I'm on my first week of Invisalign. AMA

[Moulez]

I type this chomping on a chewie

Mine was supposed to be 10 months but has ended up being 13 (if I'm done next week) due to a tooth not tracking and needing rescanned

@Cazziebodoes it not look good ?

I’m so happy with mine but as someone else said, you’re not done when you’re done - I then had about 12 weeks of enhancements then once the dots were off had to continue wearing them all the time for 6 months. I now just wear them at night. But they worked brilliantly, it’s just a big lifelong commitment

Gosh. So the same ones for 6 months after the varying ones

And did you lose weight?

I can’t speak for anyone else.

I wasn’t unhappy with how my teeth looked. My bottom teeth were crowded but didn’t bother me- no one can see them really. My dentist said my bottom teeth were hitting the top and weakening my front teeth. He recommended I see the orthodontist.

Hands up, I didn’t do my research. After my appointment with the ortho, I was getting investigated for what might have been a life limiting illness. I thought no point spending £4.5k to have nice teeth if I wasn’t going to live long enough. Got the all clear and started with Invisalign about 6 months after initial appointment.

I don’t think they are invisible. Several people have asked me what’s in my mouth. I now lisp and spit when I speak which is very bad for the job I have. That didn’t happen in the earlier months For the final 20 weeks I’ve had to have elastic bands. These are very uncomfortable and the metal studs have given me sores. My face shape has changed - I don’t know if it’s for the worse or better but twice I’ve been asked if I’ve had lip fillers! My top teeth which I was happy with and were in alignment are now a bit out of shape which is why I have these extra 20 weeks.

On the plus side, my dental hygiene has improved and my gum scores are perfect. I had periodontal disease before.

What I didn’t realise was how long it would take and I know that’s my fault. My ortho was off sick for two months which put me 6 weeks behind then I had to another 6 weeks delay to change the aligners. I’m told I’ll have a wire behind my bottom teeth and also have to wear retainers for 4-6 months constantly, then nightime only for a couple of years.

I miss being able to taste food when I’m cooking. I hate not being able to have a leisurely glass of wine. I miss my cups of tea while I work. I’m not being invited onto podcasts because the lisp is very obvious when I’m recorded. The first thing I feel when I wake up in the morning is an ache in my jaw. (That wasn’t so bad before I had the elastics). I’ve put weight on possibly because I binge eat in the morning as I know I won’t be able to eat again until much later. (I was possibly underweight before so that’s not necessarily negative) I’ve developed a taste for a cup of boiled water. Rock and roll lifestyle but only 7 weeks and then the buttons are off and elastics are gone. It’s been a long almost 2 years.

I drink everything with mine in 🙈

@Cazziebo it sounds like you have been unlucky with the elastic bands and the metal studs too, no wonder you've had enough of it!

I opted not to have a fixed wire at the end and just wear my retainers at night only now. I have however broken quite a few pairs which is annoying and expensive!

That's really interesting, thank you. Sounds like you had a lot going on.
Yes, I noticed the lisp but everyone reassures me that it goes. You definitely can't see mine at all which is brilliant. Getting the blobs on my teeth in a couple of weeks.

Do you still get a lisp if you only have top done?

I’ve found the lisp to come and go. I didn’t have it (that I’m aware of) in the first couple of months . It’s certainly less now when my bottom aligners are passive and the top are active. When both were active the lisping was very pronounced.

Can you only get one done? I presumed that they worked together

So the first two trays (braces) last two weeks each. I changed on Tuesday and today I keep forgetting whether I've got them in or not, so I've definitely got used to them. Also finding it easier to hit 21 to 22 hours use out of the 24 which I'm pleased with.

I had sparks and it wound be weird to eat with them in.
started 3 years ago, 2 years of changing trays every 2 weeks, last year moved to retainers and wearing most nights (and bottom in day as it feels irritated after eating)
Lost weight due to not snacking. Didn’t have to get elastics luckily as said the thought made me feel sick so was happy to spend longer and avoid.

Bloody hell! Three years and that's incredible! I've been predicted six months but I resigned myself to a year. Metal things in afterwards at the back.

I've also noticed how often I use my teeth to rip sellotape or whatever, and of course that doesn't work with them in

You just get used to it. They don’t have much impact on my life (bar maybe when travelling and considering where I can brush teeth post meals, Thoth I managed China and Japan trips with them)

Yes, that's why I got some of those disposable toothbrushes, keep one in my handbag

I paid £5k. Had 20 trays and changed tray every 10 days so it too just over 6 months. I just took them out to eat and was told it was fine to drink in them. They go in the bin after 10 days so I wasn’t too bothered about staining but I never noticed any significant discolouration. I did soak them every day without fail.

At my penultimate appointment my orthodontist pointed out that a couple of teeth hadn’t quite moved as expected. If he hadn’t mentioned it I would have been happy with the result but I can’t un-see it now so I’m having revisions and waiting for some more trays. There doesn’t seem to be any additional cost for that.

I found it quite uncomfortable, verging on painful for the first week, which made it difficult to keep the trays in all day. I wasn’t expecting that and almost gave up. But after a week the discomfort settled down and I had no discomfort in wearing them all day.

Using a chewie is important to make sure the trays are sitting correctly. To avoid breaking my nails I used a Pultool to take it out and it came with a built in chewie.

Well in theory I should be finished today and have my appointment later.. I still feel like 1 front tooth is very slightly further forward than the other, although my bite print in an apple shows them perfectly aligned 🤷‍♀️ not actually sure what I'm getting done this appointment, I need attachments off, whitening, bonding and permanent wire retainers put on but only have a 20 minute appointment today. Or could end up with refinement trays.. who knows 🤣

Thanks @HolidayHappy123

How did it go?
I fancy some bonding at the end to make them all look straight

You cannot eat and drink with Sparks. Where did you get that info from? I have finished a course of Sparks and they work the same as Invisalign.

I'm on angel. Can't nibble my finger nails let alone eat

I do suck polos occasionally with mine. Or drink a lukewarm warm tea or lemonade with a straw.