Munkie's Invisalign Blog

Hello!!!

I've seen a few of these blogs around, so I thought I'd do one TSR style, from a student's perspective. I'll update this thread every so often to document my experiences and share my progress with you guys.

Invisalign is used to straighten teeth using a series of clear plastic aligner trays instead of metal braces. The whole process is described in this information video. I won't waste your time describing Invisalign itself - chances are if you're reading this you'll know quite a bit about it already.

I had removable metal braces for around 18 months in high school, followed by two years of wearing them as a retainer at night. I wasn't quite as faithful with the retainer as I could have been, and since then I developed a gap between my two front teeth. My front four bottom teeth are crowded, but they are no worse than at the end of my last treatment.

My dentist offered me metal braces, which would require a fraenectomy to remove the ligament between my top lip and the gum above my front teeth, and would cost £1800. So when I searched Google a year later and found out that I could get Invisalign for £1500 - I decided to go for this instead.

I'm having my treatment at the Q Clinic in London's Harley Street - about 45 minutes on the 'bus from my halls. They advertise on Google searches for "Invisalign" for most of the day. The clinic is very professional, with iMac computers, glass desks, plasma screens etc.

The total treatment cost is:

Up front:
£95 for an X-ray
£1500 for Invisalign, including all appointments (now £1450 I believe?)

Later:
£200-300 for a retainer

Unfortunately there's no payment plan or free credit.

I will be in treatment for 4 months on the upper jaw and 6 months on the lower jaw. I have been shown a 3D model of what my smile should look like after the treatment, and I must say that I really can't wait!


Fast-forward 12 weeks after the initial appointment to today when my first set of aligners were fitted. I have attached pictures of my mouth with and without the aligners. (Please note that the pictures are at very close range - my teeth don't look anywhere near as crooked as that!) The bubble on the right hand side of the upper tray is where I will have an "attachment" bonded to my tooth to help with movement.

Dr. Anand fitted the aligners then showed me how to remove them and put them back in. They're actually a lot more rigid than they appear to be, and audibly 'click' in to place on your teeth. He gave me a short booklet of dos and don'ts, and a nice blue plastic case to store the aligners in when I'm eating or brushing my teeth.

Although I can feel a little pressure from the teeth being moved, it isn't at all painful - some people report having to take a few paracetamol when they first start treatment but so far it's been okay. Already my teeth have moved a little bit since this morning - I can floss more easily in places where it was quite difficult earlier on.

The main problem at the moment is with my speech: I am lisping quite a bit. It should last for a few days according to the booklet but I'm trying to speed things up by reading aloud to myself - with lectures tomorrow I really want to get it sorted ASAP.

--

So, that's where I am at the moment! As I said I'll update this thread every so often as I go through the treatment. Feel free to ask any questions in this thread (but please don't let it get too spammed-up!).

Alex

Why didn't you just have train tracks op?

This reads slightly like a subliminal advertisement for Q Clinic.

I didn't want to have train tracks because I don't like the way they look on older people (it's kind of cute when you're in your teens!). Also they were more expensive, restrict what you can eat (e.g. no curries, no red wine because of staining) and because it would mean I'd have to have a (minor) surgical procedure!

So, lots of reasons really!

Second Appointment

I went for my second appointment, to collect some more aligner trays and to have my second set fitted.

The dentist also fitted a 'button' - this is a small tooth-coloured blob which is cemented to the front of some teeth to give the aligners something to grip. The experience was a little uncomfortable but didn't hurt. He used some purple stuff from a syringe, put the button on with tweezers, then fitted the trays. He used a UV/blue light to set the cement, then removed the aligner. (There was some waxy paste on my upper gum that I noticed on my way home that tasted AWFUL and actually made my gum hurt - it could have been dental wax or some sort of anaesthetic gel)

I was then fitted with my second set of trays and I have to say it wasn't just uncomfortable, it was downright painful. This set were much tighter, and thanks to the 'button' it felt like my teeth were being ripped out!

After 24 hours the pain is subsiding and I can now manage to eat solid food.

I have been given my next 5 sets of trays to change every 2 weeks at home, and I'll see the orthodontist again in February.

Unfortunately I'm still lisping. I asked about this and was told that speech should have gone back to normal by now, so I'll wait and see.

any more updates on the treatment mate? (attatching a 'latest' picture would be great). just went for my initial consultation today, quoted £2495 for everything - xrays, the aligners, the checkups, the after treatment retainer, the permanent retainer after everything, and finally tooth whitening. quite looking forward to it

Sorry for the delay on this - I didn't have my camera!

£2495? Are you at the London Bridge one?

As far as updates go... everything's going to plan really. I'm on my second-to-last tray for the uppers - they'll be finished in 3 weeks (after which I'm only to wear trays at night).

The gap between my front teeth (which was the main problem) is now all but gone, it will be fully closed by next Thursday when I have had the final tray for a day or so.

The lowers will be finished by mid-May.

Photo attached - again they don't look as crooked as that in real life.