Clear braces

[heretoreaditall2019]

Yeah I’ve never been asked to send photos in? Huge disclaimer I’m on a very very short run of treatment (3 months) for a minor issue but I get given 4 aligners at a time and move up weekly. When I go in the dentist just eyeballs me, tbh I’m 2/3rds tbrough treatment and I’d be happy with my teeth staying like this now anyway.

But yeah I definitely wouldn’t stop wearing an aligner - at Christmas even if I had it out for 3/4 hours it would feel tighter when it went back in, god knows how it’d feel for weeks!! I’d keep your last aligner in until you can go in again.

 

[Greencatfysh]

I just got them on Amazon

Guys I’m having a late night freak out!

I’ve been wearing my final aligners for about 2/3 months now I’ve had the attachments removed in early Feb and have just had to keep re-arranging the appts since because of work and being a mum anyway I’ve just noticed a piece of plastic that’s lifted where the retainer must have been scratched and in looking at that with my iPhone torch I’ve noticed quite a few cracks in the back teeth where I must clench my teeth in the night?! Please tell me the actual retainers are stronger than this?! I don’t get them for 2 weeks but I’m half tempted to ask to nip into the dentists before to pick them up, or is it not worth the bother is this fine?!

The overnight retainers you mean? They are definitely less flimsy than the Invisalign aligners but if yours are ripped/cracked I was told this is usually because of the way you’re putting them in and taking them out. Could also be your teeth clenching as you say. Not that surprising if you’ve been wearing the same set for so long though. I’ve had my overnight retainer for about 3 years and it’s still in good life condition (only wear it about once a week now).

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

My treatment plan has changed a bit now as my dentist wasn't happy with the amount of filing I'd need between teeth. I'm now having a bottom tooth removed which means less filing is needed. It also means I only need 15 trays not 24 which is good and I should be able to have a fixed retainer behind the teeth on both top and bottom rather than just the bottom.

Weirdly I've also found out I don't have the correct amount of teeth at the top either. I had three years of dental work at the local Dental Hospital a few years ago and not once did anyone mention that.

 

[bcfc999]

Tldr: I've had such a bizarre invisalign experience and now I think I might have to pay for a rescan when I shouldn't have to, as I expressed I was unhappy with the "result" before I was scanned for retainers.

Long story/rant: idk how many orthos and dentists work at the practice but I must've seen most of them.

I saw Olivia for my first appointment, a guy whose name I dont know for a hygient appointment, then Daniel for the majority of my aligners and refinements. Back to Olivia randomly, then to another guy whose name I don't know for another hygiene appointment.

Off to Pamela for final aligners, who next appointment said I needed a fixed wire, which I was fine with. I mentioned I wasn't happy with my teeth as although the initial issue had been fixed, they're now uneven at the bottom. I explained this made me really self conscious and Pamela said that wasn't something that invisalign could fix, that my teeth are just wonky like that and I could either have the lower ones built up or the higher ones shaved down, but needed retainers first. So, fine.

Off I go to Paulo, who scans me for retainers. I ask if this is the appointment where I get a fixed wire, he says no.

Pamela is fuming when I go back to her for retainers and don't have a wire fitted, asks if I changed my mind. I say well no, I did ask about them because you told me I had to have them, but Paulo said that wasn't the appointment to do them. Pamela gives me my retainers and makes an appointment for me to come back and get the wire fitted and rescanned - I'm unavailable on this date so have to rearrange for today with Paulo.

Now Paulo may be the nicest one and the most competent one I've met, as it turns out. He doesn't understand why I'm there so I tell him and he dxplains that if I want, I can have a wire, but if I'm quite good about wearing my retainers (which I am), I might not need to bother. I say fine, and ask about the tooth addition/shaving down- he's not comfortable doing this because get this, he thinks he can do it with aligners!!!! After Pamela telling me that invisalign can't fix this!!!!

So now I'm back in in a few weeks to pick up more bottom aligners, and wearing my retainers in the meantime. But now I'm worried I'll have to pay again for a retainer scan once these are done. I expressed to Pamela that I wasn't happy with the bottom teeth BEFORE I got scanned initially. Do you think I have grounds to contest paying again if they ask me to?

*not real names, just chosen off vibes

 

[Dianne]

For me it started off painful and then it just became an ‘achy’ feeling. I barely had any pain other than at the start of my treatment. I had 14 aligners in total over 9 months

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

I’m in the same position as you tbf, my bite felt perfect after my initial treatment, then I started refinements as just one tooth hadn’t rotated and now my bite feels really off I think it’s a case of trust the process!

It's really horrible isn't it. I miss having a normal bite and it's made smiling quite uncomfortable (physically that is, not in a hiding teeth way like before). I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that the rest of your aligners go well and you get the result you'd like.

 

[Scorpihoe]

Heya, Invisalign have tiers of treatment so even though mine is minor (3 months) and in the littlest point in their scale it’s still £3.xk. We have a similar issue with it just being two teeth but the thing to remember is you have to move the teeth around it too hence it taking a few months!

Also I thought my bottom teeth were fine because I’d had metal braces as a teen, but they’re still making some tweaks to them too!

Tbh would be worth a chat with a dentist. I would assume bonding would be best tbh

Thank you so much! I assumed it would be less if there was less to be moved but had no idea!

I’ll book a few consultations and see how it goes x

 

[Never in the World]

I’m doing Invisalign right now I figured I had the money (holiday money) and this is an ideal time and at least it’s something positive coming out of this shitty time

It’s mainly for the top front four teeth that are over lapping and wonky, they don’t look too bad face on it’s when I turn my head to the side

I had zoom calls with 2 orthodontist and went with the one nearest a private dentist that’s been around for years and the cost for both was pretty much the same £2850 for Invisalign

I had my scan appointment then a month later my first fitting and he gave me the following 6 pairs which takes me to my next appointment on the first Monday of January

I was surprised to find out that I change my aligners every week and when I asked how many I needed he said 12. I fully expected to be wearing braces till early summers but if I only need 12 I’ll be done mid Feb which would be great

To be honest they’re no bother, my tongue can’t stop fiddling with them so it get a bit sore and while I have no social life it’s easy to keep them in 22 hours a day , what I wasn’t expecting was the little blobs of hard stuff they but on certain teeth to make the braces work harder , they’re teeth coloured so aren’t that noticeable but I’ve avoided anything that may stain like red wine or curry just in case

I’m fine wearing them and talking to people while I’m out walking the dog but it’s also handy that I’m often talking to people wearing a mask as I feel i speak differently sometimes I think because you produce so much more saliva etc

 

[Millennial Pink]

Thinking of all of you dealing with adult orthodontics right now! I had a fixed upper metal brace a few years ago to fix an overjet and it's the best money I ever spent. I'd recommend the basic metal every time, personally. Much cheaper and they can deal with more complex issues than the trays can. I was on another forum and people experienced the 'puzzled stare' with the clear or white ones quite often. People can see there's something on your teeth, but it takes them an awkward amount of time to figure out what. You get the fun of faffing about with the retainers after they come off for that invisalign experience.

I highly recommend a waterpik to clean between the brackets since you can't floss, and it's useful if you choose to have a fixed retainer, too.

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

2 more full days and I’m onto my 4th aligner! I can’t believe how quickly the time is going

I'm meant to change to my 3rd on Fri but my dentist only gave me two, so I have to wait until my appointment on Monday to get it. The extra days feel like ages!

 

[xx3221]

I got my refinements today. 8 trays 🥲 completely self inflicted because I've stopped wearing my invisalign for a month on and off whilst i waited for my new trays

 

[theweekend]

I’ve had 2 Invisalign consultations over the last couple of years and have a third on Friday. All 3 initial meetings have been free but it’s very much a general chat and show you what your teeth could look like, then if you choose to go with them the next consultations where they give you an actual cost and timescale you have to pay for.

How long has everyone’s Invisalign’s taken? My top and bottom teeth are pretty bad so I’m thinking 9 months/a year?!

I’ve been swithering for years but decided I’m actually going to go for it on Friday, it’s got to the point where I don’t want to smile now so to have some confidence back will be worth it. Bye bye money

For a ‘pretty bad’ case it could be up to 1.5-2 years

 

[Greencatfysh]

Yes, mine are tight and it hurts when I remove. It’s only after I’ve had a coffee this Morning and put it back in that I’ve noticed it feels bouncy

I found that sometimes when my teeth were moving a lot. It obviously creates space/gaps and so the aligner moves. I would speak to your orthodontist though as if it’s only your first one sounds like it might be uncomfortable for another week or two.

when removing it remember to loosen it all around your tooth-line rather than just unhooking the front and pulling (this caused mine to crack a few times)

 

[Delihla]

Gappy and moving . Is it really bad? Feel like I need to prepare myself!
I've had the Clincheck and all was fine so just waiting for dentist to get back to me with a plan to for me to ok now. Slightly concerned as the mock up she showed me on the computer had a massive gap either side in my top teeth, it wasn't pretty.
She did say that's just a starting point and there is back and forth between her and Invisalign to tweak it before the trays are made. I'm starting to get the fear!

It is painful, more so than I was prepared for and totally relate to the comment around removing the trays and feeling like you’re going to pull a tooth in the process 🥲
I must admit I’d be a little worried if I didn’t like the mock up? Are you planning composite bonding work as well?

 

[Hamburglar]

I’d go with the £100 one based on your research, its not worth the risk imo.

As above, is the £100 deductible if you go ahead? And do they offer any alternatives should you not be suitable for Invisalign. In my consultation he said what I needed doing wouldn’t work with Invisalign but did offer an alternative (Quick Straight Teeth).

 

[weeweegie]

I drink cold drinks with them in. I think towards the end I probably will drink hot (ok, warm!) drinks with them in. I change mine every 10 days. I can’t wait til it’s all done

 

[littlepup]

I would also like to know whether any one of you has regretted not going for fixed, mostly for better results. Read this whole thread but I am still wondering what is the option for me. I'm between clear and fixed ceramic.

Been to the ortho and I am currently weighing my options. My dentist uses ClearCorrect as clear alignments, so I don't know if they are as good as invisalign. Clear would be ideal because they are less visible however now that I am getting it done (after contemplating for yearssss), I would like perfect results and from what I've read online so far, fixed is better at achieving that result.

I know I asked the same question but to add, my OH was so glad he went for regular fixed as he needed quite extreme changes. My brother had ceramic fixed after invisiline as he didn't feel the results were good enough from the former, again had quite significant issues. For my OH, one tooth was almost sideways, it's now perfect and as it goes, visibility wasn't much of an issue as he was used to smiling without showing his teeth much from years of doing it and just how his mouth is.

I'm debating it as I only want need a little straightening in one area where it's starting to look crowded and I have a broad, toothy smile. If I needed big changes, I'd go fixed.

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

£2800 plus the cost of fixed mental retainers which are £150 each I think. Bonding will also be extra if I have it.

 

[bcfc999]

On my second to last tray, my teeth are looking straight af and tbh I would be happy to leave them as they are now, but one of the teeth at the bottom hasn’t rotated as it was expected to, so my dentist says it’s on to the refinements now . Kinda cba at this point, but may as well keep going

That's how I feel too! I've got 5 left so not quite at the stage you are, but when I went in to get attachments put on the dentist said she'll probably want to do refinements and cba! Just get them off me!

 

[Snowjoke]

I’ve been told I don’t need a fixed retainer (the wire) and just a normal retainer that I wear to sleep in will be fine for me. Anyone else in the same situation?

Yea I’m the same once I have finished short term Invisalign.