POSTED UNDER Invisalign REVIEWS
My Invisalign Journey - Webster, TX
ORIGINAL POST
Today I picked up trays 2 (which is actually my...
$6,000
Today I picked up trays 2 (which is actually my first tray) & 3 of 41. I am 49 years old and have some bone loss. A subject I have not seen covered here. I am interested to see how my progress will go. My concern with Invisalign and Metal braces were the loss of teeth due to my bone loss. My Ortho could not give a 100% determination because each case is different. However, he opted for the Invisalign treatment because he could move the teeth at a much slower pace to try and prevent tooth loss.
I have had my trays in for 2 hours now. And the only discomfort I feel is my tongue constantly exploring the plastic along the edges. I imagine after a while that will do a number on my tongue so I should really cut that out. I must also inform you that I've already taken two Tylenols because I have read previous reviews about being in pain for 3 days and I wanted to get a jump on that. I will be posting periodically to document my journey. I had a little trouble putting my bottom tray in. Taking them out isn't too bad, I'm more worried about damaging them so I'm probably being more cautious then needed. I have noticed I am a bit slobbery ( haha) and have a slight lisp with "th" words. Other than that...I'm good.
I have had my trays in for 2 hours now. And the only discomfort I feel is my tongue constantly exploring the plastic along the edges. I imagine after a while that will do a number on my tongue so I should really cut that out. I must also inform you that I've already taken two Tylenols because I have read previous reviews about being in pain for 3 days and I wanted to get a jump on that. I will be posting periodically to document my journey. I had a little trouble putting my bottom tray in. Taking them out isn't too bad, I'm more worried about damaging them so I'm probably being more cautious then needed. I have noticed I am a bit slobbery ( haha) and have a slight lisp with "th" words. Other than that...I'm good.
UPDATED FROM MsMary65
1 day post
Day 2
I've completed a full day of wearing my trays. Yesterday I wore my trays from the Ortho took 2 Tylenols before I even left the parking lot. I've read so many reviews about the pain. I wanted to be prepared. At work I had lunch, I wasn't too concerned we have nice facilities. Again..I had trouble removing the trays. Drooling down my hands.. Slippery aligners and I always feel like I'm gonna yank my teeth from my mouth. Anyway. I ate soup. Again scared because of all the reviews. Brushed my teeth and rinsed off the aligners and popped them back in. Two more Tylenols at 2:00. I got home about 7:00 pm. Took them out again. Still having trouble. Ate. Brushed. Flossed. Rinsed and brushed my aligners and back in they went. Took two more Tylenols. Went to bed at 10:00 ( yeah I'm no night owl) slept well, woke a few times to make sure they were still in. Hahah. So I must say I have had no pain. I do feel tenderness when I use my "chewies". My tongue is feeling a little irritated because it rests on the edge of the aligner. If it gets any worse I'll call the Ortho. So far so good. Oh. And my husband didn't notice them in. But when he kissed me he said... Hmmm your lips feel fuller. They do feel a little swollen.
Replies (3)
October 2, 2014
LOL! Who needs lip fillers--just get Invisalign!
Welcome welcome welcome to the community! So happy to see you here, and excited to follow your progress!
So first, are you allowed to take Ibuprofen? You may want to alternate with that and Tylenol, because of the liver damage Tylenol causes, especially if you're going to be using it for three days. Ibuprofen is harder on the kidneys so some people can't take that (like my husband). My doctors have always told me better to alternate.
That said, the pain may even be perfectly bearable for you without the meds. I never needed OTC meds for the pain (though for the occasional migraines Invisalign gave me, I definitely did.) People who feel terrible pain are more likely to post about it, you know? I mean, a lot of people definitely feel discomfort for the first couple of days wearing a new tray--I certainly did--but the pain isn't necessarily overwhelming. But some people feel close to nothing. It makes me sad that our postings have terrified you--perhaps needlessly. We want you to be forewarned and have support, but not to terrify you!
Anyway, thank you so much for joining the community, and I hope to see your smile soon :). Have you taken a look around at other people's reviews as well, or mostly just the forums?
Welcome welcome welcome to the community! So happy to see you here, and excited to follow your progress!
So first, are you allowed to take Ibuprofen? You may want to alternate with that and Tylenol, because of the liver damage Tylenol causes, especially if you're going to be using it for three days. Ibuprofen is harder on the kidneys so some people can't take that (like my husband). My doctors have always told me better to alternate.
That said, the pain may even be perfectly bearable for you without the meds. I never needed OTC meds for the pain (though for the occasional migraines Invisalign gave me, I definitely did.) People who feel terrible pain are more likely to post about it, you know? I mean, a lot of people definitely feel discomfort for the first couple of days wearing a new tray--I certainly did--but the pain isn't necessarily overwhelming. But some people feel close to nothing. It makes me sad that our postings have terrified you--perhaps needlessly. We want you to be forewarned and have support, but not to terrify you!
Anyway, thank you so much for joining the community, and I hope to see your smile soon :). Have you taken a look around at other people's reviews as well, or mostly just the forums?
October 2, 2014
Thank you so much for the response TwoPlusOne. I definitely feel welcomed. I haven't needed to take any more meds. But I want you to know that when I first met with the Ortho to discuss my process he (or his staff) suggested I take the Tylenol because Ibuprofen limits the movement of the teeth. I specifically asked...because I never take Tylenol, I prefer Ibuprofen whenever I need a little relief. But at this point...I don't think I will need to medicate as much as I did. I was being overly cautious.
I will take a few photos so that we can see my before and then periodically post as I progress.
To answer your question...I have spent quite a bit of time reading reviews as well as the forums. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this site. :)
October 2, 2014
Sweet! I'm glad you got to look around. I never would have found the dental topics here if someone hadn't asked me to write a review. I was, like, there's dental stuff? I was here for a Mommy Makeover! But now I have lots of dental reviews too :D. Hopefully you'll find some community members whose reviews speak to you and you can leave comments and maybe they'll find you. Once you've posted a before-pic, I can hook you up with some people who have similar issues :).
And thanks for the information about the ibuprofen, and I'm glad you haven't needed anymore meds! It's so hard sometimes, trying to balance everything--this is bad for that and that is bad for this and etc. and etc. :) I'm very, very happy to hear that you haven't needed anymore pain relief!
Good luck with the rest of this aligner--it'll be a cinch now :D!
And thanks for the information about the ibuprofen, and I'm glad you haven't needed anymore meds! It's so hard sometimes, trying to balance everything--this is bad for that and that is bad for this and etc. and etc. :) I'm very, very happy to hear that you haven't needed anymore pain relief!
Good luck with the rest of this aligner--it'll be a cinch now :D!
UPDATED FROM MsMary65
2 months post
Week 5
So it's been five weeks and my second set of aligners. I must say that my process has been gong pretty smoothly. The only complaint I would make is that the edges are rough. So my tongue is pretty irritated much of the time. I've been told to take a nail filer and smooth out the edges but for some reason Im bothered that after spending 5000.00 I'm told to do that. And if I file too far...I'll have to wait for a repaired set. Oh well...I'll work it out.
Back to the treatment. I do not see any movement yet. But I know it's working because my bite has changed. I've included a photo so we can follow the change. I'm pretty good about keeping them in for at least 22 hours. Sometimes when I take them out I'm fearful that my teeth will be left in tray and come out too. Hahah. My dentist assures me I'm fine. I do realize that it's a lot more work than I wanted to do. Taking them out to eat or drink ANYTHING other than water is just cumbersome. I find myself skipping snacks and some meals because of it. However. I haven't lost a pound. When I do take out my aligners, I make up for those missed meals. Haha. Well, I will be back in a few weeks. I will get my attachments on my next Ortho visit.
Back to the treatment. I do not see any movement yet. But I know it's working because my bite has changed. I've included a photo so we can follow the change. I'm pretty good about keeping them in for at least 22 hours. Sometimes when I take them out I'm fearful that my teeth will be left in tray and come out too. Hahah. My dentist assures me I'm fine. I do realize that it's a lot more work than I wanted to do. Taking them out to eat or drink ANYTHING other than water is just cumbersome. I find myself skipping snacks and some meals because of it. However. I haven't lost a pound. When I do take out my aligners, I make up for those missed meals. Haha. Well, I will be back in a few weeks. I will get my attachments on my next Ortho visit.
Replies (2)
November 2, 2014
I didn't lose any weight either ;).
Thanks for the picture! If you have time, you might want to make sure you have a side view as well, at least for yourself, since sometimes the bite changes are mostly visible from the side.
Your case isn't so much like most of our crowdings. It looks like your teeth are all really straight and well-placed until right in the front. Most of our severe crowding cases are more v-shaped and have just so much more crowding on the sides as well. I'm thinking of, like, Kkkkaty and falee and kiterunner, for example, who are some of our newer crowding cases. They're still probably going to have to move all your back teeth in order to make room before you can start seeing real progress in the front--which can be frustrating :-/. But it's great that you can feel changes happening.
Thanks for the update! Good luck with your next ortho visit…ortho wax may help with the edges and also with the attachments once you get those and you have to try to eat with them in.
Thanks for the picture! If you have time, you might want to make sure you have a side view as well, at least for yourself, since sometimes the bite changes are mostly visible from the side.
Your case isn't so much like most of our crowdings. It looks like your teeth are all really straight and well-placed until right in the front. Most of our severe crowding cases are more v-shaped and have just so much more crowding on the sides as well. I'm thinking of, like, Kkkkaty and falee and kiterunner, for example, who are some of our newer crowding cases. They're still probably going to have to move all your back teeth in order to make room before you can start seeing real progress in the front--which can be frustrating :-/. But it's great that you can feel changes happening.
Thanks for the update! Good luck with your next ortho visit…ortho wax may help with the edges and also with the attachments once you get those and you have to try to eat with them in.
November 4, 2014
hey! I just found your review. I have bone loss too (and still in my mid-20s!) and was scared that I might start losing teeth way earlier than average. I also asked my ortho if doing invisalign would make it worse, but he said that we'll just have to see how it goes. I hope all this brushing and flossing will help improve my gum health.
On filing trays, there's a particular spot on my aligners which hurts my tongue the most. It was so sore and even Soragel couldn't help. My ortho explained that my lower right molars slant inwards, hence the irritation at that spot. He taught me to file my aligners at that spot and voila! The tongue irritation disappeared immediately. It was like magic. You might want to try identify the areas which irritate the most and just file those edges... it's a little trouble that is def worth the relief :)
Replies (0)