POSTED UNDER Invisalign Reviews
Hoping It's Worth It - Melbourne, AU
UPDATED FROM jaytay18
1 year post
Retainer issue
jaytay18January 28, 2015
WORTH IT$8,000
So my last post was about 6 months ago, since then I went to retainers and now back to Invisalign again. After the 'dimples' were put in my final tray I was happy with the result and we decided to proceed to the retainer stage. The orthodonsit had some retainers made up (it was not through Invisalign but they were pretty much like an invisalign tray only made of a thicker plastic). As soon as I put them on I wasn't confident with them, they felt loose and there was no pressure at all, they weren't even snug. I mentioned this and they said they weren't meant to be tight like invisalign, they're just to keep my teeth in place. I was only to wear them at night to keep my teeth from shifting. I think my next appointment was in another 6 weeks or so for a check up. During this time I felt like my front tooth (the main offender) had started shifting a bit - this was confirmed when I accidentally left my retainers at work and I had to revert back to my final tray for the weekend - it was so tight! So at my appointment I voiced my concern and they agreed that it had shifted and because I still had one refinement course of invisalign left included in my package we all agreed that I would do another set. I had to have more scans done and wait 6 weeks for the new trays which I picked up a couple of days ago. This time I have 3 attachments on my top teeth and 5 trays to be worn for 10 days each, so I should be done in less than 2 months. The attachments are on different teeth this time and the pressure is on the side of my mouth which it hasn't been in the past. It's been really sore for the past 2 days, I know it will get better soon, I'm just not used to this pressure anymore. I'm a bit worried about the retainer after this, I don't want the same one again, because I don't want it to shift again, but I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
Replies (2)
May 5, 2015
Any further updates as to this?? i am using the same ortho and the whole process is going to take a year longer than estimated it would seem!
May 5, 2015
Hi, I'm now on my second set of retainers and they're going really well. I have another check up in a couple of weeks and that should be it for me. I'm very happy with my ortho - they've been great. Although I ended up having to do a third set of trays my treatment time wasn't any longer than expected because they originally estimated about 18 months I think. I hope all goes well with you. It'll go quicker than you know and I'm sure it will be worth it in the end.
Replies (1)
August 3, 2014
Thanks for posting the pictures! What a marvelous improvement! The profile change is vast. Congratulations!
UPDATED FROM jaytay18
10 months post
End of Refinement Stage
jaytay18July 29, 2014
So I had a dentist appointment yesterday as I'm at the end of my refinement stage. I had 10 trays on top and 7 trays on the bottom. For the last 3 trays I've only had to wear the bottom tray at night. There's still a couple of teeth (one on top, and one on bottom) that are being stubborn so they've put 'dimples' in my trays where those teeth are and I have to go back in another 4 weeks to see if this has fixed them. I can feel the pressure on these teeth which is great - I hope it straightens them up once and for all. I hope to post some pics in the next couple of days.
Replies (1)
July 30, 2014
I'm sorry--I'm confused :). It sounded like you said you were only wearing one tray now? Have you gotten a retainer bonded in the meantime?
July 30, 2014
For the last 6 weeks I've only been wearing my bottom tray at night until I finished the extra 3 trays on top. Since my appointment yesterday - where they put the dimples in both of my final trays - I'm back to wearing both trays for another 4 weeks until my next appointment. No retainer yet. I hope this clarifies.
July 30, 2014
It seems odd to me that you're not wearing the bottom full-time, since generally you'd have to wear full-time even after your treatment, once you get into retainers. Unless you're planning on getting a bonded retainer--since those are automatically 24 hours/day, I think they worry less (compliance isn't an issue). I guess every doctor is different!
July 30, 2014
I don't know, because obviously I only have my own experience to go on, but even between my initial set and the refinement set I was only wearing both trays at night, as a retainer until my new set arrived.
July 31, 2014
I guess you would have noticed then if your teeth were moving during the day. Has your doctor discussed what type of retainers you'll be using and whether they're included in your treatment price? You're nearing the finish line!
I'm sorry to hear that you're back in full-time aligners again after retainers; but glad that they're willing to fix it! If you don't want an Essix retainer, you should be able to just flat-out tell them. But you should do it sooner rather than later. There are different types of retainers to choose from, of course, and they may cost different amounts. You may have to pay out-of-pocket extra if you request a type they weren't planning for you to have. My husband has an Essix and it's worked fine for him for a good four years now--it may just have been a fabrication issue. I use Viveras (from Invisalign) and they are softer than Essix and need to be replaced more often. They also discolor more than Essix retainers. But the plastic is thinner. I've also tried Hawley retainers, which I liked, but they allowed my teeth to shift more because there aren't individual spaces for each tooth in your whole mouth. I never tried permanent (bonded) retainers because I didn't want the inconvenience of flossing with them in; but that's another option :).
Too much research! It feels like every single decision requires research nowadays. (I'm house-hunting and getting very bitter about it, LOL.)