Get the real deal on beauty treatments—real doctors, real reviews, and real photos with real results.Here's how we earn your trust.

See All Reviews
See All Reviews
POSTED UNDER Invisalign REVIEWS

Initially Disappointed...but Hopeful - Kansas

ORIGINAL POST

I have had Invisalign now for about a month. I am...

User Avatar
Wichita2646May 18, 2011
$4,200

I have had Invisalign now for about a month. I am on my 2nd tray of aligners. The biggest disappointment was the "buttons" that were put on my teeth. My dentist didn't mention this until it was time to put them on my teeth. He said that the "buttons" would be "barely visible". That was a huge understatement!!!!! I have 8 buttons on my teeth and they are VERY noticeable.

I am 44 years old and thought Invisalign would be a better option than traditonal braces. I must say that with traditonal braces, people know what is going on with your teeth. These "buttons" look like growths or calcium deposits on my teeth. It is terrible! I am the type of person who smiles, alot, and when I smile, I show lots of teeth! Well, I am not smiling as much now, I hide my smile behind my hand because I don't want others to see those "buttons".

My treatment plan will take 50 weeks. I know that my teeth are moving, so I am hopeful that a beautiful smile is in progress and a year from now, this experience will be worth it.

Wichita2646's provider

0

Replies (2)

User Avatar
Wichita2646
May 26, 2011
Luckily, I have not had any pain from the aligners. It's mainly pressure. If you change your aligners right before bedtime and take some Tylenol the discomfort is minimal. (At least that has been my experience so far...) I have a dentist appointment tomorrow and I am anxious to see how he thinks my teeth are progressing. I will keep you updated.
User Avatar
amski
May 26, 2011
Hi,
I've just started my 4th set of aligners and my teeth look fairly similar to yours. I have 7 buttons on my teeth and at first I thought they were quite obvious but now I'm beginning to think they are not. No one has noticed that I'm wearing my aligners (not even the kids from the youth group I run - and they point everything out).
Stand back from the mirror a few paces and smile to see your teeth as other people see them - it's not half as bad as it looks close up! (You get used to seeing yourself with them too - so it get less noticeable)

I agree though, the dentists don't like to tell you about the buttons do they? I only found out about them through research - and all the promotional pictures show people with perfect teeth who clearly wouldn't need any attachments because their teeth don't need straightening!
UPDATED FROM Wichita2646

I went to the dentist last week and my doctor...

User Avatar
Wichita2646June 1, 2011
I went to the dentist last week and my doctor spoke with Invisalign and they are making me new aligners without the buttons. My buttons have been removed, Yay! It will take approximately 2 weeks to get my new aligners, so in the meantime, I only have to wear my aligners at night. It is so nice not to have the buttons on my teeth. I was very self conscious about them, I had a total of 8, with 6 placed on my front teeth. My treatment will take a little longer, but that's ok with me.

Replies (3)

Megan P
June 2, 2011

Hey Wichita,

So you have my curiosity up - if they removed the buttons and say treatment will take a bit longer as a result will you just be having more series of trays to go through? Did they happen to say if this is always an option, or if buttons are required for the first portion of treatment??

User Avatar
Wichita2646
June 2, 2011
Hello,
Those are great questions, but unfortunately I didn't ask those specific ones. I was so excited about the button removal, that I didn't inquire about the number of trays I would be getting. I will ask my doctor next week and keep you updated!
Megan P
June 2, 2011

Oh, I can completely understand why you would be so excited and not ask any questions! I'll be looking forward to your updates!

UPDATED FROM Wichita2646

I received my new aligners today without the...

User Avatar
Wichita2646June 9, 2011
I received my new aligners today without the "buttons". I am thrilled that my doctor listened to my concerns, contacted Invisalign and revised my treatment plan. Now, I feel like I can smile again without feeling self conscious about the "buttons" on my teeth. This may seem like a petty issue to some, but it was a big deal to me and I am thankful that my doctor did everything he could to rectify the situation.

Replies (12)

oliveranto
June 12, 2011
Hi everyone; I was wondering if the invisalign pushes the teeth out whenever space is required for the them to straighten, coz my doc mentioned that I need 4mm space and if i used the invisalign it will push the teeth to the outside. Appreciate your help. Thnx
Megan P
June 13, 2011

This would be a great question for the dentists in our Q&A section on Invisalign.

That is where you can ask a question that will be answered for free by dentists who volunteer on RealSelf. 

User Avatar
SummerBummer
June 28, 2011
I just started my invisalign last Thursday,and I am begining to think I've gotten myself into something I don't think I can complete. I awfully difficult to keep them in for 22 hours a day.
I find it inconvient to remove them for a cup of coffee through out the day. I alos have buttons total of 10. They hurt when I remove my tray to eat and they rub up on the inside of my mouth resulting in sores!! ugh !!! I start to talk funny because it hurts!! Is this just in the begining, please tell me it gets better !!
User Avatar
Wichita2646
June 28, 2011
It does get better! Honestly, most of the time I probably average 20 hours a day with my Invisalign. I have definitely cut down on drinking anything but water in between meal times. (I have a lost a few pounds! Yay!) Typically when I first change aligners, my mouth or tongue gets a little sore, but it usually subsides after a few days. However, I do have a slight lisp. It's more pronounced when I put in a new aligner. It is an adjustment process..but before long you will notice that you become a flossing and brushing fanatic! Believe it or not, you will actually prefer to have your aligners in your mouth. The constant pressure on your teeth make them feel "secure". When the aligners are out of my mouth, my teeth feel somewhat loose or that I have to treat them delicately. It's hard to explain, but soon you will understand. It would probably be a good idea to consult with your dentist about the pain. Your aligners might have rough edges that need to be smoothed. Goodluck to you and hang in there! A beautiful smile awaits! Please keep me posted about your Invisalign journey. I love hearing/reading about the Invisalign experience.
User Avatar
SummerBummer
June 29, 2011
It nice to know you're not alone!! I also feel better with my aligners in my mouth. I am trying not to stress to much about them. It's also an adjustment in lifestyle where you have to think before you're out and about with friends. You just pop them out in public to have a snack....ewwww but I in it for the long haul now...thanks for your support & I will keep you posted !! :)
Houston3486
July 1, 2011
Hello, I'm Jackie from Houston. I'm on #5. I dreaded starting and accidentally put in #6 instead. I got them in but they were painful. I had worn them for several hours before I discovered my mistake. First, I was relieved that I could take them out and put in the correct one, but I wonder if this is a problem and if anyone has skipped a tray. I'm excited about my teeth but I always dread the first couple of days with new trays.
Megan P
July 1, 2011

I'm sure you are not alone in that mistake! What a relief it must have been to realize you didn't have to go through the amount of discomfort tray 6 would have brought without tray 5!

hazwar
July 4, 2011

I have the same issues with the buttons/ anchors, I was not informed about them until they were putting them on my teeth, and I have several that are clearly visible when I smile and cause my tip lip to protrude out a little more than I thought, thats not really what I had envisioned. The discomfort hasnt been too bad except the first day trying to get them in and out was painful but have worn them for 4 days now and the pain has worn off. I am hoping that after the year of wearing I get the results I wanted.

See More Invisalign Reviews
See All Reviews