Tuesdays are "I Tried It Tuesdays" where I'll tell you about something I recently tried -- an item, a movie, an activity, etc.
Today's topic: Clear Image Aligners (clear retainers to straighten teeth)
I have a loooooooong, sordid dental history. It started with some genetic abnormality that caused me to be born with three sets of front teeth (two pairs of adult teeth), which resulting in oral surgery when I was child and two rounds of braces -- once in grade school, again in college. Most recently, I have some really awful (but really effective) gum surgery that involved a skin graft from the roof of my mouth being used to repair a gum problem on my front teeth.
Well....so...anyway..you go through all that & you want some nice teeth. Unfortunately, one of my front teeth was starting to twist and overlap the other. Most people didn't notice, but I did and was extremely self-conscious about it.
I knew it wasn't going to get any better as I got older, but I was NOT doing braces again. I inquired at the dentist one day if I could get a retainer made that I could wear at night that would put that tooth back in it's place (I was told after my last round of braces that I'd probably need to wear a retainer for the rest of my life, at night...but, I'd outgrown it).
My dentists' office just so happened to have added an orthodontist to the practice. Had a consultation with the good Dr. who recommended we do a series of clear retainers -- called Clear Image Aligners -- that would gradually put the teeth back in place.
What they're like: Hard plastic trays -- like whitening trays, only they are not flexible.
How long do you wear them: You wear the retainer 24/7 -- taking it out only to eat. Eventually, I will wear the last retainer in the series (which I'm on now) only at night.
How long does it take?: I started the first retainer in mid-February. I had a series of four retainers. Wore each one 24/7 for 2 to 3 weeks. It's now the first of May, I'm on my last retainer now...when I go in the first of June, I'll be wearing it only at night.
Did it work? Yes. Yes. Yes. I got the results I wanted. It's not perfect...that would require braces. What I wanted was for them to be relatively straight again and I am very, very happy with the results.
How much does it cost? That depends on your practice and how many retainers you need. I needed four and am going to end up paying $1,000. That's an out-of-pocket expense. Most insurances will not cover adult orthodontic work -- particularly things that are deemed "cosmetic" like straightening.
Are they noticeable? If you talk a lot...people will notice that you're wearing an appliance because you will, in all likelihood, lisp a bit. But...most people never know I have them in. Because they are clear...people rarely notice/see them though.
Do they hurt? Not really. There's some pressure, of course...but....the pressure was a lot less than I expected. I expected to have headaches and such from the pressure, but I never had any trouble. If I was annoyed ...say when I put in a new retainer, I took some asprin and I was fine.
Are they worth it? In my opinion...yes. It worked for me. I got the results I wanted without spending thousands on braces. And, I'll be perfectly happy to wear this retainer for the rest of my life if it means I can keep my teeth relatively straight.
Will they work for you? Talk to an orthodontist. Only they know for sure. Most offer free consultations! Clear aligners are meant to fix minor orthodontic problems and will NOT get you the perfect teeth you will get with braces, but...they're a nice alternative.
Something else you might need to know: In my case, the Dr. had to file some of my teeth to make room for the movement. Not a big deal...not painful...annoying and a bit creepy, but very similar to filing your nails.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Comments (1)
I am pretty anal about my teeth... the have to be such and such a shade of white.. yadda yadda yadda... My bottom two front teeth cave inwards slightly, and because I vowed to never get braces, I went in for a spring loaded retainer. (It glowed in the dark). I lisped much too much for my own liking, so I opted for wearing it two times as long as I would have had to, but only at night... then I left for church camp last summer and forgot to wear it all week and when I got home I couldn't sleep with it in anymore. I'd wake up in the morning finding it not in my mouth. Occasionally on the floor, under my dresser, in my sheets - which means that thing got some distance when I popped it out of my mouth. Needless to say, it was a failure, but it wasn't the clear ones... I think you made the right decision going with those!!!
Oh - and btw, I never noticed any imperfection with your teeth before, or the retainer, but I understand your self-consciousness... I think I'm going to go whiten my teeth now. lol.
Posted by Michelle F. | May 6, 2008 8:45 PM
Posted on May 6, 2008 20:45