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POSTED UNDER Invisalign REVIEWS

Worth Every Penny - Las Vegas, NV

ORIGINAL POST

My parents couldn't afford braces when I was...

PhraeJune 12, 2012
WORTH IT$4,900

My parents couldn't afford braces when I was young, so I've managed to keep my smiles to myself. You want to think that people mature, but teeth are still a topic of conversation and jest even at age 27.

The reason I chose Invisalign comes down to two factors:
cost--they were actually cheaper than braces.
comfort--I've ride a motorcycle almost everyday. The thought of my cheeks being pressed into metal brackets sounds terrible.

The pressure is bearable (I can actually feel which teeth are being targeted), and thanks to fellow reviewers, I was able to easily remove the trays for mealtime. You really do want to start at the back and work your way forward. There is no sense in bludgeoning your fingernails trying to pry the trays off. You also tend to salivate more than usual on the first day/tray.

Phrae's provider

Dr. Wagner

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The dentist was quiet and polite, but left out many of the details. He would often forget what tray I was on, despite having a computer and assistant. The billing dept miscalculated my payments and undercharged me, so I was hit with a rather large bill at the end.

Replies (8)

Megan P
June 12, 2012

Ohhh, I never even thought of how traditional brackets might feel with a motorcycle helmet on! Glad Invisalign was an option for you!!

How many trays do you have in your series?

Phrae
June 13, 2012
Yea, a full face helmet fits pretty snug. The cheek pads essentially make you a chipmunk. Suddenly, braces seem like torture devices. I have 27 for both top and bottom I believe.
Megan P
June 14, 2012

Thanks for adding some pictures. It looks like your front teeth are a bit closer together even in just your first tray! Do they spread back apart when the tray is off? Another community member, Naas, mentioned that happened with his teeth in one of his earlier videos.

Phrae
June 15, 2012
I actually watched some of his videos before I got mine--very helpful tips. They do spread back apart, but I notice that even only a few days later, I can suddenly floss around that tooth. Before Invisalign, flossing the tight side of that tooth meant tearing/breaking the floss.
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Perfect Isnt Real
June 21, 2012

I'm very interested to see how your teeth will shift positions over the next few weeks, our teeth look alike, In my opinion. Wishing you the best of luck with your treatment :)
Phrae
June 22, 2012
Thanks! The trays feels almost loose compared to the first few days, so even though I can't really see anything, I can definitely feel changes.
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Perfect Isnt Real
June 25, 2012

My aligners usually become loose after 12 hours, And they loosen even more after 24 hours. I've been switching my aligners before I go to bed, so I sleep through the discomfort.

I'm uploading a video to my review soon, If you get a chance, it might be worth watching. 

Take care!
Phrae
June 26, 2012
Will do! I realize now that I had looked at your profile before I got started. I recognize the pictures, just not the avatar. I actually switch to my second tray tomorrow, so I will take your advice and switch before bedtime tonight. Thanks :)
UPDATED FROM Phrae

It's been 4 weeks now, and I just received my 3rd...

PhraeJuly 12, 2012
It's been 4 weeks now, and I just received my 3rd tray this morning. These next two sets of trays I'll be wearing for 3 weeks each. I've been combatting the initial switch pain with ibuprofen and soft foods. I've also finally mastered removing my trays with minimum effort by working from right to left. There isn't a visible difference when I remove the tray, but I can floss places I was unable to floss before. I noticed I'm more likely to smile with the trays on because my gap is noticeably smaller. At this point, my front two teeth have to wait for my bite to expand and create room for more of their movement.

Replies (7)

Megan P
July 13, 2012

Its impressive that you know your treatment plan well enough to understand that your bite has to expand before those front teeth can go any further. Kudos to your doctor for explaining it well, and kudos to you for paying attention!

Phrae
August 2, 2012
I'm actually just guessing based on my multiple consultations and having watched videos. My doctor is rather quiet.
Megan P
August 2, 2012

Wow, the gap is barely there in the picture you just added! Have the trays & everything associated just become routine at this point, or are there still certain things you find to be a hassle?

Phrae
August 2, 2012
Everything feels pretty routine now. This is probably the most painful tray switch experience, but I know I just need to play the soft food game for a day or two.
Megan P
August 2, 2012

Yep, soup, yogurt, mashed potatoes - yum! ;)

FloTrader
August 9, 2012
Ephelan: First off, I apologize if this post has been answered before. I am extremely new to this board and have just started my Invisalign research. I have been wanting straighter teeth for since HS and I am almost 30 now. That being said, I am not open to braces...at least at this stage of my research. However, my question is this: if Invisalign uses a series of trays to correct the teeth, wouldn't the trays get dirty (gross I know) or foggy and thus become very obvious that you have them on? I keep picture walking around the office with Crest White Strips on and thinking that is not invisable at all! Again, sorry if this has been discussed many times!! I will keep looking at this site!

Very happy for you Ephelan!! Seems like you really know what you are doing, are happy with your progress, and are making great strides in your straightening process! Cheers!
Phrae
August 9, 2012
I was concerned about this as well. To keep the trays clean, it's suggested to drink only water while they are in your mouth. Since you eat with them out, you then have the opportunity to thoroughly clean your mouth and trays separately before reinserting. I significantly reduced my coffee intake because I was so worried that the coffee would get trapped and cause discoloration.
UPDATED FROM Phrae

No changes worth a picture. The moving teeth are...

PhraeAugust 31, 2012
No changes worth a picture. The moving teeth are molars making space for the rotation of my front teeth. This has made the trays much less painful to remove initially, but more difficult to chew (due to tenderness).

Replies (0)

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