Our ortho said sometimes it’s just “tiny movements take longer,” but honestly, it felt like the aligners were kinda tired by then. Attachments helped a bit but didn’t totally solve it.
- 100% agree with the “last couple trays just didn’t feel as tight” bit.
- I noticed my aligners got a little looser near the end, even though I wore them religiously. Not sure if it’s just normal wear or if the plastic somehow stretches out over time?
- Attachments were supposed to help, but honestly, felt like they made certain spots ache more without speeding things up much.
- My ortho also said those final micro-movements are just stubborn. I guess it’s like trying to nudge a stuck bolt—you can twist all you want, but it only moves a millimeter at a time.
- One thing that did help a bit: switching to fresh chewies halfway through the set. Not a magic fix, but seemed to tighten things up for a day or two.
- Honestly, felt like the tech was running out of steam by the end... but maybe that’s just how teeth are? Would love to see some kind of “smart” aligner that tells you if it’s still working at full force.
That “stuck bolt” analogy is spot on. My last few trays felt like they weren’t doing much, even though I followed the schedule to a T. I got frustrated, but my ortho said those tiny tweaks are just naturally slow. It’s a test of patience for sure, but hang in there—those last millimeters really do add up. Chewies helped me too, at least for a little boost.
Totally get what you mean about the last trays.
“those tiny tweaks are just naturally slow. It’s a test of patience for sure, but hang in there—those last millimeters really do add up.”
- I’m on tray 7 out of 14, so not at the “tweak” stage yet, but already feeling like things are slowing down.
- Do the chewies actually make a noticeable difference? My ortho gave me some, but I keep forgetting to use them.
- Anyone notice more soreness with these final trays, or is it just less obvious movement?
Trying to stay patient, but it’s hard not to overthink every little thing...
