just getting started

[briggs]

Hi everyone I'm new to this and have a few questions. I already had an appointment with my dentist for x-rays and impressions. At that time he told me he thought my treatment time would be 1 year to 18 months with 4 attachments total. To be honest I'm a little nervous about the attachments I really don't want them on my front teeth.

So when the impressions and the x-rays are sent off to invisalign are they the ones who determine the treatment time and how many attachments you will have during treatment?

Also should the doctor know all of this before ordering the trays?

I'm just wondering cause I just received a call from his office saying they needed a deposit to order my trays. When I asked the office girl how long and how many attachments I would have she said she didn't know he didn't tell her. I told her to go ask and get back with me. I need to know what I'm getting into before I commit to this. I guess I thought they brought you back in to go over a computer imaging from invisalign.

Please tell me how your doctor got you started.

[mommamorin]

Hi Briggs
Yes, there is a computer image called the Clincheck. Ask to see this, especially if you're on the fence about doing the Invisalign. The clincheck will show you from start to finish the movement of your teeth. At that time you could also discuss with your provider the attachments, where they are located, and how many trays you will have. I had 9 attachments, not on the front teeth but the ones to the sides of them and they were not noticable. I knew they were there so it was like a wart on my nose but honestly no one else ever noticed. Believe it or not, 1 year to 18 months will fly by and in the scheme of things, a very short period of your life. I am now in retainers having started Invisalign back in November of 08. it seemed like yesterday I was just starting my journey. Good luck to you

[350GT]

The attachments are clear'ish/toot colored. Once you have the attachments on, they blend in with the aligners.

Once your impressions are sent off, a technician at Align will create a simulation on how the teeth will move to straighten them out. Your orthodontist will then review the Clincheck to see if those movements are acceptable from an orthodontic point of view. If he feels as though your teeth should move in a different way, he will make revisions and send back to Align to update. Your ortho is the one with the experience on how/when/why teeth should move, so trust in his or her decisions.

I picked an orthodontist who had been in business for over 25 years, so I was very confident in his knowledge and experience. He is also a Premier Invisalign provider. Personally I would go to an orthodonist over a general dentist for Invisalign treatment.

[kimnim1]

i agree with above posts, but as far as the money goes. I did have to pay a certain fee for the impressions to be sent to the lab before seeing the clincheck (obviously since the impressions are needed to make the clincheck). that was a non refundable deposit and if i decided not to get invisalign i would have been out the money. i risked it and luckily i liked what i saw and went for it and my ortho was nice and ended up putting that fee toward my final amount. It is worth it and I wouldn't stress too much about the time. your ortho was probably pretty close with his/her prediction and it goes fast.

[mommamorin]

i agree with above posts, but as far as the money goes. I did have to pay a certain fee for the impressions to be sent to the lab before seeing the clincheck (obviously since the impressions are needed to make the clincheck). that was a non refundable deposit and if i decided not to get invisalign i would have been out the money. i risked it and luckily i liked what i saw and went for it and my ortho was nice and ended up putting that fee toward my final amount. It is worth it and I wouldn't stress too much about the time. your ortho was probably pretty close with his/her prediction and it goes fast.

ditto for me as well. I paid $400 for the Clincheck and if I didn't like the result, I was out of the money or it would be applied to the balance due when I went with the Invisaline.
I went with an elite provider dentist in my area as dentist's who do veneers and lumineers as well have the artistic talent of shaping teeth for that perfect smile. For me it wasnt all about the bite, it was the cosmetics.

[ChelseaRox]

Hi, I am 4 months into treatment. When my impressions were taken (to be sent to invisalign) i paid $380 non-refundable deposit. once the clincheck (video of teeth movement) was recieved at my dentist i then viewed it & anything that i was not happy with was sent back for alteration. It was only when i was happy with it that i paid another $1950 for the trays to be made. My total cost is $8390...this includes the $380 & $1950. The 1st clincheck came back with 7 attachments but my dentist decided to add another 2. have 5 upper...none on the front 2 teeth but starting from the ones next to them.....no one notices them at all. I find that my teeth look heaps better with the trays in...shiney & straighter. I am very happy that I decided invisalign was they way to go. BTW im in Australia.

[briggs]

Thank you all of your replies, they really calmed my nervous. His office called back and said the treatment time would be 1 year to 18 months like he said and I will need 5 attachments 4 on all the canine and 1 on the upper lateral incisor. I okayed them to order the trays and my appointment is Jan 4th to get my 1st trays. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I've been wanting to do this for awhile just never felt I had the extra $5100.00. My doctor knew I was interested in it so they called to let me know they were running a special in the month of Dec. taking 1,000.00 off. That day I received an unexpected check in the mail for $4,000.00 so I'm doing it!

[ChelseaRox]

Great news then briggs.....only one attachment on top!! Let us know how many trays you will be getting. Im currently on tray 10 of 23...both upper & lower. You may feel that its a long time (1yr-18months), but I can tell you the time goes really quick. My dentist said at tray 20 he will decided if the last 3 trays are needed or that Im finished, or need refinements. I read on here somewhere that the last 3 trays are for 'over-correction' if needed...not too sure what that means?? (can anyone explain??). Well good luck with your invisalign journey & keep us posted on your progress.

[liccledevil83]

HI I've just started mine last Monday, I've got a few attachments, one on the top right which to me I think i quite visible but no one has noticed until I've pointed it out. (got a photo up if you want to check it out) I ended up paying the full price before them even oking if I was suitable for invisalign, which I was a bit unsure about but I'm more then happy since having my trays, even people that knew I was getting it didn't notice I had my trays in.
Good Luck!

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

Overcorrection is used to help overrotate certain teeth that may be difficult to move, or that will have a tendency to relapse (eg spacing). Whether or not this is used in your treatment is going to depend on the treatment plan of your doctor. This is generally during the refinement stage as well.

I can say that 100% of the properly experienced Invisalign doctors tell the technicians how the teeth should move, not just look at them and approve. In fact, the initial simulation is based on a prescription form that can be filled out generically or with more detail. While it is possible to estimate the number of attachments required before seeing a clincheck, it is difficult to say exactly how many will be needed since it is going to depend on the order and direction of movement prescribed.

Hope that helps.