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Original poster

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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Thread gallery
10
QuilliamCakespeare · 29/07/2019 10:47

Woman up! I'm mid thirties and just finishing up with 'train track' braces It's been uncomfortable and expensive but worth it. I'd recommend it.

Original poster
SharyBobbins · 29/07/2019 10:58

So, I did it!
Day 1 of Invisalign.....when will I stop feeling like I have a mouthful of plastic Grin Wink

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Original poster
SharyBobbins · 29/07/2019 11:01

@SophoclesTheFox did you get yours?

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QuilliamCakespeare · 29/07/2019 11:15

It won't take long Smile

Original poster
SharyBobbins · 29/07/2019 11:31

At the moment they kind of feel like an underwired bra that is too tight... okay to put up with but cant wait to take it off!

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Ticklemeelmo · 29/07/2019 11:52

I got full on clear train tracks in my early 30s and I couldn't chew anything for the first week. It's totally worth it though and does get easier- keep persevering with yours! And don't be tempted to remove them much

DefinatelyAWeeGobshite · 29/07/2019 12:01

Yey OP I’m glad you went for them. I had wired braces followed by a few weeks of aligners last year, best thing I ever done. You get used to it quickly. This is my before and after.

Invisalign- tell me to woman up!
Original poster
SharyBobbins · 29/07/2019 13:09

Your teeth look lovely Definitely!

Bloody hell I just took the aligners out so I can eat lunch and it really hurt!! It's been getting gradually more uncomfortable as the day has gone on but actually taking them out then was painful!

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DefinatelyAWeeGobshite · 29/07/2019 19:35

Yeah I found taking them off quite sore, especially in the morning. You’ll get used to it :)

SophoclesTheFox · 29/07/2019 20:35

Sorry it’s sore, sharybobbins, hope it eases off soon!

Good timing for a thread bounce, I actually went to view my clincheck with the dentist today - it is going to look amazing! I’ll need 14 sets all in, then likely a fixed wire on the bottom after that.

I get them next week. Bit scared to be honest. Not looking forward to the no snacking, the pain, the hassle. But have paid up and am committed now, so it’s happening.

Original poster
SharyBobbins · 29/07/2019 20:50

Sophocles just 14 aligners? That's amazing! Are yours weekly?
Do you have to wear yours for a further 12 weeks once your teeth are straight?

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SophoclesTheFox · 29/07/2019 20:57

Yep, only 14 apparently. Not sure that it will be the end of it though. Dentist assessed me as being a “moderate” case, (and charged accordingly), but as 14 is the max amount of trays within that option, he feels I’m on the border of being “complex”, I get the sense that he thinks now he should have had me down as a complex case. So we’ll see how things go. I think that’s with a fortnightly change.

Nothing about 12 weeks at the end, so far.

Original poster
SharyBobbins · 29/07/2019 21:05

Fingers crossed it's just 14 for you!
Please keep me updated on how you are getting on! Are you having the attachments put on?
I've stopped being a martyr now and had some Panadol. According to Dr Google that's the best pain relief as it doesn't interfere with the teeth moving?? Anyway it's taken the edge off the discomfort. According to the dentist this should only last a few days & get easier with each aligner (fingers crossed!)

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AddNameHere · 29/07/2019 21:52

Whats wrong with 'quick fix 6 months smiles?'

saveyourkissesforme · 29/07/2019 23:12

Each aligner can move your teeth a set max distance. So if you choose a fixed time option such as six months then your teeth will be 'moved' as much as is possible in a six month period with a limit on the number of retainers. That's fine if your teeth don't need to be moved much. Not so good of course if your teeth need more retainers.

SophoclesTheFox · 03/08/2019 06:42

How are you getting on, shary?

I have my appointment to get my first aligners in on Friday. Bricking it! I had an anxiety dream about it last night 😬

I am getting attachments only on lower and back teeth as my upper front teeth are veneers and he doesn’t want to damage them.

Original poster
SharyBobbins · 05/08/2019 20:37

@SophoclesTheFox good thanks!
I'm not going to lie, the first few days were difficult. I struggled to get the aligners out as my teeth were so tender and eating was a bit difficult as I found biting hard but by the Thursday (I had them put in on the Monday) it was so much better. Getting them out is still a bit of a pain so I'm not looking forward to getting the attachments as the dentist said it makes it harder but other than that it's been okay! I do miss snaking though!
Sorry to hear you had a bad dream about it! I was really anxious too so I can sympathise. Just make sure you have some pain killers in the house just in case you need them and I would definitely recommend getting some latex gloves. They were recommended to me on here and they do really help with getting them out!

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SophoclesTheFox · 06/08/2019 07:25

Thanks for the tips, shary. Apparently I’m getting some attachments put on on Friday as I get the first set of aligners, so I guess removing them will be hard from the get go. Apparently there’s a tool you can get to sort of hook them out? Will stock up on painkillers and gloves.

I am a snacker, so I am expecting this to be an unexpected diet regime for me 😂

Original poster
SharyBobbins · 06/08/2019 11:58

I didn't know there is a special tool for it? Thank might make life easier!
Good luck for Friday, please let me know how you get on. It'll be fine I promise!

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Original poster
SharyBobbins · 06/08/2019 11:59

*that not thank!

Wish MN had an edit button!!

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madcatladyforever · 06/08/2019 12:11

It's a piece of piss. Nothing whatsoever happens at the initial consultation, just looking at talking. Don't think ahead, just take on app at a time.

Original poster
SharyBobbins · 09/08/2019 20:25

How did you get on @SophoclesTheFox?

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SophoclesTheFox · 09/08/2019 20:32

I was just coming on to post, shary!

I had the attachments put on this morning and had the sides of a couple of teeth shaved down to let them move. I have 11 attachments/teethbumps in total, and they are pretty well blended with my teeth, so not too obtrusive. They feel a bit weird though, and I can’t stop poking them with my tongue 😂

I have only had the aligners in for a brief trial so far, I’m about to brush my teeth after my dinner and put them in now. I confess I delayed this afternoon as I’ve had a crappy week and had to prioritise eating cheese and drinking wine so far this evening!

Right. Off to put them in now and face up to this.

SophoclesTheFox · 09/08/2019 20:40

Oh my days, shary, please tell me it doesn’t always feel this weird! 😱

Have yours settled down now? How are you feeling?

Original poster
SharyBobbins · 09/08/2019 21:07

How did you find the teeth shaving? I might need some of that doing apparently.
Oh it feels horrible at first doesn't it! I spent two days thinking 'what the hell have I done '. To be honest I'm feeling a little like that at the moment as I've changed the aligners in the past few days so that feeling that my teeth are being strangled has happened again! Taking them out is really uncomfortable. But it will settle in a few days and you'll get used to having them in. How do they feel?

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