Anyone know a bit about Invisalign?

[crookedtoofs]

My dentist has told me that because my upper teeth have a slight underbite and my lower teeth have a slight overbite, that the teeth are gradually wearing each other out. She's suggested some orthodontics to sort them out, and to be honest the side teeth have driven me mad my whole life.

I haven't managed to go back to see her since lockdown but I'm keen to get some ideas of how long and how much this may take to correct with Invisalign (or other braces).

Has anyone got similar teeth and had them straightened? And any ideas on cost?

@dodgynoodles has it hurt your tongue at all? I've got little ulcers on the end of mine

@jollybobs89

Started my Invisalign yesterday excited to see the results however my mouth is so sore haha and my teeth feel like they are going to fall out!! I'm such an avid tea drinker did anyone still drink tea with them in naughty naughty I know but I just don't wanna keep taking them in and out!

Just use a straw. I bought a load of stainless steel straws and used them for hot drinks and wine. Never had any staining issues

I think mine cost 3.8k and took about 18 months. I now have a fixed wire top and bottom and a night time retainer. The first few days I regretted the wires as they get odd, but I honestly don’t notice them now. It is important to keep them clean though.

It is a lot of money, but I am so pleased I did it. I paid for it on an interest free credit card and just spread the cost out.

I had invisalign top and bottom. 3k, about 18 months. Best thing I ever did.

Think mine was 3K, took just over a year. I have a wire top and bottom now and the wires don't bother me at all, I wanted them too, so much easier than a retainer every night.

Yes your tongue gets sore, the bumps cut your lips/cheeks, your teeth feel wobbly and when they filed them I cried they looked so bad. But the end result is fantastic and I'm so glad I did it.

Please as others have advised stick to a dentist/orthodontist who has training and experience Vs a company like Smile Direct. Yes it's cheaper but you will not receive the same care of check ups.

Invisalign do two types of treatment. One is a lower cost for more simple movements, but you can only have a few additional changes after the plan has been created.

The more expensive option is for more significant movement but you get as many revisions as you need until you're completely happy.

I started my back in may, paying £3.3k (£500 discount off due to a promo they ran early in the year). Mines a small independent dentist who actually hand delivered all my retainers during lockdown...you won't get that through Smile!

The change in just 11 weeks is crazy and I've got 26 sets before I near the end....but it's worth every penny.

it's helped with weight loss because I completely stopped snacking, I drink more water now and stick to meal times.

It's not painful but the first day of a switchover can be pressured. Best advice is to switch at night as the pressure is then gone when you wake up.

The end wire sits behind your teeth not in front, in case that's a worry for you. It's standard practice to stop movement and they also offer retainers too (extra cost) as an addition or alternative.

We paid £3.3k for DS Invisalign, he’s on month 10 and we were quoted around a year but as he hasn’t been able to see the orthodontist since March I don’t know if we are still on track for that. He has an appointment this week.

I paid £4K for Invisalign for about 15 months and it was hard going but three years later I’ve absolutely no regrets at all. None. Every photo I have taken makes me glad I did it.

@jollybobs89

Started my Invisalign yesterday excited to see the results however my mouth is so sore haha and my teeth feel like they are going to fall out!! I'm such an avid tea drinker did anyone still drink tea with them in naughty naughty I know but I just don't wanna keep taking them in and out!

I drank tea with my Invisalign but they were noticeably stained by the time i changed to a new set. I decided just to live with that.

@jollybobs89 yes my tongue is a bit sore and also behind my top lip. My orthodontist filed my bottom teeth so they’re feeling a bit unstable too!

Today I feel like what the hell have I done why am I paying for this fortune 🤣 the first week is meant to be the worst

Torture not fortune 🤣

I've had Invisalign (and it was great) but the reason I was given for not drinking hot drinks while wearing them was that repeated exposure to hot drinks (or food) can damage the structural integrity of the trays. It could warp or crack them.

You’re also trapping the liquid (and any sugars) between your teeth and the trays which is obviously not a good idea.
My teeth got super white from all the extra cleaning I am was doing after every bite to eat or drink, which was an added bonus. I’ve found the habit of brushing More has stayed with me, too.

Yeah I've had the odd cup of tea but I've waited till it was really cool before I drank it!

@ExpectTheWorst @Candacewasalwaysright were you both happy with the end result?

@jollybobs89

Yes, I was really happy with the end result. I went originally for a consultation because my front teeth had always been slightly crooked and I hated having my photo taken. When I was seen by the orthodontist, though, he said that the way my front teeth were had meant that I hadn't ever really bitten properly. I still have all the tiny ridges on the bottom of my front two teeth, even though I'm over 50, because I couldn't bite properly with them for all the time I'd had them.

I ended up having those straightened and pushing all of my teeth slightly more upright. One of my incisors wouldn't straighten properly, though, even wearing a far heavier duty plastic than the Invisalign is made from, and if you look really closely you can see that.

So, I don't have 'perfect' teeth, but I have really good looking teeth and I'm happy to smile in photos now! I'm very glad that I had it done, and wish I had done so years before. I wear my retainers religiously every night, and my orthodontist has a retainers for life programme where you pay upfront, and get 3 new retainers a year to keep them in place. No point spending all the money if you don't wear the retainers! They are super tight when I change them, so the teeth will move about a bit.

I am so so happy with the result. It’s made a massive difference to how I feel about myself. I wish it had it done years ago (would have been faster and cheaper!). I smile widely on every photo now
I’ve got a fixed wire top and bottom to stop them moving.

I appreciate those that do Invisalign do get a better service but you pay for it.

If you you haven’t got the money I really wouldn’t write off Smile Direct. They are using the current technology to give people straight teeth at a very affordable price. It completely relies on you being honest about gum health and tooth issues. Mine couldn’t be done with them. But they will show you what they can do and it’s pretty much free.

They give you a 3d picture of the end result and if you aren’t happy they absolutely do give you your money back. Mine was refunded no quibbles and I am a genuine MNetter. Like I said there is no reason not to see a dentist if you think somethings wrong. But the aligners work.

I had similar teeth to you OP and opted for Invisalign as I liked the idea of being able to remove the trays to eat and drink whatever I wanted, and for when I had to give presentations at work etc.

The downside to Invisalign is it generally takes longer to complete the treatment. I'll actually be done with mine in 2 weeks time - it's been 20 months of treatment in total, although it has flown by TBH. I can't comment on cost because I'm overseas.

A word of caution regarding Invisalign - if you are keen to proceed down this route because the trays are very discreet, please read up on "attachments". Sometimes for the trays work more effectively, the orthodontist will have to bond small white "bumps" called attachments to your teeth for the Invisalign trays to grip on to. I had these on my front teeth and it made my Invisalign trays look very bumpy - it didn't really bother me as I opted for Invisalign for convenience, but I wasn't really prepared for the attachments to look how they did.

Good luck whatever you choose!

I'm such an avid tea drinker did anyone still drink tea with them in naughty naughty I know but I just don't wanna keep taking them in and out!

I drank coffee through a straw. Just make sure you let it cool down first. If its too hot it can warp the trays! I drank wine/alcohol too, and always rinsed them with water after each drink and a good brush at the first opportunity. My first dental check up after finishing with invisalign I had 2 new cavities though. Obviously it might be unrelated to the wine or coffee but I'd be careful and keep it to a minimum. But it is definitely worth it.

I mean invisalign is worth the cost, not the (possibly self caused) cavities lol

So happy I did Invisalign, I was struggling with managing taking them out for eating etc (lazy, I know but we didn’t have easy access to teeth brushing facilities at work) so I just wore them at night. My dentist was aware and said it was fine as long as I just wore each tray twice as long, I know some people will just want it done ASAP but it worked for me!
I’ve got a permanent wire behind my teeth now but genuinely don’t notice it.