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[corklass]

I have been wearing Invisalign for about 18 months-just about done I believe and its not soon enough. I did have some nausea here and there but have attributed that to perhaps not enough cleaning/ hygiene. Since I started to put much more effort into a lot more on cleaning and soaking in Efferdent those issues have gone away pretty much.
However in the year and a half that I have been wearing them my health had deteriorated drastically. My vitamin D levels dropped to zero, my glands were constantly swollen although thyroid tests did not indicate hyper or hypothyroid condition. My diet had not changed as I have always been a healthy eater and don't eat fast food, junk food, frozen or canned food.
Now I am seeing a neurologist because of brain function impairment and I question the biocompatability testing that has been done on invisalign. I am assuming that as they are not "implants" they have passed biocompatability testing for devices only with contact up to 24 hrs. However that test is intended for temporary contact up to 24 hrs. If these devices are in contact for 20 hrs a day for 18 months what test has been conducted to determine that they are safe. The material that they are made of is not well published- I noted a mention to polyeurethane somewhere. That what we laquer our furniture with!! I cant say for sure what they are made of?
Regardless, all plastics are scary materials as the material manufacturers are not required to divulge their formulation even to the OEM manufacturer. (I work in the medical device field) While they may be polyeurethane or similar we will never know what additives are in the materials. Has the material supplier to Invisalign filed the material formulation with the FDA? I have a ton of questions but doubt I will ever get all the answers even from my orthodontist.
Even though the devices are FDA cleared based on "substantial equivalence" to some other device there is no information in the 510K regarding material. The
FDA needs to start doing a better job.

[mommamorin]

Wow, Corklass. A vitamin D level of 0, I don't know how you are even functioning. I too have similar problems and find it very interesting. I have since wearing my invisalign have been diagnosed with hashimoto's with nodules and low vitamin D as well. Coincidence, maybe. The only thing that happened that I can contribute 100% due to the invisalign is a dry hacking cough which other members here also had. After inserting a new tray the cough would be horrible then subsiding after several days, but the cough never went away only to get worse on the next tray. A few people here wrote that they thoroughly soaked the new trays before inserting so I tried it and it did help a lot. There is some kind of coating on the tray.
I did call Align Tech directly asking about the trays and what they're made of and they would not answer my question but referred me to my provider, and he had no idea.

[Chi-town]

AAAAHHHHH, it is so good to learn others are having similar problems! (not that I rejoice in others' pain, but it is just reassuring). I thought it was just me, that it was my "nerves".

I have been on invisalign for 15 months, and have many more to go.

I also have the dry-cough (it comes and goes using prescription medication Ventolin, an inhaler with Albuterol, I never used such a thing before) and I also have been prescribed a nasal spray (with corticoids) to curb my new allergies. My primary doctor and I did not link Invisalign to these new allergies. I also feel tired and a general lack of energy (not usual at all, I am energetic and athletic); I never had my vitamin levels checked (maybe I should). And I keep having painful mouth sores (internal, rinsing with peroxide daily now, they do not heal, they just get worst and feel to extend to my throat) and external (on my lips, they seem healed with peroxide but not 100% sure yet) that never heal properly as if I have some sort of problem with my defenses. I will go to my next doctor's appt armed with this info and I will also ask my ortho for better advice.

Thanks for posting. It should be easier to find these posts, or use other title/key words (not just "review"). I only started to do more thorough searches when I read the FDA article on the newspaper yesterday, but I had been doing internet searches for a while using the words "invisalign complaint", "invisalign health problem", etc and never found these posts before. Thanks...thanks...

[mommamorin]

Hi Chi-town,
it is interesting your dr is treating you for allergy/asthma (inhaler/nasal spray are asthma meds). I too have been diagnosed with asthma a couple of years ago and use both of these meds as well. I started wearing invisalign in november of 2008. May I ask what you read in the newspaper yesterday? It would be interesting as Align Tech was not forthcoming with information. Perhaps Dr. Tam can shed some light on what these trays are really made of.

[Chi-town]

Hi Momma,

Thanks for sharing. Do you still take these medications? Are you still wearing the trays? Is the "after" retainer made of the same material? I rinse my new trays thoroughly but I still get the effects.

I read about the FDA warning letter in the Chicago Tribune yesterday.

Summary of main findings:

Specific Problems with Invisalign Braces
Based on a review of available complaint materials that the FDA cites, the clear braces makers failed to report adverse effects of their product to the authorities within a stipulated 30-day disclosure period. These side effects include one patient's needing to receive steroid treatments for the mitigation of potentially life-threatening swelling.

Other patients' adverse experiences with clear braces included hospitalization, sore lips, gingival swelling, swollen lymph nodes, oral ulcerations and sore throat. Most damning is the FDA's claim that Align Technology "has knowledge that this device would be likely to cause or contribute to a death or serious injury if the event were to recur."

I read a comment by Dr. Tam on another thread on this Forum.

This FDA warning (and the posts I am reading here, suchs as yours) is quite relevant to me as I can engage in a different kind of conversation with my doctor and my ortho.

Chi-Town

[TheInvisaMan]

Omg! This is probably the last thing I should be reading! I've been noticing a lot of nausea of late with new trays (I'm on my 2nd pair). I naturally suffer from acid reflux, but when these trays are in the problem skyrockets. It's so bad, I've got to quickly take them out before I think I'm gonna be sick.

I asked my ortho and she recommended soaking them in mouthwash. But it hasn't worked. Has anyone else had this problem? Is this due to the toxic content in the trays?

I'm really worried now and thinking about taking my chances with old-school metal braces. Don't tell me metal ones are bad too!

[mommamorin]

Hi Chi-town.
yes, I still take these medications as needed. Funny, now that I am no longer changing trays every 2 weeks I have not needed to use it often at all. I was diagnosed with having thyroid problems as well last year (bloodwork suddenly went wacky) and having an ultrasound I have 4 nodules on my thyroid. Coincidence? Maybe, but all of a sudden I have had too many health issues.
InvisaMan, I will probably be blasted for this by the Invisalign lovers (I too once was one) but after two plus years wearing them (my treatment was only 10 months) I still have to wear the trays almost full time as the teeth do not stay in place for very long. If I go without the trays for more than 4 or so hours, they are tight! Had I known in the beginning that I would have to wear them this long and not be able to go to night time wear only, I certainly would have not gone with the Invisalign. I found it was very misleading. Oh boy, 10 months wear time and then night NOT!

[Phantom Muse]

Momma - Have you considered switching to fixed retainers? I finally did last week after almost 5 months with the Vivera retainers. I still wear the Vivera at night (between 7-8 hours usually -- and at my ortho's request, skipped a night and will try to do so every week for a few weeks, and then two nights after that for another few months, etc.) and I can't tell you how NICE it is to not be dealing with the trays anymore. My Vivera are a little tight (a teeny bit really) on the back teeth when I put them in at night, but hardly enough to notice and NOTHING like before. Also, within a few days I was completely used to the fixed retainers. I still "play" with them a bit, but they really are not of any concern. Flossing only takes a few extra minutes daily, and I can now eat WHENEVER I wish!

I was initially adamant against getting fixed retainers, but looking back, I wish I would have done that right away. My ortho said that Invisalign can't provide the same root torque as metal braces (although they are working on improving that), and as a result it is not unusual for Invisalign wearers to have these sorts of stability problems. I wish I would have known that upfront myself, but I didn't and the bonded retainers have fixed my issues entirely.

Good luck, feel better, and have a blessed holiday season.

[TheInvisaMan]

Momma,

Do I understand you correctly? You are STILL wearing Invisalign after 2 years!?! I think I'm gonna talk to my Ortho and see if I can't switch to conventional braces. This nausea and the taking in and out of these trays is driving me crazy. And now I'm hearing that the correction they provide isn't as good as regular braces.

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

It's really unfortunate to read some of these experiences.

Invisalign is orthodontic treatment. If used properly in the correct applications, the results should be the same as with braces. The problem is that there are still many inexperienced users of Invisalign out there who do not fully direct the treatment, or choose to use it when it is not appropriate. The scope of use for those who are experienced will certainly be greater than for those who treated fewer patients.

Depending on the movement of the teeth, indefinite retention may also be required. This can be in the form of fixed retention, or a nightly routine. The teeth do not know that they were moved with Invisalign, so to place blame on the treatment modality is not correct. Perhaps the teeth were overexpanded or started off in a configuration where fixed retention would be indicated.

It isn't being about an "Invisalign lover". It is about understanding that Invisalign is an orthodontic appliance that requires proper treatment planning and diagnosis, just like an expander, forsus springs, or braces. Keep in mind also that at this time, the FDA-cited issues are exceedingly rare, and have not been able to be linked directly to the use of the appliance.

Merry Christmas to all!

[EmeraldCastrol]

It is very alarming for me to hear about the drop of Vitamin D levels to 0 while wearing Invisalign, especially how I am pregnant at the moment and need Vitamin D for my body to absorb calcium properly. However I do wash all my new trays before wearing them and don't experience nausea. My orthodontist told me that it was safe for me to use Insivalign while I'm pregnant and may even be better because the hormones during pregnancy help with movement of the teeth better. I really hope he is right. I think I better go get my vitamin D levels checked!

[bananasplitter]

11 reviews and not one of them positive. has anyone had a good experience with invisalign?