ams111

Satisfied with Invisalign - Washington DC

Great question. I always had the fixed retainers as part of my original plan. I actually had braces as a child, and was told I no longer needed to wear my retainers (the big old fashioned plastic and metal ones) when I turned 22. Of course, this turned out to be untrue (orthodontists now know that your teeth have muscle memory and will move forever, so you MUST have some form of retention or they will go back, as mine did). When I noticed my teeth moving, I tried to wear my retainers, but I happen to be one of those extremely weird people who physically removes my retainers while I'm sleeping--I have no knowledge that I'm doing it until I wake up and realize they're under my pillow, on the floor, etc. Therefore, my main concern was that I did NOT want the removable retainers because I can (and will) take them out in my sleep, and I know I won't wear them during the day because I am a teacher and talk all day long and don't want them impeding my speech. I made sure to tell my ortho this up front and only agreed to do the treatment if he promised to put the permanent retainers in. Although, as I said, I still wear a plastic retainer once a week, which is manageable. They are so like invisalign trays that I don't take them out (they're just a bit thicker because they need to last longer). I hope this helps, let me know if you have any further questions.

Hey Renee, thanks for your post, and thanks for the compliment on my teeth :) The time didn't start flying for me until about two months in, so be patient and before you know it life will take over and you'll have little time to think about the invisalign. Right now it's just something new so it's at the forefront of your mind, but it'll become common place after awhile. I did not get my buttons until a few months in, I forget exactly when, but it should be listed somewhere in my review. I had them from that time until the very end, though. Hope this helps! Good luck with your treatment!

Hello Sam, I don't actually live in DC. I live about 45 minutes to an hour outside of it in NOVA. Where are you located? My guy might be too far for you.

They will hurt for the first few days, but then the teeth will shift and they'll feel better the rest of the two week period (at least, that was my experience). I have gotten so used to wearing them that I honestly don't know if they're even in my mouth. I have to double check sometimes to make sure I remembered to put them back in! I hope it gets better for you, but just know, traditional braces were 100% worse. Those things cut up my mouth to pieces and I was always getting food and such stuck in them. Yuck!

Also...none of my previous dental work has been an issue. If you develop cavities or other problems during the invisalign process, that can be a problem as your trays will not match your teeth if any fillings are added. They can work around it, but it can be tricky. Prior work isn't a factor, though, because your trays are made around your teeth as they are now. The filing is so minute, they take off so little, that it won't cause any damage or issues to any fillings or other dental reconstruction you've had (at least it wasn't an issue for me).