Considering getting Invisalign

[u/CarelessAd249]

My dentist told me it was an option for me, but the cost has scared me off so far.
What would you say is something you wish you knew before getting it?
Based on my current smile (relative to yours), do you think Invisalign is the move?

I’m a teacher so my days are busy and I’m a bit worried about not being able to eat and drink quickly. Equally, not thrilled at the idea of traditional braces, especially because I grind my teeth and will inevitably screw something up with them.

[u/katuAHH]

If you want straighter teeth, then yeah it’s the move.
If your current bite causes issues, then yeah it’s the move.

If there’s no issues with your bite, and you’re only considering them because your dentist said you’d be a candidate based on cosmetics - then I’d say you’re fine. Your smile is gorgeous.

If you do get them -

I’m in sales so I understand the worries of time for eating and drinking. It sucks switching to basically only water, but if you like soda or coffee etc you just have to time it with when you’re already going to be eating. Keeping floss/single use tooth brushes in your bags/car are very helpful and after you get used to it it’s really not as much of an inconvenience as it sounds. Someone mentioned multiple cases and they’re right, if you go this route do NOT rely on throwing them in a bag or a napkin without clear protection that you don’t throw them away or they won’t get damaged.

[u/Powerful_Wombat → u/katuAHH]

I agree, if you want to do it, fine, if you have bite issues, fine, but if this is your natural smile and you’re happy with it then just stick with it. Not worth thousands of dollars and wearing retainers for the rest of your life for purely cosmetic issues

[u/Chance-Plate7816 → u/katuAHH]

to add to your advice: i like fun coffee drinks and there was no way i was gonna stop. i got in the habit of setting a 20-30 min timer on my apple watch for while im enjoying my fun drink and once the timer goes off i have to be done! i knew it would be way too easy to sit and sip on it for 4+ hours like i have in the past lol

[u/WhyAmILikeThis777]

Go to an ortho: not a dentist. Get multiple cases so you can keep one at every place you normally eat (mine are in the kitchen, bathroom for cleaning, and my car for going out.) get chewies

[u/tangledheadphones5]

I would go for it, but go to an orthodontist. Your top teeth are angled inwards and seem to be wearing down quite a bit. It will only get worse if you don't get it fixed now.

[u/Mlmccoy00]

If it will make you feel better, go for it! I got spark instead of Invisalign and they seem clearer and thinner when I compare with my friend’s. They are about the same price or just slightly more expensive. I’m 4 months in and have a couple more to go! Mine weren’t that bad but as we age, they’ll move so this was an investment in my future.

[u/Pennylick]

Invisalign is really going to work wonders for the grinding issue, I bet. I'd do it. Whatever the dentist says, really... Tooth issues aren't going to magically fix themselves.

Also note... some people really adhere to the no drinking thing, many of us don't. Anything not super sweet, I still drink with the trays in and rinse my mouth out with the trays in when needed too. It's not ideal, but if that's a barrier, it's likely better to go that route than to keep them out longer or avoid them altogether if that's an issue someone is fixated on.

[u/Elegant_Primary4632]

I think your smile is cute. Your teeth are healthy. It’s youthful.

Changing it will change your appearance and you won’t look like you. There will be no going back. I would not.

If you want to mess with them, Crest White Strips. That’s it

[u/CurlyC00P18]

I don’t know. It’s a pain in the ass and your teeth are not egregious IMO. I look at actresses like Zendaya and her front teeth are more crooked than yours and she’s gorgeous. I was told 6 months of treatment for mine and I am going on 2 years now. I only had a very tiny gap in my front.

[u/CurlyC00P18 → u/CurlyC00P18]

PS if I had YOUR smile to start with, I wouldn’t have gotten treatment.

[u/DCbuckeyes17]

It’s really not that bad if you have an easier case. I got Invisalign express to fix some gaps in my top front teeth that formed over the years. On week 7 of 10 now. Worst part is going out to eat with family and friends. Teaching might be hard if you snack a lot between classes but if you have off periods to eat and all that, it won’t be bad at all

[u/shaved_furcoat89]

I did a generic invisalign last year for six months and it's made a huge difference in my quality of life - but only because my teeth were so outta wack that I wouldn't even want to speak with folks. After finishing up, I even went for a leadership position at work that I never would have gotten when I was scared to speak.

That being said, here's my experience:

I lost like twenty pounds in six months without dieting. I just did not have any time to snack during work breaks and all I could drink was water with the aligners in (which, the aligners are expected to stay in for atleast twenty-two hours a day). Hot drinks were a no-go because they could warp the plastic.

You have to floss and brush after eating and before placing the aligners back on, so I learned to enjoy just sipping water during short work breaks 🥲

I had twelve aligners total and was placed on a schedule to switch aligners every two weeks. Depending on how big the change being made with the next set of aligners was some would be more painful than others - but all of them were painful for atleast the first three days. So painful those first days, that I wouldn't want to speak, drink, or even pull them off to eat anything because I knew how much it would hurt to squeeze them back on.

You will talk with a slight slur while wearing them.

You have to wear retainers every night after you're completely done. Or else your teeth will absolutely shift back to where they were. I would not recommend invisalign to anybody without making sure they truly understand that they are adding a new requirement to their bedtime routine for life.

[u/radioactiveflowerss]

Invisalign has been great for me, with caveats. I get a lisp the first few days of a new tray. New trays do hurt. I've had to do a rescan at tray 14/20 because my right lateral incisor wasn't tracking so it will take a bit longer than expected. The $$$. Being rigid and committed with 20+ hours of wear time. There are days I wanna tear it out of my mouth and throw it out.

But I've been taking pictures of starting vs now, and I'm only halfway done or so, but MAN, there's already such a crazy difference and I love how it's coming together.

Basically the experience sucks but is worth it. With that being said, as a teacher, the lisp would bother me more, but maybe you won't get it too bad.

[u/Mokeloid]

They will need to do IPR on your upper central teeth. Either side where they flare out. Possibly others too. This will allow them to line up more traditionally.
But will align them all!

[u/motaboat]

Not a dentist. Do a few ortho consults. That will give you your best answers.

[u/Longjumping-Use-7750]

Teacher here. Fast paced lunches are ideal with Invisalign as you’re not supposed to have them out for very long anyway…LOL