Experiences of Invisalign

[kkelly82]

Hi there. So I think I’ve decided to have Invisalign to address overcrowding and improve my smile. I’ve had the clin check completed by a dentist so know roughly what the process will involve if I go ahead. I’ll need 32 aligners, several attachments and some filing to make room for my teeth to move. Having got the clin check back I feel a bit overwhelmed with all the information. I was expecting to have a fairly large number of aligners but wasn’t expecting the volume of attachments or filing. It doesn’t help that my dentist appears rather arrogant and is very matter of fact so I’m now contemplating seeing a different dentist but I’d obviously be starting all over again with the consultation and clin check fees.
So now I’m wondering if it’s even worth it. It would be helpful to hear of people’s experiences of Invisalign- the good, the bad and the ugly! Also any advice on things you’d wish you’d known before the process started so that I can be fully informed. TIA.

I use 11 trays (up to number 6 so about halfway), 6 buttons and had my teeth filed.
I think getting the buttons was the worst part, my teeth were really sensitive afterwards. My dentist (who is brilliant) explained that the nerves can move and was likely already iterated.
I found eating quite annoying at first but after the first few weeks I just take them on and off a lot (I’m also a grazer), you can get a tool to help take them in and out without sticking your fingers in your mouth which can be helpful.
Overall I’m glad I’m doing it, it’s been a bit of an annoying and slow process but I’m really pleased with the results so far.

I've nearly finished mine.

I had 20 trays in total and I think 12 attachments. I wish they'd told me before I had it done that following the actual treatment, I'd have to wear the retainers for 22 hours a day for another 6 months!

They also didn't tell me that I'd end up wearing wires on the back of my teeth to keep everything in place.

Not being able to eat has been a massive inconvenience if I'm honest. I had fixed braces when I was in my teens and I wish I'd had them now!

My speech was affected at first but got better quite quickly. I still have a slight lisp with my retainers but nothing too noticeable.

My teeth are really straight but the whole process has been a bit of a PITA if I'm honest!

Do you sleep with them in? Not sure I could do that.

I teach and I find I do lisp a bit. I notice the difference when they're out and if I have a big presentation to a large audience I'll remove them for that. But day to day teaching it's fine to leave them in.

Did it three years ago. 19 aligner, 6 ish attachments, quite a bit of IPR, 5 months. I wear the retainers every night. Hands down the best thing I have ever done. It has transformed my smile and my confidence. First few weeks are shit as you are getting used to the aligners and they are fiddly to get in and out, plus it restricts when you eat and drink. But you get used to it really quickly. You should be able to take your clin check to another ortho? You paid for the plan, it's yours.

I don't see why the aligners would go manky?
I bought a denture box and denture cleaning tablet, used that and changed the water every other day. Perfectly clean aligners.

And noone noticed my attachments. I had loads. And they didn't stain, perfectly tooth coloured.

Surely the consultation was free OP?

I’m on tray 21 I think. I’m pretty bad at wearing them for the 22 hours. Tend to take them out when I wake up and not put them back for a couple of hours and then forget to put them back after lunch. I can still see I big difference though.

I haven’t needed any filing. Have had a few times when my gums got sore so I took them out for a day or so and if I’ve had a cold as for some reason I struggled to breathe with them in then but I’m sure it was psychosomatic.

You do need to sleep with them in @Wakk. I find that that the easiest bit to be honest.

Definitely sleep in them!
I didn't wear mine anything like as much as I should have in the daytime. It still worked

@SleekMamma I paid £50 for the consultation with the dentist who did the clin check which obviously include another fee. I enquired with an orthodontist on Friday - they’re charging £75 for the consultation then £300 for the clin check. They won’t use the one previously carried out.
Interesting to know you didn’t wear them as much as you should have in the day did it still worked as I’m going to struggle to stick with 22 hrs especially when I go out for a meal, on holiday etc

@spartanrunnergirl thanks for sharing. Good to know it gets better even if it’s starts off being uncomfortable. I enquired with an orthodontist on Friday and they won’t use the clin check carried out by the other dentist. They want to charge another £300 after an initial consultation fee to do this. Seems like a licence to print money to me!

@BeatrixPottery You can’t eat them in and can only drink water when they’re in. I’m going struggle with that as enjoy a glass of wine or two when watching a film on the weekend!
@dinodiva thanks for sharing. Interesting to know that you find it less painful than traditional braces you’d had before.

I've had both. Train track is cheaper, faster and more accurate. I wouldn't recommend Invisalgn, the results aren't permanent and the teeth move out again over time.

And, don't believe anyone who tells you the after retainers that you wear at night for life will keep your teeth straight, they don't.

@losingit31 thank you so much for this - all really helpful. Can I ask - when you said you had 3 different consultations did you notice a difference in what you were told? I’m wondered whether I ought to see another dentist or orthodontist to almost cross conference what’s been said but that might mean having another clin check done which is an expense if I then don’t commit to that dentist. So much to think about!

@Blendandmix thanks for the reassurance re the filing. I was a bit worried when I heard from her clin check is need that as the dentist hadn’t mentioned it as a possibility before that! Having worked at an orthodontist do you have any advice on how to chose a good one? I know personal preference comes in to it a bit but given that most dentists & orthodontist where I live charge a consultation fee I could spend a lot of money just seeing different professionals before I even get started with paying for the Invisalign process!

@Wallowingwendy thanks for this. When you say you notice it when you take the aligners out, is this because your lisp gets worse then? As in you’ve got use to them and so notice a difference in your speech when they’re out? It’s definitely one of the things I’m concerned about as I teach full time so talk a lot!

How long since treatment did your teeth move @StarInTheHeavens ?

Please go and see an orthodontist. I am a few months into fixed braces. My dentist, when I enquired about Invisalign or braces told me to see an orthodontist and said fixed braces were almost always better. My dentist does have an Invisalign practitioner there, and she still told me to see a proper orthodontist!

The orthodontist I chose was £200 for X-rays, scans etc. initial consultation was via zoom and free and the £200 came off the cost of the treatment. The orthodontist said a lot of her work now is fixing teeth from people who’ve had Invisalign a few years ago. She said it does work for some people, but a lot of people go to a cosmetic dentist who have been on a 2 day training course and recommend Invisalign to everyone!

Ive got ceramic braces which are clear and when I went to see my sister after I’d had them fitted, she didn’t even notice!

I went to Smile Direct. Cheaper and now have perfectly aligned teeth. I did have tooth removal and braces as a teen but didn't want to continue with retainers. Mistake. I now have an invisible retainer for night only wear.

I drink almost anything with mine in, but usually with a straw. I change every two weeks so usually by the time they are discoloured it’s time to change anyway

even if you have traditional braces, you still need a retainer to stop your teeth moving later on.

My teen dd had Invisalign and it worked really well for her. When I look at photos, it’s unbelievable how different she looks. And she didn’t have really bad teeth in the first place. I was worried she might struggle with the Invisalign as she doesn’t cope with anything uncomfortable etc - but she had no issues at all.

@HappyBook thanks for your reply and passing on what the orthodontist you saw said about fixing issues. I guess only an orthodontist would be able to say if a fixed brace might be a better option for me so based on this I think I might be better going to see one. Thanks for helping to clarify this.

@User198724 glad you mentioned that as I was wondering if I could get away with drinking through a straw especially with clear liquids like G & T!

I had them before I got my teeth composite bonded. They have been amazing. Make sure you do it through a dentist and not online. They're worth the money. Instead of wearing my night retainer I now have a small thin wire at the back of my teeth to drop them from moving. I'll post my before and afters.

Before (top teeth were pretty straight)

And after. I've had composite bonding and whitening done but the the positioning of my teeth were down to Invisalign.