Inman aligners

[Hatemyteeth]

Honestly, I did have to take painkillers for the first couple of days. It was incredibly painful for a while after taking it out and putting it in. Thankfully that didn't last long.

I was surprised that I could eat almost everything, although I haven't attempted to bite into an apple. But for the first few days I didn't want the pain of taking it out so I hardly ate at all. I never thought I'd get to the stage where it was easy to pop in and out but I did.

I know I'll have to go through it again when my upper aligner comes in but I know it'll be worth it. I was looking at before pictures of my bottom teeth earlier and the difference in 8 weeks in just amazing. Hopefully there's only a few more weeks of this to go but 2 of the teeth still have a bit to go.

[dreamer89]

hi all,
just discovered I could be nearly there one tooth is being stubborn and needs a little rotating/pushing up but back to see my dentist in a week and he thinks that should be enough time for it to be finished. So fingers crossed in a week the composites come off and moulds are taken for some clear ones (I'm getting some invisalign type things to do the finishing tweeks to wear for 2 or 4 weeks depending)
I'm also just discovered that my dentist (who usually works in london but it local to me every two weeks) is not back close to me until 25th June after next week!! so that means lots of effort to get to London/making up hours at work to see him which is not going to be fun!
but, fingers crossed I'm nearly there - it has been 15 weeks since I got them

[Tennessee]

I got it! It's going to take some getting used to but I'm up for it. Within an hour or so I had cut my tougue a little on the spring. I can feel the pressure but so far no pain. DR. said he would tighten next month.

[LilPickle]

Tennessee - I remember it making my mouth quite sore the first few says but you do get used to it. Every now and again I go through a phase of catching my tongue on it all the time and then I just seem to stop doing it. You do adapt to it quite quickly. The worst part for me (and still is) is finding a comfortable place just to rest my jaw.

I've just got back from my appointment. Short but brutal! More filing needed and my gums were cut to shreds. Was very painful but I didnt want him to numb it. Still a bit sore now actually.

I've got another appointment in a week but he's positive i'll be progressing on to invisalign style trays for about another month just to do the final adjustment as its quite minor and apparently the inman can over-correct if not monitored closely. Something else to look forward to!

[Tigger]

Well I get my IA after work on Tues (luckily I have Wed off so I can get used to it a bit).

Is everyone still in agreement that retainer bright is the best thing to clean it? And does anyone know where to get a good deal on it (UK)?

Is there anything else I need/ should be prepared for?

Also I know I can't eat wearing it but what about drinks, I drink water most of the time anyway and obviously I'm not planning on supping on a glass of red with it in, but is there anything I should be avoiding? I tend to drink herbal tea rather than black tea.

Thanks

[Tennessee]

Well I'm on day 3 and so far it hasn't been too bad. When I take it out the front teeth are a bit tender but not unbareable. As for eating, it hasn't been a problem. My back teeth are fine so there is no pain. I wore to work most of the day but hated when someone stopped by to talk. Some sounds are tough to say. It's made me think of alternative words so I could avoid those sounds. I'm trying to wear as much as possible because I'm hoping to be finished by August.

[LilPickle]

Tigger - I got my retainerbrite off Amazon. Was cheap enough. I only use half a tablet every other day and it works fine. A didnt find using a whole tablet worked any better so thought i'd save myself some money!!

I dont drink anything but water with mine really. Although I have been known to have the odd bit of squash or something. I wouldnt drink anything hot for definite. Probably nothing likely to stain either but its up to you how much you want to risk it.

[Hatemyteeth]

I just got my upper IA. I now can't talk!! It's much bigger than the lower one, probably because there's an expander built in. It's so bulky I can't close my mouth. It definitely wasn't this bad when I got the lower one so I'm glad I eased myself in with that.

I'm hoping it gets less bulky as my teeth straighten but it's unbelievable now. I sound ridiculous and can't stop dribbling. I almost threw up earlier from dribbling so much

Can someone with an expander please tell me it gets easier as the weeks go on?

[theflooze]

Hi Hatemyteeth. The goods news is that is does get better - in some ways. I was like you in that at first it felt so bulky and was making me salivate so much that I kept retching, but fortunately that only lasted for the first day or so, then I think my mouth aclimatised to having something so bulky! The dribbling does lessen off as well as your mouth realises that it isn't food in your mouth and it does have to produce salivia to digest it! Unfortunately the speech doesn't get much better - well mine hasn't anyway. I felt so self-conscious at first but gained a bit of confidence after a couple of weeks. You just have to speak fairly slowly, but some words are just impossible to pronounce. You get used to having to find alternative words to the one that are no-go's! So don't despair. It is a bit of a shock, but you do get used to it. Best of luck!

[Hatemyteeth]

How long do you have yours now theflooze?

The top one is definitely a lot worse than the bottom. My face is aching from trying to close my mouth around it and I look really stupid when I do that.
The retching has stopped but it's quite painful when I take it in or out. I'm hoping that the "monkey mouth" effect will lessen as my teeth get straighter. I think that's what happened with the bottom one.

[theflooze]

Hatemyteeth - glad you've had a slight improvement I'm coming up to the six week mark, which is hopefully half-way. Struggled at first getting it in and out and then developed a fairly good technique. But that went out the window last week when I had some composites put on my teeth - one on the front and one on the back. The back one really holds the IA firmly in place which makes it so difficult to get out. It has got better with practice but I'm still scared of damaging it trying to get the expander spring over the composite blob on the way ouit! Love your description of "monkey face" - that's exactly what it makes you look like!! Also most people think I'm sucking a sweet ... and having seen an unavoidable photo .. I can see what they mean! Hope things continue to improve for you.

[Hatemyteeth]

I'm ok with getting it in and out because I've had the bottom one for 9 weeks now. And I've had composites from day 1 for both bottom and op. It's still quite painful but that should hopefully be gone by tomorrow.

Have you noticed much of an improvement in the 6 weeks? My dentist said the top ones are slower to move than the bottom ones so I'm looking at about 16 weeks or more for the top whereas the bottom is almost finished

I'm not having any issues wearing the 2 together because I hardly notice the bottom one and my speech is the same with both in or the top on it's own.

I found out yesterday that we're moving to an open plan arrangement in work in June and I'm really upset. So far I've been able to hide out in my office on my own so a lot of people don't even know I have it but that's going to change.

[Tennessee]

I'm day 5 now. The pain of taking in and out are pretty much gone. Maybe a little discomfort but quickly goes away. I also have the expander but thought thats how they all were. I haven't had much trouble getting it in, I just push it back and put it behind my teeth first. My speech is still pretty bad. A friend called while I had it in and thought I was alseep and couldn't understand some words.

I'm managing 19-20 hours a day and hope this will move things quicker. I really need to be finished by August because I won't be able to wear as long then. 12 weeks will be at the first of Aug. but I'm thinking it will be closer to the end since it's the top teeth.I'm committed though. Whatever it takes it worth it to me.

[earthgirl]

Hi everyone

I'm new to this board. I got my inman aligner 3 days ago. This is to correct my 2 front teeth that tip inwards and one rotated canine. I have fixed upper and lower braces as a child, as well as head gear for 3 years! Disappointed with the relapse, but realise now that it's very common.

Anyway, I'm managing to wear my IA about 15-16 hours a day. Can't wear it for work because I manage a team of 40 in a busy office and need to be able to speak clearly! I'm finding the affect on my speech to be the hardest part! Otherwise it seems fine. Yes I'm salivating a lot but I'm sure that will get better.

I will post some 'before' photos soon.

Has anyone else wore their IA about 16 hours a day? If so, how is your treatment progressing? I'm hoping to be done in about 4 months, but not sure if that is realistic.

xx

[theflooze]

Hi Hatemyteeth. Glad things are improving. Noticed some movement on both sides after about three weeks. One side needs more movement than the other, so currently looking a bit lopsided. Seems to have stalled a bit at the moment, but I'm due back at the dentists next week for some more filing, so perhaps once there is more room, there will be more movement. Trying not to get fixed on a timescale - was advised it would take about 12 weeks, but if it takes longer then I'm not too stressed about it. But it will be nice when it's all finished ..