Invisalign

[renovationfatigue]

Had a consultation last week and have an appointment to begin and pay tomorrow. I have wanted braces for ages so am really excited but have a couple of reservations - has anyone had it and recommend? My teeth aren't that crooked but have become more so as an adult. I do have a large overbite which the orthodontist said could be improved by it but would still be there somewhat, in fact the only thing he said would get it down to the 'desired' 3mm would be jaw surgery which I have ruled out. Am a bit worried I will have the treatment and then not really notice much difference. Also they seemed to be pushing Invisalign over metal braces - I said I didn't care about the look, just wanted the most effective. They were roughly the same price so couldn't work out why they were pushing it so much. Can anyone reassure me before tomorrow's appointment? Thanks

Do NOT hesitate between Invisalign and metal!! First it is painfree, second, it won't damage your teeth whereas metal will sometimes leave marks, 3) the fuss of having a metal wire break that cuts into your lip 4) food stuck on the braces 5) freedom of eating whatever you want

All this to tackle the crooked teeth. For the overbite, I don't know. What bothers you more? The shape or the overbite. Can your regular dentist give you an honest opinion?

I had Invisalign and am really happy that I did it. My teeth weren’t particularly crooked - but enough to bother me. Now they look very straight (though not 100% perfect). They also corrected my top teeth, which I hadn’t even realised were crooked and it’s made a noticeable (to me) difference in photographs.

I did struggle a bit at the beginning - the new trays could be quite uncomfortable, but I’m glad I persevered. I liked that I could also take them out for special occasions etc. Not sure about the overbite though.

I'm in a similar position to you weirdly! I want to straighten out my top teeth (one is too far forward) and close gaps at the bottom.

The orthodontist shocked the hell out of me by saying jaw surgery, extractions, train tracks, if I want the overbite fixed.

I hadn't even thought about the overbite, I've always had it, it never bothers me.

Now he's worried that my expectations of Invisalign are too high (it won't correct the overbite and might make it worse) so he's doing the initial scan without me paying, because he wants me to see where my teeth will end up before committing. He said it might make it worse because my top teeth will move out a bit to get them straight due to lack of space, and my bottoms will move back a bit as they close the gaps.

So now I've started being self conscious of my overbite which I never was before (they call it overjet - my lower jaw is further back than my top jaw).

For me, I don't think I'm genuinely worried about the overbite, it's really just the bottom gaps and the top overcrowding which is making one fo the middle teeth move forwards on its own and I have visions of a witchy crone tooth in my future (I'm 46 and it's moved over the last 15 years or so). So I'm still thinking of Invisalign. No way would I have extractions and certainly not jaw surgery !!!!!! I was shocked !

I'll see what happens on Monday when I see the orthodontist again....

dgirluk oh that's interesting! Hmm so hard to know. I did get the impression the orthodontist was aiming for perfection and that won't be achieved without surgery and really, I'm not bothered about perfection, I just want to be less self conscious about my teeth. But on the other hand, I don't want to spend all this money and then be disappointed. He did say that my top ones would move back slightly after being straightened so slightly different to you, he said he could close the overbite by 3 mm but it's more of a skeletal problem with the jaw than a dental problem.

Hey yes that’s what I felt. I don’t want perfection, I’ve never had it, I just want to sort the wonky top tooth and bottom gap. It had never even occurred to me to sort the overbite. But they seem to want perfection - they called it orthodontic ideal.

Then mentioned jaw surgery. Because like you say it’s more of a jaw thing.

Then extractions because that would help bring the top teeth back without jaw surgery.

I’m not up for either! And don’t need perfection! They just don’t seem to comprehend it.

I’ll let you know how it goes on Monday with them. It is expensive just to get minor improvements I guess. But that’s my choice surely.....

I have braces and jaw surgery was mentioned as I have an overbite. Mine was referred to a consultant in the end for the best treatment. Ultimately it needs to be done correctly as it could return or get worse as the years go in. Fixed braces are better for this and it will be a retainer for life.
Worth it though.

I’ve just finished years of braces in my 40s.
Had overbite and like you OP one of my front teeth was protruding and had got worse since having DC. I did have braces as a teen but they were moving again.
My orthodontist recommended fixed braces over Invisalign to correct my bite and specific issues.
Part way through she said I could switch to Invisalign if I wanted to but I was used to the braces by then and I actually think it was better because I would have forgotten to wear the Invisalign or to put it back in after eating I think.

I had to have two extractions to make space but that was fine. Any gaps at the end have been fixed with bonding.

They’re not perfect but they do look nice and much much better than before. My bottom teeth were already straight.
Will see if I can post some before and after pics

Before and after

They look great.

I had metal braces 14 years ago. On for 18months, I think it was.

They looked brilliantly straight after and for the next few years. But after I stopped wearing the retainer at night (so sick of it. Always hated it) my teeth have gone back to being not perfectly straight. And I have an underbite which is becoming noticeable.
So it's not really a 'forever fix' unless you're committed to wearing the retainer every night, or whatever they recommend.