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Problems with Invisalign after OrthoClear

Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 6:55 pm
by cabasilas
We started out with OrthoClear aligners for our two kids last Fall. The kids loved them. They went through about 4 sets. Then, of course, everything was put on hold due to OrthoClear's demise.

We just started Invisalign in the last couple of days. From the get-go the kids are unhappy. With the OrthoClear there were no attachments. Now the orthodontist says the kids need them. The kids hate their new aligners and say that taking them out is much harder.

I don't remember the issue of attachments being mentioned when we first started treatment last Fall. Is this symptomatic of differences between OrthoClear and Invisalign? If we'd been able to continue with OrthoClear would there have been a greater chance there'd have been no attachments?

And, I've wondered this: Is the orthodontist using attachments now because he wants to speed up the process because of the long down time we had while we were waiting for Invisalign to pick up providing the aligners?

I've tried talking to the orthodontist on this and got nowhere. I just told him how the kids were very unhappy with the new Invisalign aligners and that we didn't realize we'd have to deal with attachments and he just laughed at me and said no one else ever complains about it.

Did we just misunderstand what was involved with using clear aligners?

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:38 pm
by invisagirl
Well I have no clue if OrthoClear used attachments or not but with Invisalign I have yet to meet someone who didn't have attachments. The attachments with Invisalign help increase the odds that the whole process will have a good outcome and isn't due to the ortho trying to rush things.

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 4:23 pm
by cabasilas
Thanks for the feedback. They had 2 sets of aligners with OrthoClear and had no attachments. When my daughter went in yesterday to get her first Invisalign set the orthodontist put on 9 attachments. It was quite a shock for her.

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:52 pm
by Nanny
The attachements are not great, but you can live with them. I have 18 (!!!) attachements and they don´t disturb me in any way....

The important thing is that with the attachements she will have later better results (they are not for trying to rush things). Give her a few days, she will feel ok with them