I recently got 6 month braces from Glenwood Smiles in Raleigh. I am an adult and this is my first time with braces. I didn't have them as a teen. They are a little tight right now, which I guess means they are working! I opted for the clear / tooth-colored wires which I feel makes them look less noticeable. My speech is a little different right now as I adjust to having them in my mouth but they said that will get better after a week or tow as I get used to it.
Invisalign has been great. I still have a few more trays to go, but I can already see a difference! My teeth are getting straighter every day. Plus, no one can tell I'm wearing them. I even had to point it out to my parents. They had no clue anything was different with me. Dr. Schmorr has been great as well. Very friendly and answers all my questions.
I agree that you should first consult with your dentist on what he/she says about how they plan to prevent relapse in your case. But it is also important to wear your retainers as much as possible after your treatment. I say this to all of my ortho patients. It might seem silly at first, but it pays off in the long run because it helps protect all that hard work you went through!
There isn't any pain using Brite Smile. If you do experience pain however, you should stop treatment immediately and contact your dentist. The most common complaint is the sensitivity. This is typical with teeth whitening procedures though and goes away naturally over time and by using good enamel strengthening toothpaste. Hope this helps! Good luck!
Do you have a lot of open space available in your teeth? If so, your dentist may be anticipating your teeth to move more freely and quickly because there is space to move. So cutting down the time to one week could work quite well! Good luck!
Invisalign refinement is usually covered as part of the treatment. So it is a good option to stick with it to avoid additional costs.