POSTED UNDER Invisalign REVIEWS
Finally Trying Invisalign
ORIGINAL POST
After having braces 25 years ago, and watching my...
PrettyPennyMay 30, 2014
$6,900
After having braces 25 years ago, and watching my teeth slowly move over the last 15 years, I have decided to go down the Invisalign route, only because I couldn't bare to have the metal braces again!! My two front teeth (which are quite large anyways) have protruded a little and overlap and my bottom teeth aren't the straightest either..
After a few years of umming and arring...I bit the bullet in March and went for an appointment to see if I would be a valid candidate for it, apparently my teeth will be easy to fix with invisalign...lol...so the sucker that I am, signed up and 8 weeks later,I have my 1st set on.
First day was easy! I was very pleased with how they fit and felt - no pain , all good I can do this!
I will note that I am yet to see an actual Orthodontist, its only been nurses so far who have scanned my teeth (yay! no yucky moulds like 25 years ago! ) , and handed over my aligners to me on the day I started.
I will need attachments, but this will happen in 4 weeks at my next visit - I was even told at the desk on check out that the Orthodontist doesn't even need to be there for that appointment either...lol...oh well, I am sure that he would be checking over everything anyways..(?)
Day 2 and I am in pain ! - Damn, thought this was going to be a breeze.... Inside of my cheeks being ripped up by the plastic hooks on the top tray, cant smile because it hurts too much....teeth are aching...popped a panadol and a mad rush to a chemist to buy some ortho wax and I am feeling a lot more human...
Day 3... is going well, inside of cheeks have calmed down with the wax....aching is slowly going away...now to work on my new lisp...
Must remember to up the intake of water too...lips/mouth get dry very quickly..
Taking them out to eat is getting easier...1st day was horrible, couldn't get the things to budge. When you are STARVING and cant get them out you get a bit hysterical..hahaaa...or that could just be me.. Finding I am not eating as much - no snacking! :) which is great! Gonna loose a little bit of weight too so that's an added bonus!
So that's my story so far... wish me luck for the next 23 trays!!!!
After a few years of umming and arring...I bit the bullet in March and went for an appointment to see if I would be a valid candidate for it, apparently my teeth will be easy to fix with invisalign...lol...so the sucker that I am, signed up and 8 weeks later,I have my 1st set on.
First day was easy! I was very pleased with how they fit and felt - no pain , all good I can do this!
I will note that I am yet to see an actual Orthodontist, its only been nurses so far who have scanned my teeth (yay! no yucky moulds like 25 years ago! ) , and handed over my aligners to me on the day I started.
I will need attachments, but this will happen in 4 weeks at my next visit - I was even told at the desk on check out that the Orthodontist doesn't even need to be there for that appointment either...lol...oh well, I am sure that he would be checking over everything anyways..(?)
Day 2 and I am in pain ! - Damn, thought this was going to be a breeze.... Inside of my cheeks being ripped up by the plastic hooks on the top tray, cant smile because it hurts too much....teeth are aching...popped a panadol and a mad rush to a chemist to buy some ortho wax and I am feeling a lot more human...
Day 3... is going well, inside of cheeks have calmed down with the wax....aching is slowly going away...now to work on my new lisp...
Must remember to up the intake of water too...lips/mouth get dry very quickly..
Taking them out to eat is getting easier...1st day was horrible, couldn't get the things to budge. When you are STARVING and cant get them out you get a bit hysterical..hahaaa...or that could just be me.. Finding I am not eating as much - no snacking! :) which is great! Gonna loose a little bit of weight too so that's an added bonus!
So that's my story so far... wish me luck for the next 23 trays!!!!
Replies (9)
June 2, 2014
That's crazy!! As a dental professional for an individual to start treatment without ever meeting their practitioner is insane. This is your health. I ask you this question, if you had a heart problem would you be ok with a nurse handing you medication over the reception desk or would you like to be assessed by a cardiologist?? To assume your Invisalign practitioner is just overlooking your treatment is so wrong and really unethical on so many levels. It appears you have invested so much money into the hands of someone who hasn't even met you, or even looked at your facial structure, bones, muscles and symmetry.
So I'm assuming you think your being treated by a general dentist or orthodontist?? Have you done your homework on this?? Are you aware one has over 60,000 hours of training above the other??
How can someone prescribe you orthodontics without assessment of your actual chief concerns??
Please tell me that you were advised on refinement and retainers post treatment...or maybe you will be just sprung with an extra fee at the end of your treatment??
WOW I never knew some people can be so ignorant to their health and actually not realise that Orthodontics is a speciality for a REASON. Invisalign in the hands of experienced skilled providers will get you your results. But then again for the amount of money you paid for your Invisalign it does reflect the treatment you are receiving instead of the high duty of care from experienced board certified registered specialist. At the end of the day I just hope that you are not treated by someone who went online to do their Invisalign course.
Looking forward to hearing your response.
June 2, 2014
Thank you TalkOrtho for your comments and concerns, which I agree with. Since my post I have actually been in contact with the orthodontist practice and confirmed that yes he will be at my next visit - as I too was worried. I did research his practice way back when I was thinking about invisalign and he is well known and highly recommended, so I dont have any dramas there... Thank you again for your comments..
June 2, 2014
PrettyPenny I'm glad you have given this more thought. You have taken the right next step. I'm very intrigued though.... I see your fee for Invisalign $6900. I really can't see any orthodontist charging at this rate for a full course of Invisalign. May I ask which practice you are attending? My feeling is even though you are telling me he is well known and experienced it still sounds like you are seeing a general dentist.
Good luck with the remaining of your Invisalign and be sure to see your clincheck at various stages to check your teeth are tracking the right way. Hopefully you got to see your end result before you started the alignment.
I'm here if you need me to answer any more concerns :)
June 4, 2014
Hi, Pretty Penny! I am on tray 15 of 21 (pending no refinements/changes) and I have to say right when I began my treatment I hated it! It DOES get much easier as you get more and more used to it, I promise. I had major "buyers remorse" the first couple of days, but the next week, I was more or less used to it. Sounds like you're beginning to adjust already, so that's good! Also, my dentist says that while a dentists' input and understanding of your mouth is very important, a lot of it is the computers/Invisalign company that dictate treatment plans, etc. so I'm sure you're in good hands!
June 5, 2014
SmileBright22 I'm sorry to inform you that what your dentist has advised you is very misleading. With 11 years orthodontic experience I will honestly tell you the truth how Invisalign is made. Your provider whether it be a general dentist or a specialist orthodontist is the architect of your smile start to finish. Invisalign produce your 3D image and only fabricate aligners. Infact Aligntech make over 80,000 aligners each day. Your dentist had to give you that response as you are already on your Invisalign journey. Invisalign is a product your not paying for Invisalign, your are paying for the expertise and speciality behind the prescription given by your provider to Invisalign.
Many people can say they have experience in certain fields but the reality is specialists exsists for a reason, whether it be for example an Obstetrician, Optemetrist, Cardiologist or Orthodontist.
brosegr, Nadinelliana, CJ13, SophieD, Astrodog21, littleoz, Crooky24, Sunluvva, smilemelb, and Dante555.
Are you getting AcceleDent as well?
Oh, and by the way, did you wear your retainers and the teeth shifted in spite of that, or did you not wear them? Or some combination? Thank you!
I look forward to following your progress!