Clear braces

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

So I'm now on tray 8 of 13 refinements. I'll be honest, it's not great. My bite still isn't normal and I have a very wobbly upper tooth.

At this point I'm still glad I did it because I had significant bite issues and a wobbly tooth (different one that has now settled) anyway and would have potentially lost teeth that way, however it's not the result I thought I'd have.

I can't bite my back teeth together and I still can't smile in what feels like a natural way.

The change in my bite shunts my bottom jaw out so I look weird, especially when smiling and I miss the face I used to have.

So my advice is do it but don't expect it to solve all the problems.

 

[weeweegie]

I’m halfway through my treatment and my teeth are really gappy with the movement I don’t like looking at them without the aligner in!

My bottom teeth move when i touch them with my tongue it makes feel all funny I much prefer the aligner being in!

 

[theweekend]

Hi quoting myself to reply to @theweekend. I had my Invisalign fitted this morning. The tooth extraction went very smoothly, no pain during it or anything. However my dentist does not paint the gap unfortunately so it's really obvious I am missing a tooth. I'm not overly keen but I'm hoping it won't take too long to close. It's a bottom tooth as well which is preferable to a missing top one.

It's weird not being able to close my teeth together properly and I'm not looking forward to taking them off to eat. I did have a practice doing it at the dentist and it went OK but I did feel a bit stressed when one part got stuck. There are so many attachments as well. I've got one on eleven of my bottom teeth and six of the top. Still, no turning back now .

Thanks so much for this!

I’m still so unsure My quote is HIGH which is fine because I am a complex case, but the length of time is an issue - I can really see myself getting burnout with the whole thing after 8 months or so.

I only work one day in the office thankfully (how in Christs name did anyone do this pre pandemmy) but they said I would have 2 visible gaps for around 5 months I can’t imagine tryna eat lunch at work with 2 teeth missing for 5 months!!! I just don’t know if I care enough tbh

 

[xx3221]

That is a huge relief because it was truly awful and I'm beginning to wonder what on earth I've let myself in for.

I've had mine on for two weeks, the first two days taking them off were hell but it was ok after that. It does get better

 

[Badabing101]

I’ve had mine for about 4 months now, they are still really annoying but I am used to it. For transparency this is my treatment plan and cost. I am complex case too

Before I had the aligners fitted i needed to have a root canal re-done and a bottom tooth at the front removed. So that was about 1k before I even started the aligners.
I have 26 trays (more than likely will need more) and change them every week.
When my teeth are straight / in the position he wants them to be in, I need a veneer on my front tooth replacing (same one as root canal) and my other front tooth will need filing down as for some reason it’s extra long. Because I have some teeth missing (you can’t tell because they would be over crowded with them) I am also having composite bonding to even them out.
On top of that, I might just get my old fillings replaced with white ones because they will really annoy me otherwise.

Total cost will be circa 7k ….

 

[bcfc999]

Has anyone had Invisalign to tackle inwards slanting teeth? My bottom teeth slant inwards and the simulation does show that Invisalign should resolve it but the dentist said that it may not be 100% successful as these types of cases are difficult to resolve fully. He said there is a new technique with the attachments which helps.

He also told me that wires at the end won't be suitable and the retainer will be better. But for my case, he recommends I wear the retainers all day for 6 months after my Invisalign has finished and then reduce it to nights.

I've had a few consultations and this dentist was the most realistic and reassuring. Plus he is a diamond provider.

I'm just not sure overall if it is worth it or if I can be bothered. Does anyone have any thoughts?

I think Invisalign is harder than I expected, even having had fixed braces for a couple of years as a teenager. There have been times I've been miserable and in pain, I've felt self conscious and I've wondered why I've spent money to do this to myself. If you're not sure it's worth it, then maybe it's not for you? My self confidence is improving the closer I get to the end but I was really insecure about my teeth. Is it a problem that bothers you, or just something that you know there is potential to fix? If the latter, I'd maybe not bother putting myself through it.

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

I had my appointment today to be shown the projected end results and talk through the plan. I will be very happy if all goes well and they end up like that!
I've got to have 24 trays and she estimates it will take 9 months to a year, then 3 to 6 months of the daytime retainers before moving onto the night time ones. I also need 0.5 mm of enamel removing between all of the bottom teeth which is a bit nerve wracking. I'm really looking forward to getting started!

 

[Tom_Nook]

Hey guys what are your best cleaning tips for invisalign? I just completed my first set of trays with no problems, however by the end of the two weeks they were pretty discolored despite the fact I only drank water with them in and was very meticulous about cleaning them and brushing my teeth. My dentist told me to wash them with a pH neutral soap and to soak them in the Invisalign crystals solution a couple of times a week but I feel like the soap just isn’t strong enough and grime ended up building up…

I really recommend an ultrasonic cleaner! Mine was about £20 from Amazon and I put my invisalign in there with a retainer cleaning tablet while I have my evening meal. I figured that after Invisalign I'll be wearing a retainer for the rest of my life so it's well worth the money.

Another trick is not letting them dry out, if possible. So if I'm at home I keep my aligners in water with half a retainer brite tablet while I'm eating. If I'm out and about and have to put them in their case then I make sure I give them a brush/ use the ultrasonic cleaner later.

Also hi, I've not posted on this thread before

 

[weeweegie]

Yeah I had quite a few appointments before actually getting the trays. I’ve to get 6 months worth. I’m almost 4 months in and can see a big difference so I may not need them the full 6 months. It all depends on the individual. You can still drink cold drinks with them in. It’s just hot drinks and food you need to take them out for, which is a major pain.

 

[it’s not been changed?!]

Oh great, thank you! I’m not easily scared by things like that but I’ve heard so many stories of people who said it’s just awful, so that’s made me feel better again


My dentist has recommended I wait til January to start as December gets ‘crazy’ and routine goes out the window! Makes total sense but I just want to get started now!!

I’m just going to drink gin through a straw and Prosecco (not coloured, so won’t stain )

It’s not awful! I’d agree the noise makes it worse, if I’d been prepared I’d maybe have taken headphones to be honest! It’s a strange sensation, and my ortho definitely had to use quite a bit of force…he said at one point “gosh your teeth are really close together” It’s not painful.
I’m def worried December with all the nights out is going to throw off my progress and extend treatment time!

I think patients that have said it is awful must have past trauma from the dentist lol. It was the not knowing what to expect that made me nervous.

 

[Snowjoke]

I’m on my first aligner, have to wear them for two weeks before changing! It was so tight at the start but doesn’t feel like that now I’ve been wearing it for 11 days…. Is that normal enough?

 

[Mumof2boys]

I've just finished 2 years with a fixed metal brace ,it was painful and hard work but so worth it

 

[theweekend]

I think different dentists/orthodontists have different levels of training or are more up to date with advances in the treatment anyway.

Yeah you're definitely right! I mentioned having declined braces within the first 5 mins and I could tell from then on he wasn’t interested. That’s why it feels a bit unfair, if it was that easy for him to decide against me then there should really be some screening questions beforehand (or at least some more information as to who they cater to) to stop people wasting their time and money.

Luckily I got a confirmation of referral email from the new practice as soon as I left, although I’ll probably still have to wait another 4 weeks But tbh he seemed so unconfident that I wouldn’t really have felt comfortable going ahead with him anyway. Weird how much it seems to differ from practice to practice!

 

[theweekend]

Has anyone’s treatment been over a year? This is what I have been quoted If so, how did you find it?

And/or has anyone had to have teeth removed also? If so, how did you find it? I.e. dealing with an obvious gap and what not

 

[Greencatfysh]

Has anyone’s treatment been over a year? This is what I have been quoted If so, how did you find it?

And/or has anyone had to have teeth removed also? If so, how did you find it? I.e. dealing with an obvious gap and what not

16 months here! It flew by to be honest and I got so used to them. I just reminded myself the alternative was train tracks. I think it makes me stick to my regimen now as well, wearing the night retainer etc, as I’ve invested so much time and money already!

 

[xx3221]

I’ve just had six month smiles braces fitted and oh my god I’m in so much pain. I only had them fitted on Wednesday and I’m struggling to eat. Someone tells me it gets better please all I can think of is why on Earth am I doing this

The first few days is torture, after that, you'll forget you have them lol. The first tray is the only one that hurt for me personally, mine never hurt again. and I've had over 25 trays

 

[Mooordgirl]

One orthodontist told me mine was moderate to severe then I went to a different dentist and it only took 6 months! I'd say go to a couple and see what they say.

Agreed.

Get a few quotes, i went to 4 different places and there was i think 2.5k between the highest and lowest quote

 

[Deeznutslol]

I've nearly finished tray 11 out of 15 and the gap has completely closed at the top of the teeth but I currently have quite a big triangle gap at the bottom toward the gum line. You can't see the gap when I smile though and I'm smiling considerably more and in a more normal way than before. I've even happily smiled for photos which I haven't done for years!

My crossbite is mostly resolved, or at least the bottom tooth is behind the top one where it's meant to be. I'm incredibly glad I went for this option and was surprised by how quickly the gap closed and my bite has changed.

So far it's definitely been worth it!!

Me too, I love smiling now. It has given me so much more confidence, I used to be so hyper aware of my teeth (even though they didn’t even look particularly crooked, I just felt like they were because I could feel that my bite was way off) and hated opening my mouth, but now that it’s fixed I never feel embarrassed to smile anymore.

 

[Alexaj]

To clean I use those dissolvable tablets meant for dentures - think I read about them on this thread!

 

[it’s not been changed?!]

I’ve got an appointment this week, so will speak to them about it. He did say when he gave me that kit that if I wasn’t happy with the whitening, they’d sort it out… something along those lines. I hate complaining, though!! I keep telling myself, I’m paying all this money, so i want it doing right.