Invisalign- tell me to woman up!

[SharyBobbins]

I had a consultation for Invisalign today and I'm in turmoil! I'm hoping some of you may have already had it or be in the middle of having it and are willing to help talk me off the ceiling!
I have an irrational fear of dentist so just sitting in the waiting room today had me in tears. I've been that distracted all day I've only just realised I've not had lunch (not like me at all!).
The thing is that I hate my smile. I try not to smile, not let people sit a certain side of me (my crooked top teeth are more noticeable on one side that the other). In every photo my lips are firmly sealed. I cry at the thought of living the rest of my adult life being so self-conscious. I want to be confident for me and for my little girl. That Jess Glynne song (Thursday?) makes me cry in the car. Despite all of that, having never even had a filling, I am terrified of interfering with my teeth when I don't "need" to. The dentist said I'd need them on the top and the bottom (which also made me upset as I thought the bottoms were alright). I'll need to wear them for 9-12 months in total. I think I can be disciplined enough to maximise their potential during and after with the retainer. But I'm getting put off as from what I have read they aren't really "invisible". The adhesive dots which they attach to your teeth seem to ruin that and given my front two teeth are the issue I imagine I'd need some on there. I keep swinging between thinking I just accept my imperfections and leave it to thinking that sorting my smile will genuinely improve my confidence and if I can then why shouldn't it. I'm also scared of being even more self conscious due to having plastic and random dots in my mouth 22 hours a day but on the other hand I'm so self conscious of my teeth anyway so I might as well be a tad more self conscious for the next year or so and possibly come out with some good results.
Can anyone offer any advice or experience?
Sorry for ramble. My DH isn't home yet and when I talked this through with my toddler she didn't care enough to offer any good advice

[Beachbodynowayready]

I am 47 and had train track braces on 3 months ago. Front 2 straight already! Was estimated 3-9 months. Vast progression already. Really chuffed tbh. My dc have absolutely no photos of /with me at all due to lack of self confidence at my teeth.
You can do it op!! Truly!

[Saucery]

Isn’t it better to have something on your teeth that shows you are having treatment than to hide them forever more? That’s how I’m rationalising it to myself, anyway! I can go on never smiling and lacking confidence or I can do something about it.
When I see someone with a brace I just think “oh, there’s someone with a brace!” and nothing else, apart from a certain envy that they have been brave enough to do something about their teeth. It was one of the main things that spurred me on to getting referred and deciding to go ahead, despite a lifelong fear of the dentist.
Bottom teeth probably need treatment because of effect on top teeth - I was surprised at my initial consultation and model to be told that the main problem was with misaligned bottom teeth which has had an impact over the years on the top. So it’s not that yours look wrong, but that they may be in the wrong position and any benefit to straightening the top ones would soon be cancelled out.

Anyway, I’m where you are in the stage of OMFG BRACES AT MY AGE! but it will be worth it in the end. . Not sure if I will be having Invisalign yet, but whichever is recommended will come with its own challenges. Challenges that are nothing to feeling like you can’t smile properly.

[museumum]

I did it.
It’s uncomfortable and a huge faff but a year flies by and you’ve got straight teeth forever (providing you wear your retainer at night).
I don’t regret it at all.

[I8toys]

I had them at 45 and its the best thing I've done. They are noticeable but they just show that you are trying to improve your teeth. Your smile changes quickly and it will be over before you know it. Wish I'd done it years ago. I smile freely now!

[ememem84]

34. And started invsalign last February. Best thing I’ve ever done.
    
    
    I didn’t want braces.
    
    The “bumps” on your teeth aren’t that visible (only if someone looks super close) and the results I’ve had are ace. I am so so happy with them.
    
    It can be sore the first time you get new aligners in. But quickly goes away. I learned to put the new set in of an evening before bed so I could sleep off the worst of it. More uncomfortable than pain.
    
    But I don’t regret any bit.

[Springerfan]

Dental phobic here, aged 47, very wonky teeth and 3/4 way through my invisalign journey
No regrets, my teeth look tons better already and i've lost nearly half a stone through not snacking
Re the phobia - tell your dentist exactly what freaks you out and they can probably work around it
Dentistry has come on a long way since the 70's!
Good luck

[SharyBobbins]

You're all so lovely (and brave!). Thank you for sharing your stories with me. Really appreciate the hand hold!
I spoke to the dentist about the more traditional braces too but they said in my case they would take the same amount of time to work (although admittedly they are cheaper) so I'll definitely be going with Invisalign. Is anyone able to tell me more about the 'shaving' of your teeth? This freaked me out a lot! The dentist did reassure me it would just be a bit of enamel lost.
beachbody it's amazing to hear you are seeing results already! My daughter is only little but in all of our photos I have my close mouth self conscious fake smile.

[IDontMindAnythingWillDo]

I had Invisalign and they were brilliant! I had to have two dots on my front teeth bit you honestly could barely tell they were there. I’m so happy with the result.

The treatment isn’t invasive or scary at all. They make you bite down on some plasticine stuff to take a mould of your teeth and that’s it really. The sticking the dots on your teeth is a piece of piss too. Then at the check ups they basically just look in your mouth and give you your next set of Invisaligns.

[Justonemorepancake]

I had them for a year at 38. Best thing I did - I am so much more confident now. And I had attachments on every tooth but it was short term 'pain' for long term gain and really not that bad.

[IDontMindAnythingWillDo]

Oh I think the shaving teeth thing is at be end. Once your teeth are straight the edges might not line up any more. My dentist suggested he could shave down the points on my canines so that they were level with the rest of my teeth, but I actually quite like my pointy bits so I decided to keep them. You don’t have to have anything done that you don’t want to.

[BedraggledBlitz]

I had train track braces in my 30s. I felt self conscious at first but then got on with it. I had them for nearly 2 years! My teeth are great now and I dont think about hiding my smile. I'm SOOOO pleased I did it (I dont think invisalign was as accessible as it is now, otherwise I would have opted for that)

[EdWinchester]

OMG - do it!

No-one wants crooked teeth or to be that person that does a weird closed lip smile in photos. Your teeth are one of the most noticeable things about you - especially if they are bad.

My colleague had Invisalign and it made the most fantastic difference.

[IAmNotPatientOrPregnant]

The shaving of your teeth(IPR) (unterprozmial reduction) is a run stop the place between you teeth to take around 0.2mm off the sides to create space for your teeth to move with the invisalign. It's not painful, doesnt require LA. I highly reccomend invisalign, esoicallt if your nervous. You do 90% of the treatment at home:) visits are only to check that the trays are fitting well throughout treatment. Literally 5 minutes in the surgery.

[IAmNotPatientOrPregnant]

Interproximal* one to many g&t's tonight

[Daffodil2018]

I did it! 100% the best thing I have ever done for my own appearance. I wear bright lipstick with pride now. You will get used to the regular appointments. I promise you - you won’t regret it. I get so many compliments on my smile now and think it is probably my best feature.

[Aquamarine1029]

I know loads of people who had braces as adults, and my grandmother got them in 1979 at the age of 54. None of them have ever regretted it. In fact, they all feel it was one of the best things they've ever done. Do it!

[SharyBobbins]

that does a weird closed lip smile in photos

Haha nearly spat my brew out at that (whilst I can still drink it when I want!)

On that note, how did you all manage with eating and drinking? Did you have to give up tea/coffee? I read somewhere it can stain the dots/bumps?

[anunseemlylovefordustin]

I did top and bottom Invisalign and have never regretted it. It was a bit miserable at points, but so worth it in the end. One tip: when it's time to change from one set to the next, take some painkillers and do it at night. That way any aches (they can sometimes be a little achey when you've just changed them) are over and done with while you're sleeping :)

[hullaballoonie]

I've had Invisalign. I'm really pleased with the results but I'm not going to pretend it was a nice process. If I had my time again I'd seriously consider traditional metal braces, as you say they really aren't invisible and I used to hate the feeling of saliva gathering in them, I was constantly sucking at them . They get a bit manky after the two weeks of wearing each set, no matter how careful you are with cleaning them I was always desperate to put on a new clean set. You can only drink water while wearing them, so my precious cups of tea were limited to meal times. You need to brush and floss after each meal before putting them back in.
Sometimes with a new set you need to gently file them with an emery board to get rid of the sharp edges. I did use bonjela when my mouth felt sore. Putting in a new set can also be painful initially, I would suggest doing this at night and take painkillers if needed.
Sorry if I sound negative but these are the things I wish I'd known beforehand! I have no idea if metal braces are more or less hassle/painful, and I don't regret it now I have lovely straight teeth. Any questions I'm happy to try and help.
I can only load one pic for some reason, here are my 'before' teeth. I'll try and post more.

[hullaballoonie]

My teeth now

[hullaballoonie]

Wow I forgot how awful they were!

[EdWinchester]

hullaballoonie what a transformation!

Your teeth are lovely.

[DeftandGlory]

Wow! They look fab. So how much are we talking? £3,000ish?

[GoodPlaceJanet]

I had a consultation for invisilign but I don't have enough space in my mouth and would need proper braces and possibly teeth removed :( good luck op

[Pipersouth]

I did them and it made such a difference but please please please sort your retainer out and where it as you are supposed to - I didn’t and really regret the slight movement