I'm on my first week of Invisalign. AMA

[Moulez]

I type this chomping on a chewie

Depending on the system the laboratory fees will be in four figures (. £1500 to £4800 on average) and is a very substantial part of the overall cost , there is also the licensing fees for the software and charges for clinichecks etc . When you are talking about movements that are fractions of millimetres the fit of alligners is crucial.

What is happening in the lab? They just use a computer programmer to create the plan don't they? Are you saying there are actual people doing it by hand?

I had 16 trays and was done in 16 trays, not 16 weeks though as I had to wear some trays for 2 weeks. The whole thing took about 7 months which was a lot less than I was expecting as I read stories about it taking 2 years for some people!

There is a computer programme which simulates the movements which is refined by an orthodontist . The programme, software development , laboratory equipment , the laboratory software is all owned and licenced by the provider of the alligners . With Invisalign the alligners are produced out of the country.

Each alligner system will have its own software etc which is expensive in a limited market like dentistry. Other systems may have cheaper lab fees , clinicheck fees andin general, the more work you do the cheaper the lab fees become.

To put into context just the software that a general dentist uses to run the practice will cost five figures to buy (not inclusive of hardware) for a basic package and then you will pay a licence of many hundreds of pounds each month to use it. Even simple upgrades like the ability to run text reminders will cost hundreds of pounds extra a month for the licence and there is a cost for each text.

Dentistry is incredibly expensive to provide.

1. Are they painful at any stage?
2. Does your speech sound different or lispy?

So interesting thank you

That does seem a long time - I saw my orthodontist every 2 - 4 weeks when I was doing it! I had some imaging done part way through too.

I paid around £4.5k in January 2023, well worth it imo.

No, feels like I've got something stuck in my teeth tho
yes. I speak a lot at work so I'm hissing like a baddun!

This is really unnecessary. If you'd like to start your own thread feel free!

no need to trash this one - that incidentally you can't leave alone !

you don't like it - don't post.

Can I ask a question to all you Invisalign-ers, about teens and Invisalign? My older teen would qualify for free NHS train track braces but would also need a few teeth removed on the bottom (its this that makes him eligible). Replacement implants would not be covered on the NHS so would need to be paid for privately (a few thousand pounds) plus, as they couldn't be put in until adulthood by which time a bone graft might also be needed, apparently (!!!!). I'm starting to think, if I need to pay for private implants anyway, why not just spend roughly the same money on Invisalign. The bottom teeth don't have to come out, it's just that they are baby teeth with no adult tooth beneath, so wouldn'thave them removed. Is that mad? Invisalign seems so much less invasive and horrible looking than braces but perhaps there is a reason why teens don't have it??

The gold standard for braces is train tracks, they can achieve movements and refinements that systems such as Invisalign cannot .

Alligner systems such as Invisalign have limitations in what they can achieve.

Baby teeth will not last forever and removing for brace work means that spaces can be closed or partially closed. Using Invisalign doesn’t stop the need for having to do something about the baby teeth.

I’ve had mine for just under four years now. I did climb the walls at the beginning and it did take a lot of getting used to. Drink all your drinks through a straw (except water).

You still have to wear your retainers for up to four months all the time after the set time period is up and then you’ll be able to move on to wearing them only at night.

It does take time and patience 💐

I reckon I average 20/21 most days, it’s just my evening meal I find stressful, I hate rushing it. I don’t eat breakfast (apart from a strong coffee and an actimel) and lunch is always squeezed in between work. It’s the waiting 30 min to brush etc before putting them back in that eats into your time isn’t it

@ThumbTowers not everyone is suitable for Invisalign is one reason.
With train tracks, you get them put on and forget about them. No remembering to change each week etc, taking out to brush them (might lose them), remembering to keep them in 23 hours a day or whatever.

My teen was given the choice and went with train tracks as slightly cheaper and she doesn't have to worry about trying to brush her teeth after eating/snacking. Especially in school when there are long queues for the bathroom.

But she could have chosen Invisalign.

Mine felt bruised for a few days after changing the tray. The first week I sounded awful but my mouth soon got used to it.

@ThumbTowerssorry but gosh I've no idea

Yes @somanychristmaslightsi think you're right. Def not pain.
like you've had your gob open at the dentist for too long

@118bd I agree! No chance to smack your chops and enjoy the taste
that said my teeth are ready for bed at 8pm

@118bd my ortho didn't mention half an hour. Think it's a myth?

I SHOULD be on my last week! But will see what is said when I go to my appointment 🤣 it's hard to tell how "done" I am as i need bonding on a couple of teeth after, one of which has refused to cooperate but have been told it can be fixed with the bonding anyway, so they don't look perfect right now so to speak 🙈 ill be happy to get rid even though they haven't been too much of a hassle really, I definitely get lispy towards the end of each tray which is annoying!

Oh, that's interesting. I thought the lisp would wear off? You do definitely get used to it, don't you? The rigour about eating is actually quite good.

You change them every week or so for a new set so they never had time to get stained. But the final set I had in for4 weeks didn’t change colour at all.

I had an awful lisp at first! It got better.. but now I start off fine, but as the trays get looser throughout the 10 days I'm wearing them, I definitely get more lispy!

Been 18 months for me- initial plan was 13. 8 weeks to go. Wish I’d never started.

Really? Honestly? Do you regret and would not recommend?