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Original poster

Invisalign braces and teeth whitening

30 replies

applecrumbleandcream · 20/01/2011 22:29

Basically, I've got wonky bottom teeth which are also, due to my love of red wine and chicken tikka masala, a nice shade of yellow and I would love to get them looking a little straighter and a little whiter for my BIL's wedding in July.

Seen that my dentist does 'invisalign' braces and just wondered if anyone has experience of these and/or teeth whitening including how long the treatment was for and what sort of cost I'd be looking at.

Also v important, as a nervous dental patient, does it hurt?!

OP posts:
dottyaboutstripes · 20/01/2011 22:40

DH took our dd for a consultation for Invisalign as she was rejected by the NHS and he was quoted 5K!!!! But the dentist referred her to a different NHS orthodontist and she's been accepted for NHS treatment, phew.

Don't know any other details, sorry - but he did say that all the staff at the dental practice had them!

CockneySparra · 20/01/2011 22:43

I think around £3k is the average for Invisalign. Really deoends what state your teeth in. If you have very crooked or crowded teeth, it may mean extraction of some teeth and 12-18 mths of wearing the brace. If they are only slightly crooked, it could be as little as 6 months.

Whitening costs anywhere from £200-500 depending on the method used and whether you go for whitening at the dentist or use a home kit. If you have sensitive teeth it can be uncomfortable.

lowercase · 20/01/2011 22:43

doesnt hurt, can be a wee bit uncomfortable at first im told.

Q clinic, London are supposed to be cheapest.

they range from £2,000+
thats with whitening usually.

Q also do inman aligners which might be better?

you must get a consultation.

BrigitBigKnickers · 20/01/2011 22:43

Invisilign is very expensive- I enquired about these for my DD who has to have orthadontic treatment to bring down an impacted canine tooth. The silver coloured braces were free but the invisible ones were £4000!

AimingForSerenity · 20/01/2011 22:48

My dentist recommended a course of tooth whitening for me as I'm very nervous and apparently the 'laser' type whitening that is done in one go can increase sensitivity. She made small clear retainers which I put gel in and use for an hour at a time (I couldn't manage overnight it made me gip to have something in my mouth!)

It was less than the single treatment (I think about £200 but will be even cheaper next time it's needed as I have the trays and just need gel refills)

Original poster
applecrumbleandcream · 20/01/2011 23:09

Thanks everyone for that helpful advice.

My bottom teeth are very wonky - I did have an NHS brace at 11 but it really hurt and I thought it was really ugly at an age when looks were everything. How I wish I'd persevered!!

Didn't realise Invisalign was so expensive (average £3k!!! )so that isn't an option (unless the dentist has a very very good payment plan).

I don't have sensitive teeth and would prefer laser whitening all in one go as opposed to doing it myself at home (as I know I wouldn't stick to this).

OP posts:
echt · 21/01/2011 06:54

My dentist says Invisalign is OK, but not as quick or as effective as the standard brace.

He had nothing to gain by telling me this.

topsi · 21/01/2011 08:50

i also think that it depends on what problems you have with your teeth and how bad they are. I think echt is correct in that standard braces are more effective but invisalign look and feel better. Think standard beaces are about 3K and invisalign about 3.5K best thing is to go for a consultation.

cabbageroses · 21/01/2011 08:57

I had a similar quote for Invisalign (£3K+)and have moderate to severe overcrowding according to the dentist- thanks Sad. I decided not to go ahead due to cost and commitment- refits ever 2-3 weeks for 18 months he said.

I did though go ahead with teeth whitening with trays madde at dentist and bleaching at home.

Cost me £400 and now after 18 months I am bleaching them again with the same product ( Nite white) bought on intermet.

ZOOM laser whitening can make your teeth sensitive- i know a person who has had it done and says never again!

mum295 · 21/01/2011 13:52

I did Invisalign a few years back, top and bottom teeth. Had to have a few teeth filed/reduced at sides before I could start, to make room. I was then wearing the liners for about 18 months. And I don't think my teeth were that bad! It cost around £3k as others have said.

I had to stop wearing the retainer as I got pregnant and putting it in made me retch. The dentist then put a wire behind my top teeth to hold them in place, which I still have.

Was it worth it? Yes, my teeth look better now but in hindsight I might have gone with train tracks for a shorter period of time and less money.

I was supposed to get them whitened afterwards but haven't bothered as I got fed up of going to dentist
so often with Invisalign. I think my dentist took the piss out of me as he insisted on replacing all of my fillings before starting Invisalign, which also cost me loads.

lowercase · 21/01/2011 14:01

mum2 fillings change the shape of your teeth.
better replace beforehand than ruin the invisalign later?

Diege · 21/01/2011 16:30

I'm on my final few weeks of invisalign and I've had a very positive experience. Had on upper and lower and was quoted 2.5k, and this includes any refinements after (ie. may need a few more 'trays' to get teeth completely white). Having said that, my degree of crookedness was quite minor and it's only taken 9 mths to complete. Have had to have 'ipr' (filing between teeth every few mths) but my dentist provides me with 6-8 weeks worth of trays per visit to cut down on dentist appts. I have been very impressed I must say, and people have really noticed the difference. Where about in the UK are you op?

mum295 · 21/01/2011 16:36

lowercase yes, you're right, but it just seemed to be a bit unnecessary, not like my fillings were falling out or anything. I still think my dentist saw me coming...now he knows I'm a SAHM he doesn't even suggest new treatments any more Wink

dexter73 · 21/01/2011 16:38

Doesn't curry and red wine stain the Invisalign brace? My friend is going to have one and she has been told to avoid both while wearing it.

Diege · 21/01/2011 16:52

On the staining question, you take the braces out to eat and drink anything but water (ok, so I risked tea and coffee - have also heard of people drinking red wine through a straw with the braces on) so not sure how it could stain? Confused. The other thing is that the braces are replaced with a new set every fortnight, hence a little staining (say from drinking coffee, not that it's effected mine) is only very short term? Not sure about the advice re: curry - not even I could drink that through a straw Wink You brush your teeth after eating and then replacing the braces so nothing there to stain iyswim?

Original poster
applecrumbleandcream · 21/01/2011 18:24

Thanks everyone.

Diege I am in Wilmslow, Cheshire. The invisalign sounds really good, but a big commitment (as well as cost). Will you have tooth whitening after your've finished your treatment and is that included in the cost.

I think the answer is for me to make an appointment at my Dentist and see what he has to say.

OP posts:
Diege · 21/01/2011 18:50

Hi! Hey you're not far from me (Warrington). I can highly recommend Kissdental in Altrincham (Dr. Solanki)if you do decide to go ahead. Bit of an expert in the area and also a bit of a dish Grin I went for a consultation after having been quoted £4,000 at a place in Lymm that wasn't half as friendly as KIssdental - free, and no pressure at all. Might be worth going if only to see how much your particular case would cost, and what payment options they can offer you (you can pay in installments I think?)They don't put any pressure on at all and are really lovely.
Re: whitening, my teeth have always been pretty white, but I have been considering asking about whitening as I'm so proud of them now and want to show them off Grin

cabbageroses · 21/01/2011 19:54

has anyone had any teeth removed in order to ave Invisalign?

My dentist said I may need a tooth removing but it looked as if he couldn't say UNTIL i agreed to go ahead and then the impressions were sent off to the US. so I would have committed to a possble extraction at the outset.

also- what is it like talking with Invisalign in?
If they are anything like the trays for whitening your teeth, it would be impossible!

I am whitening my teeth again now and only do the top OR bottom, as if I do both at the same time, i can't talk with the trays in.

jbells · 21/01/2011 20:03

there is aa place in white friars that says they do invisalign starting at 1499 pound i keep meaning to get an apt but havnt, wud really love straight top teeth

mollymole · 21/01/2011 20:10

i had the teeth whitening at the dentist using the plastic shields which are made from casts and you put the bleach in - it only took 4 or 5 nights and mine were bad as I drink red wine and black tea - it cost about £250 - i still have a good supply of the bleach and when i run out the dentist will sell me a box of 4 syringes full for £15
but i did have to brush with sensitive teeth polish and sensitive mouthwash 3 or 4 times a day for a week before i started the bleach
and it has worked quite well

Calamansi · 21/01/2011 20:22

Have you considered hainvg "airpolish" instead of teeth whitening? I had it done yesterday with my hygenist, it cost £65 for half an hour treatment and is a bit like sandblasting on your teeth. It gets rid of all external stains and my teeth look lovely and white now. I once had teeth whitening and would never do it again - my teeth were so sensitive during and afterwards...

mum295 · 21/01/2011 21:10

cabbage - talking with them in is fine. The liners fit the teeth really tightly (in order to push them into new positions) and are quite thin.

As the wearer, you will notice a small difference, but no one else will.

Many people genuinely didn't even notice I had them in.

Original poster
applecrumbleandcream · 21/01/2011 21:25

Thanks Diege, I'm going to make an appointment with Kissdental - they sound just what I'm looking for. My bottom teeth are really wonky at the front though so probably I would need treatment for quite a long time (definitely wouldn't be straight for BIL's wedding).

I also have one tooth that sits slightly in front of the others and look a bit crowded, so I'd probably be told I'd have to have one out.

Never heard of airpolish, that sounds really effective too. Will google it and see if any dentists do it my area.

Thanks everyone. A lot to think about.

OP posts:
Diege · 21/01/2011 23:08

No problem! Re: talking, I'm a lecturer and I was worried that I'd 'lisp' but I sounded no different whatsoever. THey do warn that you might sound a bit different for a few days while you get used to it, but I can honestly say my voice was exactly the same from the minute I put them in. I also have (had!) one overlapping tooth at the front, and my botom ones were a little crooked (it's same price to do top and bottom, as it is just to do either)and I've just needed the filing between the teeth every 6 trays or so (painless) so you may well not need any teeth taking out. The only thing that is a bit of a pain I'll admit is taking in and out for eating..but then it does stop the picking at the dc's left overs Grin. Good luck and let me know how you get on at Kissdental Smile

cabbageroses · 22/01/2011 11:48

so it's the same price for top and bottom? Not £3K for each?

Has anyone had braces behind the teeth?

My dentist ( as opposed to the orthodontist) said that she is not convinced about Invisalign as sometimes teeth move back quickly.

I really could not cope with black train tracks at my age! ( 50s.)