It has been a little over 2 weeks since I had attachments placed on my teeth for Invisalign at Carter Orthodontics. A few days afterwards, I broke my aligner. I called Cheryl at Carter Orthodontics and she told me to go ahead and put the next set of aligners in. It was tough getting them in and out the first couple of days. Mostly because my teeth were sore from the movement. I see this as only positive because that means I’m getting closer to my new smile! I take a couple of Advil and don’t even notice the soreness until I take out the aligners or put them back in. And the soreness lasts just a day or two. The video shows that I’ve adapted and can take the aligners in and out with attachments fairly easily. I have to be careful when I’m taking them out around the attachment areas. I try to pull the aligner up and over the attachment and not straight down. I use both hands and wiggle the aligner until it comes loose. I’m sure others have their own little tricks that work for them. If you have any suggestions for getting the aligners out easier, please comment on this post and share them. I’ve read about a tool you can buy to pry them out. I personally use my fingernail but it is murder on my nails. Has anyone tried this tool? Please comment and let me know!
Enjoying reading your blog because I just started Invisalign too! I’m on day three and it’s great – the only problem I have is that it gets quite sore when I’m putting them in and taking them out. the pain subsides within minutes, but that initial jolt is pretty intense… Did you find that that discomfort of putting them on and off gets better towards the end of an aligner’s two-week lifespan? So far, it hasn’t changed.
It definitely makes me snack less because I never want to take them off.. but that’s not so good for my ability to think clearly… being hungry all of the time!
Any thoughts or advice?
Thanks!
Julia
Julia, The soreness does get better for me after the first day or two. When I change aligners I try to do it at night before I go to bed. I also take advil and that seems to do the trick. I think the worst for me was week 1. That was the hardest trying to get the aligners in and out and my teeth were really sore. It has definitely gotten easier. Hang in there! I’m on week 12 now. I already can tell a huge difference in my smile so it is definitely worth it!
As far as snacking, you can drink tea or soft drinks with the aligners in. Maybe the sugar in the drinks can give you an extra boost? Invisalign definitely cuts down on snacking. I don’t want to brush and floss my teeth that much! There have been times when I’ve been offered food but there was no convenient way for me to take my aligners in and out or brush my teeth, so I just turned down the food. If you’re hungry all the time, I would try eating more during your main meals. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any more questions. ~ Melissa
Hi Melissa,
did you try to have your broken tray replaced? Are they supposed to do this at no extra cost? I did nothing wrong and my tray broke (in the back, a little) today, on day one. It should sound like a products liability claim, they didn’t tell us that they won’t necessarily last as long as expected even if we do everything alright…
good luck with your braces. great to hear that they work. One of my attachments is too big i think, it hurts my mouth all the time when i bite….did you have that?
best,
Melinda
Melinda, I haven’t had to have any of my broken aligners replaced. I either wore them because the crack wasn’t too bad or I just went to the next set of aligners since I only had a few days left to wear them anyway. They are pretty flexible but if you use too much force, they will crack. They aren’t indestructible. I think Invisalign Teen is the way to go right now because they offer the replacements. If one of the attachments is causing pain, I would call your orthodontist and tell them. They can do things to smooth them so that they aren’t irritating. Also, the aligners can be rough in spots. You can use a nail file to sand them down and if that doesn’t work, take them to your orthodontist and they can fix it. Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks, Melissa
Hey Melina!
Invisalign has two main products: Invisalign and Invisalign Teen. They are technically the same, but Teen provides 6 lost or broken aligners. The original product does not (but there is talk they may soon). You may be able to skip the broken aligner and go to the next one, or simply keep wearing the broken one if it still fits. Early intreatment this CAN happen as there are alot of areas that the aligners have to flex around do to the crowding.
Hope this response helps!
Dr. David
I just got my invisalign yesterday. How do you know if it’s too big. My mouth is sore, so I assume that it fit. My problem is…the bottom doesn’t cups to my teeth like the top. Maybe I just need to adjust having them in. I guess if they were too big I could take my tongue and move it around. What do you think?
If they were too big, I think they would fall off. And the fact that your mouth is sore is telling me that they are doing their job. You shouldn’t see much space between the aligner and your teeth. You may need to push down on the aligner until it clicks into place. Sometimes you have to use a little force. If it is still bothering you, call your orthodontist and they will check it for you. Let me know how it goes.
Is it ok to wear a half broken invisiliner
Only until you can get in to see your orthodontist. It’s better than wearing nothing.
Dr. David
@jmr1068204 It does take a few weeks to get the aligners after the iiserspmons are made. 3-4 weeks time is normal. They do not give them all to you at once. Depending upon your treatment plan, you go back every 6-8 weeks and then they give you your next set of aligners to last you until your next appointment. I took my Flip Camera and recorded the 3D animation. I’m not sure if they can give you a copy. Good luck!
What if my third set of invisiliners doesn’t sit on my teeth and there’a a space with bubbles in the tray between the top of my teeth and inside top of the invisiliner.