Can't get my aligners off over my attachments

[marissadp]

I have been wearing my aligners for 2 weeks and yesterday I went in to get my attachments. I have 8 on top, going across my front teeth and 6 on bottom. My mouth is incredibly sore and my teeth hurt so bad (and I have a HIGH pain tolerance). I got them in yesterday at 4 pm and didn't eat after since I wasn't going to try to get them off. I slept on it and this morning my mouth was still sore but I figured I should give it a try since I was starving. Of course, no luck. I had perfected getting off my aligners before the attachments but now I can't get them off! My ortho even gave me a little tool, similar to an outie, but I still can't. I start from the back and I can get them to pop off up until the attachments on my front teeth. They're so tight and I'm really worried that if I just pull them off like I did before attachments, they'll break off. Can someone please help!? I'm desperate and so hungry.

[InvisaNewbie]

Oh Marissa you poor person! If you're worried about the attachments coming off, don't let that stop you getting the aligner out! It's not uncommon for attachments to come off - they get replaced. One of mine came off the first time I took the aligner out! But also, they're tougher than you think - you can yank pretty hard and the attachments won't budge, so if you've managed to get the aligner off your back teeth, just keep working round and you'll get it off.

The first couple of days will be the hardest but I promise it'll get better! You'll be popping them in an out much more easily by the end of the weekend. Just a heads up, your teeth will probably still be sore after you get the trays out - don't try and eat something too hard, or that'll need you to grip and tear (e.g. lettuce in a sandwich).

You'll do it, don't worry!

[dmoney79]

i just got my aligners on monday night, and with them came 10 attachments (7 on top, and 3 on the bottom)
i found it difficult to take them off, but it wasn't as bad as i had feared.....just as long as you start in the back and work your way forward....
my bottom one is a bit harder as the 3 attachments are right next to each other, and one tooth is rotated, and another set a little farther back....
as of this morning, i found it much easier to take them off...
so, don't fret, it does get easier
i kept reading that prior to starting invisalign and wondered it if was true, but, so far it is
i hardly notice them, and the trays are getting easier to take out and put back in

good luck!

[myhollywoodsmile]

Hi there,

It is awful at first with the attachments isn't it? The only thing I can tell you is that within a month you will find taking off your aligners as easy as you did before you got the attachments. They do loosen up.

Have you tried the paper towel trick yet? It can really help to lever them off.

Good luck!

[Savora67]

I got my attachments the day I got my first trays, went home took trays out and pulled one of my attachments clean off... ortho said no worries will fix when I go back after tray 4.. but good news is the tray didn't break

[IslanderRN]

I am having the same problem. Just got my attachments placed yesterday morning, and I have not eaten since I had my "lunch" at work at 3am yesterday morning. I was able to easily get my bottom tray off, but I have been completely unsuccessful with my top tray. My fingernails are so weak, and I even went to the store to buy gloves, hoping that would help me...but no luck. I don't know what else to do...help!

Danielle

[lanabyte]

I am having the same problem. Just got my attachments placed yesterday morning, and I have not eaten since I had my "lunch" at work at 3am yesterday morning. I was able to easily get my bottom tray off, but I have been completely unsuccessful with my top tray. My fingernails are so weak, and I even went to the store to buy gloves, hoping that would help me...but no luck. I don't know what else to do...help!

Danielle

I got a retainer retriever (basically just a small, plastic hook) from my ortho, and it's a lifesaver. I cannot get my top aligner out without it. If your ortho doesn't have one to give you, I've heard of people using smaller gauge crochet hooks. Good luck!