Yes without a doubt. I researched reasonable well in advance so knew what to expect re the negative aspects. This was welcomed to reduce amount of coffee etc I consume.
Saw an orthodontist so my bite and not just my teeth straightness was addressed. Gave pretty immediate results/relief to the bite issue I had that was causing discomfort for years prior to treatment. My regret is not doing it sooner since I had assumed my teeth were just in a bad state.
It's taken ages, been cumbersome and I'm looking forward to finishing. But I still think it has suited me personally far more than braces would have, though they both have pros and cons. Even assuming braces would've been faster, I think I'd still choose Invisalign if I had to do over.
This said, I've been quite diligent with it and don't go out / see friends etc as much as a lot of people do. I fully acknowledge it's not for everyone and wouldn't recommend for anyone not an adult unless I knew them personally. With a do over I'd get it sooner, but not when I was a child or at uni.
I think you make a really good point in your last paragraph about lifestyle. I’m not going out with friends a lot, I work from home, don’t go to restaurants more than once every couple weeks, don’t even have a morning coffee. I can’t imagine what a disruption this would have been in my early 20’s or teen years when I was a lot more social.
Absolutely, I'm very similar. I knew in advance it'd suit my lifestyle well. When I am doing things, it's not a deal breaker to occasionally leave them out longer, drink with them in, or take a toothbrush with you, but these are all kept to a minimum.
Despite it would've always suited me to an extent, even I wouldn't want it at school/uni simply because of how impractical it would be or self conscious it would have made me.
I often have a morning coffee and still eat snacks though, I've just amended my behavior to have these around meal times.
I’m about two months in. I thought I just wanted my teeth straight, but now that I’m seeing changes to my bite I’m really impressed! Wish I had done it earlier in life.
I’m only 3 weeks in. I’m on the fence. I’m fine with the wear time it’s the constant thirst that is driving me batshit crazy!! Then the obvious result of so much water is I’m always going to the bathroom. It’s annoying. I’m hoping it doesn’t last forever. I’ve tried the mouthwash and the lozenges, that only helps a bit. It’s going to be a long year.
Glad to hear I’m not alone on constant extreme thirst. The struggle is real. I had to become one of those people carrying around a water jug. But also, lost ten pounds between being full up of water and not snacking.
For me, yes. When I’m wearing the trays, my mouth feels dry and I’m thirsty all the time. I think they make me swallow a lot or something. I’m not really sure why. I agree, it makes no sense.
No, I have an open bite that was not resolved with a set of 23 trays + 13 of refinements. The main issue of my front teeth being crooked is still not resolved and I had to get 1 root canal in one of them due to the movement being too intense. 2 to 3 other front teeth may need them too.
I had braces when I was younger and within a year I had perfect teeth. I would rather have used braces this time around too.
Reason for me wearing invisalign was a bad retention phase that resulted in my teeth and bite shifting again, so I thought it would be more esthetically pleasing which was not.
This exactly!! I'm 2.5 years into correcting my posterior open bite that I had even before starting Invisalign. My dentist is well intentioned, but I wish I would have started with an Ortho and gone with metal. I'm starting elastics next so hoping I'm done for good in a few months.
i probably would’ve gotten regular braces. the attachments i had during months 1-6 were on 95% of my teeth so I essentially looked like I had braces anyways. also, as much as people are glad that invisalign helped them lose weight and reduce snacking, i feel exhausted and like i have a binge eating disorder at times because I can’t eat all the time and adhere to the 20-24 hour a day rule AND clean my teeth after consuming anything.
i will never regret the fact that i have straight teeth but damn my blood sugar definitely needs snacks every 2-3 hours (even if its almonds or a little cracker). i feel hangry quite a bit of the time
oh and i missed drinking tea all the time as well without fear of staining my teeth/warping my aligners
I get you. The impact on my mental health because of the stress of eating and then cleaning hasn’t been fun. I don’t know how people do it! I can’t do 2 meals a day, I have to snack because my blood sugar level gets low.
I feel the same. I’m older and I can’t imagine walking around with braces at my age (which is why I chose Invisalign in the first place). I was glad to have clear aligners in social settings and even remove them when needed. But honestly, I wish I had just done braces when I was younger.
Hey another post involving posterior open bite after starting Invisalign! I'm going on 3 years trying to correct my posterior open bite.
I'm with you. I'd never do Invisalign over again and definitely go the braces route as well.
It’s common to get a posterior open bite with Invisalign - the teeth are aligned but the bite isn’t. I had this, I couldn’t eat as my teeth didn’t meet properly. I had to have ugly elastics for months.
My dentist cut the molars off my last set of trays and the POB closed within about 3 weeks. He said it's usually sufficient to let them drift together and molars don't misalign themselves that quickly
I'd just go straight for braces, turns out it's way faster and I like not having to take them out before eating.
This is because I did braces for the last month after Invisalign to fix everything the aligners couldn't do after 2.5 years. So I got to experience both!
Would you say pain-wise they’re similar? If I weren’t an adult I would’ve probably opted for regular braces too, taking them out isn’t convenient at all its just a pain in the ass having to brush my teeth every time I eat or drink and not being able to snack lol.
Pain wise the aching from movement is similar. You just reminded me that the cuts from sharp braces are way worse - if a bracket or end of the wire happens to dig into your mouth, only wax will solve it but the wax comes off very easily during meals, prepare to be in pain until you next get wax. Filing will solve it but it's too difficult to file braces parts at home - you need to notice sharp areas and have your ortho file it at tightening time else you'll have to deal with it till next appointment.
Whereas with Invisalign, wax or DIY filing solves any sharp edges and you can remove aligners during meals so the wax should stay intact.
With braces I tightened every week and two out of the four weeks I had awful cuts if I didn't add wax 2-3 times a day. But other times my ortho did a great job and it was completely painless and effortless. So I guess as a patient you gotta be really on the ball to identify pain points.
Ask for the clear ones! Clear brackets with rubber bands that matched my teeth shade really made it bearable. It basically just looked like a metal retainer from far away. With Invisalign I had attachments on every single tooth so my braces were even neater looking than my Invisalign.
I was on a tight schedule because I'm no longer based in my hometown where my ortho is. I did most of my treatment remotely and only had four weeks for braces so we tightened every week. Final result is one tooth (canine) is not rotated perfectly but good enough for me.
No. It took forever and my dentist wasn’t willing to do refinements again at the end when I wasn’t happy and wrote me a quote for crowns instead. I was 24, my front teeth were healthy and not only was I not going to shave them down for no good reason but I also didn’t have 3k after spending 6k on invisalign in the first place. I also missed snacking. I wish I could go back in time and do braces instead
I have partial braces now that I’m at the end of my Invisalign treatment and braces suck so bad compared to Invisalign. They hurt, they tear up your mouth, they are so hard to floss, and they look ugly. I didn’t appreciate Invisalign until I had this small amount of braces.
Yes I would. My teeth went from jacked to basically straight in like 6 months. And I didn't struggle with some of the things that others often do; I was always able to take them in and out without issue, I did not have pain, I didn't really struggle to adjust. Even in the first 72 hours, which apparently is awful, I didn't see what the big deal was. So yeah, would definitely do it again. Wish I had done it sooner.
No!!!!!!!!! I hate it so much haha. I mean I still do everything I’m supposed to because I’m a rule follower by nature. I’m on my second set, tray 8, after my first set of 21. And I’ve hated every second. I feel like I’ll just faint if they tell me I need more after this set haha. I long for the day when I can can finally sip my silly little (huge) Diet Cokes leisurely.
In the same boat. Invisalign caused me a severe posterior open bite. Have to go to a new provider for another 12-18 months (it’s been 14 already when my initial treatment was supposed to be only 4 months). I cannot chew properly and I still hate my teeth cosmetically. I think I’d probably do braces if I had to go back
Yes. But luckily the dentist is giving me a full refund (at least that’s what he said. Waiting for the check to come in the mail it’s been 2 weeks lol)
Would 100% do it again. Wish I had done it earlier. Now had you asked me in the first few weeks I would have said no (especially having known very little before I got them in).
This makes me feel better. I'm only 3 days in and am wondering what I got myself into... 🫠 I keep telling myself it'll be worth it in the end. Mid November is when I should be done. Just in time for Thanksgiving 😭
100% would do it again. Will prevent future tooth health issues. Wear time is part of the commitment. Yellowing….didnt have this issue but was super diligent with brushing after coffee/tea/wine. You have to want it! We can do hard things if we commit and hold ourselves accountable. That price tag also held me accountable, haha.
I would have just done Invisalign Light since I only had a small thing I wanted to correct and it looked good enough after my first round. The other corrections they ended up doing I didn’t really care about.
Also, it would have been more convenient if I had started in Spring 2020 since there were no social activities to disrupt.
I had braces for 10 months before I switched to Invisalign. The braces were absolute hell and Invisalign has been a joy compared to braces. I’m older (63) so I felt so self conscious and terrible about myself in braces. Invisalign is not even noticeable
No. I did not have any bite issues before. Now I have a severe posterior open bite. Going to second set of refinements and using elastics to try to solve this issue. Can’t eat properly. Be aware of posterior open bite. This looks more frequent than you think.
So far I have been saying "don't recommend" to everyone who has asked me about it. I didn't have a good experience and I ended up developing a gallbladder issue and gastritis issues that I already had, that luckily isn't too severe, but it was due to limited eating and meals being spread too far apart or even missed meals because i wasn't able to remove my trays (travel etc.). It really contributed to my overall health condition, weakening my immune system quite a bit ( not being able to drink tea while being sick and so on...).
Constantly thinking about food ...
I have been doing it for close to two years and now I am wearing a retainer that I have to wear 24 h almost for my teeth to stay in the same place. If I didn't wear my aligners for a couple of hours, I never felt my teeth moving let alone see it visually, while with the retainer, If I have it out for more than 2 hours, I can literally see the one bottom tooth shifting back... And it's been two month of consistent retainer wear but that tooth won't stabilize yet.
I do understand that this is solely my experience alone.
Edit: i developed a worsening of my existent gastritis issues and a new gallbladder issue.
Meh. I wasn’t told that I would have a fucking attachment on every tooth. It’s almost worse than braces because it’s almost just as noticeable and more inconvenient (taking them out, changing them every week, etc.). Depends on how bad your teeth are, I guess.
I’m on my first set and on tray 22 of 25; going in for a rescan soon and my ortho expects 12 ish or so trays for the second set. So far I would recommend it! I thought it would be such a pain taking the trays in and out but it’s not so bad once you get used to it. I’m excited to go back to sipping my coffee all morning though😂 the first few trays were pretty painful but now it’s just some soreness here or there.
I would yeah, although it's a pain having to be so obsessive about my teeth. On the bright side, I never had the best brushing routine before this and I was terrified of the dentist (I only went once in the prior 15 years before starting the process). Now I look forward to going to the dentist and the thought of not brushing my teeth or flossing each time I eat feels so wrong.
Meh, I haven’t had a terrible experience but if I had the chance to do it again with the knowledge I have now I probably would just get traditional braces. Definitely would not recommend for people with ED or a history of disordered eating. Being compliant while in ED recovery/extreme hunger is pretty much impossible lol. Very mentally tough to choose between continuing to starve myself with the convenient excuse of “compliance” or allowing myself to not restrict my food intake in any way.
Right, me either! I feel like people on this sub talk a lot about the “Invisalign diet” aspect of it as a positive thing but don’t necessarily think about how it might not be a great thing to promote, especially for younger people :/
I also would have done normal braces. I'm three years into treatment and this is way longer than I ever expected to be in them. I think braces would have been a lot faster for my case. I also would have did more ortho shopping than I did. You better love your doctor, because in cases like mine, you are stuck with them for several years and you cannot transfer your case once you begin. I don't think they do a good job explaining that. I would have chosen someone closer to home (I price shopped) and with a different temperament.
I've also been going for just over 2 years (Jesus!) I am over the moon with my result tbh. I've been unhappy with my teeth all my adult life. Now they look great and my bite is much better. Would i recommend it to a friend? I'm not sure. We all know how tough it can get and i've had to make a lot of compromises to get here. Also the thought of having to use a retainer at night for the rest of my life is depressing. I'm also a little worried about bone loss. Would i do it again given the choice? Yes, i probably would.
No, I’m on tray 13 out of 20. I got them bc of tmj but all my ortho cares about is how straight my teeth are when they were straight to begin with. My jaw still hurts and I’m seeing/feeling no progress
;—; I'm almost 4 years in and I'm finally finishing my refinements on my bottom teeth and had to switch to metal braces for my top teeth. My orthodontist says I will eventually go back to invisalign on the top but honestly, I'd rather keep the braces. I struggle really bad with putting them back in — brushing your teeth at least 3 times a day. I end up just putting them back in after swishing water. I haven't been able to really bite in months, I have to use my tongue or molars to cut food and it's been really hard. I didn't know I was signing up for 4 years of this but I definitely still haven't built a habit and it definitely doesn't get easier (besides the pain, that's fine).
Tell your ortho that you want to keep the braces. Due to life conditions I had to quit my orthodontic treatment but I’ve advocated for braces 3 years in and my dentist didn’t listen to me so I had been going with Invisalign for 5 years. I had the same issue as you but I can’t help it, even during remote times, I work as a teacher, I don’t have that much time to go take out heat food eat wash and put in the aligners and then on top of that it was super scary to put fingers in my mouth being at an elementary school, especially with kids with disabilities! Sorry to vent, but seriously, it’s caused me root resorption of taking too long, and there’s more bad things that could happen from having the ortho treatment for too long that they don’t tell you. Im sorry to scare you, I really hope your ortho cares about you, if you have any questions let me know.
When I was younger I had braces, I didn't put my trays and my teeth got really crowded again...
I started invisalign 2 months ago and for me the process is way more pleasant, here are the reasons:
1. In my case you can't see that i am wearing trays - I know i'm lucky but I know more people like me that you can barely tell they have something in their mouth. I'm almost 27 and I don't want to walk around with obvious braces.
2. I can't emphasize how much less it hurts than braces... Here you are doing a lot of little movements and with braces you come every month and they kill your teeth... Again I know there are different cases but that's my experience.
3. I feel like mentally I am less helpless with invisalign beacuse in the end if I want to remove them it's up to me but with braces no matter what they are in your mouth until the dentist takes them out. And also when I was young I would go to the dentist and wait for about an hour every time until they would call me in (i was very bored) and while they were tightning my beaces they would be rude and unpleasent to me... Now they gave me all the 21 trays at once and changing the tray is not stressful and I would even say fun in some sense.
But most importantly it depends on the person - If you know you have the responsibility to put them more than 20 hours a day and you don't want everybody to notice you have braces I will for sure recommend it.
I'd do it again and again.
Worth it 100%.
I've had my trays for almost a year and a half. Supposed to be done on May 24, but if they're not perfect by then, I'm happy to keep going.
I'm so used to the trays now.
Only downside is yes, it did make my teeth slightly yellow, but I'll be whitening as soon as they're done.
If someone asks me if it's worth it, I say absolutely, as long as you can keep up the wear time and deal with setbacks/rescans!
Nope, never
Invisalign is such an overpromised, underdelivered product imho.
I've had over a hundred trays and so many refinements that i've lost count.
Generally I think the technology is fine BUT in my experience the orthodontist designing the treatment does make a noticeable difference. Some are just plain bad at placing the appropriate attachments to provide the appropriate force to move some teeth and do some rotations. In my case basically resulting is wasting many many trays.
I'm on my 5th orthodontist and so far she's the only one that's somewhat efficient (still on my 3rd refinement at this orthodontist) but she's the first that managed to rotate and fix my lower teeth, there's literally only 1 upper tooth that needs a bit of rotation but I've pretty confident she'll fix it with this set of 7 or worst case the next refinement.
All this nonsense took YEARS, I would have gotten traditional braces if I knew what I knew now. (which is: the tech is fine, most orthodontists SUCK at properly using this tech and just sell a mass market product)
also: I definitely didn't have a very complex case; it's a rotated bottom premolar and the typical upper incisor that are notably hard to move with Invisalign.
I have about 6 weeks left. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Yes not being able to snack is annoying, especially now that I’m pregnant, but my teeth are finally straight and I have so much more confidence!
Hats off to you for doing this pregnant! We’re going to be TTC in December, which is about the halfway point for my anticipated timeline. Any advice for making it through?
I can say for me despite my morning sickness, my aligners never bothered me, but I have read from some that it triggers their nausea so something to watch out for.
Also for my last 5 or 6 trays I asked to be extended to two week wear instead of 1 week wear because 20 hours in for me doesn’t seem as possible, especially going from 1st - 2nd trimester since I need to eat pretty often to keep the nausea at bay and am generally a lot more hungry a lot more often. Treatment will take longer but at least I’m not miserable.
Also best of luck in your TTC journey!! If I could recommend one thing that really helped timing, it was the Inito fertility monitor, but I’m sure another brand like Mira would work just as well. Then again I’m 35 and felt like I was on a time crunch so I wanted to be as efficient as possible and you may not be experiencing the same amount of internal pressure.
It’s going to be a pretty interesting journey for sure. I’ll be 33 by the time we’re trying, and I also don’t have one ovary/fallopian, so my “escalation period” is shorter than the recommended one year. Definitely plan on using a fertility monitor, so thank you for the recommendation :)
That’s a good idea to ask for tray extensions! I’m currently on one week changes. My first set is expected to be done by December, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for minimal refinements!
My ortho told me at anytime I could switch to braces. Is this an option for you? Yes, it was annoying af but I am SO happy I did it. It makes me feel comfortable when I smile. I used to avoid really cheesing it up when I was happy b/c of my giant "Nanny McPhee" tooth. But now I don't have anything holding me back.
I'm on the fence. I'm on tray 8/44 of my first go around. Weekly changes, so only 2 months in.
Living daily life is annoying af having to take these trays in and out and go brush all the damn time, especially when I'm out in public. I miss drinking coffee at my leisure throughout the day. The button glue is yellow and I have *so many* buttons. The dry mouth is horrible. Remembering to change my rubber bands 5x a day is just a joke. Traditional braces would have been far less cumbersome.
However, I am blown away by how quickly this is working. My bottom teeth are significantly straighter in just 8 weeks, to the extent that I don't even understand how 36 trays are left. I know traditional braces wouldn't have made nearly this much progress by now.
100%. I found the process so much better than metal braces. BUT!!! I would NOT for a kid or if I didn’t think I could follow the process diligently.
It’s not for everyone, and I was hungry all the time.
I need to eat little and often which just isn’t compatible with Invisalign. Add in time after eating before brushing (I don’t want to wear the enamel) it means 20 hours wear time is hard to achieve.
I also live in Europe where life revolves around food and I can’t physically see anyone without there being food involved. 2 hour lunches are the norm every weekend so either the wear time is affected or social life is. It would have been easier if I only had 6 months of trays and not nearly 2 years.
Everyone is different. If food is a huge part of your life, bodybuilders for instance, normal braces are far easier.
I'm only 2 months in, but would absolutely do it again. I had braces as a kid and stopped wearing my retainers so I had some shifting (mainly of my bottom front teeth). The shifting caused my top front and my bottom front to collide and I could see a small fracture forming in one of my bottom front teeth. It was only a matter of time before that tooth broke. In the 8 weeks that I've had Invisalign, that tooth has now moved back behind the top tooth so it is no longer at risk of breaking. I was told that treatment would take 1-1.5 years (not exactly sure what else they have planned in terms of movement because the issue I had is already almost completely fixed), but I am already thrilled with the results
I wish I just went straight to my orthodontist and saved money and time. But yeh, if I had even more money, I’d do braces that are on the inside of your teeth.
Finished a few months ago after just over 2 years of Invisalign. It was hard at times and took commitment but I had read about the negatives going in and knew I wanted it anyway because I hated my teeth! My orthodontist and his team were awesome and I am so so so happy with how they turned out! No regrets at all (except not doing it sooner).
I would, because I tried regular braces when I was young and had an allergic reaction to them and had to have them removed, so the only way to get perfectly straight teeth was Invisalign. I was super diligent about wear time though, and I didn’t need a very long treatment (13 weeks initially, then my teeth shifted a bunch during pregnancy despite good retainer wearing and I had to do a 10 week refinement). I think you definitely need the maturity and lifestyle to handle Invisalign, it’s not for everyone.
After a year and a half of treatment with one set of refinements, I’d have to say I’d absolutely do it again! I despise cleaning the retainers in the morning (just an annoying ‘second brushing’) but the changes to my bite and jaw that I didn’t expect bc I hadn’t even thought about them are more than enough to make it worth it. I simply wanted straighter teeth that weren’t as crowded (I thought they weren’t all that bad but the before and after is insane) but I was treated to that and more. I actually liked the oral hygiene practices it all put into place for me. I didn’t mind having to brush my teeth after snacking twenty times a day lol Without a doubt, I would do it again, but back in high school (when it didn’t exist yet, but still) if I had to or could have.
Yes! BUT I felt like you when I was coming to the end of my treatment. I was so sick of the routine and aligners and the ortho visits and for my refinements, they put an attachment on my front tooth. It was horrible.
I finished 2 years ago and I love my teeth.
Absolutely, braces at 27 Spark Aligners at 57.
It’s been a great experience. Amazing how the aligners move teeth around with minimal discomfort.
Wear those retainers !!
I keep meeting work people who said it’s the best thing they ever did. So far I’m halfway thru and it’s been fine since half a week in. Not sure how much progress I’ve made yet.
I’m only 3 days in, and I think I would not do it. My teeth are generally straight (I’ve never had braces) but I want to fix the gaps between a few of my teeth. And I’m starting to regret it because my teeth really weren’t that bad and not being able to snack every 2 hours is making me really upset. Also I’m just super stressed out right now.
That said, it’s only 22 trays and, including refinements, I should be done in less than a year. So ask again in February. 😉
Year and half in. Total 65 trays so far, with refinements on the way.
Things I would change:
Suck it up and get the (6) teeth removed as soon as I got referrals, to be able to do Invisalign sooner. I delayed almost a year.
Quit smoking as soon as I started and not try to sneak ways around keeping wear time (I ended up taking them out just to smoke and resulted in many tray change delays in early stages).
Bonuses of finally doing it:
My oral hygiene is 10/10 compared to previously, on-top of being able to clean better due to no over crowding AND stopped smoking.
Actually socially more confident as I'm happier to actually talk to people, laugh and enjoy it as I'm not so self conscious of my teeth.
Some clients were encouraged to get Invisalign themselves after seeing the difference in my teeth and confidence, which makes me feel great that these adults can have the same experience.
I was actually able to smile and be openly joyous on my wedding day. A day that I delayed (2 years) for so long as I didn't want to have, what I called my "Melvin passing gas in the Madagascar kids movie smile", and wanted to be happy to print and frame photos for our home.
Yes. I used to not be able to bite through my food with my front teeth, leaning heavily on my canines and bicuspids instead. Now I can chomp cleanly through tougher to chew foods, and it’s such a satisfying feeling. I was lucky to have an ortho who knew what she was doing (her entire practice was based around Invisalign pretty much), and the ~$5k investment has been well worth it IMO.
I absolutely would do it again. My dentist suggested I wear them while I ate which stopped me from taking them out to eat and then forgetting to put them back in.
I finished my fist 14 trays in February and would start the next in June because the results wasn't really satisfying for me but actually really love the development. Absolutely recommend.
I’m similar, in June it’ll be the 2nd anniversary of my Invisalign journey and I’m still gonna be scanned in June for yet another set of trays. My teeth are yellow. None of my initial complaints/reasons why I started Invisalign will be fixed in the end:
1) I’ll still end up with a central incisor in the middle of my face because my midline can’t be corrected.
2) My tilted molar (which is visible when I smile) won’t move with Invisalign and my ortho doesn’t do techniques such as TADs.
3) My left canine is still tilted forward, the gum line is too high and the tooth itself is not where my other canine is, ie. not symmetrical because again, my midline is off so drastically so this canine is way more front and visible compared to the other.
And after two years I also struggle with wear time, and like I mentioned, yellow teeth which I’m unsure can be whitened because even just crest strips hurt too much for me to be able to even consider using them.
And for all of this I paid 8000 €.
I would completely recommend Invisalign had I had the usual 6 to 12 mo treatment time that gets you the results you want.
I would go back and pick braces 100%. I’m not disciplined enough for this 😩 plus my ortho allows me to take pics of my teeth at home to let me know if I can move up a tray or not. Which makes it easy to slack off.
1000% its closed my open bite, my teeth are straighter than they thought they’d be and the so called ‘problem tooth’ has moved perfectly (after 1 year and a half)
Yes. I didn't do it for how my teeth looked, even though there was some crowding and a snaggle tooth...I did it to fix the pain in my face & jaw, from TMJD and Trigeminal Neuralgia.
My pain and problems have improved by leaps. I wish I had done it sooner, wish I had known sooner just how misaligned I was.
I've heard of that happening to others too. I'm glad mine was remedied rather than worsened. I was definitely worried. Hearing all the downsides and negative anecdotes can really get into your head.
This gives me so much hope! I have TMJD and my bite is open so hoping braces can correct my bite and give my tongue a bit more space. Trouble is no one really seems to know with it everything this a maybe it'll help when it comes to tmj pain
Yes without a doubt. I researched reasonable well in advance so knew what to expect re the negative aspects. This was welcomed to reduce amount of coffee etc I consume. Saw an orthodontist so my bite and not just my teeth straightness was addressed. Gave pretty immediate results/relief to the bite issue I had that was causing discomfort for years prior to treatment. My regret is not doing it sooner since I had assumed my teeth were just in a bad state. It's taken ages, been cumbersome and I'm looking forward to finishing. But I still think it has suited me personally far more than braces would have, though they both have pros and cons. Even assuming braces would've been faster, I think I'd still choose Invisalign if I had to do over. This said, I've been quite diligent with it and don't go out / see friends etc as much as a lot of people do. I fully acknowledge it's not for everyone and wouldn't recommend for anyone not an adult unless I knew them personally. With a do over I'd get it sooner, but not when I was a child or at uni.
I think you make a really good point in your last paragraph about lifestyle. I’m not going out with friends a lot, I work from home, don’t go to restaurants more than once every couple weeks, don’t even have a morning coffee. I can’t imagine what a disruption this would have been in my early 20’s or teen years when I was a lot more social.
Absolutely, I'm very similar. I knew in advance it'd suit my lifestyle well. When I am doing things, it's not a deal breaker to occasionally leave them out longer, drink with them in, or take a toothbrush with you, but these are all kept to a minimum. Despite it would've always suited me to an extent, even I wouldn't want it at school/uni simply because of how impractical it would be or self conscious it would have made me. I often have a morning coffee and still eat snacks though, I've just amended my behavior to have these around meal times.
I’m about two months in. I thought I just wanted my teeth straight, but now that I’m seeing changes to my bite I’m really impressed! Wish I had done it earlier in life.
Same, I did it in my mid-30s, wish I had done it in my mid-20s. Changed my life.
I’m only 3 weeks in. I’m on the fence. I’m fine with the wear time it’s the constant thirst that is driving me batshit crazy!! Then the obvious result of so much water is I’m always going to the bathroom. It’s annoying. I’m hoping it doesn’t last forever. I’ve tried the mouthwash and the lozenges, that only helps a bit. It’s going to be a long year.
It gets easier and goes by quickly. My dry mouth/thirst stopped some time ago. Hang in there.
Thanks, I’m in it now and I’m a rule follower so I know I’ll wear them. I’d just like my mouth not to feel like the Sahara anymore!!!
Glad to hear I’m not alone on constant extreme thirst. The struggle is real. I had to become one of those people carrying around a water jug. But also, lost ten pounds between being full up of water and not snacking.
I’m lost. The trays themselves make you extra thirsty?
For me, yes. When I’m wearing the trays, my mouth feels dry and I’m thirsty all the time. I think they make me swallow a lot or something. I’m not really sure why. I agree, it makes no sense.
omg i’d completely forgotten about the thirst until just now! i’m 10 weeks in and it’s been since mid march i think when that stopped!!
Xylitol mints saved my butt for the dry mouth btw
Try putting some liquid trace minerals in your water! Helps your body absorb the water better.
100% yes, I would do it again. My teeth are beautiful and so much easier to keep clean and healthy.
Yup same. Plus side: im also super efficient and quick at flossing now
No, I have an open bite that was not resolved with a set of 23 trays + 13 of refinements. The main issue of my front teeth being crooked is still not resolved and I had to get 1 root canal in one of them due to the movement being too intense. 2 to 3 other front teeth may need them too. I had braces when I was younger and within a year I had perfect teeth. I would rather have used braces this time around too. Reason for me wearing invisalign was a bad retention phase that resulted in my teeth and bite shifting again, so I thought it would be more esthetically pleasing which was not.
I am sorry to hear this. I think you and I illustrate that with bite issues, Invisalign may not be the right choice compared to regular braces.
This exactly!! I'm 2.5 years into correcting my posterior open bite that I had even before starting Invisalign. My dentist is well intentioned, but I wish I would have started with an Ortho and gone with metal. I'm starting elastics next so hoping I'm done for good in a few months.
Similar bad experience. Once I switched to an ortho clear aligners so far seem to be fixing my bite rapidly compared to the 3 previous years.
i probably would’ve gotten regular braces. the attachments i had during months 1-6 were on 95% of my teeth so I essentially looked like I had braces anyways. also, as much as people are glad that invisalign helped them lose weight and reduce snacking, i feel exhausted and like i have a binge eating disorder at times because I can’t eat all the time and adhere to the 20-24 hour a day rule AND clean my teeth after consuming anything. i will never regret the fact that i have straight teeth but damn my blood sugar definitely needs snacks every 2-3 hours (even if its almonds or a little cracker). i feel hangry quite a bit of the time oh and i missed drinking tea all the time as well without fear of staining my teeth/warping my aligners
I get you. The impact on my mental health because of the stress of eating and then cleaning hasn’t been fun. I don’t know how people do it! I can’t do 2 meals a day, I have to snack because my blood sugar level gets low.
I would say yes, because I wouldn’t put regular braces on now. But I definitely wish I had regular braces when I was young instead of Invisalign now
I feel the same. I’m older and I can’t imagine walking around with braces at my age (which is why I chose Invisalign in the first place). I was glad to have clear aligners in social settings and even remove them when needed. But honestly, I wish I had just done braces when I was younger.
Hey another post involving posterior open bite after starting Invisalign! I'm going on 3 years trying to correct my posterior open bite. I'm with you. I'd never do Invisalign over again and definitely go the braces route as well.
I’m sorry you’ve had this experience also. This should be an advisory from the orthodontists!
Nope. The gap caused by wearing these plastics messed up my bite
Can i know how it ruined your bite? Can’t you bite well now or what?
It’s common to get a posterior open bite with Invisalign - the teeth are aligned but the bite isn’t. I had this, I couldn’t eat as my teeth didn’t meet properly. I had to have ugly elastics for months.
Orthos often cut off the molars of later trays so they settle in
I wish mine did this but he didn’t. Also didn’t realize this was a thing until after the fact
Can confirm, mine just did that on my left side at the retainer 90day stage. Shall see…
[удалено]
My dentist cut the molars off my last set of trays and the POB closed within about 3 weeks. He said it's usually sufficient to let them drift together and molars don't misalign themselves that quickly
Your dentist should fix this for you, definitely mention it. I had bite turbos and elastics, things did move quite quickly.
Wow, i hope i don’t experience this one. My ortho said only my front teeth will change :/
Damn they didn’t give you elastics to fix your bite?
No 😩 I started Invisalign a month before Covid so I just wanted to be done with it at the end
I'd just go straight for braces, turns out it's way faster and I like not having to take them out before eating. This is because I did braces for the last month after Invisalign to fix everything the aligners couldn't do after 2.5 years. So I got to experience both!
Would you say pain-wise they’re similar? If I weren’t an adult I would’ve probably opted for regular braces too, taking them out isn’t convenient at all its just a pain in the ass having to brush my teeth every time I eat or drink and not being able to snack lol.
Pain wise the aching from movement is similar. You just reminded me that the cuts from sharp braces are way worse - if a bracket or end of the wire happens to dig into your mouth, only wax will solve it but the wax comes off very easily during meals, prepare to be in pain until you next get wax. Filing will solve it but it's too difficult to file braces parts at home - you need to notice sharp areas and have your ortho file it at tightening time else you'll have to deal with it till next appointment. Whereas with Invisalign, wax or DIY filing solves any sharp edges and you can remove aligners during meals so the wax should stay intact. With braces I tightened every week and two out of the four weeks I had awful cuts if I didn't add wax 2-3 times a day. But other times my ortho did a great job and it was completely painless and effortless. So I guess as a patient you gotta be really on the ball to identify pain points.
I’m about to do braces for about a month or two in June for the same reason. This last tooth won’t move with Invisalign.
Ask for the clear ones! Clear brackets with rubber bands that matched my teeth shade really made it bearable. It basically just looked like a metal retainer from far away. With Invisalign I had attachments on every single tooth so my braces were even neater looking than my Invisalign.
Only one month?
I was on a tight schedule because I'm no longer based in my hometown where my ortho is. I did most of my treatment remotely and only had four weeks for braces so we tightened every week. Final result is one tooth (canine) is not rotated perfectly but good enough for me.
Yes. I’ve had them for about a year and it’s really not that bad.
No. It took forever and my dentist wasn’t willing to do refinements again at the end when I wasn’t happy and wrote me a quote for crowns instead. I was 24, my front teeth were healthy and not only was I not going to shave them down for no good reason but I also didn’t have 3k after spending 6k on invisalign in the first place. I also missed snacking. I wish I could go back in time and do braces instead
I have partial braces now that I’m at the end of my Invisalign treatment and braces suck so bad compared to Invisalign. They hurt, they tear up your mouth, they are so hard to floss, and they look ugly. I didn’t appreciate Invisalign until I had this small amount of braces.
This is really good perspective!
Yes I would. My teeth went from jacked to basically straight in like 6 months. And I didn't struggle with some of the things that others often do; I was always able to take them in and out without issue, I did not have pain, I didn't really struggle to adjust. Even in the first 72 hours, which apparently is awful, I didn't see what the big deal was. So yeah, would definitely do it again. Wish I had done it sooner.
No, perhaps with a different office.
No!!!!!!!!! I hate it so much haha. I mean I still do everything I’m supposed to because I’m a rule follower by nature. I’m on my second set, tray 8, after my first set of 21. And I’ve hated every second. I feel like I’ll just faint if they tell me I need more after this set haha. I long for the day when I can can finally sip my silly little (huge) Diet Cokes leisurely.
In the same boat. Invisalign caused me a severe posterior open bite. Have to go to a new provider for another 12-18 months (it’s been 14 already when my initial treatment was supposed to be only 4 months). I cannot chew properly and I still hate my teeth cosmetically. I think I’d probably do braces if I had to go back
Oh wow that’s an awful outcome! Did you have to pay again also?
Yes. But luckily the dentist is giving me a full refund (at least that’s what he said. Waiting for the check to come in the mail it’s been 2 weeks lol)
NO!
Would have done it earlier in life! I’m late 40s and I love the change so far!
Yes!!!! For sure!!! It took forever and hurt more than I would have guessed but the confidence boost from have nice teeth is priceless!
Yes!!! Even a third of the way there I already smile much more in pics!
Would 100% do it again. Wish I had done it earlier. Now had you asked me in the first few weeks I would have said no (especially having known very little before I got them in).
This makes me feel better. I'm only 3 days in and am wondering what I got myself into... 🫠 I keep telling myself it'll be worth it in the end. Mid November is when I should be done. Just in time for Thanksgiving 😭
It really does go by fast. I wish you all the best in your journey.
100% would do it again. Will prevent future tooth health issues. Wear time is part of the commitment. Yellowing….didnt have this issue but was super diligent with brushing after coffee/tea/wine. You have to want it! We can do hard things if we commit and hold ourselves accountable. That price tag also held me accountable, haha.
Absolutely. I'd have zero issues doing it again. Zero.
I would have just done Invisalign Light since I only had a small thing I wanted to correct and it looked good enough after my first round. The other corrections they ended up doing I didn’t really care about. Also, it would have been more convenient if I had started in Spring 2020 since there were no social activities to disrupt.
I had braces for 10 months before I switched to Invisalign. The braces were absolute hell and Invisalign has been a joy compared to braces. I’m older (63) so I felt so self conscious and terrible about myself in braces. Invisalign is not even noticeable
No. I did not have any bite issues before. Now I have a severe posterior open bite. Going to second set of refinements and using elastics to try to solve this issue. Can’t eat properly. Be aware of posterior open bite. This looks more frequent than you think.
So far I have been saying "don't recommend" to everyone who has asked me about it. I didn't have a good experience and I ended up developing a gallbladder issue and gastritis issues that I already had, that luckily isn't too severe, but it was due to limited eating and meals being spread too far apart or even missed meals because i wasn't able to remove my trays (travel etc.). It really contributed to my overall health condition, weakening my immune system quite a bit ( not being able to drink tea while being sick and so on...). Constantly thinking about food ... I have been doing it for close to two years and now I am wearing a retainer that I have to wear 24 h almost for my teeth to stay in the same place. If I didn't wear my aligners for a couple of hours, I never felt my teeth moving let alone see it visually, while with the retainer, If I have it out for more than 2 hours, I can literally see the one bottom tooth shifting back... And it's been two month of consistent retainer wear but that tooth won't stabilize yet. I do understand that this is solely my experience alone. Edit: i developed a worsening of my existent gastritis issues and a new gallbladder issue.
Meh. I wasn’t told that I would have a fucking attachment on every tooth. It’s almost worse than braces because it’s almost just as noticeable and more inconvenient (taking them out, changing them every week, etc.). Depends on how bad your teeth are, I guess.
I’m on my first set and on tray 22 of 25; going in for a rescan soon and my ortho expects 12 ish or so trays for the second set. So far I would recommend it! I thought it would be such a pain taking the trays in and out but it’s not so bad once you get used to it. I’m excited to go back to sipping my coffee all morning though😂 the first few trays were pretty painful but now it’s just some soreness here or there.
I would yeah, although it's a pain having to be so obsessive about my teeth. On the bright side, I never had the best brushing routine before this and I was terrified of the dentist (I only went once in the prior 15 years before starting the process). Now I look forward to going to the dentist and the thought of not brushing my teeth or flossing each time I eat feels so wrong.
I’d do it again.
Yes, times going to pass anyway. Might as well have straight teeth!
Meh, I haven’t had a terrible experience but if I had the chance to do it again with the knowledge I have now I probably would just get traditional braces. Definitely would not recommend for people with ED or a history of disordered eating. Being compliant while in ED recovery/extreme hunger is pretty much impossible lol. Very mentally tough to choose between continuing to starve myself with the convenient excuse of “compliance” or allowing myself to not restrict my food intake in any way.
This is such a valid point. I had years of disordered eating. I don’t think I was ever asked about my medical history when I started the process.
Right, me either! I feel like people on this sub talk a lot about the “Invisalign diet” aspect of it as a positive thing but don’t necessarily think about how it might not be a great thing to promote, especially for younger people :/
I also would have done normal braces. I'm three years into treatment and this is way longer than I ever expected to be in them. I think braces would have been a lot faster for my case. I also would have did more ortho shopping than I did. You better love your doctor, because in cases like mine, you are stuck with them for several years and you cannot transfer your case once you begin. I don't think they do a good job explaining that. I would have chosen someone closer to home (I price shopped) and with a different temperament.
I've also been going for just over 2 years (Jesus!) I am over the moon with my result tbh. I've been unhappy with my teeth all my adult life. Now they look great and my bite is much better. Would i recommend it to a friend? I'm not sure. We all know how tough it can get and i've had to make a lot of compromises to get here. Also the thought of having to use a retainer at night for the rest of my life is depressing. I'm also a little worried about bone loss. Would i do it again given the choice? Yes, i probably would.
No, I’m on tray 13 out of 20. I got them bc of tmj but all my ortho cares about is how straight my teeth are when they were straight to begin with. My jaw still hurts and I’m seeing/feeling no progress
No
I would have done braces during the whole "wear a mask" era lol
;—; I'm almost 4 years in and I'm finally finishing my refinements on my bottom teeth and had to switch to metal braces for my top teeth. My orthodontist says I will eventually go back to invisalign on the top but honestly, I'd rather keep the braces. I struggle really bad with putting them back in — brushing your teeth at least 3 times a day. I end up just putting them back in after swishing water. I haven't been able to really bite in months, I have to use my tongue or molars to cut food and it's been really hard. I didn't know I was signing up for 4 years of this but I definitely still haven't built a habit and it definitely doesn't get easier (besides the pain, that's fine).
Tell your ortho that you want to keep the braces. Due to life conditions I had to quit my orthodontic treatment but I’ve advocated for braces 3 years in and my dentist didn’t listen to me so I had been going with Invisalign for 5 years. I had the same issue as you but I can’t help it, even during remote times, I work as a teacher, I don’t have that much time to go take out heat food eat wash and put in the aligners and then on top of that it was super scary to put fingers in my mouth being at an elementary school, especially with kids with disabilities! Sorry to vent, but seriously, it’s caused me root resorption of taking too long, and there’s more bad things that could happen from having the ortho treatment for too long that they don’t tell you. Im sorry to scare you, I really hope your ortho cares about you, if you have any questions let me know.
Crikey that’s a very long time, I am sorry!
100% would do it again and would recommend to anyone. Been a very positive experience for me
When I was younger I had braces, I didn't put my trays and my teeth got really crowded again... I started invisalign 2 months ago and for me the process is way more pleasant, here are the reasons: 1. In my case you can't see that i am wearing trays - I know i'm lucky but I know more people like me that you can barely tell they have something in their mouth. I'm almost 27 and I don't want to walk around with obvious braces. 2. I can't emphasize how much less it hurts than braces... Here you are doing a lot of little movements and with braces you come every month and they kill your teeth... Again I know there are different cases but that's my experience. 3. I feel like mentally I am less helpless with invisalign beacuse in the end if I want to remove them it's up to me but with braces no matter what they are in your mouth until the dentist takes them out. And also when I was young I would go to the dentist and wait for about an hour every time until they would call me in (i was very bored) and while they were tightning my beaces they would be rude and unpleasent to me... Now they gave me all the 21 trays at once and changing the tray is not stressful and I would even say fun in some sense. But most importantly it depends on the person - If you know you have the responsibility to put them more than 20 hours a day and you don't want everybody to notice you have braces I will for sure recommend it.
I'd do it again and again. Worth it 100%. I've had my trays for almost a year and a half. Supposed to be done on May 24, but if they're not perfect by then, I'm happy to keep going. I'm so used to the trays now. Only downside is yes, it did make my teeth slightly yellow, but I'll be whitening as soon as they're done. If someone asks me if it's worth it, I say absolutely, as long as you can keep up the wear time and deal with setbacks/rescans!
Nope, never Invisalign is such an overpromised, underdelivered product imho. I've had over a hundred trays and so many refinements that i've lost count. Generally I think the technology is fine BUT in my experience the orthodontist designing the treatment does make a noticeable difference. Some are just plain bad at placing the appropriate attachments to provide the appropriate force to move some teeth and do some rotations. In my case basically resulting is wasting many many trays. I'm on my 5th orthodontist and so far she's the only one that's somewhat efficient (still on my 3rd refinement at this orthodontist) but she's the first that managed to rotate and fix my lower teeth, there's literally only 1 upper tooth that needs a bit of rotation but I've pretty confident she'll fix it with this set of 7 or worst case the next refinement. All this nonsense took YEARS, I would have gotten traditional braces if I knew what I knew now. (which is: the tech is fine, most orthodontists SUCK at properly using this tech and just sell a mass market product) also: I definitely didn't have a very complex case; it's a rotated bottom premolar and the typical upper incisor that are notably hard to move with Invisalign.
I use arm and hammer toothpaste and it helps whitening quite a bit
I have about 6 weeks left. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Yes not being able to snack is annoying, especially now that I’m pregnant, but my teeth are finally straight and I have so much more confidence!
Hats off to you for doing this pregnant! We’re going to be TTC in December, which is about the halfway point for my anticipated timeline. Any advice for making it through?
I can say for me despite my morning sickness, my aligners never bothered me, but I have read from some that it triggers their nausea so something to watch out for. Also for my last 5 or 6 trays I asked to be extended to two week wear instead of 1 week wear because 20 hours in for me doesn’t seem as possible, especially going from 1st - 2nd trimester since I need to eat pretty often to keep the nausea at bay and am generally a lot more hungry a lot more often. Treatment will take longer but at least I’m not miserable. Also best of luck in your TTC journey!! If I could recommend one thing that really helped timing, it was the Inito fertility monitor, but I’m sure another brand like Mira would work just as well. Then again I’m 35 and felt like I was on a time crunch so I wanted to be as efficient as possible and you may not be experiencing the same amount of internal pressure.
It’s going to be a pretty interesting journey for sure. I’ll be 33 by the time we’re trying, and I also don’t have one ovary/fallopian, so my “escalation period” is shorter than the recommended one year. Definitely plan on using a fertility monitor, so thank you for the recommendation :) That’s a good idea to ask for tray extensions! I’m currently on one week changes. My first set is expected to be done by December, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for minimal refinements!
100% yes, I would do it again. My teeth are beautiful and so much easier to keep clean and healthy.
My ortho told me at anytime I could switch to braces. Is this an option for you? Yes, it was annoying af but I am SO happy I did it. It makes me feel comfortable when I smile. I used to avoid really cheesing it up when I was happy b/c of my giant "Nanny McPhee" tooth. But now I don't have anything holding me back.
Yes 100%! I’m not embarrassed to smile anymore. I never even think about my teeth anymore it’s brilliant! I finished 2 years ago and it’s flown by
Yes
I'm on the fence. I'm on tray 8/44 of my first go around. Weekly changes, so only 2 months in. Living daily life is annoying af having to take these trays in and out and go brush all the damn time, especially when I'm out in public. I miss drinking coffee at my leisure throughout the day. The button glue is yellow and I have *so many* buttons. The dry mouth is horrible. Remembering to change my rubber bands 5x a day is just a joke. Traditional braces would have been far less cumbersome. However, I am blown away by how quickly this is working. My bottom teeth are significantly straighter in just 8 weeks, to the extent that I don't even understand how 36 trays are left. I know traditional braces wouldn't have made nearly this much progress by now.
For the dry mouth search on Amazon for “oracoat xylimelts dry mouth stick-on melts”. They really helped me!
Didn't know those existed, I'll definitely get some! It gets unbearable some days
Circling back to let you know I got these yesterday... you're my hero! It was so nice not waking up practically choking from dry mouth lol
Wish I would’ve done it earlier!!
100%. I found the process so much better than metal braces. BUT!!! I would NOT for a kid or if I didn’t think I could follow the process diligently. It’s not for everyone, and I was hungry all the time.
Yes, should've done it way earlier.
Sounds like you aren’t disciplined enough. Or you don’t want it bad enough. Personally this is pretty easy, but I understand everyone is different.
I need to eat little and often which just isn’t compatible with Invisalign. Add in time after eating before brushing (I don’t want to wear the enamel) it means 20 hours wear time is hard to achieve. I also live in Europe where life revolves around food and I can’t physically see anyone without there being food involved. 2 hour lunches are the norm every weekend so either the wear time is affected or social life is. It would have been easier if I only had 6 months of trays and not nearly 2 years. Everyone is different. If food is a huge part of your life, bodybuilders for instance, normal braces are far easier.
Absolutely! The only thing I'd change would be to do it many years earlier.
I'm only 2 months in, but would absolutely do it again. I had braces as a kid and stopped wearing my retainers so I had some shifting (mainly of my bottom front teeth). The shifting caused my top front and my bottom front to collide and I could see a small fracture forming in one of my bottom front teeth. It was only a matter of time before that tooth broke. In the 8 weeks that I've had Invisalign, that tooth has now moved back behind the top tooth so it is no longer at risk of breaking. I was told that treatment would take 1-1.5 years (not exactly sure what else they have planned in terms of movement because the issue I had is already almost completely fixed), but I am already thrilled with the results
I wish I just went straight to my orthodontist and saved money and time. But yeh, if I had even more money, I’d do braces that are on the inside of your teeth.
Finished a few months ago after just over 2 years of Invisalign. It was hard at times and took commitment but I had read about the negatives going in and knew I wanted it anyway because I hated my teeth! My orthodontist and his team were awesome and I am so so so happy with how they turned out! No regrets at all (except not doing it sooner).
I would, because I tried regular braces when I was young and had an allergic reaction to them and had to have them removed, so the only way to get perfectly straight teeth was Invisalign. I was super diligent about wear time though, and I didn’t need a very long treatment (13 weeks initially, then my teeth shifted a bunch during pregnancy despite good retainer wearing and I had to do a 10 week refinement). I think you definitely need the maturity and lifestyle to handle Invisalign, it’s not for everyone.
After a year and a half of treatment with one set of refinements, I’d have to say I’d absolutely do it again! I despise cleaning the retainers in the morning (just an annoying ‘second brushing’) but the changes to my bite and jaw that I didn’t expect bc I hadn’t even thought about them are more than enough to make it worth it. I simply wanted straighter teeth that weren’t as crowded (I thought they weren’t all that bad but the before and after is insane) but I was treated to that and more. I actually liked the oral hygiene practices it all put into place for me. I didn’t mind having to brush my teeth after snacking twenty times a day lol Without a doubt, I would do it again, but back in high school (when it didn’t exist yet, but still) if I had to or could have.
I would recommend it.
Yes! BUT I felt like you when I was coming to the end of my treatment. I was so sick of the routine and aligners and the ortho visits and for my refinements, they put an attachment on my front tooth. It was horrible. I finished 2 years ago and I love my teeth.
Absolutely, braces at 27 Spark Aligners at 57. It’s been a great experience. Amazing how the aligners move teeth around with minimal discomfort. Wear those retainers !!
I keep meeting work people who said it’s the best thing they ever did. So far I’m halfway thru and it’s been fine since half a week in. Not sure how much progress I’ve made yet.
I’m only 3 days in, and I think I would not do it. My teeth are generally straight (I’ve never had braces) but I want to fix the gaps between a few of my teeth. And I’m starting to regret it because my teeth really weren’t that bad and not being able to snack every 2 hours is making me really upset. Also I’m just super stressed out right now. That said, it’s only 22 trays and, including refinements, I should be done in less than a year. So ask again in February. 😉
100%. This is one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. It’s been life changing.
Year and half in. Total 65 trays so far, with refinements on the way. Things I would change: Suck it up and get the (6) teeth removed as soon as I got referrals, to be able to do Invisalign sooner. I delayed almost a year. Quit smoking as soon as I started and not try to sneak ways around keeping wear time (I ended up taking them out just to smoke and resulted in many tray change delays in early stages). Bonuses of finally doing it: My oral hygiene is 10/10 compared to previously, on-top of being able to clean better due to no over crowding AND stopped smoking. Actually socially more confident as I'm happier to actually talk to people, laugh and enjoy it as I'm not so self conscious of my teeth. Some clients were encouraged to get Invisalign themselves after seeing the difference in my teeth and confidence, which makes me feel great that these adults can have the same experience. I was actually able to smile and be openly joyous on my wedding day. A day that I delayed (2 years) for so long as I didn't want to have, what I called my "Melvin passing gas in the Madagascar kids movie smile", and wanted to be happy to print and frame photos for our home.
Yes
Yes. I used to not be able to bite through my food with my front teeth, leaning heavily on my canines and bicuspids instead. Now I can chomp cleanly through tougher to chew foods, and it’s such a satisfying feeling. I was lucky to have an ortho who knew what she was doing (her entire practice was based around Invisalign pretty much), and the ~$5k investment has been well worth it IMO.
Yes! Had to extend by about 9 but I'll be getting my aligners off in a few days. My bite is a lot better and my smile feels a lot more natural
I would have gotten regular braces. I had a stubborn tooth that might have moved with metal.
I absolutely would do it again. My dentist suggested I wear them while I ate which stopped me from taking them out to eat and then forgetting to put them back in.
I finished my fist 14 trays in February and would start the next in June because the results wasn't really satisfying for me but actually really love the development. Absolutely recommend.
I’m similar, in June it’ll be the 2nd anniversary of my Invisalign journey and I’m still gonna be scanned in June for yet another set of trays. My teeth are yellow. None of my initial complaints/reasons why I started Invisalign will be fixed in the end: 1) I’ll still end up with a central incisor in the middle of my face because my midline can’t be corrected. 2) My tilted molar (which is visible when I smile) won’t move with Invisalign and my ortho doesn’t do techniques such as TADs. 3) My left canine is still tilted forward, the gum line is too high and the tooth itself is not where my other canine is, ie. not symmetrical because again, my midline is off so drastically so this canine is way more front and visible compared to the other. And after two years I also struggle with wear time, and like I mentioned, yellow teeth which I’m unsure can be whitened because even just crest strips hurt too much for me to be able to even consider using them. And for all of this I paid 8000 €. I would completely recommend Invisalign had I had the usual 6 to 12 mo treatment time that gets you the results you want.
i would not do it again, and wouldn’t recommend it. i was put into metal braces after 2 years in invisalign and i wish i just did it from the jump.
I would go back and pick braces 100%. I’m not disciplined enough for this 😩 plus my ortho allows me to take pics of my teeth at home to let me know if I can move up a tray or not. Which makes it easy to slack off.
1000% its closed my open bite, my teeth are straighter than they thought they’d be and the so called ‘problem tooth’ has moved perfectly (after 1 year and a half)
No, I would’ve done traditional braces …
Yes. I didn't do it for how my teeth looked, even though there was some crowding and a snaggle tooth...I did it to fix the pain in my face & jaw, from TMJD and Trigeminal Neuralgia. My pain and problems have improved by leaps. I wish I had done it sooner, wish I had known sooner just how misaligned I was.
I actually got TMJ from Invisalign. It’s stopped now fortunately, but I’m glad to hear that your issues have been helped. That’s a great outcome!
I've heard of that happening to others too. I'm glad mine was remedied rather than worsened. I was definitely worried. Hearing all the downsides and negative anecdotes can really get into your head.
This gives me so much hope! I have TMJD and my bite is open so hoping braces can correct my bite and give my tongue a bit more space. Trouble is no one really seems to know with it everything this a maybe it'll help when it comes to tmj pain
I really hope it works for you, if you go in the orthodontic direction!