To ask if anyone has done Invisalign or other adult braces?

[Terramirabilis]

Nervously contemplating a big spend on Invisalign or some other adult braces type thing to finally address my teeth. They're healthy but not very aesthetically pleasing. Not terrible though, either, so I'm wondering just how much discomfort/inconvenience there is with getting them done with the invisible aligners or even adult braces. Anyone done it? Was it worth it? How many months did it take from start to finish?

Would love to see some more before/after photos (or even before/during)

I will put my pics on. I have had to change them to black & white, as there was red gums & blood. Excuse the white bits in my gums, the front 3 teeth are a bridge, so I think the white stuff is putty.

I want the bridge replaced. Sorry if these are a bit too grim

The fixing attachment's are white filling material so it's same colour as your teeth and not attached to every tooth just depends on what your clin check comes back with (you have impressions taken that get sent away to America then an electronic plan comes through online for you to check what the estimated finish will look like) the attachment placements are decided from that.

I did Clearstep and found them pretty easy to deal with, always hated the first couple of days with the new trays in, teeth felt like they were throbbing and hard to get out, but it got better quickly.

My main recommendation is to keep up with the retainer once treatment is over, I did but overtime it got loose and I didn't follow up on getting a new one made and my teeth have moved slightly. They're still much better than they were, but not perfect, and other friends have experienced that same.

I think mine was just over £3000 but I paid by 0% interests instalments so it was really manageable. The attachment blobs did feel odd at first, I kept running my tongue over them! They were a little noticeable, more so from the side than the front, but I was so used to being self conscious about my teeth anyway that I didn’t care that much, and no one ever said anything anyway! I’d guess they’re no more noticeable than white train tracks and you may not need many on your front teeth (or even any at all) depending on how your teeth will need to move.

I got a metal train track on my top teeth last year. Aged 48. Teeth look amazing already. I don't care who sees it and have had no negative comments.

It cost £1400 and should be on for 9 months. Then a retainer at night is needed.

Best thing I ever did.

4 months with an Inman Aligner. Quick & removable, but only for fixing the front 6 teeth, so more for cosmetics than fixing bite issues etc.

My friend has got them at the moment and is writing a blog about them - New Year New Smile. Its on Facebook.

Wow! Tonnes of responses. Thank you. I might have to do it. I will see if my health insurance covers some of it. Not sure if it will because it would only be cosmetic in my case I think.

I had bad experiences with mine and really didn't like my dentist. First the fixed brace broke when I was on hols and they completely reverted back while I was away. So got back and had to start again. Once the braces were off i had a tray that I had to wear at night which kept breaking. First time I got a replacement for free but not subsequent times. Dentist told me I didn't need to wear the night retainer any more so I stopped and they've gradually moved back. Now in my 40s I can't face starting again with braces. Also I was in agony for first two weeks - did at least lose so.e weight as couldn't bloody eat! I am in the minority I think, most people seem to get on with invisalign so do your research and get a word of mouth recommendation if you can. No pun intended...

The results shown on here were great and have reminded me how awful mine were! However, as a pp said, I got awful lines- it's because the dentist put a really wide thing in my mouth and stretched it while he was doing the work. I also felt like the shape of my face changed and not for the better! So lots to consider. Are u brave enough to post pics? Also remember when people look at you they're looking at all of, not just your teeth!

I have considered this but am worried about the 'dished in' look that I've read about. I would probably need jaw surgery and not sure could fix without loosing face structure. I think depends if you have a weak chin.

Cani ask how do you find sleeping with the retainers in please?

I find sleeping with the Invisalign trays fine, and when i had a retainer after my previous braces it was fine too. They suit me actually because I clench my teeth in my sleep and I feel like there is some protection there now. Don't wake up with my mouth any drier than usual or anything and I don't wake up in discomfort during the night.

These are my teeth. Hopefully you can see OK. It doesn't show to well but I have very prominent canines on the top. They really dominate my smile.

I wouldn't bother. They are nice and white and teeth are a nice shape. Mine were so much worse than that. I found wearing the trays at night were a bit smelly. I'm sorry I'm being so negative. I was pregnant when I got mine in and ultra sensitive/pukey which didn't help! Your teeth look fine to me, obvs you don't go around baring them (!) - I know what it's like to feel self conscious. You could always go for a consultation and decide then?

I don't find them smelly at night at all. I have a small ultrasonic cleaner and I take them out first thing and pop them in there for 5 minutes while I drink coffee. Job done. I do the same before I put them back in after dinner and they don't smell

I did 6 month smiles. It cost £3,000 and actually took 6 months. If you are in Scotland I can HIGHLY recommend my dentist. It was a bit uncomfortable but so so worth it!!!

I'm just beginning the train-tracks process. I've had 4 teeth out today as my teeth are so overcrowded they need to make room for them all to sit straight. Train tracks getting fitted on 28th. I've also got some kind of cemented in arch appliance on my upper molars already.

This is costing a hell of a lot (I'm in NZ and it's equivalent of about 4000 pounds) but I've hated my teeth for so long that I'm just going to do it. I can pay in instalments.

bitchywaitress - that's a massive difference! You must be pleased.

Invisalign here. Nearly finushed- will be 18 months, 3.5k with a diamond standard invisalign orthodontist. Worst part was wearing the mouth stretchy thing for scans- trays have been fine. This particular set was tight and sore but ibuprofen helped. I always change trays at night so the first few hours I'm not aware of discomfort. Eating lunch at work is a bit of a faff - brushing after- but I'm used to it now. My teeth look a million times better. The attachments aren't very visible with the trays in, and I only take the trays out to eat. Only friends and colleagues I've told about them realise I have braces. My treatment includes a scale and polish to remove the attachments at the end, whitening treatment (using the trays at home and whitening gel provided by the orthodontist), a metal wire behind my teeth permanently and aftercare for a year after treatment. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I saved up for 10 years!

I've got the white fixed ones at the moment. It took at least 2 weeks for them to feel comfortable and I was miserable for the first week but it's well worth it. My teeth are looking loads better already. Worth every penny.

Yes, I am in the middle of Invisalign, with additional preventative dentistry. I chose my dentist with great care as I want to do this once and get it right. I am aware I will need to wear a retainer for life.

To the PP who said that you could keep your aligners and reuse them if your teeth move back: no, you really shouldn’t do this!

OP, just looked at your photos. Consider having veneers added to your canines. My adult canines never came through so i still have my baby teeth. Which were obviously small. About 10 years ago my dentist added veneers to them (for cosmetic reasons) and now they look like perfect adult teeth, and the veneers have stayed in place.

I'm currently having Invisalign. I've paid £3000 and it's going to take about 6 months.

I am one of the unfortunate people who have the attachments (filling type blobs) on every tooth - in fact, some of them have 2 on them. That sucks as it makes the Invisalign much more visible than it would've been otherwise, but it's just one of those things.