invisalign braces?

[Blueeyes101817]

I had braces when I was younger and I noticed that my teeth are starting to move a bit. I went to a consult at a local orthodontist and they recommended either regular braces (not an option for me, personally) , invisalign braces, or a retainer.
Ive been reading some reviews online about the invisalign but i was wondering if anyone here has any first hand experience?
Thanks!

 

[ghoulishgirl]

I do! I did invisalign a couple of years ago. I had never had braces and had wanted them when I was a kid (yeah, I know, weird!)
I had only minimal crowding and a crossbite. I just wanted my cuspid on the left to not stick out and look so prominent in photos. I'm glad I did it, but don't believe when the commercials say 'without the pain of traditional braces' Moving teeth hurts! The worst part is your teeth hurt after you put on the new tray (every 2 weeks) and then you have to snap them on and off of sore teeth when you eat.
I didn't lisp and alot of people never even noticed them unless I told them. My treatment was 18 months, but like I said, I never had braces before. Your treatment may be shorter.

 

[AlleyKat]

I had braces when I was younger and I noticed that my teeth are starting to move a bit. I went to a consult at a local orthodontist and they recommended either regular braces (not an option for me, personally) , invisalign braces, or a retainer.
Ive been reading some reviews online about the invisalign but i was wondering if anyone here has any first hand experience?
Thanks!

Your past reads like mine; braces, shifting teeth, wanting to correct them, again.

I chose to go with invisalign two years ago...BAD MISTAKE(for me, anyway!)!!

They cost me $6,000, half of which my insurance paid.

After two years, my teeth still need realigning as I HATE everything associated with invisalign and would never recommend them to anyone.

One has to take them out whenever they eat anything. Plastic "hooks" are given to wearers as getting them out is like trying to release something that has been superglued together!

Teeth must be brushed before putting them back in, something that is not always feasible!

Drinking anything other than water is frowned upon, while one wears them.

One wears a "set" of appliances for two weeks, then switches to another set until reaching the last and final set(which, in my case, is 23 sets).
I have never gotten past the first set given me for the reasons stated and more!

Knowing what I know now, I would have chosen conventional braces again!

The cost would have been several thousand dollars cheaper and I would be done with the process of restraightening!

Who cares if one can see conventional braces. They are a far better choice(IMO) than the hassle of Invisalign!!

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

No experience with Invisalign but I'm another one who wore braces during my teens. I didn't wear my retainer the way i should have, and now my overbite is back. I'm in my mid 30's and seriously considering getting traditional braces again next year. I read online that adult orthodontics has jumped 37% in the last decade. So there really should be no stigma to getting the traditional ones. I know 2 adults who are currently wearing them. I don't think I'm a candidate for Invisalign anyway because i don't think it helps overbites. Anyway, I would not mind having regular braces, as far as looks go. It's just the pain I dread (I still remember all those years ago having to eat nothing but scrambled eggs and soup the first 2 weeks!)

 

[Imzadi]

I'm also interested in Invisalign. I, too, had braces and my teeth have shifted & crowded majorly. I also didn't wear my retainer.

I'm getting some bonding done on two of the teeth to build them up so the line is more even. I'd prefer something like Invisalign as the teeth may keep shifting and I notice when I make the "S" sound, it's bit more hissy. My phone number is 4626 and all I think about is how "ssss" I sound saying the 6s.

That's also why I'm not going for laminates which would quite a bit more in price. I don't want them put on, then have to be ground off if I finally go for Invisalign or the teeth shift too much that I need thicker bonding again.

 

[IDoDis]

No experience with the braces, but DD has been wearing the invisalign retainers since her conventional braces were removed. They are a PITA. She has to take them out every time she eats. She usually wraps them in a napkin. Don't ask me how many times we've had to dig through the trash to retrieve them -- one time at the main street bakery in MK. That was sooo gross!

DS has permanent retainers (he had a different ortho) and we have no issues with those. They are in all the time so no worries about his teeth shifting or him losing them or forgetting to wear them.

 

[Parkers_girl]

Wow! I'm glad I read this thread. I had been considering getting invislign because I thought it would be "easy" like the commercials show. Plus, I didn't want to wear braces and look like a kid. OP, I have read about a new type of braces that go on the back of your teeth rather than the front.

 

[Imzadi]

No experience with the braces, but DD has been wearing the invisalign retainers since her conventional braces were removed. They are a PITA. She has to take them out every time she eats. She usually wraps them in a napkin. Don't ask me how many times we've had to dig through the trash to retrieve them -- one time at the main street bakery in MK. That was sooo gross!

Maybe get a small compact case in a bright color to put the retainers in while she eats. This way the case can sit on the table in plain sight. Some of the hard body cell phone cases might be the right size.

OP, I have read about a new type of braces that go on the back of your teeth rather than the front.

Don't those make a person lisp?

 

[bethbuchall]

My dd used Invisalign instead of traditional braces and loved them after the first couple of days. I was a little worried during those days that we'd made the wrong decision, but once she adjusted to them, they were great. As she went to each new set, there was a little discomfort but nothing like the first 2-3 days (and nothing different than having braces adjusted).

As far as removing them to eat, she never had a problem taking them out easily and discreetly. She carried the plastic case with her to house them out of her mouth. I know that it's recommended to brush before reinserting, but there are times that she had to just put them back in without brushing. She brushed when she could, and she didn't have any problems with her teeth because of it. They certainly do help with thoughtless snacking, because you can't just pop food into your mouth whenever you would like. They do also mean that no food is off-limits, since you remove them to eat.

The Invisalign for her were about $300 more than the traditional braces and cut about 4-6 months off the treatment time. She would have been so self-conscious in braces that I think that the money was worth it. I will allow my youngest to make the same decision if the ortho says that they will do the job.

You can PM me if you have any other questions, and I'll ask dd for her answers.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Thanks everyone-
The thing is , i did the traditional braces back in high school--i did everything i was supposed to and even wore the retainer..I ended up passing out face first last year after surgery and they said the fall, in combination with the time gone by, as caused the shift.
I appreciate the advice with the invisalign...im waiting to hear no tuesday how much insurance will pay for both invisalign and the retainer..thanks for all the input

BBeth-ill PM you if i think of anythign specific--thanks!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Thanks everyone-
The thing is , i did the traditional braces back in high school--i did everything i was supposed to and even wore the retainer..I ended up passing out face first last year after surgery and they said the fall, in combination with the time gone by, as caused the shift.
I appreciate the advice with the invisalign...im waiting to hear no tuesday how much insurance will pay for both invisalign and the retainer..thanks for all the input

BBeth-ill PM you if i think of anythign specific--thanks!

 

[~Brandy~]

I am going in to have my molds made for Invisalign on the 30th. It wasn't much more than traditional braces, was about a year less of treatment time and was basically the only way I was going to get braces at 28. I have read the many pros and cons of Invisalign over regular braces and my orthodontist repeated them, but in the end, I wasn't willing to have a mouth full of metal for 2+ years. So it was Invisalign or crooked teeth.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Hi. I had the invisalign braces about five years ago. There is some skill involved on the dentist's side, and experiences will vary. It's not just a matter of ordering the trays. Try to choose someone who has a lot of experience with them and whose patients have had good results.

The other thing is you really must wear them as instructed. If you continually remove them and leave them out for long periods each day, you won't get anywhere.

Each time I started a new tray, it would be snug for a couple of days and then was very comfortable. I never needed an appliance to remove it. Overall, I was very pleased. It was a lot of visits into the office, but worth it in the end.

 

[Angrypenguin]

My wife paid around 4000 dollars for them, and she loved them. She had 15 trays (and special laser treatment to accelerate her treatment) and she loved them. It's not a big deal regarding taking them in and out, but it is just a small hassle taking a small toothbrush wherever you go, but it's a discipline thing. It looks great; nobody could tell she had them unless she told them. However, when you first get them, you do lisp a bit until you get used to them .

On a side note, she lost about five pounds because she stopped snacking all the time and drinking soda/juice, and just stuck with water. So as a side benefit you might lose a few pounds and gain a nice healthy glow to your skin!

 

[IDoDis]

Maybe get a small compact case in a bright color to put the retainers in while she eats. This way the case can sit on the table in plain sight. Some of the hard body cell phone cases might be the right size.

They came with a bright hot pink case, but DD doesn't usually have the case with her. She has also gotten a sore in her gum just under her bottom teeth from the bottom retainer rubbing. The sore seems to come and go. She keeps the retainers in religiously so that her teeth won't shift back, but she said the retainer doesn't feel like it holds her teeth tight enough and has already expressed a concern that it feels like one tooth has shifted a little already. By the end of this month, she'll hopefully only have to wear the retainer at night for the next 2 years. The retainers are noticeable. Not from a distance or in photos, but close up you can tell there's something clear and shiny over them.

No one can see DS's retainer unless they look behind his teeth.

 

[TLHB70]

I am so glad to be reading this thread. My DD has had her ortho consult, and the ortho recommended Invisalign. They are not much more than traditional braces and he claimed that the treatment time would be shorter. I knew no one that had worn Invisalign to ask about it. DD is 14 and very responsible. I thought they would be a good choice for her. After reading about them here, I do not know what we should do.

 

[threeboysmom]

I LOVED my invisalign!!

I have nothing but positive things to say about them.

As an older woman, I wanted something discreet. This did the job perfectly. I don't think most people even knew I was wearing them. I have them on in my signature picture... they are very hard to notice.

I didn't have any problems removing them to eat. I was able to pop them out and place them into my purse even out in public places. Don't think anyone noticed or even cared...

Brushing was a bit of a nuisance. I admit, I drank liquids other than water at times with them in. Also, if I was eating out at a restaurant (or just plain lazy), I would pop the invisalign back in after eating without brushing first. Really not going to carry my toothbrush with me to a restaurant...

They can be rather tight (ouch!) when you first get a set every two weeks. But the pain/tenderness should subside about a few hours. You'd get this pain with conventional braces too... The first couple of times popping them in and our of your mouth can be a little difficult too... usually after the first day your teeth start to move, and the popping in and out becomes a BREEZE. I used the little hook for the first day with new sets, but didn't need it for subsequent days.

Like everyone said, you get a fresh CLEAN set every two weeks. Loved that! Most of the time I didn't even need to see the dentist. He'd give me 2-3 sets at a time and would just call me to remind me when to switch to the next set.

I'm in the retainer phase now. I wear them to bed every night. Sometimes I miss a night by accident, but it's not a big deal. I wouldn't go a few nights without wearing it though. It would be major ouch the next time I try to snap the retainer back in, LOL.

I say it's well worth it. Your smile is what the world sees first. Make it a good one!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

i appreciaet the help...im waiting to get the quotes and then ill decide between the retainer and invisalign..i appreciate all the input!

 

[LauraC]

My daughter had traditional braces, but her retainer is actually an Invisalign tray. Her ortho recommended that she wear her retainer at night for "life" because teeth can shift again. She has noticed that if she misses a few nights (forgot to pack it when she went on a high school band trip) that her teeth had moved just a little but they moved back in place once she used her retainer again. But she finds them very comfortable.