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POSTED UNDER Invisalign REVIEWS

Miracle or Mistake - Staten Island, NY

ORIGINAL POST

I'm 45 years old. I had traditional braces when I...

Inktatt
$6,000

I'm 45 years old. I had traditional braces when I was a kid, but not wearing my retainer, the teeth moved again-- and now it's worse. With a bit of overcrowding and an off-bite that will get worse with time, I decided to do Invisalign.

I'm on day 3 of tray 1 or 23. 46 weeks didn't sound like a long time, but I'm only on day three and I'm regretting my decision. Wearing the liners is nothing. They barely hurt and it's fine. It's taking them out that's killing me. I have about 6 attachments that I wasn't told about--not that it would've mattered I guess. But trying to take out the bottom trays is incredibly difficult and painful. On day 2 I was sobbing in front of the mirror trying to get the trays off.

I've looked at every video I could find and read all the tips, the papertowel helps to pull the liners off my molars, but the front attachments refuse to let the liner be removed that the pressure on the front bottom teeth is unbearable. Further, my ortho insisted I have one of my bottom front teeth removed and not only do I now have an unsightly hole, but I coudn't stop this process now if I wanted to.

I knew I couldn't eat with the trays in, which I was kind of looking forward to, because I work from home snacking can be a problem and I looked forward to cutting it out. However, I find myself only eating once a day now because the thought of removing my liners kills any desire to eat.

To make matters worse, I hear about people's teeth becoming loose in the process and already I'm scared to death that I'm going to pull out the bottom teeth removing the tray--but of course everyone tells me that's not going to happen...

I pray that by the end of my first week things will have gotten better, but for now I'm considering this one of the biggest regrets of my life.

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Was referred to the dentist by co-worker and they have an ortho working in the office too.

Replies (0)

UPDATED FROM Inktatt

Today is my 5th day. Yesterday I dreamt that my...

Inktatt
Today is my 5th day. Yesterday I dreamt that my bottom tray popped off easily, but real life wasn't so kind. I took the tray off to eat last night--my second meal of the day. The tray is still very tough to remove due to the buttons, but the pain was at least less; although my bottom lip usually gets caught between the tray and button causing it to bleed, which isn't fun, but at least the sobbing stopped.

When I wake up I just brush my teeth with the trays in and swoosh some Listerine around to kill at least some of the germs inside the trays. I have luke warm green tea w/Splenda for breakfast. I read that it's not acidic, so it shouldn't hurt my teeth. I figure when I eat tonight I'll take the trays off and do a full cleaning of both. I have to hope that all the water I drink throughout the day is helping to prevent any cavity issues.

The false tooth they put inside the bottom tray to hide the huge gap in front of my mouth falls out when I remove the tray and day before yesterday it fell out while I was wearing the tray, so I've given up on it. So now I have a blank spot where my tooth was. I'm very sad about that, but the only thing I can do is wait for tray #2 and hope the tooth stays in that one.

Replies (5)

January 22, 2013

I'm so sorry to hear how you are feeling. :( Most people say the first week is the worst, and that it then gets much better after that.

Have you noticed any changes in how things feel over the last couple of days?

January 22, 2013
I still have no pain, but removing the bottom tray is still very difficult.
January 22, 2013

Sorry to hear. :-/

I'm sure you have seen this, but just in case you haven't this is a forum specifically about removing your trays:

How do you get your Invisalign trays out?

Some people have mentioned using a tiny crochet hook to help with removing them. Have you tried any sort of tools or instruments like that?

January 22, 2013
Yes, I have the hook. It doesn't help. I've tried unhooking both sides and then using the hook to try and lift around the buttons, but that didn't work either--and I'm afraid to tear the liner if I apply more force. I've tried releasing one side and walking the tray. I've tried lifting both side and pushing forward to try and give some slack--doesn't work. Thank you for the link.
January 22, 2013

My gosh, it sounds like you are really having a time with that tray! Maybe give your dentist a call and let them know how much difficultly you are having. Perhaps one of the attachments can be removed until your teeth shift a bit, or something, to make things a bit easier on you.

UPDATED FROM Inktatt

I have finally made it to the end of my first week...

Inktatt
I have finally made it to the end of my first week with tray 1. This has been the longest, emotional-charged week of my life. I actually took my top tray out without the use of the papertowel for grip, but still had to use it for the bottom. The bottom is still a little difficult to remove, but nothing compared to what it was. When you get to be my age, the years fly by--however, I think I just found the secret to making time stand still: get invisalign.

Replies (2)

January 30, 2013
It does get better... I've been in Invisalign for about 20 months now. The first couple of weeks were tough but once I figured out what worked for me getting my trays out it got a lot better. If you're still having that much trouble over a week in you may want to talk to your provider and see if he/she has any tips. Best of luck on your new journey - Becky
January 31, 2013
Thanks, Becky. Wow, 20 months... Short of taking the buttons off, I don't think my ortho can help. I've finally reached the end of my first 2 weeks. I can now take off the top tray fairly easily, but the bottom still gets hung up in front on the attachements. Each time I remove it I try to do something a little different to see if it works. So far, no luck. It wouldn't be so bad except all the pressure gets put onto my two lower front teeth, and with the extraction right next to it, I feel like they're not as strong as they could be an seriously fear pulling them out one of these days--especially when the teeth loosen up more with treatment. I really appreciate your encouragement and wish you luck with the continuation of your treatment. -- Renee