TMJ Problems in the First Week!

Update February 20th 2009 So I have been wearing just the top aligners for the past several months and felt yes my back teeth were opening up and becoming wider or at least the arch was. But then I began to notice the back right part of the tray wasn't fitting properly, mentioned once to the Ortho and was told it was fine and then two weeks ago had to go back with a "this is definitely not fitting right" it would not snap over my teeth and there was clearly a space on the bottom. So new molds were taken for new trays to be made. WHAT! Had my appt. this morning with Ortho and had called yesterday (twice) to confirm new trays were in, drove the 40 minutes and after waiting a half-hour for appt was told "no" the new trays had not come in after all. Sorry! I am on tray 8 and should have been going to try 11 if it had fit. This is all very, very frustrating.

Hello all, This is an update on my Invisalign progress, writing this for anyone who might be going through what I have gone through. Thanks for the comment from another Invisalign/TMJ user. Right now I am wearing just the top aligners, yes my jaw sometimes locks when I wake up in the morning and sometimes it doesn't. I have tried wearing both and when I do my jaw locks up for almost an hour where as I can usually unlock my job in seconds if I am just wearing the top. I was advised by my Orthodontst to "occasionally" wear the bottoms to get my jaw used to it but every time I do my jaw will lock, in the middle of a work day and this morning at a traffic light, took it out and had to wait about an hour for my jaw to relax and unlock. During my last appointment the attachments were removed from the bottom knowing I would not be wearing the bottom aligners (just number one) all the time but just periodically for my jaw to get used to it. It just isn't working if I keep both in. So what might happen is that I'll wear the tops until they are done, 40 aligners and then start the bottoms which are 19 aligners. What a disapointment because that'll drag this out for a long time but what alternative do I have. I'll keep trying to put the bottom one in occasionally, I go back December 2nd to my Ortho and he said he put the attachments back on but not if I have to go through each day having my jaw lock terribly. I'll try to relay my progress. Oh and on the Invisalign comfort, I find them very comfortable, no pain, just pressure, had the lisp, longer then I thought I would, just recently lost it, comes back slightly after I have put them in after eating. Notice them feeling loose sometimes, the reason for the lisp? I am at the end of tray number 3, 37 more to go, patience, I must have patience..and a jaw that will cooperate! Good Luck everyone, if this works, I'll be grateful!

I was excited to finally been given a chance to straighten my teeth, at 50 and having crooked teeth I couldn't wait to start the treatment. This after hesitating and going back and forth wondering if this would work. After all I know I have had TMJ most of my life. But after being assured by my Orthodontist that I should not have a problem, after all the Invisalign "move the teeth and not the jaw" according to him. Well I am into just 8 days of wearing the aligner and I wake up with my jaw locked. I started out wearing both the top and bottom, had my jaw lock the first two days and was advised to wear just one and still no relief. A most recent appt. suggestions were made about maybe a spint being made, muscle relaxants prescribed and other options....WHAT! The Invisalign is a splint already! So now what, next appt. in a week, took top aligner out this morning, jaw was locked, yes had TMJ but was at a point where it didn't bother me, now it's back to locked jaw and soreness and stiffness. I am so unhappy that this is occuring, one because I really wanted it too work, was so excited to finally have straight teeth and two, am I out $4,400, money I saved for years to do "something", Invisalign or veneers, which were $3000 more, if I am out there goes the money for even the veneers and once again crooked teeth. Overall I found the Invisalign slightly comfortable, the top ones even more so, the bottoms very sharp and lacerated my tongue and inside cheeks to the point I was bleeding from it and then hurt to talk, I had a lisp, which didn't bother me but would come and go and having to go through taking them off and on, was ok with if this was going to work. So after all this, I don't think I'll be a good candidate for Invisalign, I do hope things will change and some remedy can be made, going to try some solutions that I've read about online, but I wish I could go back and perhaps do the veneers, I have a hunch I am going to have worse problems down the road if I continue with the Invisalign. I am envious of the success stories I am reading, wish everyone luck with their treatment! My score given for "Overall satisfaction" and "Pain experienced" are from the TMJ problem, haven't really had the chance to see what kind of pain would occure from subsequent trays and further tooth movement unfortunately!