Anyone had good results with Invisalign?

[Lazypoolday]

So after having braces as a teenager, I'm once again in need of orthodontic treatment and decided to bite the bullet and get it done. I can't decide though between braces or Invisalign. I'm a grazer and hate the thought of not really being able to snack when wearing the aligners. Can you drink wine? 😁 Also, I'd imagine you get more reliable results with traditional braces? They are saying the treatment time will be the same with both - around 18 months.

Anyone have any experience with clear aligners? Were they a pain to keep clean and wear for the required time per day?

I had Invisalign, finished all my trays over a year ago. The results are great! It was a bit of a pain to have to pop them out for ANY food or drink bar water (and cold water, as hot water can bend the aligners!), but it was totally worth it. I managed to wear them required time for most time, although it wasn't easy for the first couple of weeks. You just get used to it. It did make me eat fewer meals a day, but bigger ones. In contrast, one of my friends currently has traditional braces, and the foods she can have are very limited, so nothing too hard/sticky etc. With Invisalign you can eat anything, as long as you take the aligners out :)

That's great, thanks. Being able to eat any type of food is definitely a plus for the aligners. The main thing I'm bothered about is not being to grab a coffee if I'm out and about during the day but I guess I'll get used to it quickly enough. Did you need further refinements after the initial treatment?

Can I be cheeky and ask how much approx Invisalign are? I am in the same position as you OP - feel like my teen brace did not fully work. Friend at work had Invisalign and her teeth look amazing.

I paid about £3800 for both top and bottom teeth. Interest free credit was available for one year instalments, not sure if it applied if you wanted to spread the cost over a couple of years. Not being able to grab a quick coffee was definitely the most difficult part! I tried drinking it through a straw, but wouldn't recommend it as it definitely stained the aligners, and probably wasn't good for them overall! I think they keep improving the plastics they are made of so it might be different now. I needed some refinements but not many, I think it was about 8 trays, after having the aligners for 12 months it didn't make much of a difference!

I work with braces. Invisalign is a great option if you can be trusted to wear them (and not loose them) - so many of our patients come in and say oh I haven't worn them, and still except their teeth to move. Are they offering you clear bracket braces? That's a good option. Invisalign tends to be a lot more expensive too. You usually, not always, get a better finish with fixed braces though.

Well I'm in the US so probably not much help but it's going to cost around $5k for the full treatment and retainers.

Yes I can also get clear bracket braces but they are pretty much the same price and I just don't know if I want the hassle of wearing them again. Im pretty sure I would wear the Invisalign for the required time per day, I just want to be sure I'll get the same results

That's a brilliant price. We charge 7K for Invisalign, not including consultation, records or retainers

I'd check with your orthodontist and if they're confident yourll get the same results go with Invisalign

Thanks for the info.

Paid £3k for too and bottom Invisalign. Best £3k I ever spent- my gnashers are gorgeous 😬😬😬

Can you get just top teeth done? My bottom row are okay! Does that make it cheaper?

Im no expert but if your top teeth aren't aligned properly then chances are your bottom aren't too even if they look ok. You could always go for a consultation and see what they say.

Ah that makes sense thank you.

Fixed braces didn't really stop me from eating anything... maybe just things that are "rock candy"-type hard.

I had invisalign at the end of a period of wearing fixed braces. They are very smelly! My first one snapped and was replaced for free but when second one snapped I was told I didn't need to wear it anymore. Hmm. They have subsequently moved and feel quite odd. I should go back but hated the dentist so can't face it! So, no, I haven't!

What do you mean smelly?! Like a plasticky smell?

I had Invisalign last year. I got used to wearing them pretty quickly, only annoying thing was not being able to drink tea and coffee, and you end up brushing your teeth A LOT! They are really discreet, but as a PP said you get more certainty over the results with traditional braces as the orthodontist can adjust things as the treatment progresses. With my Invisalign one of my teeth didn’t rotate as it should have, but there was no way to adjust the treatment as the aligners were already made... of that makes sense? I can’t really notice, but if it had happened to a more obvious tooth it could have been annoying. Good luck, if definitely say it’s money well spent!

My friend has them and just takes them out when drinking or eating and then brushes her teeth and puts them back in

As long as you clean once or twice a day they aren’t smelly!