To spend £4k on this?

Would definitely try the bonding first - I was expecting to need braces but orthodontist put on temporary bonding and turns out that's enough for me, plus some slight restorative work to even out my bite. Saving me £5.5k. As they're temporary (and at this point free) if I hadn't liked them I could've taken them out and gone for braces; as it is, I'm very excited to have them made permanent in a couple of weeks for £1600 (4 teeth). Even my regular dentist said he wasn't expecting them to look as good as they do and he's been nagging me to get them done for several years!

I naturally have a fairly large gap between my two front teeth (lolly pop stick). As a teen, I never smiled with an open mouth and would cover my mouth with my hand when I laughed. So at 16 I had the gap filled (basically a large filling). I’ve also had my teeth whitened as an adult.

I’m now 42 and the gap has reappeared, albeit not as large. I’ve also damaged some of the composite on one tooth, a vertical chunk chipped out of it (stupidly opening a sweet packet for someone else with my teeth - never again), which has left a slight line down the centre of the tooth between the filling and the underlying natural tooth and the line, despite brushing, flossing etc has a slight stain along its edge that stubbornly remains.

I’m planning to have mine composite redone once I’ve whitened my teeth to a certain level, as whilst the gap does not bother me anywhere near as much as it did when I was younger, I much prefer how my smile looks without it.

Do what makes you happy @setitup. if you can afford it, go for it.

But OP doesn't have awful teeth. She's said herself that the difference won't even really be noticeable.

OP, I've had Invisalign for quite wonky teeth. It's a faff, and you have to wear a removable retainer at night for ever - I believe this is the case even with a fixed retainer, but I could be wrong there. I wouldn't do it for something barely noticeable.

I echo the others - save for a few months and see if you have the discipline. If you have no savings and high bills you could find yourself in dodgy waters easy.

Is £4k really worth that for a small cosmetic fix? I’m paying the same for my kids Invisalign and it’s going to be a huge change so I figured it was more worth it. Also the retainer thing - you might have this for life.

I have fixed wire retainers on back of top and bottom teeth and it’s fine, doesn’t affect speech at all, nobody else would ever know, and I’m not aware of them at all most of the time.

They might suggest you wear a plastic retainer at night a few times a week forever though, as well as the fixed wire, which is annoying. I had braces about 10 years ago as an adult - bottom teeth were very overcrowded & I couldn’t clean them properly, top teeth I just didn’t like the way they were a bit misaligned although it was very slight. When I started they said I’d have to wear a retainer at night for a few years, by the time I finished they said I’d have to wear a retainer at night forever. It’s annoying using a plastic retainer so I gradually gave up on it and now it doesn’t fit at all and my top teeth have moved back to where they used to be, but worse, despite the fixed wire. I’m thinking of doing inisalign to move them back but probably won’t bother.

So before you commit, I’d say make sure you understand what you would have to do about overnight retainers long term and be honest with yourself about whether you would really do it. If not, you could be completely wasting your money.

If it helps you feel more confident, definitely do it. Like some others have said, maybe take 6 months to save first so you can come up with half the amount.

If you have relatively even teeth I wouldn’t waste your money.

Spend the money on therapy to improve your self esteem.

Is there a reason you’re going for Invisalign? Are there better options that make more of a difference?

I use 0% credit cards all the time. However, I always have the equivalent in savings.

Try saving for a year and then decide when you have a buffer.

how long would you have the fixed wire retainer for ?
months/years/forever

This is great advice. Also if prioritise building savings and having an emergency fund generally than small cosmetic enhancements. If something happened and you need cash you can’t get it back!

Op you can spend your money on whatever you like but I think you actually need to save for six months just to see if you really have the discipline to do it without too much hardship. The reason most people have a rainy day fund is that you need savings in case your boiler dies or your car fails its MOT. Would it really hurt to wait a few months, save a rainy day fund and learn that you are able to stick to budget?

Do it. It sounds like it means a lot for you so go for it

I don’t think you can afford it.

Who really notices people's teeth, or for those that do notice - who really thinks anything at all about teeth?

I'd save your money op, but you have to do what's right for you. If it's really bothering you a lot, then I suppose do it. But I am sure that nobody would really be judging you on a very very minor teeth "defect".

I have a noticeable tooth defect. Nobody actually notices it though! I couldn't care less about it.

Exactly this, I've nearly finished my treatment and it is the best money I have ever spent. That said I had enough savings not to need finance but knowing the confidence it has given me I would say go for it.

Pp earlier was right, save up and then see if you want to spend your savings on it.

Have you had any consultation for a more traditional brace? You can get white ones and they're a much quicker and cheaper option usually. People tend to still have a lisp with invisalign if the speech thing potentially puts you off, and appearance wise it's short term pain for long term gain.

Great idea!

If it’s not very noticeable then I don’t really see the point but I would do what this poster suggests and save up the money.

If you still want it done after saving the money, then go ahead and if not then splurge it on something else.

I was going to say go for it - I know two people who have had Invisalign as adults and it made a huge difference to them and was well worth the money. BUT both these people had serious dental problems - teeth rotated 90 degrees, enormous gaps, etc.

If the result is not going to improve your health and is going to barely improve aesthetics, then I would only do it if I had money to burn. I do not think you have money to burn.

You don't sound like you think this will particularly make much difference to your teeth, barely noticeable at best, and a retaining wire you're not keen on. How much do you want this? If it's not something you're willing to save up for, it doesn't sound like you want it or need it badly enough to warrant spending 4k.
4k is an absolutely massive amount of money. You could pay for a few holidays (it would be 4 holidays worth of accommodation for us as a family of 4!), a car, 4k is a good buffer to have if you came into financial difficulties for whatever reason, needed a home repair, car repair or something unexpected that can often end up really expensive.

I'd absolutely love to have lipo suction on my tummy, but could never justify it as I think of all the other things I could use that money for that are so much more worthwhile to me - making memories, seeing places, taking the kids out, affording a weekly meal out etc.

I guess all it boils down to how much do you want / need it, and can you afford it?

It doesn't sound like it's going to fix your problems with self esteem if you're already trying to plan your next treatment once this one has been completed. I think either save up and work on your self esteem / loving your body as it is in the meantime then decide once you have the money, or I'd probably just get a set of veneers instead and be done with it 😂

Then be sensible save the money for a year and you will have £3600

Not going to be a popular opinion but IMO if you think you can afford it after everything else os paid and you have the spare do it. I had work done on my teeth and it was the best thing I ever spent money on. I had an extreme overbite which teen braces corrected but then the teeth moved..my entire 20s I was lacking in confidence, my smile being a big part of that. Once my teeth were done..I felt amazing. Your smile is such an important part of your overall look..to not be able to, or feel self conscious about it is a big deal. I will add there is alot of maintenance involved with retainers/braces.. follow the process as directed and good luck 👍