POSTED UNDER Invisalign REVIEWS
My Invisalign - United Kingdom, GB
ORIGINAL POST
So I've had my Invisalign trays in for 9 days now,...
BexxybexOctober 24, 2013
WORTH IT$3,000
So I've had my Invisalign trays in for 9 days now, and I've gotta say that so far I am loving them!
My journey started in April when I went for a free consultation to find out more about Invisalign. I didn't particularly like the dentist I saw at first but I went away armed with information on the process and decided to go ahead. So booked in for my photo-taking appointment.
Worst Pain So Far - having the evil 'lip-stretchers' put in for the photos! Oh My God, that hurt! But I felt a better rapport with the dentist by now - I think maybe a lot of people go for the FREE consultation and never have the intention to follow through which must make dentists feel like their time is being wasted.
There was a bit of concern over my bleeding gums at this point - the dentist said he wasn't happy going ahead with treatment as it looked like I may have the beginnings of gum disease (EEK!) To be honest I had never flossed up to this point and never understood how badly I was treating my teeth/gums! I paid extra to see a hygienist who gave me excellent advice and some amaaaazing floss harps, and my gums haven't bled since I started taking proper care of my teeth! A massive pro that has already come from starting the Invisalign process.
Anyway, my photos/expectations were sent off to my dentist's contact at Invisalign and I got a call saying I could definitely benefit from the treatment. So I went to have moulds taken.
Didn't find that too bad as have had it done loads of times before (I have had 3 sets of braces in the past).
My invisalign trays were ready by 15th October! So from the starting point of researching Invisalign, it took a while to actually get them - good job I'm patient :)
I spent about 8 years of my life in different types of braces/retainers and so I kinda like the familiar 'pressure' that comes with the trays. For the 5-7 days my tongue felt ripped to shreds from a sharp edge on the bottom tray but either my tongue has learnt to avoid it or has toughened up! I have also got used to talking with the trays in and can say most things without a problem - in fact it's actually harder to talk now when I take the trays out!
I think the main thing I've noticed is that my teeth already feel and look straighter to me as the trays have 'evened' out the length of my teeth if that makes sense. I also think my teeth look much whiter when the trays are in!
Another happy 'side effect' from the trays is that I no longer snack - I am too lazy to keep brushing my teeth so it's much easier to stick to just meals! I also can't bite my nails which is a bonus.
There are two things I am currently struggling with - one is not being able to drink coffee whenever I like (I used to always have a coffee on the go)...the other thing is cracked lips, but I'm hoping that will get better over time.
So far so good....HOWEVER, I am having some attachments put on on the 12th November so I might decide I hate Invisalign then :P The trays at the moment are definitely invisible - none of my colleagues knew I'd got my braces, but I have read terrible things about attachments. I can't remember exactly, but I do think I need them on most of my front teeth.
It will be worth it if I get straight teeth eventually though!
My journey started in April when I went for a free consultation to find out more about Invisalign. I didn't particularly like the dentist I saw at first but I went away armed with information on the process and decided to go ahead. So booked in for my photo-taking appointment.
Worst Pain So Far - having the evil 'lip-stretchers' put in for the photos! Oh My God, that hurt! But I felt a better rapport with the dentist by now - I think maybe a lot of people go for the FREE consultation and never have the intention to follow through which must make dentists feel like their time is being wasted.
There was a bit of concern over my bleeding gums at this point - the dentist said he wasn't happy going ahead with treatment as it looked like I may have the beginnings of gum disease (EEK!) To be honest I had never flossed up to this point and never understood how badly I was treating my teeth/gums! I paid extra to see a hygienist who gave me excellent advice and some amaaaazing floss harps, and my gums haven't bled since I started taking proper care of my teeth! A massive pro that has already come from starting the Invisalign process.
Anyway, my photos/expectations were sent off to my dentist's contact at Invisalign and I got a call saying I could definitely benefit from the treatment. So I went to have moulds taken.
Didn't find that too bad as have had it done loads of times before (I have had 3 sets of braces in the past).
My invisalign trays were ready by 15th October! So from the starting point of researching Invisalign, it took a while to actually get them - good job I'm patient :)
I spent about 8 years of my life in different types of braces/retainers and so I kinda like the familiar 'pressure' that comes with the trays. For the 5-7 days my tongue felt ripped to shreds from a sharp edge on the bottom tray but either my tongue has learnt to avoid it or has toughened up! I have also got used to talking with the trays in and can say most things without a problem - in fact it's actually harder to talk now when I take the trays out!
I think the main thing I've noticed is that my teeth already feel and look straighter to me as the trays have 'evened' out the length of my teeth if that makes sense. I also think my teeth look much whiter when the trays are in!
Another happy 'side effect' from the trays is that I no longer snack - I am too lazy to keep brushing my teeth so it's much easier to stick to just meals! I also can't bite my nails which is a bonus.
There are two things I am currently struggling with - one is not being able to drink coffee whenever I like (I used to always have a coffee on the go)...the other thing is cracked lips, but I'm hoping that will get better over time.
So far so good....HOWEVER, I am having some attachments put on on the 12th November so I might decide I hate Invisalign then :P The trays at the moment are definitely invisible - none of my colleagues knew I'd got my braces, but I have read terrible things about attachments. I can't remember exactly, but I do think I need them on most of my front teeth.
It will be worth it if I get straight teeth eventually though!
UPDATED FROM Bexxybex
14 days post
Had these trays for 24 days now!
BexxybexNovember 8, 2013
...and the plastic is definitely not coping with the extended time frame! They aren't very clean any more even though I have followed all my dentists' recommendations, plus it would seem I am grinding/biting with them in as I have worn off the part of the tray where the top and bottom back molars meet!
So I am REALLY looking forward to Tuesday and getting my next set of trays, even if that does mean the dreaded attachments :(
One weird thing I have noticed is a strange sporadic 'crampy' feeling in the muscle that runs underneath my jawline and down my neck - probably due to unusual/different grinding.
I've got to say I am already bored of flossing/brushing so often, but it's good for me really so I'll keep it up. Even thought I might lose a little weight from not snacking all day but I just binge eat when I take the trays out instead lol :)
Think the bit I miss most is sitting around after a meal with the taste of yummy food still in your mouth, maybe having a leisurely chat and coffee etc, but no, straight to mint flavour cleanliness for me!
Will update on Tuesday when I have my new trays/attachments! Eek!
So I am REALLY looking forward to Tuesday and getting my next set of trays, even if that does mean the dreaded attachments :(
One weird thing I have noticed is a strange sporadic 'crampy' feeling in the muscle that runs underneath my jawline and down my neck - probably due to unusual/different grinding.
I've got to say I am already bored of flossing/brushing so often, but it's good for me really so I'll keep it up. Even thought I might lose a little weight from not snacking all day but I just binge eat when I take the trays out instead lol :)
Think the bit I miss most is sitting around after a meal with the taste of yummy food still in your mouth, maybe having a leisurely chat and coffee etc, but no, straight to mint flavour cleanliness for me!
Will update on Tuesday when I have my new trays/attachments! Eek!
Replies (1)
November 8, 2013
It's so funny hearing your experiences now, and how it brings back memories! I definitely had that muscle thing. I still feel it sometimes, even though I'm only in retainers. It's not as bad, but it's annoying and feels wrong. I'm considering asking the orthodontist if I can get an old-fashioned retainer instead, so that my jaw isn't stuck on partially open all night. And the binge eating--that's what I've been telling people. They lose weight in the beginning because they're not used to the Invisalign and how the teeth hurt and all the brushing, but you get used to it and you figure out other ways to get all those extra calories in that you may or may not need ;). Thanks for the update! Looking forward to hearing your experience with the dreaded attachments!
UPDATED FROM Bexxybex
20 days post
Got the attachments!
BexxybexNovember 14, 2013
I must say that when they were first done I was horrified - I honestly think that if they were on my front teeth I would've cried. I couldn't care less about the bottom ones (I think there's 8 on the bottom), but the ones on my eye teeth are pretty noticeable. They make my eye teeth look a really weird shape and I'm so aware of them when I smile. HOWEVER, even after only 2 days I'm not too bothered any more - it's a means to an end and everyone I've spoken to says that yes, they are a bit visible, but they look very obviously like temporary dental treatment as opposed to just completely bizarre natural teeth!
Having the attachments put on was fairly brutal - the second one stuck a bit too well but stuck the tray onto it as well so the dentist had to struggle quite a bit to get it off - that was painful enough to produce a bloody gum and a few tears!
There were times where I had water (at least I guess that's what it was) running down my face/back of my neck due to the dental nurse being a bit useless (she is a temp and seems to be new to the whole 'saliva needs to be sucked away' thing). And at one point I swallowed something that tasted very bitter, not sure what that was.
All in all, I'm glad I've got them all done and sorted now and don't have to have more put on.
When I took the trays out for the first time there were more tears (and I'm not a crier, honest!), and I had a brief moment where I really thought I wasn't going to be able to remove the top tray at all! I've now learnt that to take the trays out I have to pretty much put my whole hand inside my mouth to loosen the trays from the inside edge, while my other hand pulls the tray over the attachments at the front. Not the prettiest look in the world! Also quite painful when it finally pings off. I have tried the retainer remover thing that the dentist gave me but it's useless, just slides over the plastic.
Eating with the attachments on isn't great either - food gets left around them so at the moment I am avoiding eating in front of anyone and rushing off to brush my teeth as soon as I've finished my meal.
Staying positive though, I have got a nice gentle pressure from the trays themselves, I can tell they are doing their job and feel which teeth are being moved which is good. I've got the next 2 sets (3&4) so am all set up for the next 6 weeks,
I also got my clincheck emailed to me which is motivating - I have uploaded a screenshot of the before/after clincheck, although from the front-on view there isn't that much difference as most of my issues is how my teeth are from a side-on view.
Oh, and I also had a bit of 'filing' between the teeth done (can't remember the proper name!)...anyway that was something I was a bit worried about but that was so easy, quick and painless!
Having the attachments put on was fairly brutal - the second one stuck a bit too well but stuck the tray onto it as well so the dentist had to struggle quite a bit to get it off - that was painful enough to produce a bloody gum and a few tears!
There were times where I had water (at least I guess that's what it was) running down my face/back of my neck due to the dental nurse being a bit useless (she is a temp and seems to be new to the whole 'saliva needs to be sucked away' thing). And at one point I swallowed something that tasted very bitter, not sure what that was.
All in all, I'm glad I've got them all done and sorted now and don't have to have more put on.
When I took the trays out for the first time there were more tears (and I'm not a crier, honest!), and I had a brief moment where I really thought I wasn't going to be able to remove the top tray at all! I've now learnt that to take the trays out I have to pretty much put my whole hand inside my mouth to loosen the trays from the inside edge, while my other hand pulls the tray over the attachments at the front. Not the prettiest look in the world! Also quite painful when it finally pings off. I have tried the retainer remover thing that the dentist gave me but it's useless, just slides over the plastic.
Eating with the attachments on isn't great either - food gets left around them so at the moment I am avoiding eating in front of anyone and rushing off to brush my teeth as soon as I've finished my meal.
Staying positive though, I have got a nice gentle pressure from the trays themselves, I can tell they are doing their job and feel which teeth are being moved which is good. I've got the next 2 sets (3&4) so am all set up for the next 6 weeks,
I also got my clincheck emailed to me which is motivating - I have uploaded a screenshot of the before/after clincheck, although from the front-on view there isn't that much difference as most of my issues is how my teeth are from a side-on view.
Oh, and I also had a bit of 'filing' between the teeth done (can't remember the proper name!)...anyway that was something I was a bit worried about but that was so easy, quick and painless!
Replies (5)
November 14, 2013
Yeah, the IPR (Interproximal Reduction) is almost the easiest part with Invisalign. It never hurts, it's just a little thing, takes no time. I'm sorry getting the buttons on was so heinous for you, though. Ugh! Putting the trays in and getting them out the first couple of times now will never be easy. My ortho always said once you put them in, leave them in for at least 6 hours without taking them out so you have time to adjust a little. I think it helped, but taking them out the first time was always rough.
November 15, 2013
6 hours without coffee :-o!! Lol I think I will swap to new trays just before bed next time then, thanks for the tip :)
November 15, 2013
Yeah, new trays before bed is a good idea. The only possible challenge is that they might be too uncomfortable for you to get good sleep, but you won't know until you try it! :)
November 21, 2013
Oh my God :-( thank you for your review, its very helpful.. I have only just started with my invisaligns-had them for a couple of days. They look pretty invisible but I cant still talk normal at all and after almost having my tongue slashed on the sharp ridges of the trays I had to look on the internet for some advice- and after finding it I had to just slightly file the edge of the tray-not it doesn't cut my tongue and Im already able to talk much better..
My biggest worry is the attachments- I had no idea about them either, but dentist informed me about having them done when I had my first tray in. I am seriously worried, as I have got some dead front teeth and Im worried sick that with having to use a serious force to remove the trays out in the future (for meals time) I might possibly damage those dead teeth:-(( as it is kind of hard to do as it is, let alone with them attachments like I read about on here...
So about 15months to go....good luck to me hey 8-(
February 4, 2014
Hi, I only just saw your comment! How are you getting on with your Invisaligns - have you had your attachments put on yet? :)
Great to see your review and picture up. I look forward to following your progress! And yeah, the attachments will make it worse, pain-wise, and more difficult to speak, eat, and take out and put in the aligners. However, you get used to everything. And it's so nice when you finally get them removed!! :D Good luck!