i am in tears, jolted and traumatized when snapping the trays on

[superfcbear]

Please offer any support you can. The amount of anxiety and pain/suffering is about to send me into depression. I appreciate any support you can offer, please

I had 4 teeth extracted and a week later started my 1st tray. I am definitely still healing and the sockets feel sore... I have a total of 12 buttons, 3 on each quadrant. During my appt for the 1st tray, when my ortho snapped the bottom tray onto my molars, i jumped out of the chair , tears broke out and was trembling for the next 25 minutes. Driving 5 miles to go home felt unsafe.

That evening i tried to yank out the bottom tray and after struggling for 20 min in front of the mirror, sweating, tearing, they were still stuck . i gave up and slept with them in (after several advils) On Day 2 , the top came off a little easier and i managed to get the bottom ones out too.... but snapping them back on again sent me into tears and i had to just sit on the floor for 5 minutes. That was extremely intense pain.

I am in a lot of anxiety , can't sleep well, woke up thinking about having to work up my courage for the next removal/snap on. i am not functioning at home or at work. I feel bad 'coz i can't take care of my kids. I am really regretting this but can't look back.

My questions:

1) I have been swallowing food, not chewing 'coz i don't have the courage to get the bottom ones out more than just once a day. Question: Will the removal/snap on get easier in a few days when the molars have moved into their place? Can i wait till it becomes a bit easier to remove it 3 times a day to eat/clean ? is it ok to just swish really hard in hopes to get the food out of the trays?

2) I heard tray 1 is the worst... is it? in 2 weeks when I start tray 2, should i expect the same amount of pain? i feel so depressed thinking that i have to deal with this every 2 weeks for 1.5 yrs. if the aligners don't kill me, the advils will shut down my kidney!

Thank you for any help you can offer

[Phantom Muse]

Dear Superfcbear,

Hang in there! It will DEFINITELY get easier to take the trays out. I am only in the middle of week two with my second tray, and I had the same sort of trouble with my first tray. In fact, when the ortho put the first lower one in for me, it caught the inside of my mouth so that my cheek was "braced" along with my teeth! That coupled with how odd the trays felt at first (I hardly notice them now only a few weeks into this), I wasn't sure I was up for it either. But it is FINE now!

I suspect that the trauma of a teeth being pulled (along with the newness and awkwardness) of the aligners is contributing to your physical discomfort and emotional sensitivity. From the sound of it, however, you are through the worst part! Your teeth haven't moved for years, and now you are asking them to move. "They" may not like it, but now that they are growing accustomed to it, it will improve faster than you can imagine.

It really is best to not eat anything while you are wearing your trays. The trays will get gunky and the food particles on the teeth can lead to decay. I don't generally snack anymore simply because I don't want to take the time to do a full cleaning more than three times daily, but I do eat an extra bit during mealtimes to tide me over. During the second week of each tray, I may, every so often, I take off my trays and drink an Odwalla drink or similar protein drink and brush quickly and snap my aligners right back onto my teeth. I don't do this during the first 4-5 days of the new tray because I have found that is when the greatest tooth movement happens and it is less comfortable to put the trays back into place. Remember, though, that as time passes, taking the aligners out grows SO much easier that you WILL be able to eat as you wish!

Take care, and keep us posted!

[gap]

Hi Superfcbear,

You might want to talk to your ortho about the use of Advil for your pain management.

My ortho advised me against using Advil because it's ingredients somehow interact in a way that counters your root movement. This may cause you some root problems.

The recommendation is to use Tylenol.

Good luck with your treatment. You will get used to it.

[mommamorin]

yes, it will get much easier. Im wondering tho why your ortho didn't allow more time for your gums to heal. One comment you made, "i gave up and slept with them in". You're supposed to sleep with them in and only have them out to eat.
Good luck to you, again, it will get better

[liccledevil83]

superfcbear, i really feel for you! I had a tooth removed a week before i had my trays and it most definitely made removing the trays more painful along with the in experience of removing them anyway. The more you practice the easier it will get but if you are in that much pain maybe you should speak to your ortho. My trays didn;t hurt to actually put on, but due to the pressure the teeth around the tooth I had out really hurt. Fingers crossed this time next week you've be more confident with the trays, your mouth will have healed and you'll be feeling much more positive!

I found my first tray tray the most uncomfortable due to the tooth removal and the weirdness of it I assume. Now I like putting my new trays in, there is pressure but I feel like that means they're doing what they should be!!

Good Luck

[superfcbear]

Thank you to each of you who offered support and advice. Today is day 6. i have to admit in the past days I was so full of anxiety that i could only work up the courage to remove my bottom tray only once a day. Sounds dramatic but all i could think about all day long is the pain when removing the trays . I have mastered the top try and it doesn't really even hurt anymore. Still for the lower ones, I "improved" from sitting on the floor crying to just a body of sweat and saliva dripping down my arm after struggling with it each night.

The aligners being tight have not bothered me as much as snapping them back on. My biggest problem is the attachments on my lower molars caused the trays to be impossible to go on (and when it does, the pain sends me through the roof 'coz i am brute-forcing them in). I don't know how i can lift the aligners so it can "slide over" the attachment...any advice?

so I have improved but I really don't see how i can do this at a restaurant after meals (the top ones are no problem now). the lower ones I have to mess with for at least 10 minutes, trying to fit all of my 10 fingers in my mouth!!! i clip my lips each time and

Everyone says when starting a new try it'll be tight for a few days. again my problem is with putting them on? Am i gonna have to be traumatized with putting on a new tray? Or my technique right now be applied for all the new trays so it'll be a non-issue besides and just tightness?

I am pretty sure part of the intense pain and emotional stress came from the extractions. My dentist told me to come back within a week otherwise the teeth will start to drift.... I guess i am starting it the most difficult way with extractions and attachments right away. some posters stated they at least a few weeks without the attachments and that made the transition easier.

Thank you again, everyone!!

[Phantom Muse]

Dear Superfcbear,

If you are still having difficulty with the lower tray, perhaps you will need to wear it a bit longer than two weeks until your teeth move into position; the lowers might be making a bigger move in this tray! Ask your orthodontist about that. Don't hesitate to share your concerns, as it is their job is to help you through this process! The following trays will be easier for you (I know that might be hard to believe right now), but your extraction sites will have healed and your teeth will be in the proper position for the next tray. The first tray really was most challenging for me as I think my teeth have moved the most in that tray. I have heard of a tool some people use to help with removal and insertion of the aligners. I am not familiar with it, but hunt around this site for info, google it, and also call your ortho for advice about it. You might benefit from something like that.

I got my seven attachments right away too, and I am, in a strange way, glad I did! I am a control freak, and knowing that this is what it will be (rather than having it "easy" and then attachments added where it will then be "harder") is better for me psychologically. Get the worst out of the way first! And you have!

I avoided restaurants with public bathrooms for the first two weeks until I felt more comfortable. Those I was with didn't care about my time in the washroom, and I simply felt better taking care of things in private. In fact, my daughter made a list of all the restaurants we like to frequent where there were private bathrooms. In the past week, I "graduated" to a public bathroom! If I can do it, so can you! Looking back, I didn't realize what a lifestyle change Invisalign would be for me (and I suspect it is no big deal for many), but it has been a learning experience for my ultra-sensitive self, and as the journey continues, I am grateful for it in many ways.

Hang in there! It really does get easier. Keep us posted!

[angel9165]

superfcbear,

I just got my trays yesterday and have to admit, the first few times were very stressful. My ortho recommended a crochet hook for getting the trays out. I don't have one of those but I have something similar so I used that last night. I can see myself losing some weight (no complaints though) through this process cuz eating is something you have to plan for now. Good luck! I do think it will get much better for you as time goes.

[350GT]

Ask your ortho if they can file down the button corners a bit. My ortho did this b/c some of my crooked teeth with attachments were causing too much pressure while removing/inserting. After filing down they slide on/off much easier while still providing force where needed for tooth movement.

Also where are you located? When I first got my trays, I purchased an "outie" which is a plastic tool that assists in tray removal. It came in a pack of 3, and I don't even use them anymore. I can send you one for free if you'd like and are in the US.

[Weeeyin]

I found that the odd new set of trays hurt like mad when putting them in for the first time. It was like a case of "quick quick" get them in and go straight to bed (I aways put new trays in at night) By the time morning came for breakfast and brushing, getting them out was a little uncomfortable but not agony, in fact it was almost a relief to put them back in. Honestly it does get easier. Speaking from somone who's finished - it IS worth it in the end. I find myself giving "toothy" smiles to myself in the car - other drivers must think I'm nutty!

[superfcbear]

I am happy to report (and I know you are proud of me) that I have successfully changed out to tray 2 last night!!! HOORAY.

I have been agonizing this moment for about a week. After reporting here after the 1st week, I have since been able to pop them in and out without too much problem. I even did so in a restaurant (which i did not believe was possible before) So I was secretly worrying about switching to tray 2, which, from what I read, could be just as bad. LUCKILY It did not hurt as much !! the "Snapping" pain that sent me through the roof was not there anymore. Right now it's just TIGHT and SORE but I can deal with TIGHT AND SORE, no need to cry on the floor for 5 minutes 3 times a day!!!!! i could not say this if you ask me 2 weeks ago - it's actually not that bad !

I am actually feeling more confident and feel like I can keep at this until i finish all the trays!

thank you for all your support because you were the only ones I could count on

350GT: Thank you for offering to send me one of your outie tool!!! I went to the Japanese dollar store and got myself an "ear pick" that has the metal end to pry the tray out . Definitely do appreciate your generosity!

Now one questions: there are edges on this new tray that seems to be irritating my tongue. should I file it down with a nail file?

[Phantom Muse]

YAY, Superfcbear! I am so glad to hear all is going well!!!

Each of my new lower trays have scratched my tongue a bit, so I do file them gently with an emery board. It usually takes a few tries to get it just right, but then all is fine thereafter. In every tray, the location of the spot that needs filing is the same, so I may ask my ortho to file the next few trays when I get them next week since the problem spot is so predictable.

So glad to hear you are managing so well!

[liccledevil83]

Yay! Glad to hear everything has settled down! Well done!!! My trays usually irritate me for a day or so when they're new but then settle down, I've never filed mine down but it sounds like a lot of people do.
x

[leevshan]

I'm on my 1st tray, the first time I put them on I could feel pressure on the teeth, but this is nothing compared to metal braces... I could never go back to metal, so I chose Invisalign