Inman aligners

[inmanthedan]

Thanks Susiesue11
I got the veneers removed which was not bad, the ortho then filed between my teeth which was strange but now my teeth are sensitive. Looking forward to starting the treatment, a bit worried about the speech as everyone seems to have problems with it.
Good luck with the last stage of your treatment!

[turnbulls]

Well done Susiesue11 you're almost done...... are you getting the whitener to use when your plastics arrive? I will also need the bottom of my teeth levelling off...........is it the same sensation as when you have inbetween the teeth filed? Also have you decided if you will have a fixed wire retainer, or are you going with the clear plastic retainer? Sorry for all the questions, but I think I'm only a few weeks away from finishing also and want to be ready when I need to make any decisions.

Inmanthedan - can I ask why you have made the decision to have your veneers removed? I originally visited my dentist with the intention of having veneers fitted, but due to the overcrowding was told it wasn't a possibility and I would need to have my teeth straightened first, then I could proceed with veneers. Hopefully I will be delighted with the results when I'm finished with the brace I won't want to spend any more on veneers!!

[inmanthedan]

Hi Turnbulls, The veneers were composites and were only temporary 12 years ago!. They got very discoloured so it was either get proper veneers or straighten them so I decided to bite the bullet and sort them out. Hope I have made the right choice....no going back now!

[susiesue11]

Hi Inmanthedan, yes the speech will be a challenge there's no pretending otherwise! But the beauty of this device is you can remove it for telephone conversations or meetings if required. Good luck.

Hi Turnbulls, I will be getting the dentist to do the initial whitening and then take home the tray to keep it up at home myself, but we havent discussed it properly yet. Could possible be because I have recently mentioned to him that I may straighten my bottom teeth as well!!!!! I know, gluten for punishment. My bottom teeth have never bothered me at all but now the the top ones are sorted all I keep looking at is the bottom ones. It would be a smaller/quicker job with the IA to straighten my two lateral incisors which cross a little. I just don't know if I can do it again and fork out £££s.

Re the levelling off, no it wasn't like the filing. I had my eyes shut so didn't see the instrument but it didn't hurt at all and wasn't sensitive. Its more the cold water they spray in which is cold. Once the clear aligner has refined the position he will do the final bit of levelling off again. When I've asked my ortho about retaining the position afterwards he recommends the wire as thinks it is easy to lapse with a clear retainer worn everynight forever. So I will 99% go down the wire route. I'll just get some of the stick to floss.

Glad its going well for you too, not long now then

[turnbulls]

Inmanthedan - I'm sure you won't regret it. I'm 11 weeks in now, and was predicted treatment would take approx 16 weeks and can honestly say the time has flown by. As Susiesue has mentioned the speech still proves to be a problem, but just like her, I remove the brace for phone calls or any lengthy conversations so all is good.

Susiesue11 - I know what you mean about the bottom teeth - mine are not too bad compared to what my top arch were like, but still have a couple of slight rotations, but for me, unfortunately I won't be doing anything about these purely due to finances. The general opinion reading through this forum seems to be the wire retainer, but my only doubts are being able to clean properly and wonder how often the wire comes detached and needs re-attaching, as I'm not too sure my regular dentist would be too happy doing this since I haven't had my braces done at his surgery. I suppose I can ask these questions when I near the end of my treatment...........not too long now

[susiesue11]

Hi Turnbulls, hmmmm I hadn't thought about the cleaning side of having the wire other than having to use a different instrument rather than floss, I'd assumed it would just take that extra bit of care. Given that I currently floss after every meal time with the IA, one thorough clear in the evenings can't be so bad, can it? I'll have a read through the forum about it as I havent look back at the past posts since the first weeks of joining. As for it coming detached I'll ask my dentist, I'd assumed that given he was recommending it, it must be the better option.

[inmanthedan]

Hi Susiesue11, I have been researching the IA but cant find anything to tell you how to put on or take off the appliance correctly. I know the ortho will show me but I would like to have an idea before I get it. Also reading through the forum a lot of people say they were not expecting the appliance to be so bulky, is it a real shock on the fitting day. Thanks in advance....maybe I should stop researching as its making me nervous...no going back now!

[susiesue11]

Hi Inmanthedan, sometimes you can have too much info, don't worry it'll be fine. I didn't know anything about putting it on, your ortho will show you, probably in a mirror which helps. Once you've done it a number of times you'll be able to put it on without a mirror wherever you are. Yes it is bulky and they do vary I believe in style. I have an expander in mine so its much bigger in my mouth where my tongue is. My front tooth was quite protruding so the clear bar started quite high up, therefore making my top lip protrude alot. You will feel self conscious but once you get over it and get out and about its okay. As my teeth have straightened over the weeks the clear bar has moved down and its not too bad now.

I've just had a call that my clear aligner has come in, I will get it on Monday. yah, I'm so excited. Although I will need three sets of clear aligners which will be three lots of two weeks. But I am on the home straight.

[inmanthedan]

Thanks Susiesue11 I know best to wait and see...too much researching here!
Good luck with the clear aligners, your nearly there.

[inmanthedan]

Hi All,
I got a call from the clinic on Friday Afternoon the inman is in, so I am booked for 8am tomorrow morning. Looking forward to getting started..let the lisping begin.I will let you know after how it goes.

[susiesue11]

Good luck Inmanthedan, hope it goes well tomorrow.

So thats it for me with the IA. After a little bit of filing, proding, and three composite buttons etc I now am the proud owner of my first of three clear aligners for the last few tweeks. Boy the clear aligner is SO much easier to wear. My speech is absolutely fine with it in. No discomfort as yet (5 hours). Its a little tricky to take off as its a snug fit but I think after a few days of it I'll have it mastered. I have to wear it for 22 hours a day.

[inmanthedan]

Well its on, and its not bothering me at all!. I had my appointment at 8am and it was fine the ortho did some filing but that was ok, my speech is not good but I dont really wear it when talking so its fine .My teeth have slight pain but noting to bad, all told its nothing to be worried about. For anyone thinking of getting it but has doubts......go and do it you wont regret it. I will post again in a week or so.

[turnbulls]

Inmanthedan - Glad to hear you're managing the aligner well. It'll be over before you know it.............I can't believe how quick the time has gone.

Susiesue11 - Just been for my 13 week appointment (predicted treatment time was 4 months) and my Dentist has changed his mind and said I won't need to wear the clears for final adjustments as he had originally planned. I'm back next week to have the impressions done for the bleaching trays (which will also be my retainer to wear at night forever, as he thinks this will be better than the wire for me). He is going to do some bonding to finish up and did a mock-up of what my teeth will look like and I was delighted with the result. Very very close to having a smile I'll be proud to show off

[susiesue11]

Inmanthedan, well done, day one sounds great. The first week was the toughest for me so I hope it continues. It is SO worth it.

Turnbulls, wow isn't that brilliant news. Much quicker for you and cheaper and you are nearly there. What does the bonding mean and involve? Interesting he thinks the retainer tray is a better option for you than the wire, did he say why?

[turnbulls]

Susiesue11 - the bonding is a tooth coloured resin material which he will use to add length to parts of the teeth to make them all the same length. He said he prefers to do this rather than shave off the bottoms of the teeth to make them all the same length. I asked about the durability of the bonding and he said like fillings they can break off, but he rarely sees this. He didn't particularly say why he preferred the clear retainer, but did mention that grinding teeth in my sleep could weaken the bonding, but the clear retainer would prevent this. I'm excited to see the end results now and will post some pics when I'm done