A newbie here---three questions for everyone!!!

[kymccc]

Hi there,

I am still a newbie...On day six of my first set. Things are definitely getting better but I have three questions for all of my fellow Archwired seasoned invisalign users;

1. When I went for my consult, my ortho indicated that I had mild crowding and a very slight bite issue but indicated that I was not a difficult case. I have 23 aligners for both the top and bottom with three included for over0correction. That just seems like alot to me when I have friends with 11 sets and 14 sets, etc.....?? I only have four attachments for the duration of the treatment (planned) so that is good but was I unrealistic to think that I wouldn't need even close to 20 trays?

2. I am nervous about having them out for too long. I am not a speed eater and I feel like I need at least one hour at dinner time. Is 21 hours a day going to mean treatment failure. I know..how can anyone answer that, but if folks here have gone through treatment successfully and have taken one hour for each of their three meals I would love to hear from you.

3. When I picked up my first few sets of aligners my ortho showed me my Clincheck...so cool! I have been seeing that many people actually have a copy of it emailed to them as a video. I called my ortho's office and they acted as thought this was a strange request. This is a large ortho office with an excellent reputation and my ortho has the top level of Invisalign experience. They did finally say they would send me a video but they have yet to actually send it. I mean I am paying $6300 for this treatment!!..don't I have a right to ask for a simple video of what it will do to my teeth?

Thanks for any information and insight you might have.

Kim

[Robin8]

Hi Kim, here's my thoughts on your questions ...

1. When you compare the number of trays, you have to consider your specific diagnosis and the provider who’s conducting the treatment. You may need more corrections to your teeth than your friends. Some providers, mostly general dentists (no specialized orthodontic training), only straighten the anterior 6 teeth and don’t treat bite problems. Every case is different and with different doctors, you get different results. Also, total treatment time is not necessarily the same as the initial number of trays; there could be more trays for refinements afterwards.

2. 21 hours of daily wear is fine. It takes me at least an hour for dinner too. According to Invisalign FAQ, “… aligners are most effective when worn 20 to 22 hours per day …” http://www.invisalign.com/Pages/Frequen ... tions.aspx

3. There is a Clincheck treatment plan and a Clincheck video. Your ortho probably reviewed the plan with you. Make sure you ask for the video that can be easily emailed to you. Most patients don’t know that they can ask for a copy so may be your ortho’s office has never gotten the request before.

Good luck with your treatment!