Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

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

Flip

Original poster

Invisalign or fixed braces?

22 replies

Ailatan · 30/10/2022 16:52

I have finally decided to do something about my teeth, nothing major a bit of overcrowding and overbite. I had an appointment with the dentist and my options are: Invisalign but could take a up to 2.5 years or fixed braces 18 month. She mentioned that I have small roots and it might affect the roots of my teeth but I will achieve a better result.
I like the Invisalign idea of been a bit more discreet as I have an important event in 2024. I like the idea of Invisalign more but concerned that I might not achieve the results I am hoping for.
if you had an Invisalign or fixed braces please share your thoughts and opinion. It will be much appreciated.

OP posts:

levitybrevity · 30/10/2022 16:54

I have posted on previous threads. I have lingual braces on the top and ceramic braces on the bottom. I knew I would never stick to Invisalign and my orthodontist was adamant that I could not achieve the results I wanted with Invisalign. I'm looking at 20 months before they come off.

ScottishInSwitzerland · 30/10/2022 19:04

My daughter has invisalign. It’s not as invisible as they make out. It makes her teeth look shiny, and she has some bumpy bits on hers.

Glittertwins · 30/10/2022 19:10

I had Invisalign, I only needed 7 months of treatment to straighten mine up. DH's took 8-9 months as his were in a pretty bad shape before.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Dental health General health

Eryr22 · 30/10/2022 19:14

I had "six month smiles" which are fixed braces that are supposed to be more discreet. They were not AT ALL. I HATED having them on, hated smiling. I could see people looking at them when I spoke. I wish I'd gone for Invisalign. Invisalign was more expensive but my orthodontist told me he could get a better result with six month smiles which is why I ended up going for that option. Top teeth took five months bottom took seven.

Eryr22 · 30/10/2022 19:16

Also my fixed braces kept snapping. Must have happened about 5 times. My orthodontist said it was because I was eating things that were too hard but I definitely wasn't. First time it happened I was still on liquids! But it's a pain in the arse having the wire cut into your gums until they can fit you in to fix it.

20viona · 30/10/2022 19:41

Ceramic fixed braces would suit you. Fixed always gets the best results, Invisalign is only useful in certain simple cases. Ortho nurse here.

PutinIsAWarCriminal · 30/10/2022 19:45

Ceramic fixes braces are almost invisible. Just watch for the elastic bands as they sometimes use at the front, as these discolour with certain food and drink. Invisaline sometimes need you to have teeth filed fractionally at the sides, which put me off.

bumpytrumpy · 30/10/2022 19:49

Ceramic fixed here. The progress is much much faster than with Invisalign.

I have white / clear fixed braces - in all the time so you can't cheat, can be annoying when eating, I always brush teeth after meals. Make rapid progress. They're visible in photos but can definitely see them in RL. My dentist says they work 3-4 times faster. I see dentist every 4-5 weeks for full adjustment.

Invisalign - obviously less visible but not invisible. You Have to remove to eat anything except water. Too tempting to leave them out in my view. Also your speech can be more affected as you don't get used to them being in all the time. Often see dentists much less often - they pre-make the trays for you to change them yourself every couple of weeks. So if your teeth don't move as expected they don't know.

casualreader2022 · 30/10/2022 19:52

I'd put forward www.inmanaligner.com/

It takes less time than Invisalign but is less discrete... However, you can remove it should you have a big event etc.

I had this, requires frequent dentist appointments but super worth it

HappyBook · 30/10/2022 19:53

I am having my braces fitted in 2 weeks. Both my dentist and the orthodontist I am using said fixed braces almost always give better results.

I read a post on MN when I was thinking about it and an orthodontist commented that lots of their work was correcting damage caused by Invisalign.

I am having fixed ceramic on my top teeth which shouldn’t be very visible at all and iconix on the bottom which are a gold sort of colour but very low profile so they won’t rub as much. Also having a fixed retainer fitted after they come off to keep the results.

Fixed braces in my case are both cheaper and quicker than Invisalign.

Has it been confirmed they can fix your overbite? I have a cross bite which apparently can’t be fixed unless I have surgery! I’ve opted to keep the cross bite and just fix the wonky teeth!

MrsMitford3 · 30/10/2022 20:00

I've recently started invisilgn and wish I'd done it sooner.

My friend just had it and her teeth look amazing.

I read a post on MN when I was thinking about it and an orthodontist commented that lots of their work was correcting damage caused by Invisalign

I feel this is a bit like the plumber who comes and slags off the last plumber.

Really happy with it-think there is an option for everyone and I'm very very pleased with my choice!

ChristmasJumpers · 30/10/2022 20:04

I had invisalign for some quite serious issues (one tooth completely hidden behind another and some other overcrowding issues). I had to have some filing to make space but it doesn't hurt.
I saw the dentist every 4 weeks but could go in in between if there were any issues with the aligners fitting (there never were, the technology is really good at planning each stage). No wires and you can eat whatever you like. Brushing is a pain after each meal but you get used to it fast. My aligners were weekly so progress was fast. 7 months in total for a nice straight smile.

I did have a lisp for maybe an hour or two when putting in a new aligner for the week but I stopped noticing it in the end!

They're not invisible but only because they're plastic so can look a bit shiny

Unseelie · 30/10/2022 20:11

Ask a lot of questions and trust your instincts. I was told I’d need fixed braces for 6 months. They stayed on for two years and my teeth are worse than when I started. 🤬 Go for the expensive orthodontist not the budget quote!

HappyBook · 30/10/2022 20:23

As per the previous post. Please go to a proper orthodontist, not a dentist. An orthodontist has an extra 2 years training compared to a dentist. Whilst some dentists have done a cosmetic dentistry course, it doesn’t compare to an orthodontist.

cujo · 30/10/2022 20:57

It’s a two day training course for someone to be Invisalign practitioner accredited…

I’d go with the orthodontist recommendation.

Awcw1234 · 30/10/2022 21:05

I have been wearing Invisalign for over a year now to treat a severe overbite, crossbite and to fix severe overcrowding. The difference in my teeth between now and then has been incredible. I never ever thought Invisalign could fix my teeth. I’m almost at the end of my treatment.

I had fixed braces as a teenager but unfortunately my teeth moved back as I wasn’t provided with a retainer. I can honestly say my experience with Invisalign has been 100% more positive.

TGIF615 · 30/10/2022 21:14

I currently have Invisalign and will be finished my treatment in January however I would recommend fixed braces.

Invisalign is a lot of work plus they definitely aren’t “invisable”, I have 12 attachments on my teeth at the moment which are very noticeable

LittleBlueLadenDownWithDew · 30/10/2022 21:36

@HappyBook hi sorry to derail, but I have a crossbite too. As well as an overbite and a slight open bite 🙄 do you ever get jaw pain with your bite issues? I was diagnosed with tmjd over 2 years ago. It's primarily due to clenching but my bad bite doesn't help matters. Just curious if experience similar issues?

HappyBook · 30/10/2022 22:14

@LittleBlueLadenDownWithDew I don’t get jaw pain as such, but I do suffer with migraines where my jaw and teeth on the side of my crossbite really hurt. No one seems to be able to tell me if the two things are related.

I originally asked my dentist about fixing my wonky teeth and it was her that said to ask the orthodontist about fixing my crossbite at the same time. The orthodontist said it’s actually really difficult to properly correct a crossbite in adults.

bakehimawaytoys · 30/10/2022 22:17

I've had both and would go for invisalign over fixed braces any day of the week. They are more comfortable, more discreet and more hygienic. I ended up with a filling after food got trapped under a bracket with my fixed braces.

burnoutbabe · 18/12/2022 12:03

i have been recommended invisilign for top and bottom as my bottom teeth are going out of alignment.

Only thing that concerns me is cost - i was quoted around £4,200 for both top/bottom, take 24 months and new tray every 10 days.

it seems very hard to get prices for the service without going through full process with another dentist - ie websites just say "prices from £x" - and my Facebook now FULL of adverts for invisilgn wih £1000 off (and if its £1000 off, i assume it must be a few thousand)

so anyone able to give me a rough price (i assume as i have both top and bottom, it would cost double?) so i know its in the ballpark of reasonableness.

Awcw1234 · 18/12/2022 18:18

I would say that is about right for a comprehensive plan. I am paying around £4500 for mine. That includes retainers, whitening and composite edge bonding on my top front teeth though. I started in 2020. Prices have gone up since.

Flip