Does Invisalign get better??

[WhyDoIDoThis1]

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.

@WhyDoIDoThis1Yes, 22 attachments was not fun, they ripped my mouth to shreds which meant that I could only take the trays out for 30 mins or less as it was too painful otherwise. Having only 4 now is bliss!!

@Purpleseaside I had train tracks on NHS. My teeth moved so easily a year after removal (and wearing a retainer every night). I’m now looking into Invisalign 10 years later. Teeth move no matter what. Getting permanent braces (metal wire at the back) is the only way to prevent it - id look into that it’s about £100.

@Purpleseaside

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

Even if you have train track braces, current advice is to wear a retainer for life. I think this is just what teeth do (i.e move back into their natural position).

@OfNick

I decided against Invisalign because I knew I'd end up taking them out! I currently have six months smiles instead. I have a couple of friends who have used Invisalign though and they are so pleased with the results, it'll be worth it in the end!

@OfNick Can I ask how the 6 months smile is different? I have heard of this but dont know much about it.

@Jota67
Yes it's definitely hard to just have a quick cup of tea. I'm still working from home which makes it slightly easier as all my meetings are on zoom. I imagine it would be harder going into the office etc.

@Crimbles
Oh I'm so glad. I can't wait until it feels easier. Right now I dread the time when I need to take them out.

@CatherineCawood
God I bet that was awful. I really couldn't imagine having 22 at all. I imagine that was so stressful.

@Azpil
My dentist has suggested this but I've been told it's hard to clean your teeth with the fixed wire in and it's difficult to floss. So I wasn't sure. He said I could have a removable one but we'll look at the options nearer the time. Or both he said! But I don't think I'd fancy having both!

My DD's been using it for about two years. She's almost finished and it looks amazing. She also struggled in the beginning but kept at it as it was a gift from my parents and also, she's a very determined young woman! Keep going, OP!

I'm on 29 of 29 ! and really happy with the results.
After maybe the first 6 or 7 they stopped hurting.
from about 19 onwards I couldn't really feel them doing anything at all (but they visibly were)

I also got pretty slack - I brush my teeth twice just a day, nothing bad happened and the dentist said teeth are perfect so not brushing after every bit of food clearly hadn't done anything.
I changed mine every 7 days as they started to feel slack enough from day 5 onwards.

After halfway, I got fed up of the feeling sometimes and would go hours without the tray in. especially if I was going out with friends or something. when I put it back in on an evening it would feel a bit tight for half an hour or so, but it hasn't impacted the speed at which I needed to move onto the next tray.

6 months smiles are clear fixed braces. I've had mine on for 9 months now, but my teeth were exceptionally overcrowded and crooked. They have stained easily at points, I nearly gave up during the first two months due to the pain and rubbing but because they're fixed it has meant that I can't give up. I've had mine filed down at every appointment. There have been some setbacks with bands and wires snapping at points and my teeth have been a little stubborn but I have six weeks left and the difference they have made is astounding. I can't wait to have them off and to see how I look as I genuinely hated my teeth before and would never smile. Honestly don't give up, it will be one of the best things you ever do. Coming to the end now I'm so glad I persisted.

Thanks all for the pricing info

I have a bonded retainer (fixed wires from canine to canine), top and bottom, together with a Vivera retainer at night. My teeth have still moved a tiny bit - the canines are pushing inwards on the incisors and bending the wires. A year on and my night retainer is still tight if I skip a night.

Please don’t get bonded wires and think you’re all set - they help but you also need a retainer to keep the back teeth in place. Good news is the wire is no trouble at all - I use the little brushes and get a scale and polish every 6 months.

I just got mine fitted today, I have 16 button things they are so noticeable!!
I also had to have two fillings so I'm feeling super sorry for myself today lol
Couldn't even eat cake properly earlier boo hoo

I'm hoping they'll help me lose the extra Xmas kg tho as I can't imagine happily taking them out and all the malarkey that entails just for mindless snacking

I'll be having a wire brace behind my teeth once my treatment is finished. My dentist recommended a waterpik/air flosser

Are yours feeling better yet OP?

@WhyDoIDoThis1

Hi OP,

Sorry to resurrect your post. I got Invisalign yesterday and I'm in so much pain!!!!!

Did you find yours got better after a week or two?

@WhatIsThisPlease
It did actually get better and become easier to manage.
Funnily enough I'm having problems at the moment with my last tray.
This is my final one and it doesn't fit properly so I can't put it in!

I feel like it has been stressful at times. I didn't realise they'd be filing my teeth which they've done a couple of times on my visits to the dentist. And even though it was only a tiny bit that they filed for each tooth, I think it's changed the shape of my teeth slightly. No one else would notice but I do.

Usually when I've changed to a new tray which has been every 10 days, it's been tight for a few hours then has been ok.
It does actually get easier but I really regretted it for the first couple of weeks. It was bloody awful to begin with so I feel your pain!

@givemepiece
Gosh I'm so sorry, I've only just seen this message!
Yes it has got better thank you. I'm actually finishing it in a couple of weeks. It did get better after a couple of weeks or so!

@WhyDoIDoThis1

Thank you so much for replying and I'm glad your experience got better. I'm in agony tonight so this is good to hear!

It hurts so badly to take them in and out and my mouth is just in constant pain.

I'm sorry you're having trouble with your last tray. Hope that gets sorted for you. And I'm just not going to think about having my teeth filed down. It gives me the creeps!!!!

@OfNick - do you mean your teeth have been filed at every appointment? I had removable braces as a teenager, but my front teeth have moved and I'm seriously considering trying to get it sorted now, but don't fancy Invisalign.

@WhyDoIDoThis1 get yourself some of these

Annhua 5 PCS Invisible Braces Removal Tool, Portable Aligner Removals for Invisalign and Orthodontic Aligners（Blue） https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09NBG3SGQ/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_VFW313KCG1WK9DAD6GBK

You're at the worst stage, think it's really common to regret it for the first 2 weeks then it get easier when you start to see some changes (sometimes they have to get worse before you think they're getting better) and before long you'll wonder why you left it so long before you took the plunge.

@Tinkletwat

I think @WhyDoIDoThis1 has nearly finished with hers but I'm literally one day in and very sore!!!

I've ordered one of those removal tools which is coming tomorrow so thanks for that.

I'm at the sore mouth, painful teeth, ulcers, excessive saliva and sore fingers stage, so glad to read it gets better!!

@WhatIsThisPlease ah yes, sorry, I wasn't paying attention. I'd also recommend the Boots own version of Bonjela, think it's called Mouth Ulcer Gel, as it has lidocaine unlike bonjela. That and soft food for a while, I had 20 odd attachments and ended up gently filing them as they were so sharp (don't tell my dentist...) and painful when eating in the first week or so. The Invisalign subreddit also had some good advice and example of people's before and after photos which encouraged me to stick with it in the early days. Hang in there!

Oh I know, it's awful to begin with. It does get better, it just takes a while to get used to. I know what you mean about filing. I really freaked out when he started doing it, and then he did it again at my next appointment - filing in between each of my front teeth. I didn't know that was part of the treatment plan.
I'm wondering if he's going to do it again because this last tray doesn't fit! Hopefully not!