glad you're getting it sorted out once and for all now. Hope the soreness settles down soon for you!

[45wantsnicesmile]

I went with Invisaligns too and wore rubberbands at night for about a year. I was originally told 18 months and was told 36 trays. At the end of about 13 months, it was decided that the trays weren't fitting well and I had to wait for refinements 23u/19l. I'm on #20 right now and have brackets on 2 teeth to close an extraction gap that hasn't been closing to quickly. I'm hoping that I'll be getting retainers in mid February. However, my front teeth seem to be slightly askew, so I'm not sure what will happen when I see the orthodontist in 2 weeks. I hope he tells me that they will be straightened out in another month and I can expect to be in retainers in March.

[Lirvinrn]

My estimate is 9mos which is totally doable do have the outcome I want. Just wish I would have went this route to begin with. Oh we'll

Today wasn't a great day. I wore my rubber bands most of my 12hr shift yesterday and then all night and this morning. By the afternoon, I was so sore and irritated I could barely open my mouth to talk or try to take spoonfuls of yogurt. Not good. Tried some benzocaine they gave me. Didn't work. Leaving the bands off for now. Will probably put in tonight and cover with gauze. That is what I did at night when I had the Invisalign. Ibuprofen and Tylenol not helping with the soreness oh and trying salt water rinses but only remember to do that 1-2x a day.

Anyone have this issue with the bands? From the prior experience, the soreness never gets better, as in starts to scar and toughen up. I just have to leave them off, let it heal and then start all over.

[vsho]

The whole thing sounds like it sucks. I really wanted Invisalign, not for cosmetic purposes but because of the pain of having the brackets brushing against my cheeks and all that. I was told however they weren't for me and I am glad, you know why? Because I would hate to have to wait for "refinements" to be given to me. I'm 10 months in, and I really don't feel anything now except for a day or two after an adjustment, or if they really fiddle with a tooth. It's usually nothing that keeps me from eating or getting sleep. The worst I get is an earache or some discomfort in my jaw. Hopefully your new ortho doesn't leave you high and dry.

[Lirvinrn]

My ortho is great. Love her and the office staff. So tell me all this mouth irritation and sore gums gets better??? Even the roof of my mouth is irritated and I don't know why that is.. And it's all only on the left side. Eating almost a liquid/purée diet. Lips so sore today even cool water hurts to drink