Clear braces

[Deeznutslol]

Has anyone else here had Invisalign/orthodontics due to a bit issue that developed after getting braces the first time? Asking because I had braces as a teenager, about 10 years ago and since then I've been pretty diligent at wearing my clear retainer every night. So aesthetically my teeth look great. However, I've recently noticed a change in bite and am wondering if this is due to the fact that my retainer doesn't cover the wisdom teeth that came in at the back, which I didn't have at the time of getting them off.

At first (3-4 months) ago I just noticed that my back molars would sort of 'hit' and clank each other and now chewing feels kind of off. When I'm not eating or speaking I don't have any teeth/mouth/jaw issues but I struggle to eat certain food now - e.g pasta or salad, it feels like I can't properly bite or tear through my food. I've noticed that when I bite down there's a bit of a gap, like a slight open bite. Not as dramatic as many of the pics on google but it's making eating feel like a total chore - teeth just end up clanking against each other and I fear I'm going to choke as I can't seem to chew efficiently/teeth don't seem to meet. I've come across a couple of articles in the literature and orthos on realself suggesting that a retainer that doesn't provide coverage to all can result in wisdom teeth overerupting and creating an anterior open bite. Now I'm wondering whether that is the situation I've got myself into.

Booked myself an appt with my ortho but earliest available is June - feeling kind of demoralised as I've been pretty conscientious with my retainer over time and never really realised this could be an issue. I have no issues with the way my teeth look, but the bite issue is getting me done -especially the eating difficulties. Pretty nervous about my appointment as well.

If you had braces as a kid, it could be that your jaw has grown over time as you’ve got older and that’s why you’ve developed a bite issue.
I’m currently doing invisalign for a bite issue which developed as a result of having wisdom teeth removed. I had the same issue as you and ended up with a chipped bottom front tooth due to my teeth smashing together, I’ve got invisalign now and it’s really good, but June is a really long time to wait… is there no way you could go to a different orthodontist?

 

[Dianne]

I don’t know if anyone here has had the
fixed metal braces before, but they are also limiting in regards to how you chew and the type of food you can eat. Food also can get stuck in them so you have to brush your teeth or poke around your mouth after eating. I remember them being very painful.

Clear braces are annoying to have to take in and out and clean etc, but I’m more confident with the clear braces, and for me they just ache a bit, it isn’t painful I have mine for about 9 months.

everyone has different experiences and dental treatments so I’m just adding my own comparison of the two types of brace.

Wonky teeth are such an expensive faff!!!

 

[Filouette]

I have an appointment with my dentist this week and he will present his plan for a smile makeover. Your stories have helped me tremendously to prepare for this. So many questions I can ask (refinements and costs thereof) etc. Thank you all for sharing. It really is so helpful to hear from people who are going through it.

 

[it’s not been changed?!]

Once you have finished your invisalign trays, do you have your teeth fixed in place from behind with wire?
My top teeth are straight but could do with neatening up. I have noticed one of my front teeth is pushing more into my other front tooth and is making it look quite a bit shorter
I have mentioned to my dentist previously that I don’t really like my teeth because they’re not “perfect”. He told me these celebrities have fake teeth and we’ve become accustomed to seeing this. He said my teeth are natural and nothing wrong with them. I never at any point said I wanted teeth like a love islander

 

[HarJR289]

I’m due to have clear fixed braces on my lower teeth in the new year, it’s £1,750. I had upper and lower braces as a teenager but i didn’t wear my retainers so my bottom teeth are a bit wonky. I chose to have fixed braces as I’m so lazy and I know I won’t be wearing my Invisalign as much as recommended. My upper teeth have small gaps but I’m going to have the SmileFast composite system on that to close the gaps. All in with whitening £4,750

 

[Dianne]

I thought the whitening would be at the dentist as well. I did mine at home and put little dots of gel on my retainer and put them in over night (can’t remember how many nights). I was happy with the results but it made my teeth SO SENSITIVE during the process.

 

[ChilliBean]

Just seen smile direct club has gone bust! Hope no one has been affected?

On another note, im finishing my six months smiles in less than a month!!! I’m so happy with the results and wish I’d done this years ago

 

[Delihla]

I’m 1 week in and seriously struggling already with removing my aligners and having to clean my teeth before putting the aligners back in! I usually would have 4 coffees a day…. Does anyone have a coffee with your aligners in?

I have tea! Just not hot enough to warp the tray. On tray 20 and had no issues.

 

[Hamburglar]

Getting my fixed ceramic braces fitted on Wednesday and I'm excited but mostly anxious lol. I just got the call on Friday so I wasn't prepared for it to be so soon. Last week they moved my June appointment to August because of some mix up and I was insistent that they should at least contact me in case of a cancellation. I'm also worried because I'll probably have to call in sick the next day and I have a family wedding to attend to over the weekend

I know this thread is mostly about clear braces but anyone here had fixed? Any tips to get through the first week?

Exciting! I had a fixed brace and honestly I adjusted quicker than my friend who had invisalign at the same time. Painkillers and soft food will be your friend! You’ll find you eat a lot slower at first and chewing feels weird but you get back to normal pretty quickly.

Talking does feel a bit strange at first but again you adapt and get back to normal. You’ll be fine for the wedding if you keep up to the painkillers, your teeth just ache as you get used to it.

Make sure you get some brace wax from the dentist for any uncomfortable bits as the fixings can rub against the inside of your mouth (can also get this in boots but the one I got from the dentist was better!) and don’t be afraid to go back in if there are any really painful bits, mine had a habit of forgetting to trim the wire after tightening it and I was forever having to go back to make him cut it

Best thing I ever did though so in the painful bits, focus on the end goal

 

[it’s not been changed?!]

I raved on here about how happy I was with my bonding… now it’s all chipping and coming off when I’m flossing. Ffs. I’m back at the dentist soon, so will have to tell them. You can’t not floss for fear of the bonding coming off!!

 

[Deeznutslol]

Please tell me that taking the aligners off gets easier?? I had mine fitted on Tuesday & it's taking me at least 30 minutes each time I want to eat. I had to order a pultool as I couldn't get them off using my hands.

Just thinking whether I actually care enough now as I don't think I can be bothered with this for the next 5 months!

Yes don’t worry, your first aligner is going to be horrible for the first few days but soon you will be popping them in and out with ease!

 

[Greencatfysh]

Did your dentist decide that you wore yours for 10 days and then changed? I send them my first photo next week.

Also, how do you clean your aligners? I just took mine out and they smell not great (I cleaned mine with toothpaste and brush this morning)

One of these once or twice a week

 

[xx3221]

I started Invisalign last week! I’m not finding it painful at all, but the lifestyle change and commitment is difficult. I’m now basing my whole life around when I’ll take my trays out, and I’m going out with friends today for the first time and genuinely considering eating before at home so I don’t have to deal with taking them in and out in public.

Whenever i went out, I'd just take them out before i left the house. Made no difference to how long my invisalign has taken. Id say aim for 18-20 hours a day, you don't NEED to have them in ALL the time, just wear them as much as humanly possible, but don't allow them to take over your life etc

 

[Deeznutslol]

Waited a month for my consultation only to be told that my teeth are more of a complex case and they would need to refer me elsewhere to an Orthodontist So frustrating, I assumed they would have one within the practice!! Am I dumb for not checking this before? Defo an FYI for anyone going for a consultation - it's worth checking as my teeth are not extreme by any means, just some overcrowding on the bottom where I rejected braces in my teens so I'm really quite surprised.

Waited for ages and paid for a pointless appointment (only £45 so didn't bother arguing it) but now I've got to wait some more and pay again! Life

I would just ring up a bunch of places which offer invisalign and see if they have appointments available, idk if it’s the same in the UK but where I live, most practices offer free invisalign consultation where they’ll tell you whether or not they can do it for you, a rough estimate of how long they think you might need it for and a price quote. I was lucky in that the first place I visited offered me a very reasonable price and I really the orthodontist and the team, but I think it defo pays to shop around.

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

I mean, if it’s included In what I have paid, I should get a fixed one I did ask if I’d get both at the beginning of my treatment and I was told it would be visible through the black triangles I now have in between my teeth. But some of them have closed up and I’m getting bonding to fill in the spaces…. So I don’t see why I can’t have a fixed one.

I've been told I'll have black triangles but have been advised to have a fixed retainer on top and bottom. They aren't part of the treatment plan though and will cost £150 per arch. I'm planning on having them as £300 more seems a sensible amount to pay to protect as best I can from tooth shift.

 

[Greencatfysh]

Oh one thing to add that I hadn’t realised is that after Invisalign you have a night retainer to wear pretty much indefinitely to keep them straight. Not a huge deal though!

 

[EasterEggs]

I committed to Invisalign on Friday finally!

It should take 9 months and £4,300

 

[heretoreaditall2019]

I don’t know if anyone here has had the
fixed metal braces before, but they are also limiting in regards to how you chew and the type of food you can eat. Food also can get stuck in them so you have to brush your teeth or poke around your mouth after eating. I remember them being very painful.

Clear braces are annoying to have to take in and out and clean etc, but I’m more confident with the clear braces, and for me they just ache a bit, it isn’t painful I have mine for about 9 months.

everyone has different experiences and dental treatments so I’m just adding my own comparison of the two types of brace.

Wonky teeth are such an expensive faff!!!

I had fixed metal braces for 3 years as a teen, which is why I only need 2 months as an adult because it’s only very minor overcrowding as a result of a wisdom tooth! But agree found braces a nightmare, especially as the metal wire would come round and poke my gum, also the eternal fear of breaking a bracket off, stuff getting stuck in the brackets, my school jumper getting stuck in the spikey bits for elastics when I took it on/off, the list of shit is endless!

At least I now get to rly look forward to meal times for some time out the braces

 

[travelbug20]

Ahh thanks for the feedback everyone I really appreciate it! I've called my dentist this afternoon (they're a private ortho/dentist hybrid which is handy) and they're calling me back tomorrow with a quote and to arrange the initial consultation! Said it should only take around 2 weeks for the first set of aligners to be ready too! Strangely excited to get started now!

 

[xx3221]

Today i had my teeth filed to the shape I wanted them. Now they're too perfect cannot win