Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Does Invisalign get better??

76 replies

WhyDoIDoThis1 · 03/01/2022 11:24

I have had Invisalign trays now for only 5 days.
I'm massively regretting it. It's expensive. And an utter pain in the backside.
I'm sick of it so much.
The tray is hard to put in and take out. I have attachments on my teeth which is no doubt making it harder.
I've tried using Invisalign tools - don't know if I'm using them wrong but they're not helping. Feel like I'm ripping my teeth out.

I only had one tooth at the front that started to overlap my front tooth which is why I went for it. But I wish I hadn't. I really wish I hadn't.
If I cancel it now I don't get any money back so I will see it through.

Does anyone have any advice?
Does it get better or easier?
Is it worth it???
I'm thoroughly fed up of it already.

OP posts:
MrsTumbletap · 03/01/2022 11:28

I think it was totally worth it. You will get the hang of popping them in and out. It's a commitment but you will get results.

I think most people have the attachments on the teeth, that's how they anchor the movement. I had loads of them.

But it was the best money I have ever spent. I finished my treatment with them about 2/3 years ago and my teeth are still straight.

GoodHairDay86 · 03/01/2022 11:29

I think its something you get use to, my friend did hers about a year ago and everytime the tray got comfortable it was time for the next one which was then tight again and so on. I hope you can see it through, her teeth a perfectly straight now and she now wears the final tray only at night as she doesn't want the teeth slipping back.

fairgame84 · 03/01/2022 11:35

It gets better. I had buttons on my teeth as well and it does make it harder to remove them.
I used to take the top tray out by pulling each side at the very back down to loosen then pull both sides with 2 hands.
The bottom tray was easier to remove by using my thumbs to pull from my front teeth to loosen then remove from the sides with both hands.
I didn't have any removal tools at all.
You'll get used to it and it's worth every penny.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Dental health
BlueSkyeThinker · 03/01/2022 12:03

Keep going. Everyone I know who's had Invisalign, including me, thought they'd made an incredibly expensive mistake on Day 5. It honestly gets easier.

Original poster
WhyDoIDoThis1 · 03/01/2022 12:42

I'm glad you're all saying it gets easier.
My teeth were really straight but then over the last couple of years, one tooth just started to overlap the other at the front and I wanted to get it sorted before it gets worse. Dentist said I need about 14 trays.
10 days for each tray.
It does feel like an expensive mistake at the moment.
I didn't realise they'd be filing my teeth either!

Did you all have a retainer afterwards or just keep the last tray?

OP posts:
wendz86 · 03/01/2022 12:49

Yes gets so much easier . I pop mine in and out easily . So glad I did it my teeth look so much better .
I will be getting retainers soon . Going to start whitening with a temporary retainer and then having bonding done so will get the Invisalign retainers after that .

Original poster
WhyDoIDoThis1 · 03/01/2022 20:32

I'm glad you're all saying it gets easier. Do the attachments stay on the whole time while I have the trays or will they be taken off at some point? I think it's those that are making it harder getting them in and out.

OP posts:
Plasmodesmata · 03/01/2022 20:35

My attachments came off before the last few trays. As others say, stick with it, it gets easier.

Original poster
WhyDoIDoThis1 · 03/01/2022 20:41

@Plasmodesmata thank you. I hope son it feels like I'm pulling my teeth out taking them out. And I hate putting them back in. Feel like I'm going to break my teeth!

OP posts:
ButterflyBitch · 03/01/2022 20:43

Yes it gets better. I have very recently finished my (seemingly never ending treatment 😭) and I’m so pleased with the results. I no longer feel self conscious when I smile which is amazing.

GalesThisMorning · 03/01/2022 20:45

Can I ask how much it cost?

PomegranateLindor · 03/01/2022 20:47

I'm on tray 3 of 36 (and therefore week 3 as I change weekly if all goes to plan). I was the same as you, thinking what a huge mistake I'd made. They're absolutely not pain free and absolutely not invisible either. I have those anchor things on all my front teeth and they're very obvious.

I'd say I'm used to them now. I no longer hate my life like I did three weeks ago, but at the same time I completely sympathise! Sorry I can't give the long term advice as obviously I'm not there yet, but you certainly have my sympathies!

Aquafizzle · 03/01/2022 20:49

I'm about 3 months in and can see the improvement.. like you, I have 2 teeth at the front that started to overlap.

I bought some retainer removers on Amazon. They weren't invisilign brand but they work well to help take them out without breaking a nail!

CatherineCawood · 03/01/2022 20:49

I only had a little over crowding at the front too. I got 20 trays, used 18 had a rescan and got sent 6 more! Tomorrow I change to tray 24 and what will hopefully be my last 2 weeks! I had about 22 attachments/buttons! Now I only have 4.

I had IPR too, it was fine.

It does get easier. I broke my nails trying to get them out at first.

Original poster
WhyDoIDoThis1 · 03/01/2022 20:50

@GalesThisMorning

Can I ask how much it cost?
@GalesThisMorning

£3,000 for 14 trays which I change every 10 days. If I needed additional trays, it takes the fee up to £4,000.

OP posts:
PomegranateLindor · 03/01/2022 20:51

@GalesThisMorning

Can I ask how much it cost?
It was £3300 for mine all in, including 'free' whitening at the end. Mine are pretty bad and need a lot of work though.
CatherineCawood · 03/01/2022 20:51

@GalesThisMorning I paid £3,500 for as many trays as I need. Plus train tracks or metal brace if needed at the end. As many appointments as needed and 1 x night time retainer at the end. Will pay extra for whitening.

Aquafizzle · 03/01/2022 20:52

Oh and another added benefit is that they stop you snacking as you don't want to hoover down a bag of cheetos and not brush your teeth afterwards before putting them back in and it becomes too much of a chore to bother!

Original poster
WhyDoIDoThis1 · 03/01/2022 20:54

@PomegranateLindor
I'm glad you're no longer hating your life!
I am regretting it at the moment but glad to hear it will get better.
It really isn't pain free. When I take them out my teeth are aching for ages so when I'm eating it hurts so much, especially my front teeth.
And they're definitely obvious. Especially with this new lisp I've developed!

OP posts:
Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 03/01/2022 20:55

Yes! I had mine in for nearly 2 years all in all. You've just reminded me to put my retainer in, I have to wear it twice a week overnight forevermore. Make sure you do too when you've finished your treatment! The results are totally worth it .

Original poster
WhyDoIDoThis1 · 03/01/2022 20:55

@Aquafizzle
I also bought these from Amazon.
An orthokey with a circle at one end and a hook on the other but I find it really hard to use. I've watched YouTube videos to try and see how to do it but I struggle using it. Even though the reviews have said it made it loads easier to remove them.

OP posts:
CopperLily · 03/01/2022 20:56

I'm on the home stretch of my Invisalign now and it really does get easier. I bought orthokeys from eBay for getting them out and it's so much easier. I found the Invisalign subreddit valuable for little tips and tricks and it's also full of success stories with photos to spur you on.

Plasmodesmata · 03/01/2022 20:56

I did feel a little conned that the initial sell was all about how invisible they are, and nobody mentioned sticking lumps all over your teeth.

CopperLily · 03/01/2022 20:56

Crosspost!

Purpleseaside · 03/01/2022 20:58

I had invisalign (10 years ago when I was 17) and the whole process took 11 months. It was difficult in the beginning as I had to take them out in school when I was having lunch etc. And the changing of the trays every two weeks was painful for the first day or two, but other than this the process wasn't too bad and my teeth were perfectly straight afterwards.

However, 10 years on, I have to wear them every other night or else my teeth move back!!! This is very very irritating after spending ££££ on invisalign to avoid train tracks, knowing now that if I had had the free train tracks on the NHS my teeth would have been straightened permanently without the use of a retainer at night. I can visibly see that my teeth have moved if I don't wear them for a few nights. I'm getting married in April and after that I'm going to research having a permanent brace fitted behind my teeth forever.

Good luck and it might work out better for you x