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Anyone NOT been happy with Invisalign?

19 replies

SmalltownCEO · 26/11/2025 19:41

I’ve read lots of threads on Style and Beauty about how good these braces are.
Has anyone regretted it or not been as delighted as expected ?
I’m trying to decide if it’s vanity or an investment!

OP posts:
ADHDHDHDHD · 27/11/2025 08:38

Well if your teeth are wonky it will fix them. So of course it’s vanity! And that’s ok.

only thing to be aware of, if your teeth have been wonky for 40 odd years they have had a long time in those positions. So you will need the metal line retainer behind the teeth after, and to wear the retainers at night for ever after. else they will move back to where you started.

also, the ads never show how many nobble things people really do have on the teeth. They were horrible and just as annoying as fixed braces.

tbh I would just get fixed braces. Much quicker. Done and dusted.

Joddlebod · 27/11/2025 08:38

It annoys me having to wear retainers every night but happy with results

ConnieHeart · 27/11/2025 08:41

Not much quicker at all @ADHDHDHDHD. I'm wearing my Invisalign trays for just over a year & very pleased with the results. I barely noticed the attachments either

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wonderpetsrus · 27/11/2025 08:42

I have them atm and really hate them. The attachment bits are pointy and sharp so still have the issues with sore bits on cheeks as would get with normal braces. Hate the feeling of a mouthful of plastic that gets all clammy by the time you change to the next one. Causes loads of tension in tongue/neck. Fact you can only have them out total 2 hours a day to eat/ drink is very annoying. Only did it because knocked tooth out of place.

lynnebenfieldshandbag · 27/11/2025 09:18

I found them annoying at the time but was so pleased with the results. Having had fixed braces as a teenager, I found Invisalign was much easier. Ten years on I am still wearing my retainers every night!

SmalltownCEO · 30/11/2025 00:10

Well if your teeth are wonky it will fix them. So of course it’s vanity! And that’s ok.

I was thinking straighter teeth would be easier to clean/floss and less likely to fall out due to wonkiness.
Thank you for contributions. Still thinking about it.

OP posts:
ConnieHeart · 30/11/2025 09:26

SmalltownCEO · 30/11/2025 00:10

Well if your teeth are wonky it will fix them. So of course it’s vanity! And that’s ok.

I was thinking straighter teeth would be easier to clean/floss and less likely to fall out due to wonkiness.
Thank you for contributions. Still thinking about it.

You're absolutely right, plus crooked teeth are more likely to become cracked as you get older

DarkRootsBlue · 30/11/2025 09:58

SmalltownCEO · 30/11/2025 00:10

Well if your teeth are wonky it will fix them. So of course it’s vanity! And that’s ok.

I was thinking straighter teeth would be easier to clean/floss and less likely to fall out due to wonkiness.
Thank you for contributions. Still thinking about it.

If you end up having the fixed retainer behind the teeth to keep them in place it’s definitely not easier to floss. I had mine straightened about 10 years ago, and opted for a fixed retainer afterwards. If I had the time over I would have just got the plastic thing you wear each night.

I had six month smiles rather than Invisalign, which are metal braces but they only do the six front teeth (in six months). It looked great when they were done but the six teeth on top have now shifted marginally as a block and the ones towards the back not held in place by the fixed retainer have ended up leaning in as there wasn’t enough space.

I don’t regret it as my teeth look a lot better than before but I guess my advice is stay away from quick fix metal braces, and don’t do the fixed retainer afterwards (as it might not be enough to keep teeth in place and makes flossing a lot harder).

JudyP · 30/11/2025 13:41

My husband got Invisalign braces but after a year saw v little difference- but he did take them out a lot during the day to drink coffee and eat and also in the evening after dinner he might have some wine so they were out for a few more hours - he went back and got train track style braces and his misaligned teeth were fixed really quickly so he regrets the money spent on the Invisalign but I did say he needed to have them in his mouth more hours of the day! It just didn’t suit his lifestyle- and I think they wouldn’t suit me as I always have a tea beside me at work so I would have them out a lot

ConnieHeart · 30/11/2025 15:50

DarkRootsBlue · 30/11/2025 09:58

If you end up having the fixed retainer behind the teeth to keep them in place it’s definitely not easier to floss. I had mine straightened about 10 years ago, and opted for a fixed retainer afterwards. If I had the time over I would have just got the plastic thing you wear each night.

I had six month smiles rather than Invisalign, which are metal braces but they only do the six front teeth (in six months). It looked great when they were done but the six teeth on top have now shifted marginally as a block and the ones towards the back not held in place by the fixed retainer have ended up leaning in as there wasn’t enough space.

I don’t regret it as my teeth look a lot better than before but I guess my advice is stay away from quick fix metal braces, and don’t do the fixed retainer afterwards (as it might not be enough to keep teeth in place and makes flossing a lot harder).

I think the OP means it's easier to floss with straighter teeth, which is right

ConnieHeart · 30/11/2025 15:52

JudyP · 30/11/2025 13:41

My husband got Invisalign braces but after a year saw v little difference- but he did take them out a lot during the day to drink coffee and eat and also in the evening after dinner he might have some wine so they were out for a few more hours - he went back and got train track style braces and his misaligned teeth were fixed really quickly so he regrets the money spent on the Invisalign but I did say he needed to have them in his mouth more hours of the day! It just didn’t suit his lifestyle- and I think they wouldn’t suit me as I always have a tea beside me at work so I would have them out a lot

I drink loads of tea & coffee and even though the instructions i had with my invisalign said to take them out for drinking tea & coffee I never do this as the dental nurse said it's fine not to. After all, even if they do become discoloured you're changing them every week

HoppityBun · 30/11/2025 15:54

ADHDHDHDHD · 27/11/2025 08:38

Well if your teeth are wonky it will fix them. So of course it’s vanity! And that’s ok.

only thing to be aware of, if your teeth have been wonky for 40 odd years they have had a long time in those positions. So you will need the metal line retainer behind the teeth after, and to wear the retainers at night for ever after. else they will move back to where you started.

also, the ads never show how many nobble things people really do have on the teeth. They were horrible and just as annoying as fixed braces.

tbh I would just get fixed braces. Much quicker. Done and dusted.

It’s not always vanity. If it were, I wouldn’t be doing it. I need conservation work and the teeth have to be sorted out first. My teeth have been wonky for over 40 years and I do not need a metal line retainer behind the trays. I have got used to the nobbly things that they fit over. It’s taken around 10 months and I’m still not there yet but I’ve just got used to it. As the next stage is way more expensive, I’m quite happy for it to be slow at the moment.

DarkRootsBlue · 30/11/2025 15:56

@ConnieHeart in general yes it’s easier to floss with straighter teeth. But not if you have the fixed retainer wire glued in, after the straightening has been completed.

TempNameForObviousReasons · 30/11/2025 15:59

Following as have a consultation for SureSmile next week.

My bottom teeth are all wonky, crooked and overcrowded. I really want them fixed but at the same time very anxious about the whole process.

TempNameForObviousReasons · 30/11/2025 16:00

lynnebenfieldshandbag · 27/11/2025 09:18

I found them annoying at the time but was so pleased with the results. Having had fixed braces as a teenager, I found Invisalign was much easier. Ten years on I am still wearing my retainers every night!

Hi, can I ask some questions... What are the night tine retainers like?
Is it easy to sleep in them?
Also how long does a retainer last you?

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 30/11/2025 16:07

Multiple people i know (mainly via my office) have not been happy and have damaged the functionality of their bite.
One woman ended up with her front teeth crossing and now needs 18m treatment to correct 😵‍💫

They have gone in the mainly to shiny clinics with a lot of "awards"
These are essentially sales rep awards. The awards are just for selling lots of packages not quality of work.
dentists contract out the dental plans to (i think?) Mexico then the london clinic just fits them. (My dh was told this by a reputable orthodentist read on...)

Thst said, I had train tracks in my mid 20s and invisalign to just correct it slightly in my mid 30s and its the best money i ever spent.
100% do it but go someplace good!

If you want a reputable recommendation lmk as i talked my DH into doing it for his wonky bottom teeth this year and the results are 🤩

JudyP · 30/11/2025 16:18

ConnieHeart · 30/11/2025 15:52

I drink loads of tea & coffee and even though the instructions i had with my invisalign said to take them out for drinking tea & coffee I never do this as the dental nurse said it's fine not to. After all, even if they do become discoloured you're changing them every week

I hadn’t thought of it this way - but he only changed his every 6 weeks! Is every week the norm now? His was ages ago and it was a very new thing to us

SmalltownCEO · 30/11/2025 16:21

@DarkRootsBlue that is actually a good point I had’t considered, thank you.

I think 22 hours is basically impossible if you socialise a lot over meals.

OP posts:
ConnieHeart · 30/11/2025 16:54

JudyP · 30/11/2025 16:18

I hadn’t thought of it this way - but he only changed his every 6 weeks! Is every week the norm now? His was ages ago and it was a very new thing to us

Yes I think with Invisalign you change every week. I've had to keep them in occasionally for 10 days/2 weeks but I soak them in denture tablets to remove any stains if they're on for more than a week

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