Inman aligners

[Nixxin]

Hello.

I'd like to know if anyone has any experience of Inman aligners?

My story: I had multiple teeth extractions as a child (eight in one go!) then a removable plate followed by about a year of fixed braces on my upper teeth (no one seemed bothered about my lowers). Then a while with a retainer...

...That was about 20 years ago, and my teeth have been on a slow march out of alignment ever since. It has always troubled me, but I just couldn't face the thought of having braces again. However, I'm 36 now and I've realised that my dodgy teeth are having a negative effect on my self esteem. I've done some research into current orthodentistry and am drawn to the Inman aligner because of the extremely short treatment time, the comparatively cheap price, and the removability factor. So yesterday I plucked up the courage to arrange a free consultation at a London clinic and I have an appointment for next Thursday.

I'm really looking for specific information from people who have used the Inman aligners. I know there are plenty of folk who have no problem with fixed braces and have experienced great results from them, but I'm more interested in hearing about the procedure I am looking into.

Thanks!

Nick

(PS I did a search but Inman aligners are only mentioned a couple of times in passing that I can find. I read the "Why No Love For Removables" thread but no specifics on the Inman.)

[Gloria79]

Hi Nixxin,

Did you go with the Inman aligner in the end? If so, how are you getting on?

I've just spent 3 months wearing an Inman aligner & would be happy to share my experience (rather mixed, in a nutshell), if you would find it helpful. (My treatment was in London too).

[Elina]

Hi Gloria 79,

I am so glad i saw your post here! I have been reading up on Inman Alighners for a while now and although there is plenty of the infomation on the system with brilliant reviews from orthodontists, i couldn't actually find anyone who have used system on their teeth!

I really like the idea of IA. I have sceduled 2 appointments in London with specialists to get 2 opinions on the price, lenth of treatment and of course to see if i am suitable or not!

I would love to know how is your treatment going! have you completed it? Are you happy? Any information will be appreciated! Thanks!

[Elina]

Hi Nixxin,

Have you used Inman Aligners at the end? I am very interested-any information will help!

Thanks

[Nixxin]

Hi there,

(Sorry- haven't looked at this in a couple of months!)

I did indeed go for the Inman. It's taken a little while to get here- my initial consultation was at the end of June and because I hadn't visited a dentist for years I needed a proper going over and a couple of fillings before they could start. And it takes three weeks to make the appliance after they've received the molds.

Anyway, the waiting ended yesterday afternoon and I've now got my aligner. I could feel it at work within a couple of hours, which was encouraging, though I'm told not to expect any significant movement for a while. It is a bit more cumbersome than I expected in terms of its effect on speech- the spring behind the teeth is more protrusive than I was prepared for as I had thought it would be more flush to the back of the teeth. So I'm lisping quite heavily at the moment. Speech always sounds worse in your own ears than to others, though, and I'm hoping the lisp will lessen gradually. Having expected to adapt to it and be talking normally again in a couple of weeks I was a little alarmed to hear my dentist say the lisp would fade but not entirely! Oh well, it's only for a couple of months...

nx

[Elina]

Hello Nixxin,

so great that you replied! My appointments are next week. They are both in London: one in Kensington in Scarsdale dental clinic and the other one is in London Bridge dental practice...so will see..I will keep you posted here..i am very determined, have been thinking about braces for years, then Invisalign....but Inman Aligners seems to be the most attractive option..Nixxin, did they tell you that they would need to file your teeth to get space? I know that with INvisalign they file a thin lawer to get more space, wonder if that is the same with Inman..Also, i know that retainers are still needed after wearing Inmans, did your doctor tell you the same? Also, if you don't mind me asking: which clinic are you having your treatment and how much are you paying? The places i am going to have 1500 GBP price for IA on their websites, but i don't know if that includes retainers afterwards or whatever else is needed.
Sorry so many questions and thanks for your help!

[purpleteeth]

What does it look like? Is it removeable? Just curious... as I have never heard of it before and it sounds interesting.

[Elina]

http://www.inmanaligner.com/

[jules04]

Hi everyone, I've been interested to read this thread as like some of you I have found that there's not many testimonials from patients on the web re Inman Aligners - just those from the ortho's.

My story is similar to Nixxin's, had 4 extractions and braces as a child and all went ok, unfortunately I was not given a retainer and didn't know the need for one at 13 years of age so no surprise that my teeth started moving when the wisdoms came through. I'm 35 now and have a job that involves lots of people contact and running training courses.

Basically my top teeth have tipped inwards and the two front ones have crossed over. Over the years it's been at the back of my mind and the front of my face, always grabbing photos first to check if my crooked front teeth looked worse than ever. Seen dentists in the past but always sounded like a long job, costly and even to the extent of having my jaw broken to bring it in line. Basically I'm not looking for the perfect profile, just straight front teeth.

Anyway, had an appt last week in Sidcup, Kent to check suitability and this time all seemed to go swimmingly. I was shown pics of previous patients some with more crooked teeth than mine and the results look impressive. Went back this Monday and had x-rays and a full mouth check (v important to check the health of your teeth and gums first) and all was ok so had my impressions taken. Got another appt in 2 weeks to fit the aligner and then 3 weekly check ups after that. I just have to see the hygienist in the meantime to make sure I'm all clean.

Treatment is expected to take 16 weeks - I have to have an expander as well but my ortho thinks he can incorporate into the aligner to cut the length of treatment which would be great. So my Xmas photos should be full of smiles!!!!

My lower teeth also moved slightly but this won't show too much, depending on how the uppers go I may have these done too.

I would love to hear how Gloria and Nixxin are getting on and if Elina took the plunge and in turn will update you all on my progress.

Elina - you probably have the answers already but if not I can tell you what I know (bear in mind mine hasn't been fitted yet so the info may change depending on my progress). I have been told that there is a small amount of filing to gain space which doesn't damage your teeth, I will need to wear a retainer forever more, starting at every night for a few weeks and cutting back to 2 or 3 nights a week. The retainer will either be a clear gumshield type or a wire fixed to the back of the teeth, depends on what the ortho thinks at the end of treatment. I am paying £1500 for the aligner and £250 for the expander, this includes all check ups and the retainer.

[Elina]

Thank you very much Jules04!!!
I think we are slowly getting some feedback here Very useful information, now knowing all this i am getting more and more eager to do it!!! Will keep you posted next week!

[jem]

I am also interested in the possibility of using an Inman Aligner to correct orthodontic relapse. I had NHS treatment when I was 12 which involved removal of 4 premolars and an upper removable brace. No retainers were offered in the UK at that time and my top teeth quickly moved back to their original position. A year later I was given another removable brace and this time I had to wear it for 6 months after my active treatment was completed. My teeth were ok for a few years after that, but have gradually drifted back during my adult years.

I have been considering further orthodontic treatment for some time,but have been reluctant to commit to the cost and hassle of a fixed brace.
The Inman Aligner looks like the ideal solution, but like other posters here,I would like to know what other peoples' experience of the IA has been like. Would anyone be willing to provide before/during/after experiences with pics if possible?

[Nixxin]

I, too, am the victim of secretive wisdom teeth causing trouble, though I didn't know that was the cause of my wonky front teeth until I finally got bothered enough about them to go for my consultation back in June. Heck, I wasn't even sure if I had wisdom teeth until I asked! Funny how some people have such dramatic problems with them, but for others they do their damage without even announcing themselves...!

Anyway, at my place the Inman itself is costing £1250. It has indeed been said that I will probably need to get at least one tooth slightly filed to allow space for the correction. I was/am alarmed at this prospect, but it was explained that the wisdom teeth had worked their evil partially by causing crowding at the front, and that means there's a need to create a bit of space as you can't correct the push the wisdom teeth have given the jaw without buying a new head (sorry, I'm paraphasing a bit).

After about 2 months with the aligner (assuming I wear it as much as possible) I will get something which looks to all intents and purposes like an Invisilign, which adds a couple of hundred to the bill. Apparently this is necessary to actually turn one of my teeth which wont fall naturally back into place with the aligner. When this is achieved (in a few weeks) this appliance then becomes my retainer, which frankly is a more appealing prospect than another "plate" device.

Are we allowed to mention specific practices here or does that count as advertising? Thus far I am relatively pleased with my guy- he has certificates and awards to spare, and the practice makes a point of trying to make you comfortable which as a seriously nervous patient who hadn't set foot anywhere near a dentist in almost 20 years was welcome. They market themselves as a "dental spa", and had I so wished I could have had a complimentary hand massage during my first ever fillings as I watched a film with special glasses or listened to music through noise-reduction headphones. As it was, I opted for my own ipod (Abba got me through it), but since it was offered couldn't resist saying yes to the lavender aromatherapy neck cuchion (warmed in the microwave for me) and chose to have some ylang ylang oils in the room from the menu of a dozen scents...

That's about the end of my essay, I think, except to say that at the moment I am still really self-conscious about how I sound with the aligner in, to the extent that I didn't wear it at work today. This was very BAD and STUPID of me, I know, and I am determined to get over this hurdle. I'm hoping to wear the aligner in over the long weekend and start wearing it at work next week. Part of me is indignant that my mere place of work is dictating part of this process, but it's also a stressful time for me in the office at the moment and I don't want my ability to express myself in certain conflicts to be affected by my speech and how self-conscious I am about it. Actually, on the way to work today, thinking about how difficult I'm finding how I sound, I though to myself "Crumbs, Nixxin, you should have just got train tracks if you're going to be this wimpy about a lisp!", but then I remembered the difference in cost and length of treatment and tried to resolve to knuckle down to the path I've chosen.

Congrats if you've read this to the end! Apparently I'm in long-winded mode...

I hope we hear from Gloria79, who posted here last month having just finished with her inman. I've PM'd her, so watch this space.

Yourth thintherely,

nx

[jules04]

Nixxin - your 'dental spa' sounds very nice if a bit smelly with all those oils being burnt!! Good old Abba, although I always sing along to them which could have been tricky with a numb face and a mouthful of instruments.

I too am worried about wearing my aligner to work when I get it. I have started to soften the blow by telling people I am getting it and have made sure I don't have any training courses to run in the first week. I am going away 2 weeks after and am hoping all lisping and excess spitting at people will be lessened by the time I get back. Hopefully after the BH you will have got a bit more used to it, you've only had it for 2 days!! Does it hurt at all when you do have it in?

Don't worry about being long winded, the beauty of this forum is we are all in the same boat and I'm sure I will be stressing on here in a couple of weeks. I have also PM'd Gloria hoping we will hear from her about her treatment.

Good luck at the weekend thweetie

[jules04]

Nixxin - your 'dental spa' sounds very nice if a bit smelly with all those oils being burnt!! Good old Abba, although I always sing along to them which could have been tricky with a numb face and a mouthful of instruments.

I too am worried about wearing my aligner to work when I get it. I have started to soften the blow by telling people I am getting it and have made sure I don't have any training courses to run in the first week. I am going away 2 weeks after and am hoping all lisping and excess spitting at people will be lessened by the time I get back. Hopefully after the BH you will have got a bit more used to it, you've only had it for 2 days!! Does it hurt at all when you do have it in?

Don't worry about being long winded, the beauty of this forum is we are all in the same boat and I'm sure I will be stressing on here in a couple of weeks. I have also PM'd Gloria hoping we will hear from her about her treatment.

Good luck at the weekend thweetie

[jem]

Nixxin, the Inman Aligner website shows several different types of aligner, some of which appear to be more visible than others. Which type do you have? How visible is it when you smile? I am not bothered what friends or family think of my appearance, but am concerned at the possible reaction of new or prospective clients to a middle-aged man with a mouthful of metal.

I also share your concern about speech. I too have a job which involves meeting people and giving presentations. I seem to recall speech not being a big problem with the removable brace I had as an adolescent. Would you say that the Inman Aligner is much bulkier?

I hope you don't spend all the Bank Holiday weekend reading aloud the "rainbow passage" which I have seen mentioned on this site.

Good luck with the thpeech

Jem