My experience with the Inman Aligners

[NickelNikki]

1 month 2 weeks pictures

[NickelNikki]

1 month 3 weeks pictures

[NickelNikki]

1 month, 3 weeks, 1 day

Hi people! Sorry for the lack of updates. I got carried away with the summer

I forgot to mention that for a few weeks now - perhaps 2, or thereabouts - I've been able to use my front teeth to chew properly, and to pick my nail varnish off (bad habit, I know ). They've not been nearly as tender as they were for the first week. I still feel pressure on my teeth now and again, especially a few days after an adjustment.

I was thinking about maybe making an extensive pros and cons list of the aligners once I'm done with the treatment, or a 'what to expect' guide or something of the like. Would anybody be interested in that? If anybody has any suggestions of what you'd like to hear about or questions to submit then feel free to let me know. I wanna help out my aligner buddies as much as possible, because that leaflet you get with them isn't exactly informative

So, shock horror disaster! My dentist is going on holiday! And I've been booked in with a different one. Now, I don't actually like having to speak to doctors and dentists as professionals I only like mine because he's like a friend of the family too. So I've a feeling this will be me --> And not just because of the tooth filing either!

I got a lot of dry lips and dead skin on and around my mouth at the start of the treatment. Chapsticks and lip balms etc helped a bit but not a lot. That's subsided quite significantly now, although I do find myself licking my lips a lot when nobody's looking.

I bit my tongue with the aligners in for the first time today. Be warned, it hurts a lot more than usual. You want to try and avoid that if you can.

I'm nearly running out of my free mouth wash now, so it's purchasing time soon.

I think that's all for now. I'll keep you guys updated

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

This is incrediable I LOVE the progress.

[NickelNikki]

2 months and 1 day

Not much to report just lately. I won't post any update pictures today as my teeth look the same as they did in the last photos. I think my teeth need at least one more adjustment before they'll be finished. It's a bit disappointing but the bottom front two are still fighting each other for space, and throes the tiniest bit of a gap that needs closing up on my top front right tooth to make it sit evenly next to the left one. My dentist did predict that the right side teeth would be harder to move.

[NickelNikki]

2 months and 6 days

So, I did a silly thing and missed my dentist appointment. Incidently I've also become rather ill and have been in hospital, so my next appointment has been set back to the start of July. I've still been wearing my aligners for the recommended 20 hours a day though. I noticed the little black lettering on the wires for the first time yesterday.

I'll post more photographs when they start to move again after the adjustment. For now it's all about maintaining them in their current position.

[Trexxy]

[quote="NickelNikki"][u][b]Day 5[/b][/u]

So, my top aligner came out at 4 as usual - and then would. Not. Go. Back. In. At all. Whatsoever.

I kept my bottom aligner in and met up with my boyfriend. Kissing in just the bottom set is absolutely fine, they also don't seem to affect my speech much. I made an appointment with my dentist to see what's going on with the top aligner. Not much to report except that it's getting less painful to put them in and take them back out again. I was still chewing on just my back teeth.[/quote]

Just wondering how much the bottom one affected your speech? I'm a college teacher and I have the top one in at the moment which is fine as it's the holidays but could have the bottom one put in in September if I want to and I'm wondering how much it affects speech. What letters are hard to say? I'm guessing it doesn't affect your speech as much as the top one does? Thanks

[NickelNikki]

Hey,

Thanks for your questions. I personally find that the bottom aligner does not affect my speech at all other than having to be careful not to spit everywhere, although having both aligners in your mouth at once feels incredibly bulky at first. I wouldn't think that the bottom aligner will intefer with your job, certainly not from a communications point of view anyway.

[NickelNikki]

2 months and a half appointment

So, my regular dentist was off on his holidays today so I saw a different dentist from the same practice instead. His room looked like a living room; turns out my usual dentist just prefers the clinical look.

I'm a bit wary of new dentists and doctors, but there was nothing to fear. The new dentist was friendly, polite, professional and helpful (but not my usual dentist, who's the best dentist in the world and just lovely all round). He was surprised that I have both aligners in at once.

He was a lot more worried and careful about filing down my teeth than my usual dentist, I don't think it's something that I do often. I did manage to get some information out if him though:

1. My estimated treatment time is, and has been from the start, 3 months. I'm progressing right on target apparently and very nearly at the end of the Inman Aligner phase.

2. I'll have a retainer; it sounds like they use the Essix one.

3. Tooth whitening seems to be included as part of the treatment.

He seemed to be surprised that the aligners aren't causing me any pain or problems (well, I still get sores in my mouth, but I barely notice them anymore). I met a girl having the same treatment done who is at the same stage as me and her speech was a lot worse than mine; different people seem to adapt to it at different levels and in different ways.

The dentist exclaimed at how much my teeth have moved after looking at the molds I had done before the treatment. There's actually some pictures of me smiling properly from a recent event; I might post them up later.

Thanks for reading! As always, don't hesitate if you have any questions.

[NickelNikki]

3 months

So, I'm rather frustrated right now. My teeth still haven't moved any from the last pictures that I posted. Evidently the stand in dentist didn't file them properly. I see my usual dentist on Thursday, but now I have to have them in during my holiday.

[NickelNikki]

3 months and 2 days

I just had an appointment with my regular dentist. He said the last dentist used the wrong grade of sand paper and didn't file between all of the teeth that he needed too. Apparently a few of my teeth are in their final positions now. I'll post some new pictures up soon.

The dentist also said that it's possible my teeth may be done by next time I see him, which is in 3 weeks time due to my week away (which I will be wearing my aligners for). My top front right teeth need to move back a bit still and my bottom front two are still crossed over.

[NickelNikki]

3 months 2 days Pictures

[NickelNikki]

And check out my new smile, cheers to Mr Inman



It looks so good already! I can't wait for the finished result

[NickelNikki]

3 months, 1 week and 2 days picture reminder

Just a reminder to myself to post these pictures when I get the chance.

[NickelNikki]

4 months 3 weeks appointment

Well it's been a long old journey with these guys. I went to see my dentist today and he confirmed that yes, my top teeth are now in their final positions. He said that my bottom two teeth need to move about a tenth of a millimeter to be just right.

At the next appointment he's going to level out my top front two teeth because the left one is slightly longer than the right. He's also going to whiten them, take the molds for my retainers and take some final pictures.

I'll be getting the Essix retainers to wear every night for 3 months, then once a week for 3 months, then once a month.

My dentist is definitely amazing, he knew my final finishing touches wishes without me telling him them. He's been great throughout the treatment process. He said that my smile looks a lot broader now and I agree.

I'm so happy. I grin all of the time now.