My Invisalign® Experience
Thinking about getting Invisalign® but have no idea where to start or what to expect? You've come to the right place!
I decided to make this post as I was incredibly anxious about getting Invisalign treatment myself. Here I will lay out the entire process in detail so you know exactly what to expect. Of course, other dental practises may do things slightly differently. For example, I know others have been asked to simply send photos to the dentist instead of regular in-person appointments. This post is just my completely transparent personal experience.
Why I Chose Invisalign
I remember sitting in the dentist chair, alone, and the dentist asked me if I wanted braces. Being young and anxious, I of course said ‘no’. I was told I didn’t HAVE to have braces because my teeth didn’t stick out far enough and my slight overbite did not effect my speech. So I went without.
I have always regretted saying no. I knew getting braces as an adult was an option, but figured it would be too expensive. Over time, I have managed to gain enough money to do it, so I thought I’d just go for it. My teeth make me so self conscious, to the point where I avoid smiling with my teeth exposed. It is the first thing I see in photos, and I am sure it is my misaligned teeth that have given me a crooked smile.
After my mum passed away, I was looking for photos of us two together. I found plenty of my mum and sister, but not as many with me. That's when it dawned on me - I was so self conscious of my teeth, that I had been avoiding having my photo taken, and was therefore missing out on making permanent memories. Of course I have tried to just 'get over it', but it was in the back of my mind constantly whenever I spoke, laughed, or smiled.
I knew I wanted to do something about it, and so when I realised I could afford to I just went for it. I had already heard of Invisalign, but went onto Google with an open mind, simply searching 'adult braces options'.
Invisalign in particular caught my eye because I knew I didn't want to have standard style braces. The invisibility of the aligners appealed to me as I felt standard braces would just continue to make me feel self conscious by drawing more attention to my teeth!
I had read that Invisalign is good for those with underbites, overbites, crossbites, gaps and crowded teeth. My biggest issues are crowded teeth with an overbite, so I knew I would be suited to it. I believe there may be other clear braces options out there, but because I had heard of Invisalign I felt it was more trustworthy.
SIDE NOTE: It is important to mention that Invisalign isn't right for everyone. If you have particularly crowded teeth or more severe dental issues you may require dental surgery before any treatment can be considered. Invisalign cannot fix misaligned jaws, and metal braces can deliver more effective results. Here is an image I found showing some of the differences between the two. It is always best to have a consultation beforehand to find out if Invisalign is the best treatment for you!
I am excited to start this journey, and will update this post as I go along!
Here are some photos showing what my teeth naturally look like when I smile, before any treatment. The last photo is awful, but it shows my front tooth that I was particularly insecure about.
What is Invisalign®?
Invisalign is the name of the company that originally produced clear aligners - when people say 'Invisalign treatment', they also mean clear aligner treatment.
The process involves using clear 'shields' (aligners) that are specifically tailored to your teeth and are designed to move your teeth gradually over time to their new position.
Below are some pictures of what clear aligners look like. You simply push them over your teeth.
Costs
The cost can range anywhere between £1500 and £4500, depending on if you need aligners for both sets of teeth or just one set for your top or bottom set. If you need extensive dental treatment first, it could cost up to £7000. Costs can be discussed during your consultation, and you have the option to pay in small instalments or upfront.
The consultation itself can be around £100. My dental practice offered it for free as part of a reduced package deal after Christmas. They also offered a discount for paying the entire cost upfront, but not everywhere will offer this so look around!
Choosing a Dentist
As I just mentioned, my dental practice offered some amazing deals, but not everywhere will offer this. Some may offer reduced prices in the new year like mine did, so keep an eye out.
You will want to choose a dental practice that is easily accessible to you, as you will likely have to attend many appointments.
I chose mine based on location, and on reviews. Mine is 10 minutes away by train, and I was already familiar with the location. If you're choosing one in London for example, the number of options may be overwhelming, so make sure to do your research and compare prices and reviews. If your dental practice already offers this treatment, that's even better!
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| Clear aligners |
My Personal Experience
1. Consultation.
After settling on a dental practice, I filled out the online form, and within a couple of days, I received an email back with a phone number so I could arrange my consultation. I managed to get an appointment two weeks later, and off I went.
My dentist, who we will call John for the sake of this post, was unbelievably kind and made me feel at ease straight away. He asked if I knew much about Invisalign, and went through what I could expect (should I decide to go for it after the consultation, which I already knew I would). He asked what exactly I wanted to gain from having the treatment, and examined my teeth to make sure I was suitable for it. After the examination, he said my teeth were in good condition, and that my desired look could be achieved with Invisalign (even with my pesky supernumerary (extra) tooth!) He explained that the next step would be to have moulds made of my teeth, so then both I and the dentist could discuss which teeth, in particular, I would like to shift. I learned that there is no one set ‘perfect’ smile, or one particular way that your teeth should look and that it differs for everyone. He also stated that I would need to make a hygienist appointment prior to the mould fitting, in order to make sure my mouth is as clean as possible before adding any aligners.
He was keen to answer any questions I had and explained everything in great detail. He made sure to clarify that once the treatment was complete I would be required to wear a night retainer for the rest of my life, which doesn’t bother me in the slightest! He also explained that the cost could either be paid upfront or in instalments over a number of months.
I was given a consent form to complete (assuming I would be going back for the next step), and a guide as to what issues I could expect from having Invisalign (pictured). One of the main issues for the first few weeks is discomfort and slight pain, and that if you forget to wear your aligner for even a day it could prolong treatment which could ultimately be more expensive.
Later that night I received an email from John with an attached video that showed in more detail what he was explaining during the consultation. The video shows how, over time, the aligners simply shift the teeth into a new position. This is called a 'Clincheck model', and I would be receiving a video of my own teeth shortly. He explained in the video that usually they would go through this in person, but because of COVID-19, they were sending videos explaining the process instead.
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| A screenshot of the video I was sent |
I phoned the dentist a couple of weeks after the consultation to say I wanted to go ahead with the next step - making moulds/impressions of my teeth. I was able to make an appointment within the next couple of weeks and made sure to fill out the consent form ready for my visit. I was told at my consultation that I would need to visit the hygienist to have a deep clean before the impressions were made. Due to COVID-19, making hygienist appointments is harder than ever, so John made sure to include a deep clean himself with the next appointment for me.
2. Impressions
I arrived at the dentist and, because of the times, had to fill out a Coronavirus form which you would typically fill out the night before.
John explained that they would first deep clean my teeth, take scans/impressions of my teeth, and then I would have a full mouth X-ray.
The deep clean lasted around 10-15 minutes, with them spraying cold water, using the little suction thingy, and cleaning between my teeth (which does feel a bit uncomfortable at times, especially if you have sensitive teeth).
Once that was complete, they put a large ‘O’ shape ring into my mouth, on my gums but under my lips, forcing my mouth into a permanent ‘0’ position. It does feel uncomfortable, and made me want to laugh as I can only imagine what I looked like! But it would only be for around 5 minutes in total. John used a wand-like instrument to circle my teeth and scan images around my mouth, which I could see out of the corner of my eye were then being transferred to his monitor screen. I did not get to see these, but I imagine I will at a later date, possibly in my 'Clincheck model'.
Once that was complete, John explained his thoughts for the future sessions. He said he was concerned about the recession (the gum becoming more exposed) in my lower teeth, as they had already recessed in some way. He also told me to have a good feel of my freshly cleaned teeth, as that is the level of cleanliness that is expected during Invisalign treatment. He also explained how for best results my supernumerary tooth would possibly be removed, but he is not yet sure at which stage will be best to do that.
I was then told I would need to have X-rays taken of my teeth. I was taken into another small room away from John, where I had to place my chin in the middle of a large instrument and bite my front teeth down onto a small piece of plastic that stick out about the chin rest (I also had to remove my earrings). It took me ages to get it right, as I was anxious and didn’t fully understand what she was asking me to do! I eventually got it right, and she left the room for around 20 seconds where the large machine I was in the middle of moved around my head, taking X-rays of my teeth. I was concerned about having my nose ring in, but she said it would be fine.
Once that was complete, I made my way to the front desk where I parted ways with a huge chunk of my savings to pay for the treatment upfront. You could also pay it in instalments, however, I decided to pay upfront so it was all done at once, and I received a 5% discount for deciding to pay this way. I won’t be divulging the actual cost as each dentist is different.
I was told they would be in touch, contacting me to let me know when I could have my next session.
3. ‘Clincheck’ model
Just over three weeks later, I received an email from John explaining that he has figured out a plan for my teeth - he explained how, in my case, it was more complicated than he had anticipated, so it took him a while longer to come up with a solution. He told me how long the treatment was going to take to complete (in my case 27 weeks / just over 6 months) and that I also need to be dedicated to maintaining/improving my oral hygiene to reduce any risk of recession. This is what I am most nervous about, as I’m scared I won’t be able to keep it up!
I also received two emails on the same day from Invisalign, one with a password, and another with a link so I can see the potential before and after scans of my teeth! These images showed how over the course of the 27 weeks my teeth would change, and what I can expect as the finished result (pictured).
I emailed John back and explained that I was very happy with this result! He had explained to me beforehand that this was very much a partnership, in that if I was unhappy about anything I saw in the scans, we could work together to come up with another solution. I trust that John has done all he can to come up with something that is feasible for me, and so I am over the moon.
4. Getting the aligners
Okay, so! After weeks of rescheduling appointments and trying to work our way around Lockdown 2.0 (which made me feel incredibly guilty), I finally went to my next appointment. This was the easiest one yet!
I was met by John, who presented me with an expensive-looking bag. In it was a just as expensive-looking drawstring bag containing a box, which had a container in for me to store my aligner. It’s little luxuries like this that start to justify the price point!
He also gave me my first aligner to wear. Putting it in was nerve-wracking as they were watching me, and I’ve never worn mouth guards or anything before so it was a completely new experience! The aligner is literally a clear plastic copy of your teeth, and the aligner goes over the teeth and stays in place. It was a bit awkward getting them in, but once they were in and checked over, I was surprised at how non-intrusive and somewhat comfortable they were.
I was told I’d have to wear this one for two weeks, the next one (that was provided in the bag) for three weeks (it would have been two weeks but we had to extend it to account for Christmas!) and then I would go back in January to receive the rest.
They each come in their own plastic bag, with the date I need to start wearing them and the number of weeks I should wear them for. It also states which number aligner it is, e.g. 2 of 25. It is all very simple to follow, which put my mind at ease!
John made sure to reiterate the importance of dental hygiene over the course of the treatment, and how long I need to wear the aligners, which in my case is 22 hours minimum a day. He also told me how to clean the aligners if I need to, which is by using the cleaning crystals provided in the Invisalign bag or washing up liquid.
And that was the end of the appointment - short and sweet. I booked my January appointment and spent the walk to the train station running my tongue over the plastic to get used to the sensation. Whenever I bite down on my back teeth, the plastic from the top and bottom meet which feels weird, but it’s nothing I won’t quickly get used to.
I'm so excited now to get started!
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| Invisalign starter pack |
~ UPDATES ~
The same day:
Even after a few hours, it has already begun to feel uncomfortable! But it is a new sensation that I am simply not used to. I also guess it means that it is doing its job!
You can barely see it at all unless you're literally 1cm away from my face! Of course, there is a slight shine as it is plastic, but I am incredibly happy with how 'invisible' they seem!
The next day :
I have noticed how my teeth start to hurt when I take out the aligners for meals. It hurts to bite down on food, but to be honest I don’t mind. On the other hand, I do like that, because I want to take them out to eat (even though I don’t actually have to), it means that I’ve been snacking less in the day!Two weeks later:
Time to change to my new aligner! These two weeks have honestly been a breeze - as long as you remember to put them back in after meals, it’s all good! The one thing that did concern me a bit was cleanliness... they did start to look a bit gross, but I washed them with washing up liquid as recommended and all was good! The only other thing that bothers me is that I can’t really brush my teeth after EVERY meal due to work etc. However I wash my mouth out with water and get all the food out I can, and it seems to be enough. John also said I could use chewing gum to help. It’s the first day of putting in my new aligner, and honestly, it feels a little uncomfortable, which means it’s doing its job I guess! The plastic from the top aligner meets with the plastic from the bottom aligner in the back corner, which feels strange (like I can’t fully bite down). My teeth also ache more when I bite down on food, but it’s nothing too painful.
Four weeks later:
I’ve now had my second aligners in for 3-4 weeks... the issue I have found so far is that the aligner was becoming weaker over time and even cracked in one place, making it more difficult getting them in and out so I had to be super careful! I also had to regularly clean them as, as you can imagine, they got dirty quite quickly!
5. Attachments and wearing the aligners
After I had been wearing the aligners for a few months, I went to have attachments fitted on my teeth. The attachments are little bumps that are placed on your actual teeth to help guide the aligners into the correct position. Attachments are not always needed, but in my case they were. The process took around just over 30 minutes, and wasn’t too bad! It got quite uncomfortable holding my mouth open for that long, even with that awful 0 shape rubber ring they put in my mouth again like last time. It involved an awful lot of ice-cold water, too, which would not be fun if you suffer from extremely sensitive teeth! I myself have sensitive teeth but found this process to not be painful in the slightest. The only thing I found uncomfortable was trying to time when I could swallow so I didn’t interrupt their work!
After the attachments were finished, John handed me my new aligners for the next 4 weeks, and I put the next ones in there and then. The attachments made the aligners feel tighter, and he warned that they may make putting in and taking out the aligners more difficult, which proved to be true! He reminded me to keep up the cleanliness and to make sure I’m wearing them for a minimum of 22 hours a day.
I went and made an appointment exactly 4 weeks later, and I was done!
I had to email John as I was concerned about the attachments potentially coming off. They feel so unnatural that I genuinely felt like they would come off! He asked that I email him pictures of the attachments so that he can see if they were all in place. Luckily they were!
I thought I would include one of the photos I sent so that you can see the position of my teeth better.
6. IPR and 'chewies' (also known as 'gummies')
I had another appointment once all of my aligners had run out. I found the last four weeks very easy, just making sure to keep on top of oral hygiene and keeping them in for the set amount of time. Upon meeting John, he explained that there was still some ‘IPR’ left to do, but I was too embarrassed to ask what he meant. I quickly googled it when I left, and it means ‘interproximal reduction’. Basically, it’s the process of creating small spaces between my teeth, as some of my teeth are very crowded. What John would do is take what felt like a file, and run it between my teeth to create the gaps. This felt particularly uncomfortable between my crowded teeth - it felt like he was going to pull some of them out! But because of this I now find it's a lot easier to floss.
He gave me my new aligners for the next four weeks, and introduced me to ‘chewies'. These are small, quite tough objects that I have been instructed to chew on every Thursday and Friday - the first two days after changing the aligner - for around 20 minutes until I next see him. He explained that it’s important I chew on them with my front teeth, as that is where the most crowding is and the gummies are designed to strengthen the bone help loosen the teeth, allowing for movement.
Another appointment complete!
~UPDATES~
First time using chewies:
These are so strange to use! John said I could either chew them for 20 minutes all at once or for one minute 20 times a day, basically, however, I wanted as long as it was for 20 minutes! It hurt to use them at first, as my teeth are sore while they move, but I found it definitely helped in terms of eating - I have been finding eating uncomfortable, almost like my teeth are going to fall out! But using the chewies has helped them to feel less sensitive.
It is quite easy to forget to use them, though, so just be aware! I've been keeping them in the Invisalign case that was given to me in the starter pack.
7. Halfway through!
At today's appointment, John told me I was around halfway through! He did some more IPR on my top teeth, which was super uncomfortable! My top teeth are still very crowded, though. However, I have noticed a HUGE difference in my two front teeth - one stuck out more than the other before, but now they are almost completely even! I never thought my teeth could be this straight! I am so beyond happy.
I am now on aligner 12 of 25.
In order to make it easier to get appointments around my work schedule, John made an appointment for four weeks time and said from then on they could give me 10 weeks worth of aligners instead of 4, as now I should be done with the IPR and attachments.
It feels good to finally see some results!!
~UPDATES~
Two weeks later
I am now on aligner 14 of 25 and everything has been going smoothly up until now.
I changed to aligner 14, and I instantly noticed how painful it was. It is always painful to change aligners, but this was significantly more so. I also noticed that it didn't sit properly against the bottoms of my two front teeth, and the top of the aligner stuck out against my gum (ouch). I emailed John that evening out of desperation, including photos. He got back to me the next morning and suggested I wear aligner 13, the previous week's, for another week, and use the dental chewies for 10 minutes every day. I feel quite bad as I feel responsible in some way, even though I have been doing everything correctly and haven't had any problems so far. I hope this isn't too much of a setback!
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| The photo I emailed my dentist, showing the ill-fitting aligner |
The next week
I kept the last week's aligner in for a week and used the chewies every day for 10 minutes as instructed. It was a relief to have the old one in, I can't describe how painful the new one was! The next week rolled around and I was incredibly anxious to put the new one in. This time it fit a little better on my back teeth than before, but still felt a bit off on my front teeth. I left it for a couple of days, using the chewies for 20 minutes, and finally, on the third day, they now feel better! I am no longer in pain! I think it is where these ones are more fitted to my back teeth that they felt a bit off on my front teeth. I am going back to the dentist this week, so I can discuss it more with John then.
I also thought now would be a fun time to compare my very first aligners with my current ones as I'm around halfway through, four months apart. The difference in my front teeth is INSANE - I am over the moon!
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| Aligner 14 of 25 |
A few weeks later
I changed to aligner 15 and was nervous because of the troubles I faced with the last weeks' one. Thankfully this one felt a little bit better! Luckily I had an appointment that same morning so I could discuss it more in detail.
During this appointment, they did some more IPR on my top teeth and had a good look at the new aligner placement. John was a bit concerned about my top teeth still, so gave me some new instructions. He said I was to use the chewies for 20 minutes on the first two days as normal and then to use them for 10 minutes every day until the next week. At the end of that week, he asked if I could email him photos of my top teeth with the aligners in so he can see what steps to take next.
Usually, I would make a new appointment at the end of the current appointment, but because he doesn't know how long I'll need to wear certain aligners this time he told me to not make a new appointment just yet, but that he will let me know when I email him.
I just hope the next few weeks aren't too complicated!
A few months later
Long time, no update! Everything has been going along as normal - wearing the aligner for one week, using the chewies on the first two days, then moving onto the new ones.
I experienced one hiccup, where I couldn't make my dental appointment as the train was cancelled, and then I had to travel away for a wedding. Luckily, John was incredibly brilliant and offered to drop my next couple of aligners at my flat! I couldn't believe he was willing to go to so much effort for me.
I finally made a new appointment, and was told I only had three more aligners to go! I can't believe it! I was told I would wear the first two aligners as normal, then wear the final aligner for two weeks. I would then go back to have the attachments removed, and then would go back again two weeks later to have one final good clean and have my teeth whitened. I'm so excited! I'm so amazed by the progress of my teeth.
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| Aligner 22 of 25! |
8. The final weeks
So a few weeks have gone by, and I have worn my final aligner for a total of three weeks - it was supposed to be for two, but I couldn’t get an appointment until a week later due to work. The aligner was disgusting by the time my appointment came around, despite me cleaning them almost every day! I am so relieved that I will no longer need to wear these anymore!
My final appointment lasted a grand total of around five minutes. I was told I would have a deep clean, but they didn’t do that for some reason. I also assumed the teeth whitening would be done at the practice, but they instead gave me teeth whitening kits so I could do it myself at home. I've never whitened my teeth before, so John explained to me how to do it.
I was given an Invisalign branded box containing Vivera (brand) retainers. These are tougher and thicker than normal aligners, and these are what will keep my teeth in their new position. I was told that I should wear them as often as possible for the next six months, wearing them just at night as the absolute minimum. They feel more rigid in my mouth, but that’s because I was informed that one set should last a few years! I was given three sets and told that if I should need any information, help, advice, or more teeth whitening kits down the line, now treatment is completed I could still contact the practice at any time. I signed a ‘completion of Invisalign’ form, a teeth whitening form, and that was that!
I can’t believe my Invisalign journey is now over! I am so beyond pleased with the results. It feels so strange not having to hide my smile anymore! I feel free.
Here are my final photos!
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| While I still have an overbite, it is slightly better than it was before, and is not as noticeable when I smile! |
A final comparison
Feel free to comment with any questions, I will be more than happy to respond!
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