anyone here have/had Invisalign?

[QueBert]

The sites I see on Google all seem to be ad sites with motives as to why they say what they do. I am looking into getting either braces or Invisalign. Most people I talk to are saying "braces fffff Invisalign" but they don't seem to have any reason why they hate it, except they've "heard" it's not good. From what I've read it's not as good, but it's not really bad either. I've yet to find one person who's actually had it and can give me their honest opinion about how they liked it. I fear asking Dentists will result in them telling me whatever helps make them money $$$ or just tell me whatever they provide = the best solution.

MY GF had braces and I don't really like her stories about the pain and tightness and bleeding of her gums. If I could get reasonably close results with Invisalign I'd go with it.


AWH CRAP sorry I searched before making this thread but I guess I spelled invisalign wrong so I didn't find any results, my bad please ignore this thread

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

A friend of mine had invisalign for his retainers (he had regular braces) and he said they weren't exactly "invisible" because they get all clouded up quickly. It sucks either way.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I have Invisalign and I personally really like it.

1. They get mucked up with plaque that later becomes permanent. Replacement retainers are $100 each. To clean, use Efferdent. Get in the habit of doing this because once the plaque hardens it's not going away.

2. Because there's a layer of plastic surrounding your teeth, you'll find that your bite without them on gets a little screwy. The plastic adds thickness to your teeth, and when you get into the habit of biting with your invisalign and suddenly take them off to eat, there will actually be a space between your upper and lower molars because your jaw has gotten used to biting with that added thickness that the retainers provide. So chewing things with your molars gets wonky without the retainers because your molars can never touch each other. This isn't permanent though.

3. They are pretty hard for people to notice.

4. Talking normally takes some getting used to.

5. You can't bite your nails with these things in.

6. If you eat with them, food particles can get stuck between the invisalign and your teeth, which isn't very charming. If you eat without them, you might encounter #2.

7. Unlike braces, these won't tear up the inside of your mouth if your jaw gets hit by something like a road.

8. The bottoms of brand new retainers are very smooth, but get less smooth the more you chew with them.

9. No bleeding for me. A little bit of tooth sensitivity. Tightness? Well, yeah, that's what they're meant to do.

 

[Gooberlx2]

I did the full gamut as a kid (headgear, braces, retainers). I honestly can't remember my gums bleeding from any of it. I do remember chipping a tooth on my braces when I overbit on some candy just once (I was all over-excited about an awesome Xmas present). I did get smacked in the mouth during soccer a few times and that sucked a little. Your cheeks get caught on the wire if you make weird faces (like doing the fish-lips-face). Overall it really wasn't that bad. Regular braces certainly won't be a big deal if you don't intend on getting hit in the face often, chew like a retard or work as a clown.

My guess is that tightness is to be expected in either case. Braces are tight for a few days to a week when they change the wire, but I'd bet invisalign are going to feel the same. Both methods are intended to forcibly move your teeth, which hurts.

edit:
Here's a little invisalign testimony. Beats me if the site is biased or sponsor driven or whatever, but the write up doesn't really seem so to be (lists pros and cons). It pretty much sums up what I would expect to be the case with invisalign, and gives you an overview of the process.

 

[homercles337]

Pics of your summer teeth?

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
I have Invisalign and I personally really like it.

1. They get mucked up with plaque that later becomes permanent. Replacement retainers are $100 each. To clean, use Efferdent. Get in the habit of doing this because once the plaque hardens it's not going away.

2. Because there's a layer of plastic surrounding your teeth, you'll find that your bite without them on gets a little screwy. The plastic adds thickness to your teeth, and when you get into the habit of biting with your invisalign and suddenly take them off to eat, there will actually be a space between your upper and lower molars because your jaw has gotten used to biting with that added thickness that the retainers provide. So chewing things with your molars gets wonky without the retainers because your molars can never touch each other. This isn't permanent though.

3. They are pretty hard for people to notice.

4. Talking normally takes some getting used to.

5. You can't bite your nails with these things in.

6. If you eat with them, food particles can get stuck between the invisalign and your teeth, which isn't very charming. If you eat without them, you might encounter #2.

7. Unlike braces, these won't tear up the inside of your mouth if your jaw gets hit by something like a road.

8. The bottoms of brand new retainers are very smooth, but get less smooth the more you chew with them.

9. No bleeding for me. A little bit of tooth sensitivity. Tightness? Well, yeah, that's what they're meant to do.

good information, I suppose I should hit a dentist for the consultation to see if I'm even a canidate. But from how you tell it, even if I only get 80% of the effect of what braces would do. The lack of negative things that come from braces would probably make me go with the invisalign.

thanks for the run down, you make it sound like a good option for sure.

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: homercles337
Pics of your summer teeth?

ROFL

edit: FWIW i have bad teeth still... rofl

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
I have Invisalign and I personally really like it.

1. They get mucked up with plaque that later becomes permanent. Replacement retainers are $100 each. To clean, use Efferdent. Get in the habit of doing this because once the plaque hardens it's not going away.

2. Because there's a layer of plastic surrounding your teeth, you'll find that your bite without them on gets a little screwy. The plastic adds thickness to your teeth, and when you get into the habit of biting with your invisalign and suddenly take them off to eat, there will actually be a space between your upper and lower molars because your jaw has gotten used to biting with that added thickness that the retainers provide. So chewing things with your molars gets wonky without the retainers because your molars can never touch each other. This isn't permanent though.

3. They are pretty hard for people to notice.

4. Talking normally takes some getting used to.

5. You can't bite your nails with these things in.

6. If you eat with them, food particles can get stuck between the invisalign and your teeth, which isn't very charming. If you eat without them, you might encounter #2.

7. Unlike braces, these won't tear up the inside of your mouth if your jaw gets hit by something like a road.

8. The bottoms of brand new retainers are very smooth, but get less smooth the more you chew with them.

9. No bleeding for me. A little bit of tooth sensitivity. Tightness? Well, yeah, that's what they're meant to do.

good information, I suppose I should hit a dentist for the consultation to see if I'm even a canidate. But from how you tell it, even if I only get 80% of the effect of what braces would do. The lack of negative things that come from braces would probably make me go with the invisalign.

thanks for the run down, you make it sound like a good option for sure.

I found this helpful too. I've been considering going with Invisalign as well. Thanks!

 

[meltdown75]

I have a question for dental people.

My dentist tells me that I don't need braces, rather, an "appliance" to stretch out the arches in my mouth? He says that if I had that, my teeth would straighten by themselves. What say you?

 

[dudeman007]

I wore braces for 5 years and an Invisalign type retainer for about a year. I didn't have particularly bad teeth, but I was missing my two lateral incisors on my upper set of teeth which made the process a lot longer as I had to make space for a fake tooth, and then have a bridge put in.

First off...both suck. I'm an avid musician and athlete and I can tell you nothing ruins your day more than playing an instrument with tightened braces or getting hit in the mouth with braces in general. Generic braces hurt for a while when you first get them. The first few weeks/months will be hell. They scratch your gums and give you really painful sores when tightened, but in the long run I think they're worth it. I'm pretty convinced that they work more effectively and faster. They're really not that hard to brush, and the main thing is that you DO get used to them and it becomes no big deal.

Now with the Invisalign type braces the story is a little different. Now I haven't had to use them to move my teeth, only as a retainer so I can only help so much. I used to wear them 24/7 even when I ate because like I mentioned before, I had missing teeth. Since I didn't have my bridge put in until about a year after I used the retainer, I had fake teeth glued into the retainer (eww gross haha ). Obviously I didn't want to go around eating looking like a buck toothed moron, so I ate with the braces. This was a realllllly annoying/frustrating time for me. Food often gets stuck in the retainers and you have to constantly rinse them in the sink or else your teeth feel really dirty. Also they sometimes come off while your eating.

If you wear them ALL the time chances are they are going to wear down and before you know it you'll have a retainer that doesn't even cover the back half of your teeth due to wear and tear. Also after you've worn them for a while they lose their glossy feeling and become sort of rough in your mouth which is somewhat discomforting. Be prepared for a lot of plaque build up too.

 

[dudeman007]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
I have a question for dental people.

My dentist tells me that I don't need braces, rather, an "appliance" to stretch out the arches in my mouth? He says that if I had that, my teeth would straighten by themselves. What say you?

That's very possible. By appliance he just means a retainer. There are retainers that have springs on them that can push the teeth out.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
I have a question for dental people.

My dentist tells me that I don't need braces, rather, an "appliance" to stretch out the arches in my mouth? He says that if I had that, my teeth would straighten by themselves. What say you?

you have a narrow palate. they want to put in a palatal expander.

go for it melty. if it is an expander, it's on the inside and not visible to anyone.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: QueBert
The sites I see on Google all seem to be ad sites with motives as to why they say what they do. I am looking into getting either braces or Invisalign. Most people I talk to are saying "braces fffff Invisalign" but they don't seem to have any reason why they hate it, except they've "heard" it's not good. From what I've read it's not as good, but it's not really bad either. I've yet to find one person who's actually had it and can give me their honest opinion about how they liked it. I fear asking Dentists will result in them telling me whatever helps make them money $$$ or just tell me whatever they provide = the best solution.

MY GF had braces and I don't really like her stories about the pain and tightness and bleeding of her gums. If I could get reasonably close results with Invisalign I'd go with it.


AWH CRAP sorry I searched before making this thread but I guess I spelled invisalign wrong so I didn't find any results, my bad please ignore this thread

invisalign is great, but you have to do as you're told and it's only for less difficult cases.
if you have a lot of teeth to move conventional braces are a better way to go.

invisalign will likely be more expensive than metal braces.

have you even investigated to see if you are a candidate for invisalign?

MY GF had braces and I don't really like her stories about the pain and tightness and bleeding of her gums. If I could get reasonably close results with Invisalign I'd go with it.

Your gf's gums bled because she didn't remove the plaque properly while her braces were on and she got gingivitis. Braces don't make your gums bleed.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: meltdown75
I have a question for dental people.

My dentist tells me that I don't need braces, rather, an "appliance" to stretch out the arches in my mouth? He says that if I had that, my teeth would straighten by themselves. What say you?

you have a narrow palate. they want to put in a palatal expander.

go for it melty. if it is an expander, it's on the inside and not visible to anyone.

Is mosh going to show us her impeccable Registered Dental Hygienist teeth?

edit:

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: meltdown75
I have a question for dental people.

My dentist tells me that I don't need braces, rather, an "appliance" to stretch out the arches in my mouth? He says that if I had that, my teeth would straighten by themselves. What say you?

you have a narrow palate. they want to put in a palatal expander.

go for it melty. if it is an expander, it's on the inside and not visible to anyone.

do you know what the chances of success with something like this are? i think they said it would be about $800 for the thing. not sure

 

[MaDDinGO]

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
I have Invisalign and I personally really like it.

1. They get mucked up with plaque that later becomes permanent. Replacement retainers are $100 each. To clean, use Efferdent. Get in the habit of doing this because once the plaque hardens it's not going away.

2. Because there's a layer of plastic surrounding your teeth, you'll find that your bite without them on gets a little screwy. The plastic adds thickness to your teeth, and when you get into the habit of biting with your invisalign and suddenly take them off to eat, there will actually be a space between your upper and lower molars because your jaw has gotten used to biting with that added thickness that the retainers provide. So chewing things with your molars gets wonky without the retainers because your molars can never touch each other. This isn't permanent though.

3. They are pretty hard for people to notice.

4. Talking normally takes some getting used to.

5. You can't bite your nails with these things in.

6. If you eat with them, food particles can get stuck between the invisalign and your teeth, which isn't very charming. If you eat without them, you might encounter #2.

7. Unlike braces, these won't tear up the inside of your mouth if your jaw gets hit by something like a road.

8. The bottoms of brand new retainers are very smooth, but get less smooth the more you chew with them.

9. No bleeding for me. A little bit of tooth sensitivity. Tightness? Well, yeah, that's what they're meant to do.

good information, I suppose I should hit a dentist for the consultation to see if I'm even a canidate. But from how you tell it, even if I only get 80% of the effect of what braces would do. The lack of negative things that come from braces would probably make me go with the invisalign.

thanks for the run down, you make it sound like a good option for sure.

I found this helpful too. I've been considering going with Invisalign as well. Thanks!

Let me chime in with my own experience with Invisalign.

They are pretty to keep clean if you brush it everytime you take it out and soak them in Efferdent every few days. (You don't have to buy the Invisalign branded ones)

You might have a lipse until you get used to having them in while speaking.

Do not eat with them in or drink soup/coffee/soda. Water is fine. You don't want any food trapped in your aligners, nor have them stained. They are pretty much unnoticable unless someone is up close and looks at your teeth. Make sure your floss and brush before putting them back in.

No bleeding, but yes, its tight - your teeth might be sensitive for a few days when you change into a new set.

As far as cost, my dental insurance picked up half the tab - as a working professional, its a worth the extra money instead of having traditional braces.

I'm on my last set now, it typically takes anywhere from 1-2 yrs depending on how your teeth are. Most dentists include refinements if they aren't prefect. Retainers should be included in the price as well.

All in all, I'm very happy with it and if you have any questions PM me.

 

[skace]

Go to your Dentist, if he is good you won't get a bullshit response. Mine told me that Invisalign would fix crooked teeth but wouldn't solve a crossbite. The dentist can look at what is wrong with your teeth and tell you which procedure will fix it. If everything that is wrong with your teeth can be fixed with Invisalign, well there you go.

I have a small crossbite on my lower teeth but my dentist told me it wasn't worth fixing because it isn't visible unless I clench my teeth like a psychopath.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisalign#Disadvantages for some additional information.

 

[hellokeith]

Good info guys.

It appears Invisalign's appeal is for older people / working professionals (including me). I do actually remember when I had braces & retainers at a young age (too young in fact) that I ate & drank much less because I didn't want to deal with the plaque and staining. That wouldn't be a bad effect now with my weight gain over the years.