Invisalign pain and speech problems causing a huge disruption to my every day life. Advice?

Question

I am on week three (tray 2 started a three days ago) and I have been extremely dissatisfied with the whole experience. I have cuts and sores everywhere, that I can hardly speak. And when I do manage to speak, my lips puff out in a strange manner, I spit everywhere, I speak with a lisp and cannot annunciate. I also have pain in my jaw and neck and muscle pain in the front of my face. As I said, my lips puff outward in a strange manner and I hate them. Worst decision I have ever made. Advice?

Steven Davidowitz, DDS · Answer

Most of my patients report little to no discomfort during their initial first weeks of treatment.  However, everyone is different and everyone reacts differently to stresses.  I would suggest giving it two more weeks.  Wear your aligners as full time as possible.if you get past the 4 week Invisalign hump and still feel miserable talk with your dentist.  Perhaps new aligners need to be fabricated with better scans or molds.  Perhaps attachments should be taken off.  But do try to get to aligner 3 to see if your mouth and body gets used to the aligners as 99.9 % of my patients do.   Good luck.

Robert L. Knudson, DDS · Answer

After over 1100 cases, I have to say that your experience is well out of the norm.  Having braces twice myself (I'm old and born long before invisalign), I have to ask "Did you want this treatment in the first place?"   Probably half my lady patients tell me they had braces in middle school and didn't wear their retainers properly.  Virtually all tell me that invisalign is about 95% more comfortable than braces. My office staff have worn invisalign and never complained and virtually none of my patients knew they were wearing them at the time.  The first couple of aligners are always the hardest.  There is a learning curve here.  Are you wearing them 22 hours a day?  Every day?  If you start and stop, the cellular process involved in teeth moving will be painful.  Stick with it.  If you are on aligner 2 you likely have an appointment soon for your attachments.  Talk to your provider about your concerns.

Mark Weiser, DDS · Answer

You may need new impressions and new aligners. Talk to your dentist about the situation. Nothing is perfect.

Invisalign pain and speech problems causing a huge disruption to my every day life. Advice?

Answers (3)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Invisalign

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Invisalign pain and speech problems causing a huge disruption to my every day life. Advice?

Answers (3)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Invisalign

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.