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Invisalign- tell me to woman up!

228 replies

SharyBobbins · 02/05/2019 17:12

I had a consultation for Invisalign today and I'm in turmoil! I'm hoping some of you may have already had it or be in the middle of having it and are willing to help talk me off the ceiling!
I have an irrational fear of dentist so just sitting in the waiting room today had me in tears. I've been that distracted all day I've only just realised I've not had lunch (not like me at all!).
The thing is that I hate my smile. I try not to smile, not let people sit a certain side of me (my crooked top teeth are more noticeable on one side that the other). In every photo my lips are firmly sealed. I cry at the thought of living the rest of my adult life being so self-conscious. I want to be confident for me and for my little girl. That Jess Glynne song (Thursday?) makes me cry in the car. Despite all of that, having never even had a filling, I am terrified of interfering with my teeth when I don't "need" to. The dentist said I'd need them on the top and the bottom (which also made me upset as I thought the bottoms were alright). I'll need to wear them for 9-12 months in total. I think I can be disciplined enough to maximise their potential during and after with the retainer. But I'm getting put off as from what I have read they aren't really "invisible". The adhesive dots which they attach to your teeth seem to ruin that and given my front two teeth are the issue I imagine I'd need some on there. I keep swinging between thinking I just accept my imperfections and leave it to thinking that sorting my smile will genuinely improve my confidence and if I can then why shouldn't it. I'm also scared of being even more self conscious due to having plastic and random dots in my mouth 22 hours a day but on the other hand I'm so self conscious of my teeth anyway so I might as well be a tad more self conscious for the next year or so and possibly come out with some good results.
Can anyone offer any advice or experience?
Sorry for ramble. My DH isn't home yet and when I talked this through with my toddler she didn't care enough to offer any good advice Wink

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gotmychocolateimgood · 05/05/2019 12:33

Don't be tempted by the Facebook adverts for invisalign via post. They send you moulds for your teeth which you post back and then they send you the aligners. It's a lot cheaper but at no point are you seen by a dentist or orthodontist. There's no provision for attachments. No care at all. Definitely avoid.

Meandwinealone · 05/05/2019 13:35

I don’t mind paying a fair price. I just don’t want to pay over the odds! Or go to someone shit. But I think I just need to bite the bullet and get an appointment!!!
Got some money so I can do it!

SharyBobbins · 05/05/2019 15:13

We can do it together Meandwine Smile

OP posts:
Saucery · 05/05/2019 17:05

My dentist referred me. He described the 3 specialists he uses, we discounted one due to distance, then I left it to him to refer to whichever of the others he thought best. I then did my own investigating for reviews etc just to put my mind at rest, but I’m sure if he has chosen them they will be good.

saveyourkissesforme · 06/05/2019 07:57

It's certainly worth talking with your dentist about weekly / fortnightly wear if you go ahead. I had mine done a couple of years ago and as I needed two years of trays (based on fortnightly wear) the dentist suggested I tried weekly instead thus halving the time to one year. It did mean of course that I had to be really careful to keep the wear hours high but it was well worth it. I'm not sure of current dental practices regarding weekly wear but at the time my dentist said that I was the only patient that had successfully done it.

I'm so glad I had it done. I used to hate my teeth.

10000thusername · 06/05/2019 08:02

The dots stay on your teeth so even when your aligners are out they're still on there. It does defeat the point of Invisalign and the practice I work at refused to use the dots on front teeth because of this. It used to be that you could wear Invisalign for 2 weeks at a time hut now if you do maximise your wearing you can wear them for 1 week and they'll do the excat same job so speak to your orthodontist about that. Your teeth seem to really be bothering you so I deff think this is the right thing to do. I work on Harley Street in an orthodontic practice and 85% of our patients as adults so you're not alone!xx

10000thusername · 06/05/2019 08:07

You can drink water with them in, just nothing else. Chewies are only used if you're having trouble seating the aligner so don't worry about that. You won't need retainer brite if you're just wearing them for a week and you can clean them with your toothbrush and toothpaste. Invisalign is awesome because if you've got a big night out or event you can just take them out for it!

SharyBobbins · 06/05/2019 11:35

Thanks everyone, he did say I'd have a new aligner each week so that's good! Still super nervous & emotional about it but also keen to have the next appointment now!

OP posts:
hullaballoonie · 06/05/2019 11:49

Good luck!

Theredjellybean · 06/05/2019 14:28

Good luck
I am on weekly alignmers and my dentist said 18-24 weeks and I am a complex case!

gotmychocolateimgood · 06/05/2019 20:13

I'm a very complex case too. 18 months into my treatment and still 6 months to go. I had two mid course corrections as my teeth didn't follow the predicted movements completely (although I've been very compliant with keeping the trays in 22 hours a day etc). I've lost a stone and have no desire to snack between meals anymore!
Retainer brite just makes the aligners taste fresher... I found cleaning with toothpaste not quite enough to keep them really clean. You could use the tablets every other day. I use them every day as it's just part of my routine now in the morning.

Strangely I will miss my aligners when I've finished. My teeth feel too thin without them and I like buying down on them in times of stress Blush... My teeth looked much much better after 6 months of treatment, the rest of the treatment is tiny tweaks as my orthodontist is a bit of a perfectionist. I smile a lot more now Grin

BursarsDriedFrogPills · 06/05/2019 20:22

Just coming to the end of having train tracks. I was worried about all the same things you are, except of course, train tracks are really visible so I knew I'd feel self conscious at first. But despite the pain (hurt a lot to begin with then a bit after each adjustment), the feeling like a bit of a wally, the need to brush teeth a lot, and all the rest of the inconvenience, I'm so pleased I've had it done. And I'm proud of myself for setting a good example of self care to my children.

ProperVexed · 06/05/2019 20:30

Invisalign was one of the best things I have ever done. It was a bit difficult to get into but once you got used to no eating or drinking with them in ( except water) it was fine. You develop a routine if eating and drinking really quickly....but it was the best diet ever! I was sooo thin!
My teeth are still great 12 years later. Do it, stop worrying!

NowYouListenToMeFella · 06/05/2019 20:48

Hi OP. I'm six weeks into too train tracks. I have the Damon clear so the brackets are clear and the wire is tooth coloured. Most people don't notice them. I choose them over Invisalign as once they are in the stay in. So for me less faff than the Invisalign.

The brackets don't stain and I can see big movement already. I'm in Ireland so cost is €2800 for the top arch only. Should have them on for 18months.

I hummed and hawed for around two years before getting them as my teeth weren't bad but I wasn't happy. Delighted I finally went for it.

Jaz32 · 06/05/2019 21:19

What's better Invisalign or ceramic braces?

trendingorange · 06/05/2019 23:33

I did Invisalign on bottom teeth only, mid thirties, great result, not much discomfort.
I had to have a permanent fixing behind the teeth...which I don't like, but does mean I don't have to wear the retainer at night.

GingerFigs · 07/05/2019 00:14

A few weeks into Invisalign. I’m on aligner 5 (of 40!) both top and bottom. I’ve had one tooth removed as not enough room otherwise. I’ve had IPR too to help bring the teeth together even better. First few aligners I wore for between 2 & 4 weeks each, but I’m now on weekly changes.

I drink —a lot— of tea and keep mine in, it’s really not a problem. You’d have to have scalding drinks to damage the plastic! On weekly changes there is very minimal staining, on longer wear with the first 3 trays there was a little staining but I use Boots own brand Smile denture cleansing tablets which are about £1 for 30 and they’re great for keeping them clean and stain free (plus a little gentle brushing with a soft tooth brush).

My ortho recommended only using the chewie to ‘seat’ the aligner - I.e. when you put them in chew on it on each section of teeth to push the aligner on firmly, none of this hour’s worth of chewing (what good is that supposed to do other than make you sore?? although that advice pops up a lot on the mainly American FB forum I follow).

Take trays out to eat and ideally brush your teeth before putting them back in. If you can’t brush then at least rinse your mouth with water. Also if you do drink anything other than water with them in, then again rinse your mouth with water and swish it about to flush out the trays.

I do get a sore mouth with each new tray, they can have quite sharp edges so I sit and file each tray before I put them in and often revisit sections over a couple of days with the nail file. Dental wax is useful too. And Iglu on the sore bits of your mouth overnight works wonders.

Yes it’s a bit of a faff but no one has even noticed mine unless I’ve pointed it out, and nothing is easy if it’s worth having.

A friend of mine is almost finished and his teeth look amazing! Go for it OP!!!

AGirlHasNoShame · 07/05/2019 15:59

Do it! Do it!! I'm very early on in Invisalign, in my second week and I just feel so privileged and grateful that I'm able to get my teeth fixed! They have plagued me my whole life.

I used to spend hours posing in the mirror trying different ways of smiling to cover my teeth. When I laughed I covered my mouth with my hand.
I would never smile close to someone incase they noticed my wonky teeth.
I have barely any photos of me smiling with my child.
I have spent hours trying to take selfies with my teeth not showing to send to my DP (he works away)

It was just on my mind constantly! I, like you, was nervous but every time I panicked I thought of the reasons above (and a million others) and told myself it would be worth overcoming a lifetime of shame and embarrassment down to my teeth. And it's really not been so bad so far! If I can answer anything let me know, especially as I'm in the infancy of the treatment, I feel like what you're going through really wasn't that long ago.

Oh and wait till you see the simulated model(clincheck) of your teeth turning into the perfect smile! I replay it every time I get pissed off Grin

SharyBobbins · 09/05/2019 11:44

Thank you Agirlhas, your post really resonated with me. Sounds like we've been through the same. My teeth were/are on my mind 24/7 Blush

How do you keep your breath fresh throughout the day when you have the aligned in? Can you use mouthwash whilst wearing them?

OP posts:
SharyBobbins · 09/05/2019 11:46

*aligners

OP posts:
gotmychocolateimgood · 09/05/2019 14:07

I don't find my teeth feel dirty with the aligners in. In the morning, yes, bit worse than normal morning breath but Retainer Brite sorts them out in 10 mins. I need to floss a lot more than I used to...now that my teeth line up nicely I get a lot more bits of food stuck between them 🤮🤢☺️

Whatnotea · 09/05/2019 14:20

Had Invisalign for 18 months. I found them no problem at all. You can drink water and other drinks if tepid. You just whip them out when you eat, use an indental brush when you finish and pop them back in. When you put the new set in they can be uncomfortably for a while but soon bed in.
Don't hesitate, cost about £3.5k and took my 18 months

BuzzPeakWankBobbly · 09/05/2019 19:51

This is a genuine question, but if train tracks are cheaper, can be clear/tooth-coloured, less daily hassle, no fannying about just to eat or drink, (seemingly) faster-correcting etc... why would you ever choose Invisalign?

Jaz32 · 09/05/2019 19:59

@BuzzPeakWankBobbly are they cheaper? I've read this and want to get my teeth done, I know my dentist does Invisalign as I've seen the posters but not sure they do tooth coloured normal braces...

BuzzPeakWankBobbly · 09/05/2019 20:03

I spoke to my dentist a while back and she said braces would be cheaper and quicker than Invisalign.

And anecdotally I've seen the same in various threads about the two.

(I'm sure not for every single person, but it does feel a bit like a marketing win for Invisalign more than anything)

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