Hello Women Over 30,
I’m wondering if anyone here has gotten invisalign, and if so how was the experience and how happy were you with the results? I am seriously considering invisalign to help with jaw alignment. My bite has always been pretty uncomfortable since I got braces as a teen, and my teeth don’t “fit together” well, which i find very distracting. So its not for aesthetic purposes.
It is very expensive ($6000 CAD quote), so its something I have to really think about before committing, and hearing some personal experiences might help. Part of me is worried I won’t like the results and end up wasting a lot of money. Another thing is I am getting married this summer, so its not ideal to have them at this time, but also I figure I shouldn’t let a wedding postpone something medical.
Thanks!!
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I’m also in Canada and am currently in Invisalign treatment. I would definitely wait until your wedding is over before starting. What you can do in the meantime is get a few quotes from orthodontist and compare the plans. If you were quoted $6K that was likely for Invisalign Comprehensive
It works but you have to be extremely diligent about wearing the trays or it’s money in the garbage. And for most people I know the course went on longer than initially predicted but there was no add on price. If it matters, it’s also a great diet, lol, since you have to take the trays out to eat. It seriously cut down on my snacking, especially when I was prepping food for the kids. No grilled cheese crust or handful of goldfish since the trays were in.
I got Invisalign when I was in my 30s several years ago. I did to re-straighten some teeth. (I had braces in Jr. High and when I got to college, I thought I was too cool for my retainer, so some teeth shifted back).
Everyone’s treatment is different. Mine was a little over two years. I wear my retainer religiously every night.
It wasn’t a big deal for me. I never really liked coffee, so I didn’t have to constantly remove my aligners and put them back in to drink coffee or non-clear beverages. I stuck with water.
I did have to remove them before eating lunch mid-day. Then floss and brush before putting them back in. Not a big deal for me to do. If you aren’t consistent in brushing before putting them back in or cleaning them, they will get discolor, so keep that in mind.
You have to wear them consistently, with the exception of when you are eating (or drinking non-clear beverages).
It’s been 6 years since I completed mine and my teeth still look good. I still wear my retainer nightly. When I forget to wear my retainer, I can feel it. I’m so scared my teeth will go back so I am good at not missing my night retainer.
If you decide to go through with it, only use an Orthodontist for treatment. I made the mistake of going through my regular, non-Orthodontist dentist, and while my results are good, there are a couple of things that made me with I had gone with an actual Orthodontist instead.
Also, those “cleaning crystals” or whatever are garbage. Dont waste your money on them.
I got a small ultrasonic jewelry cleaner to clean mine. Add some water, and one drop of dish soap and it will do the trick. It’s much more economical in the long run. When I travel, I usually clean my retainer with toothpaste and my toothbrush.
I did Invisalign a few years back (in my early 30s) and I had about a year of treatment retainers.
First, I’d make sure to talk with your dentist to confirm if Invisalign will address the issues you’re having. If so, it’s possible insurance might cover some of the cost if it’s deemed a medical (vs just cosmetic) procedure.
In terms of the actual process, the first few weeks and months are the roughest. Your mouth has to adjust to having those retainers in the majority of your day and night (you’re only supposed to take them out only to eat) and it’s especially painful at the start of each new retainer (they change every 2-3 weeks, or at least they did for me). You’ll likely have a lisp as well as your mouth adjusts to the retainers. There’s lots of maintenance as well – every time after you eat, you’ll need to brush your teeth before popping your retainers back in. You’ll also need to clean your retainers regularly so they don’t get gross.
I’m happy with the results (I got Invisalign to minimize damage from teeth grinding / erosion so it was not just cosmetic either) but it is a fair amount of work.