Talk to me about Invisalign

[newuser2024]

I'm about to embark on Invisalign Lite with an orthodontist. So max. 14 trays.

Top teeth are fairly straight bar the tiniest gaps, and one turned tooth.
Bottom teeth are a little gappy.

Had my Clinicheck come back last week and was surprised to see that I'd need attachments on all but the front 4 teeth. Is this normal? I mean I'll take it as I'll (hopefully) be done well before Christmas but I had this vision that I'd only need a couple of attachments since my teeth aren't that bad.

Are the attachments noticeable in real life? I keep being told they're virtually invisible but I've seen plenty of pics online....

Also, random but when kissing with the attachments on (and trays off), will the other person be able to feel the attachments?

Anyone have one arch that completed quicker than the other, what happens then? My top arch doesn't need much movement so will I have less trays? I'll obviously be asking my ortho at my next appointment, because in my excitement, I asked a lot and also didn't ask a lot!

I've been told the trays will be here in 2-4 weeks so I'm just really excited to get started.

What's everyone's experience been like?

Yes the attachments are noticeable. When you've got the trays in, you can see that there are bumps on your teeth. It's less obvious with the trays out but they're not invisible. I had them on 10 top teeth (all across the front), and 6 bottom teeth (I didn't have them on the front 4).

The attachments are also physically rough when you first get them. Get some dental wax to put on them until they smooth down a bit, or they'll really rub the inside of your mouth. You do get used to them though.

I had fewer "active" trays for my top teeth, and what happened was I got extra "passive" trays that basically just held the teeth in place while I had more active trays for my bottom teeth.

It's very very common to need refinements, so some additional trays after your initial set. So your treatment might be a bit longer. I had 20 initial trays, then 5 additional (although I had no attachments for those which was nice because then the whole thing really is invisible). I just got my retainer today.

DH never commented on kissing with the trays in or out. I don't think it was an issue.

You talk about being done by Christmas, and you may have finished the treatment, but you need to wear the retainer full time, the same as the trays, for 6 months to hold the teeth in place before switching to just nighttime.

I'm so so glad I did it though. I've hated my teeth for years, I hate pictures of myself where all I can see is my horrible tooth sticking out!

@TTPD I was hoping that the attachments wouldn't be that noticeable haha. And with them being rough, I thought I might cut my other half when kissing!

Yeah I know about the retainers, I had braces as a kid so know all about the retainers. In fact I still wear mine but it was just never that perfect result that I wanted to I'm doing Invisalign. I'll just be happy to have the attachments off before Christmas and just have the trays, fingers crossed it all goes to plan!

Did you do any whitening at all afterwards? I guess I'd have to wait after the 6 months of wearing the retainers before I start any whitening since you have to wear the whitening trays overnight. I wouldn't want to reverse the results of orthodontic treatment.

They're not ridiculously noticeable. But certainly not invisible. But if you don't need them on the front teeth they probably won't be that visible really. The ones on my top front teeth were the more noticeable ones.

My treatment came with Invisalign whitening which you use with the Invisalign trays. I've not actually done it yet, I may not bother. But I have the stuff somewhere and can use it in the retainer.

I'm 2 months into my invisalign plan. I have attachments on every tooth and you can definitely notice them. The attachments are sharp to start with but it gets better after a few days. It takes a bit of adjustment that you can't snack or drink without removing them and then brushing all the time.

But I'm still pleased I'm doing it and looking forward to the end results.

@Bluedragon86 The no snacking thing will probably benefit me as I've been trying to cut down the snacking lately haha.

@TTPD Oh I'm surprised you had whitening gel to use with the trays when you have the attachments on. I would have thought it would leave you with yellow patches where the attachments were when removed. In fact, whitening aside, one of my biggest fears is that I'll get my attachments removed at the end and I'll have discolouration between my teeth and the bits where the attachments have been. Have you noticed any of this?

I got given the whitening with my refinement trays, which I actually didn't need any attachments with.

Apparently the whitening does work with the attachments on though, according to Invisalign.

No, I think my teeth are fine where the attachments were. I was worried about it as well, but I guess it's similar to regular braces? I had those as a teenager (didn't wear my retainer properly, hence the Invisalign!) and there was no staining when they removed those. And I had those on for about 2 years!

(Its very possible that to dentists/orthodontists, my comparison of Invisalign attachments to regular brace attachments is silly though)