Today I had an Invisalign Clincheck at Carter Orthodontics. I started my 9th set of trays which now include rubber bands. To correct my overbite, I need a rubber band on the left side to pull my lower jaw forward. Dr. Carter said I would only be wearing it for a few months. They added two attachments to my teeth, one on the top and one on the bottom. They are like small hooks for the rubber band to attach to. Placing the attachments on my teeth was a very simple process. It was not as involved as the first set of attachments I received. The Clinic Manager, Cheryl, did have to customize my aligners to fit around the attachments, but that only took a few minutes. Cheryl said that I should change my rubber band each time I remove and insert my aligners to make sure the rubber band strength is maintained.
After wearing the new set of Invisalign aligners with the rubber band for one day, I can definitely feel the movement of my jaw. Nothing a little Advil can’t handle. I get excited when I feel this soreness. I know that sounds crazy, but it means my teeth are moving to where they are supposed to be and my new smile is right around the corner.
Take a look at some photos I took of the rubber band in my mouth. (Click on the photos to enlarge them.) You can’t really see the rubber band when I’m talking. Maybe if I open my mouth real wide in surprise or something. Let me know what you think or if you have questions. ~ Melissa
nice blog. informative and honest. i started two weeks ago, and go in for five attachments tomorrow. my experience is very different from others i have read about, in that i will have 60 lowers and 70 uppers. thats right. 60/70. my ortho has me changing trays every week instead of every two weeks. which means each tray change provides less pressure. i should be done in 70 weeks. no problems so far. except the price — 8000 dollars. but i get twice as many trays as others (!) and things are more expensive here in honolulu. im 58 and very glad i started all this. good luck to you.
Melissa
Very nice blog and helpful. Any updates?
I have an overbite and doing invisalign but my ortho did not recommend elastics/rubber bands for me. I am wondering why now. Any updates?
You may just want to ask your orthodontist what he/she is going to do to correct the overbite. Some patients simply want their teeth straight without regards to their overbite. But I usually point out to my patients that I don’t recommend that, but want to make them happy simply straightening their teeth. Dr. David
I am also on on the Invisalign treatment but my orthodontist did not even mention an option for rubber bands. i am on my 18th of 23 trays. i have a bit of an overbite and it is really bothering me. do you think that it is too late to ask my ortho about adding in rubber bands? and can they still add rubber bands so far into the treatment??? i really want to know because i really want my bite to be nice.
Anything is possible. I finished up my first set of 23 trays. My smile looks 100% better but it still isn’t perfect. Dr. Carter did new impressions of my teeth and has ordered another 25 sets of trays for me. I would definitely talk to your orthodontist at your next appointment about your concerns. It may take a little more time and some refinements.
How was your experience with the rubber bands? Was the hook that they attach to your teeth uncomfortable/annoying? Did it feel like a brace bracket?
We have the patients usually place the rubber band on a small, pre-cut slit in the aligners. It’s very easy and not uncomfortable! 😀
I agree! My rubberbands are super easy to use and I can feel my bite improving after one day!
Thank you!
I just started my treatment, just on my second set of trays I have felt a little discomfort but my second set feel a lot different I’m finally getting used to this! I have 12 attachments 7 on bottom 5 on top
I am on 8/30 and by the time I get to my 11th, I will have the rubber bands added. I am usually pretty fast at popping out my aligners (especially my lower one because I can use the help of my tongue. I wonder if it takes twice as long to remove them once the rubber bands are in.
Do you have the little metal dots stuck to your molars?
I didn’t get my rubber bands until my refinement period, so those who may not get them initially may get them later:$
I will be getting my first aligner next month. During my 2nd consultation, my orthodontist told me that I need ELASTIC for my treatment.
I was like “OMG”. Well, I get invisalign as it is invisible so when I was told i need to put elastic for my overbite and gap teeth (especially the two front teeth) and my first thought was “How is it going to be invisible with the rubber band on”…
So, I was abit upset as my invisalign was not gg to be invisible due to the rubber band..=(
i luv invisalign!!!!!!!!!ive had them for 10 monhts and theres a huge improvement in my smile. i had wore braces for 2 1/2 yrs before i switched to invisalign b/c i felt that the braces thing wasnt going good for me at all