Inman aligners

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#256 Post by **lilypud** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 4:40 am

Hi all

Am new to this site but finding it really helpful. A bit of history about me - I saw a dentist in London a month or so back. His initial advice was that I would need the IA for my bottom teeth only and that the top could be straightened using an Essex retainer. After taking impressions and sending them off to the lab, i then got a call from the receptionist to say an Essex retainer would not do the job on the top teeth and I would need the IA for both top and bottom. There was no further explanation. I am somewhat suprised by this (and maybe a bit cynical...is he just trying to get more money out of me?) as my top teeth aren't crooked at all, just a little bucked with one front tooth slightly in front of the other but not overlapping). I had fixed braces over 10 years ago and was very happy with the result then (impacted wisdom teeth later wreaked havoc). I never had any teeth removed then and was still able to achieve straight teeth. I guess i should just call back and ask to speak to the dentist directly but does anyone know why he would be saying a retainer won't do the job wereas the IA will?

Also, I am interested in finding out a few other things:

1. how much have people paid per arch (including the retainer you need at the end)
2. has anyone had any success rotating a tooth using the IA, and
3. does anyone know if you can get the IA in Australia and, if so, what the cost is per arch there? It seems to be a UK thing....

thanks in advance for any advice you might have!

#257 Post by **nicesmile77** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 6:07 am

The wax the dentist gave me is pliable wax that you can sort of plug the hole in the inman that makes it so hard to pronounce certain letters. You shape the wax into a sort of palate and makes it much easier to speak. I was told before that I sounded like I had a couple of drinks on me when I spoke without the wax! Now I can wear my inman to work no bother. But I'm just a little worried that it might be impeding my progress. I have had it 3 and a half weeks and I met my friend yesterday and she said she could see no difference (she's the honest type!) and apart from the first three or four days I haven't felt any pressure or discomfort.
Photos are always good to see. I never took any before pictures. My dentist did so I might ask him for a copy when I go back next week.

#258 Post by **sandiepandie** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 11:31 am

hi .. the wax i got is in a little flat container ...in strips ... dont suppose it would be enough to do what you are doing with yours tho !!! ... my dentist just said about using it if there was a sore bit with the wires etc ..... my speech is still really terrible after 4 days (much to the amusement of my grown-up kids LOL!!!!!!) so i dont think i can wear it the IA to work ... not much rubbing or discomfort at all so seems I am pretty used to it already ...

#259 Post by **pearly whites** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:32 am

Hi all, just joined the site as i am considering getting the Inman Aligner. I had the initial consultation and just found out today that i am a suitable case. The dentist said that it would cost Â£1500 for the aligner. I was just wondering weather this would be all i would have to pay or is this likely to change? I think im going to go ahead with it. Would all that had it recommend it??

Thanks alot xx

#260 Post by **sandiepandie** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 7:53 am

well had my IA nearly one week but now notice that it doesnt seem to have quite so much pressure on my teeth now !!! when i take it out there is very little or no difference ..... is this normal or is my aligner faulty??!!! or is this what happens over time ???

#261 Post by **jodiejo** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:42 am

Hi there, well yesterday finally came

and I got my IA. Quite a mouthful to get used to although not as big/bulky as I thought it was going to be. Managed to sleep fine, although "slavered" quite a bit

It is quite painful this morning, teeth really aching quite a lot. The aim for my IA is to close the horrendous gap I've got in my front teeth, and to my amazement there has been some movement already!!!! My 12 year old son even noticed this morning. I know I've got a long way to go and am excited at the results - makes it all worse while. Is the pain/ache normal??? Its not unbearable, just a bit sore - I've taken ibupofren to help. I'm from Scotland as well and managed to find the only dentist in my city that does the IA - bit a coincidence I chose that particular dentist but it must be fate

Can anyone tell me when the "ache" will subside? Thanks

#262 Post by **sandiepandie** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:01 am

hi i am in edinburgh .. wonder if we got the same dentist ??!!!!! .. anyway .. i took painkillers for the first say 3 days and used the wax once where the wire was rubbing on my cheek and that cleared up after a day or so. Now, after one week there is very little pain at all ..and the pressure pain when you take it out or put it back in is very little as well ...my speech is still not good enough for me for work tho !!!!

#263 Post by **jodiejo** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:06 am

sounds like we are - I see John Booth at Craigentinny - how weird is that. I'm glad that "ache" subsides - its not unbearable and I work from home so don't have to speak much during the day so it's all good - I get a bit worried that I've not got it in right but having a good look in the mirror and I suspect I have. I'm so glad I got it - I know it's not the prettiest thing to look at but it's there for a purpose - got a check-up in mid-May so fingers crossed although my dentist did say that he didn't think it would take long to work

The price is well worth it - what's a few months of inconvenience and then being happy to smile and not paranoid that people are staring at your teeth

#264 Post by **sandiepandie** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:19 am

hi .. well i see Frazer there !!! .... LOL !!!.. lucky you work from home!!.. my work is telephone based so no hope of wearing it at work !!!.. but i am only part-time so not sooo bad !!....and i think you are right about the end result being more important than a couple of months inconvenience!! I really cant wait !!!! x

#265 Post by Ja » Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:32 am

Hi

Im going to have a consultation for the inman aligner for my front 4 teeth..can anyone reccommend a good practice that they have had or are having their inman aligner treatment at in london? anyone been to the kensington dental practice? thx x x

#266 Post by **jodiejo** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:29 am

Hi there, just thought I'd post an update..... had the IA since last Wed and Thurs and Frid were just the worst days - the pain was quite severe - alot more severe than I thought it would be

. The weekend has been fine though - no problems to speak of (if I could speak that is!!!

). Only pain now is when I brush my teeth - I have to take it very very easy!!! There has been a considerable difference in the gap between my front two teeth and I can definitely feel that they've moved back quite a bit. I'm hoping that when I go for my first check-up on 13 May that my dentist agrees - so, so far all is good. Does anyone drink tea/coffee with it in or do they take it out? I've managed to keep mine in for most of the day/night - only taking it out to eat.

#267 Post by **nicesmile77** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:12 pm

jodiejo wrote:Hi there, just thought I'd post an update..... had the IA since last Wed and Thurs and Frid were just the worst days - the pain was quite severe - alot more severe than I thought it would be . The weekend has been fine though - no problems to speak of (if I could speak that is!!! ). Only pain now is when I brush my teeth - I have to take it very very easy!!! There has been a considerable difference in the gap between my front two teeth and I can definitely feel that they've moved back quite a bit. I'm hoping that when I go for my first check-up on 13 May that my dentist agrees - so, so far all is good. Does anyone drink tea/coffee with it in or do they take it out? I've managed to keep mine in for most of the day/night - only taking it out to eat.

Hi Jodiego, I have my inman nearly a month now. I asked my dentist the same thing (about the tea and coffee) and he said that it's fine, provided it's not scalding hot. The pain definitely subsides after about 4 days to the point where there is no pain. I was actually a bit worried because I associated the ache with my teeth moving and began to think that it had stopped working. I had to remove my aligner for nearly two days last week and when I put it back in, I really could feel the pain again! I'm back again on Wednesday so hopefully the dentist will tell me that there has been some movement. I haven't seen a huge difference, but it has only been a month. Also, I am grinding my aligner at night which I don't think is helping matters!! Does anyone else do the same thing....grind on the bar behind your teeth. I used to wear a nightsplint to stop me grinding....didn't think I could find a way around the inman!!
Hopefully if the dentist has any photos, I will post.

#268 Post by **jodiejo** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 6:52 am

Hiya, good to hear from you. I've not been bothered about grinding at night (or at least I don't think so) but I do seem to "rest" my tongue on the wire behind my front teeth - which can hurt sometimes! I'm the same in that now that there doesn't seem to be any pain - I get slightly worried that nothing is happening. Trying to train myself to stop looking in the mirror every two minutes

It would be good to see photos - I wish I'd taken some before I started wearing it and I would post them for all to see!!!

Good luck on Wed and let us know how you get on x

#269 Post by **luckylou** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:13 am

Hi guys

Its great to find this forum, cause it can feel a bit isolating being the only one in your work/social circle who is lisping and slurping away! After much uhming and awhing, I went for the braces. Have always felt self-conscious when smiling, really detest my six front teeth which are crooked and I thought I should bite the bullet and do something about it..

So it's been almost two weeks now. I have started off with one of those expander braces. Which feel ENORMOUS in my mouth - apparently I have a small mouth, it feels like it occupies 50% of it. Speech was horrific in first two-three days and has settled down to something barely passable. I work in a public job where I'm always speaking to people, often in conflict situations calming situations down, so I just can't wear it at work. But when I'm driving at work, I pop it in. So I'm varying from 13 - 19ish hours a day with the brace. I wish I could wear it longer but it just isn't possible with the speech. Any advice? Does this improve at all?!

I'm hoping to get the proper inman aligner in a few months time. I've been told this is less bulky than the expander brace - any thoughts? If it could help with my speech, that would be great! PS. To the girls up above, I see Fraser at Craigintinny too! Wouldn't have gone for this treatment I reckon if he hadn't been so supportive and encouraging, totally recommend him as a dentist!

#270 Post by **nicesmile77** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:55 am

Went to the dentist today and I can actually see a difference after 4 weeks. I thought I couldn't, but when I compare the mould of my old teeth to how my teeth are now, there really is an obvious change. He thinks another 4 to 6 weeks oughta do it....so I'm thrilled. I suppose I wasn't a really dreadful case but I did have obvious overlapping and tooth rotation so the progress made is great.
Lucky Lou...I never had the arch expander (sounds awful!). The inman isn't so bad. I seem to be the only person using wax with the inman, but that really does make it so much easier to speak to people. I have a lot of telephone dealings in my job and I can speak on the phone. Obviously my speech isn't perfect but definitely understandable so definitely think about getting some. I wear mine about 23 hours a day because I can wear it at work and out in the pub etc.
I will see if I can get some photos up.

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