POSTED UNDER Invisalign REVIEWS
Invisalign with Propel Treatments - Plantation, FL
ORIGINAL POST
I had braces from 13 - 15, but unfortunately my...
JessieSchuMay 25, 2016
WORTH IT$6,000
I had braces from 13 - 15, but unfortunately my retainer broke and I was unable to get another one. I am now 30 years old and am ready to be able to smile in pictures (I normally do the goofy faces to avoiding smiling). After much research I decided to go with Invisalign and the Propel orthodontics.
Every friend and family member that I told about Propel tried their hardest to convince me to not do it. They did not understand why I would opt to have tiny holes drilled into my jawline and that I should just be patient and wait the normal 2 year treatment course (it is now estimated 10-15 months with Propel, BIG DIFFERENCE!). I also reminded each and every one of them that they don't have to take pictures smiling from a very specific angle and I don't mind a little bit of discomfort for amazing results!
Today I not only got my Invisalign trays and attachments, but I received my first propel treatment. The attachments were quick and painless (NOTHING like the goopy, gross, mess I went through with metal braces 17 years ago!) and then it was time for my Propel. First they numbed me up with this topical numbing agent that the hygienist held up to my jaw for several minutes, then I received a second numbing agent that felt like a shot of air being blown at certain parts of my gums.
Dr. Caponera made approximately 8 - 10 holes along my left front and bottom jaw line. I am so happy to say I felt ABSOLUTELY NO PAIN! None, zip, zilch, nada! In certain spots I felt pressure ( in some spots I felt absolutely nothing) and a little pang. By pang I mean it didn't hurt but I felt a little bit uncomfortable. I bled quite a bit after the procedure was over and was actually surprised by that since I barely felt anything! I rinsed my mouth several times, they popped my Invisalign tray in place and I was on my merry way.
About 30 minutes I felt the oncoming of some serious jaw pain and ran as fast as I could to get some Tylenol. It is VERY important that you ONLY take Tylenol!! Part of what makes Propel work is the inflammation caused by the little holes drilled into your jawline and if you take ibuprofen or Advil, it will keep the inflammation down and basically cancel out the Propel treatment. It took me about 6-8 Tylenol to get the pain under control.
I would highly recommend taking 2 before you get the procedure and to not make any plans for the rest of the day. This is not something that you can get done during lunch and then go back to work. You will want to and certainly should get some rest after this procedure. I continued bleeding for a few hours after I got home, but it was nothing serious and my orthodontist assured me the blood wouldn't stain my Invisalign (I couldn't imagine walking around with blood stains!). Because I took so many Tylenol I took my Invisalign out and ate about an hour and a half after the procedure. My teeth were a bit sore, but I was able to eat eggs and oatmeal just fine. I cleaned my trays and mouth and popped them back in with no problem.
One thing I had read about in my Invisalign research and encountered as the numbing agents wore off is the sharp edges of the trays. It was scraping the inside of my bottom lip and driving me crazy! When I popped them out to eat, I grabbed a metal nail file and filed them down. After that there was no discomfort.
Due to me chosing to do Propel, I get to change my trays weekly. I will try my best to update my review weekly!
Every friend and family member that I told about Propel tried their hardest to convince me to not do it. They did not understand why I would opt to have tiny holes drilled into my jawline and that I should just be patient and wait the normal 2 year treatment course (it is now estimated 10-15 months with Propel, BIG DIFFERENCE!). I also reminded each and every one of them that they don't have to take pictures smiling from a very specific angle and I don't mind a little bit of discomfort for amazing results!
Today I not only got my Invisalign trays and attachments, but I received my first propel treatment. The attachments were quick and painless (NOTHING like the goopy, gross, mess I went through with metal braces 17 years ago!) and then it was time for my Propel. First they numbed me up with this topical numbing agent that the hygienist held up to my jaw for several minutes, then I received a second numbing agent that felt like a shot of air being blown at certain parts of my gums.
Dr. Caponera made approximately 8 - 10 holes along my left front and bottom jaw line. I am so happy to say I felt ABSOLUTELY NO PAIN! None, zip, zilch, nada! In certain spots I felt pressure ( in some spots I felt absolutely nothing) and a little pang. By pang I mean it didn't hurt but I felt a little bit uncomfortable. I bled quite a bit after the procedure was over and was actually surprised by that since I barely felt anything! I rinsed my mouth several times, they popped my Invisalign tray in place and I was on my merry way.
About 30 minutes I felt the oncoming of some serious jaw pain and ran as fast as I could to get some Tylenol. It is VERY important that you ONLY take Tylenol!! Part of what makes Propel work is the inflammation caused by the little holes drilled into your jawline and if you take ibuprofen or Advil, it will keep the inflammation down and basically cancel out the Propel treatment. It took me about 6-8 Tylenol to get the pain under control.
I would highly recommend taking 2 before you get the procedure and to not make any plans for the rest of the day. This is not something that you can get done during lunch and then go back to work. You will want to and certainly should get some rest after this procedure. I continued bleeding for a few hours after I got home, but it was nothing serious and my orthodontist assured me the blood wouldn't stain my Invisalign (I couldn't imagine walking around with blood stains!). Because I took so many Tylenol I took my Invisalign out and ate about an hour and a half after the procedure. My teeth were a bit sore, but I was able to eat eggs and oatmeal just fine. I cleaned my trays and mouth and popped them back in with no problem.
One thing I had read about in my Invisalign research and encountered as the numbing agents wore off is the sharp edges of the trays. It was scraping the inside of my bottom lip and driving me crazy! When I popped them out to eat, I grabbed a metal nail file and filed them down. After that there was no discomfort.
Due to me chosing to do Propel, I get to change my trays weekly. I will try my best to update my review weekly!
Replies (3)
May 27, 2016
Wow you are really brave! I've heard of Propel before, but wasn't inspired to try it! :) Glad it didn't hurt and that you managed to keep the pain under control. I'm sure it will get easier. I'm on Tray 2 right now, changing trays every 7 days too (using Acceledent). Can't wait to see some changes! :)
July 7, 2016
Finally a propel journey! Thank you and please don't leave us hanging we are depending on you LOL. I'm considering braces with propel.
UPDATED FROM JessieSchu
1 day post
Quick Propel Update
JessieSchuMay 25, 2016
A lot of friends and family have been asking me how I feel the day after the Propel treatment, so I figured I would share with you guys as well.
I woke up this morning and felt..... Absolutely fine! There was no need for any Tylenol, there was no additional bleeding and no more discomfort. The only sign that I had undergone the procedure are the little drill marks on my jaw line. At this point in my treatment the only discomfort is getting used to to the Invisalign trays and how they rub the inside of my mouth.
I woke up this morning and felt..... Absolutely fine! There was no need for any Tylenol, there was no additional bleeding and no more discomfort. The only sign that I had undergone the procedure are the little drill marks on my jaw line. At this point in my treatment the only discomfort is getting used to to the Invisalign trays and how they rub the inside of my mouth.
Replies (1)
May 25, 2016
Hi there, Wow you are one brave lady!!! I had never heard of Propel - it sounds like some form of torture LOL, glad you are ok though and best of luck with your treatment!
UPDATED FROM JessieSchu
9 days post
Week 2
JessieSchuJune 2, 2016
I completely underestimated the reviews of having bad breath with Invisalign... It is NO JOKE! The first week that bothered me more than anything else! The past 5 days I have started oil pulling with coconut oil first thing in the morning and at night before bed and it has helped TREMENDOUSLY! I highly reccomend trying that if you find yourself battling with bad breath.
I have not had any problems with the trays agitating my mouth since the first few days of my first tray. I haven't had to file anything down and only occasionally have a little bit of soreness on the side of my tongue, but nothing to bad.
I went on a road trip out of state recently and it wasn't too bad. When eating at a restaurant I would pop my tray out before hand and then go to the bathroom immediately after to clean my trays and mouth. It was slightly embarrassing to whip out my ziplock bag of tooth brush, tooth paste and floss at first, but I quickly got over it once I fantasized about how beautiful my teeth will look once this process is done. The most annoying thing I came across was opting out of snacks and free samples along the way, but I'm sure my waistline will thank me later.
The propel sites have mostly healed, I have one or two that hurt a little when I brushed over them. I would do propel again in a heartbeat! The only discomfort is during and the same day as the procedure.
When I popped in my second trays they felt tight, but there was no pain at all. I got a little headache for the next two days, but nothing 2 tylenols couldn't fix. So far so good on my Invisalign + propel journey! I can't wait to start seeing the difference in my teeth!
I have not had any problems with the trays agitating my mouth since the first few days of my first tray. I haven't had to file anything down and only occasionally have a little bit of soreness on the side of my tongue, but nothing to bad.
I went on a road trip out of state recently and it wasn't too bad. When eating at a restaurant I would pop my tray out before hand and then go to the bathroom immediately after to clean my trays and mouth. It was slightly embarrassing to whip out my ziplock bag of tooth brush, tooth paste and floss at first, but I quickly got over it once I fantasized about how beautiful my teeth will look once this process is done. The most annoying thing I came across was opting out of snacks and free samples along the way, but I'm sure my waistline will thank me later.
The propel sites have mostly healed, I have one or two that hurt a little when I brushed over them. I would do propel again in a heartbeat! The only discomfort is during and the same day as the procedure.
When I popped in my second trays they felt tight, but there was no pain at all. I got a little headache for the next two days, but nothing 2 tylenols couldn't fix. So far so good on my Invisalign + propel journey! I can't wait to start seeing the difference in my teeth!
Replies (8)
June 2, 2016
I don't mind cleaning my teeth in public bathrooms now, I must admit I do use the disabled if there is one as then you get your own sink! Do you just have the one propel treatment?
June 2, 2016
I go back to the orthodontist in July and he said depending on how my teeth are moving I might have to get another propel treatment. He gave me so many holes the first time to try and avoid a second round. I wouldn't mind it if he had to do it again though, it definitely sounds a lot scarier than it is!
June 3, 2016
Did you bother to ask what the accelerated orthodontic movement does to the periodontal ligament of the tooth? I have seen root resorption with rapid movements during orthodontic treatment as well as devitalized pulps. The latter results in the need for root canal treatment and can even darken the tooth. I would love to hear what your DDS says about this.
June 3, 2016
I'm sorry I'm having trouble understanding what the intention/purpose of this comment is? Are you unable to contact my orthodontist that is clearly listed to ask this question (that is if you are a colleague) or are you insinuating that I would make the decision to create 3-5mm holes in my jaw without doing weeks of research, reading published orthodontic journals, client testimonials and discussing with my orthodontist what the risks associated with the procedure are? To answer your question YES I "bothered".
June 3, 2016
Root resorption is decreased by using accelerated orthodontic treatments such as the decortication technique (Propel) that I have chosen due to shortening the treatment time. EARR is more common in patients with traditional braces and/or longer treatment times. Furthermore my decision to chose Invisalign was also the safest bet as there has been no evidence of root resorption related to the use of the trays for the past 10 years. If you would like me to site the medical journals and publishings that support my statements I will be more than happy to do so.
June 4, 2016
Heavens no, I am not a colleague. I apologize if my comments came off as condescending to you... Certainly not my intention. I have seen root resorption occur 10 years following orthodontic treatment. So a 10 year scientific study would not impress or assure me of untoward long term consequences. In addition to the effects on the root apices, I would be interested in knowing what the results of studies on the histology of the periodontal ligaments during and after this type of treatment. Basically, I am not a fan of accelerated tooth movement. So I am very skeptical. But skepticism is not a bad thing. It fosters awareness and enlighnment which was my only intention in posting the comments. I wish you nothing but stellar results.
September 7, 2016
Can you please tell me what you did with the coconut oil before bed? I think there was a typo in your explanation.
September 7, 2016
I'm sorry can you please explain what you did with the coconut oil again ... I think there was a typo in your description. Thanks!
Thanks so much for sharing your journey with this community! We don't have a lot of reviews of Propel, so your thorough accounting is very helpful. We'll look forward to your updates!