So Far, So Good - Charlotte, NC

I noticed a tiny blurb on my year-end benefits sheet in 2013 that my company's adult orthodontia coverage was going to disappear! Still fairly new to this company, I immediately reached out to benefits to find out if there was any way I could get my coverage on the books by year-end 2013, and was told that as long as I started a procedure - I'd be grandfathered. Having noticed some fairly typical middle-aged "crowding" going on the past 2 years, and never having worn braces in my life, I went right out and found a local orthodontist on my plan. I had my evaluation around Thanksgiving and was told that I was a candidate for Clear & Correct (I had already decided I wanted some version of clear trays). I had to pay for the impressions out-of-pocket (my FSA having already been used up), so in December I'd saved the money to do that. I got the actual Phase 0 trays in January - within the time frame of 6 weeks, which I'd originally been told. Actually, I think that they arrived in the orthodontists office BEFORE 6 weeks, but with the holidays, they hadn't called me to come in earlier. In any event, here we are in September, and I'm on 3B. I wear each set for 3 weeks and am given 2 sets at a time, which means I see the orthodontist every 6 weeks. The trays have always been ready on time. They have always fit - with two caveats. The tech had a hard time making my initial impressions. She had to do it twice - and it was never "perfect", although the orthodontist signed off on it. The result is that my upper tray does not fit over my back molar on one side. It stops sort of halfway on that tooth. I've discussed this numerous times with the ortho who said that all the action was happening on the other side of my mouth so that he thought it'd have no effect. We shall see whether I end up having to have impressions made again - and I understand his not wanting to because that's then money out of HIS pocket. My insurance company has paid what they'll pay; and my payments are now split into monthlies which I can charge off on my FSA. The total fee was agreed up front. The only other issue that I've had is that, at some point, the trays no longer fit my lower jaw so perfectly - perhaps the teeth moving? In any event, with a slight "gap" on that side between the plastic and the gum, I was feeling the sharp edge. Rather than do new impressions, though, the office does the filing for me so that the edge is smooth and doesn't cut my tongue. This "gap" is really minimal - maybe 1/16" - but you CAN feel it with your tongue. I can see definite improvement and movement on both upper and lower. I had the "dots" added earlier in the summer, and they are not obtrusive and have stayed in place. I think time will tell whether the fact that on one side of the upper it's not "hooked" over my back molar is going to make any difference or not. I've brought it up about 3 times now - and the ortho says, "Eventually we may have to take new impressions." I've also had the "polishing" (i.e., filing) done between a couple of teeth on one occasion - and may do that once again next visit or two. Overall, I'm pleased - other than the incomplete upper tray- which, he is the pro and may be right perhaps has zero effect. When the tray edge got sharp, though - it was his staff, not the doctor who really made a PR boo boo. When I called to report that my tongue had been cut - the front desk told me *I* could file, blah blah. No - and I said, "For $5K, these things should be adjusted by your office or the manufacturer - not by me with a nail file." And - the doctor must've picked up on my response, because the tech always takes care of that for me on my 6-weeks visits - without me asking a thing. So sometimes, I think the communications problems are not so much with the doctor, and not so much with the manufacturer - but with staff who frankly don't know better. As patients we have to learn how to differentiate and figure out exactly where the "problem" lies - and how to nip it in the bud. Like me just saying, "No - I'm not going to do that. You are."

On my last visit to the ortho, I was able to see on the screen that I am half-way through my process - 9/18 months. I had never gotten a clear answer on how long this was going to take! So, I'm glad to know. There has been a significant "gap" created between one of my eye teeth and a big front tooth, and I asked when/whether that side of my mouth was going to be "shifted". The doctor told me that with recent changes to the reports Clear & Correct sends, they are briefer (I think, checking the website they are being called "Green" - but it only means shorter and less in-depth) so he was going to go on line and see what my "path" is to be able to answer the question next time. He did a tiny bit more filing/polishing between a couple of teeth - that's been done twice now. My "dots" have stayed on just fine. So I followed up with my routine semi-annual dental cleaning & exam. All is good. Looking back through 9 months of tray aligners, I can see definite change - more so when I look from the top down. The two most troublesome teeth (one front tooth trying to overlap the other) and one of the four front bottom teeth (which is receded or pushed "back" from the others) are still not 100% corrected - but definitely improved. And all the shifting around of the other teeth is to make space for the final push to put those in line. In fact, I would say that from the front view - the "defects" are now hardly noticeable. It's only looking from the top down that you can see the one top tooth is still lapping over a little bit and the other bottom tooth is pushed back a little bit. So I remain a happy camper who has no complaints about either the product or my service through my provider.