Inman aligners

[dreamer89]

Hi Tigger,

I didn't even know that colour was an option. Mine are clear. To be honest, not sure I'd go for it even if it had been an option - the least noticeable it is the better in my eyes (not that you get away from people noticing, but not drawing more attention to it).
I had to wait quite a while for impression and then the IA as it spanned Christmas.
fingers crossed for a cancellation for you

[JackDaniels]

Hi Boomerang, I got the clear retainer 24 hours after I had the bonded fitted, so very quick indeed.

I was worried if the bonded would hold for those 24 hours even, but it was totally fine! I am wearing my clear as much as possible, but take it out for meals and if I'm on a night out, that sort of thing. You really hardly notice it. Did your dentist say how long you should wear the clear retainer for?

You got any pics to post?

[smiletime]

9 more days to go and I am at Week 12.

My teeth are only slightly different to when I began. I am so disappointed and angry with my dentist. The change is miniscule and its almost like nothing has moved in the last 9 weeks.

I have spent all this money and worn this thing in my mouth all day, every day, for nothing.

I don't know where to go from here. I may just ask for my money back. Do I have any recourse if my dentist told me they would be fixed and they aren't even close?

Apologies for the rant Just needed to get it off my chest.

[JackDaniels]

Hi Smiletime

Sorry to hear it's not been going so well. Did you mention in an earlier post that the dentist had in some way modified the IA? I'm not sure he should be doing that really as these things are made by qualified technicians. If there is something wrong with it I think he should have sent it back to the dental lab.

To be honest, I'm not sure they would give you a full refund, but you could ask. Does the dentist give any explanation as to why it does not seem to be working?

[smiletime]

Hi JackDaniels,

My dentist does not offer any explanation on anything. He is a man of few words.

I am so unhappy with it, I wish I had never got it in the first place. I see no benefit to it on my teeth. He told me I was a straighforward case, and now, that does not seem to be reality.

I just am wondering what to do on my 12 week visit. I know I am nowhere near being finished. Shall I insist on another aligner, as this one is doing nothing as it is?

I got such a shock yesterday. I was at a wedding over the weekend and when I seen pictures of my teeth, they were the exact same.

[dreamer89]

hi smiletime,

don't stress too much over howlong it should take(i.e. not everyone is finished in 12 weeks) but it does seems strange nothing has changed.Definitely worth talking to your dentist about why. My dentist moves the 'button' he has attached to my teeth to hold it in place when it stopsmoving things/things need to be moved in a different way.
I've been wearing mine for 11 weeks now and although almost there, will have it for at least another 8 due to the hours my dentist works/bank holidays etc not overly impressed. also went to see him yesterday at his normal practice (the one I see him at he is only at once every two weeks) and they hada stupid system which meant I was literally forgotten in reception for 50 minutes! again, not impressed!

[smiletime]

Thats bad! Another 8 weeks?!

I have to go see my dentist every 3. Do you think I should insist on every 2 weeks instead so he can monitor the progress better? 3 weeks is a long time to wear it when its not working.

[Tigger]

Hi dreamer89,

I guess it looks like they are on the official site. He said the colour wouldn't be visible when it's in. I'm a bit obsessed with purple but I don't want to regret getting a non clear part.

I'm not sure I'll be wearing it at work yet as I work on a stroke unit and I need my patients to understand me! I'm currently booked to have it fitted on a Friday so I'll have a couple of days to learn to talk a bit.

[JackDaniels]

Hi Smiletime, I think it's time for the Dentist to start offering explanations! 12 weeks is a long time for nothing to have happened! How many hours a day are you wearing the IA? If it's around 20 hours then something is definitely wrong!

A new aligner might be an idea, just make sure that he doesn't try to charge you for it. Also, if your dentist starts being difficult, or if you feel you are being ripped off, tell him you're not happy with the treatment you are getting and that you will complain to the General Dental Council. This would of course be a sort of last resort situation!

[dreamer89]

smiletime:
yeah I know -8 weeks is a long time when the average is 12weeks and I'm nearly that far in now!

to begin with I saw my dentist every 4 weeks, until things went wrong when he wanted to keep a better eye on me so moved to two (but bear in mind he's only local to me every 2 weeks so there never wasan option of 3) but I would think 3 is quite a bit given it's not doing much in between. Don't lose faith though, you will be surprised how quickly teeth can move when it start working! but discuss the lack of movement with your dentist as something may be wrong...

just looked on the website and have you read this:
"Laser tubes - the sign of authentic aligners
Starting in the spring of 2008 If your Inman Aligner does not have the laser etched wording on the stainless steel tubes chances are it is not a true Inman Aligner. Only certified Inman Aligner Laboratories understand the fabrication techniques that are necessary for this complex appliance to function properly. Please don't accept imitations as they could waste your time and money."

may be worth just checking it's a genuine one? The words 'inman aligner'on mine are difficult to see.They're on the metal wire(where it is shownon the website (but the website makes it look like they're on the plastic) but the words are sort of underneath so you can only just make out what it says.

Tigger:
I see what you mean about the colours on the website. I'm glad to see the bit at the front is clear! I think I'd always choose clear anyway though. Just had a look at mine when it's in and the majority of the 'coloured' part is hidden by my tongue but towards the front the ends are visible when I speak. The coloured part starts (and I don't know the name of teeth) at my 4th tooth back counting one of the front two teeth as 1 and going back. wait...just thought, my IA is for my bottom teeth(hence you can see a bit of the 'coloured' part) but if you're getting a top IA then I agree the coloured part shouldn't be visible at all so no harm in getting a colour (it may be visible to people who are shorter than you so look up at you... but I don't know.) does anyone who has an IA have a colour one?

[smiletime]

Just checked and it is the real aligner. Thanks Never seen that before!

I will wait until my 12 week check up on the 21st. If nothing miraculous happens between now and then, then I will really go mad when I see him again.

I am going to insist on every 2 weeks check up. I want a new aligner if this one has still done nothing by the 21st also. I wear it over 21 hours per day, and have always done so since getting it. I have been wearing it religiously, believing it would be off in the 12 weeks.

I will see what reaction I get from him on the next visit. And if it is not satisfactory, then I would nearly contact Inman themselves to complain!

[dreamer89]

smiletime: one more thing to check (and maybe worth a phonecall to dentist tofind out),make sure you're wearing it correctly. Mine didn't do much at the start and it turnsout I had the bar below the 'button' he had put on my teeth when it should have been above (he didn't show me properly at first). So if you have a 'button' maybe call and ask where the bar should be? mine was supposed to be above to push the teeth together but has since been moved and I wear it below to push a tooth upwards as it was lower than the others so it would have to be something you check with the dentist and not just rely on people in the forum telling you how to wear it. Also, when you go see him get him to check you are wearing it properly, i.e. look at it when it is in, if mine had done this it would have been discovered earlier and I may have even been finished by now

[smiletime]

smiletime: one more thing to check (and maybe worth a phonecall to dentist tofind out),make sure you're wearing it correctly. Mine didn't do much at the start and it turnsout I had the bar below the 'button' he had put on my teeth when it should have been above (he didn't show me properly at first). So if you have a 'button' maybe call and ask where the bar should be? mine was supposed to be above to push the teeth together but has since been moved and I wear it below to push a tooth upwards as it was lower than the others so it would have to be something you check with the dentist and not just rely on people in the forum telling you how to wear it. Also, when you go see him get him to check you are wearing it properly, i.e. look at it when it is in, if mine had done this it would have been discovered earlier and I may have even been finished by now

Hi Dreamer,

I went into him last week about the positioning of it. And its fine I was worried it was in incorrectly, but he put such massive composites in place, there really is nowhere else for it to go now. He says the adjustments he made should give them an extra push. But I am feeling absolutely no pain on the teeth the pressure is supposed to be on.

I dont feel anything. Is this normal?

[dreamer89]

I haven't either! I wasasked yesterday if I felt the pressure on the tooth in the same way as previously and I said 'I guess but I haven't reallyfelt any pressure'. I find it fascinating that teeth can move so much and so quickly (and I realise this isn't the case with you but hopefully it will) withouta considerable amount of pain!
theonly pain I have suffered with the IA is it rubbing on my tongue at first, and when I first got it when I put it in or took it out I would have 5 minutes of pain, but that only lasted a week or so.
I would say don't worry about the lack ofpain/pressure. also,have you taken photos? I find it really difficult to tell if there has been any movement until I go in and see the photos the dentist took the last time

[smiletime]

I haven't either! I wasasked yesterday if I felt the pressure on the tooth in the same way as previously and I said 'I guess but I haven't reallyfelt any pressure'. I find it fascinating that teeth can move so much and so quickly (and I realise this isn't the case with you but hopefully it will) withouta considerable amount of pain!
theonly pain I have suffered with the IA is it rubbing on my tongue at first, and when I first got it when I put it in or took it out I would have 5 minutes of pain, but that only lasted a week or so.
I would say don't worry about the lack ofpain/pressure. also,have you taken photos? I find it really difficult to tell if there has been any movement until I go in and see the photos the dentist took the last time

I took photos at a family wedding on Saturday and was devastasted to see them. My teeth were the same as they were when I started out
At least the 'no pressure' thing is not just me! I would be happier with a bit of pain, then I would know they are moving!