POSTED UNDER Invisalign REVIEWS
Invisalign 5 Years Later. Philadelphia, PA
ORIGINAL POST
I am inclined to share my experience 5 years AFTER...
KL8MOMJanuary 6, 2015
$4,500
I am inclined to share my experience 5 years AFTER everything was final and done.
I had my Invisalign 5 years ago for 1.5 years to straighten a slightly crooked front tooth. I had had braces as a teenager but after a few years, front tooth went back to overlapping another tooth. When I saw Invisalign option as an adult, I went for it and wore it religiously for 1.5 years. Plus the final tray for as long as it held up - now it is in two pieces, my teeth have shifted back.
SO I recently inquired about re-opening my invisalign case as my teeth have shifted again. However, my case was apparently an 'EXPRESS CASE' which means Invisalign does NOT save any information, my teeth have GONE BACK to the original shape and at this point, I will have to have to open a whole new invisalign case costing $5000.
The problem was that the final tray was very final, it wasn't built with additional support to last forever, I wasn't given an option to have one made, nothing was made clear to me. I just expected my teeth to stay straight as long as I wore the final tray. The doctor's office (Dr. Circa in Philadelphia) had me sign papers at my last visit, I would advise anyone going through invisalign treatment to be sure you will have an option to rebuild your final retainer as chances are, your teeth will definitely shift back or try to shift without a good retainer.
I have met a few people with the same problem, some have started a new case, save yourself the trouble, understand your teeth will shift back, get a good retainer to last you forever!!
I had my Invisalign 5 years ago for 1.5 years to straighten a slightly crooked front tooth. I had had braces as a teenager but after a few years, front tooth went back to overlapping another tooth. When I saw Invisalign option as an adult, I went for it and wore it religiously for 1.5 years. Plus the final tray for as long as it held up - now it is in two pieces, my teeth have shifted back.
SO I recently inquired about re-opening my invisalign case as my teeth have shifted again. However, my case was apparently an 'EXPRESS CASE' which means Invisalign does NOT save any information, my teeth have GONE BACK to the original shape and at this point, I will have to have to open a whole new invisalign case costing $5000.
The problem was that the final tray was very final, it wasn't built with additional support to last forever, I wasn't given an option to have one made, nothing was made clear to me. I just expected my teeth to stay straight as long as I wore the final tray. The doctor's office (Dr. Circa in Philadelphia) had me sign papers at my last visit, I would advise anyone going through invisalign treatment to be sure you will have an option to rebuild your final retainer as chances are, your teeth will definitely shift back or try to shift without a good retainer.
I have met a few people with the same problem, some have started a new case, save yourself the trouble, understand your teeth will shift back, get a good retainer to last you forever!!
KL8MOM's provider
Replies (3)
January 6, 2015
Good information. I always wondered if one's teeth would not shift back again eventually. Many invisalign wearers all wore metal braces at one time. And yet here they are again. My kids wore traditional braces and they both have permanent retainers. One even had her permanent retainer re-done when it broke. So it really makes sense that one will need some sort of permanent retainer at the end of their treatment. I will be sure to discuss this with my Dentist. Thanks for sharing!
June 16, 2016
Hi, and thanks for this great warning! People really need to know that after orthodontic treatment, a retainer is always mandatory, for the rest of their lives, and if they don't get a retainer from their doctor along with the cost of treatment, they will have to pay for it separately, and keep replacing it every 2-6 years. A huge deal that almost no doctors seem to tell their patients!
Good luck to you. I've heard that there are some cheaper alternatives nowadays that might work for easier cases. Have you gotten a second opinion?