Should I get Invisalign Braces?
Invisalign braces are marketed as ‘a clear alternative to braces’, which is a slight pun on the fact that they are see-through, but also shows that they believe there is a distinction between themselves and the standard metal braces that fill children and adults with dread. However for our purposes we consider them to be braces as they offer the same function, to realign and improve the positioning of your teeth.
What are Invisalign Braces?
Invisalign braces are made out of a clear plastic material that are custom moulded to fit your teeth. That are designed to gradually reposition your teeth over time and appear to be suited to people want to correct cosmetic teeth issues rather than serious dental problems. The invisalign braces can be removed during eating, brushing, flossing and for any other purposes during the day. The literature states that you’ll need to change your invisalign braces every two weeks whilst your teeth move a small amount everyday until they are in the correct position.
Because they are made of clear plastic they are very hard to see and most people won’t notice you are wearing them, the fact that they can be removed means that food and gunk wont get stuck behind them and there are no metal wires to irritate you.
Getting Invisalign Braces
In the UK invisalign braces are currently available for both adults and children and are offered by many private dental practitioners. It does not appear to be possible to get invisalign braces on the NHS. The cost of the braces varies but expect to pay between £2000 and £5000 for the complete treatment, although this may sound expensive it is comparable to traditional braces, perhaps slightly more expensive.Are Invisalign Braces any good?
After trawling through the web for reviews on invisalign prices we can conclude that yes they are good and they work very well! There are many reviews out there which state that the invisalign braces corrected their teeth problems and that they are indeed far more discreet than metal braces. Plenty of people talk about the fact that no-one noticed that they were wearing them.
A number of reviews talk about the difficulty in fitting the braces in the first place, especially when a new set is put in for the first time, but this is probably no more problematic than metal braces and the issues that arise when they are fitted and/or adjusted.
There seem to be teething problems with these braces (excuse the pun) but no more so than any other braces. The only major draw back that comes up in the reviews is that you pretty much have to remove them in order to eat, unlike normal metal braces. Okay so normal braces are a pain and are certainly not discreet, but you often don’t have to (or cant) pull them out of your mouth every time you want a meal or a snack!
Other Problems include:
• Difficulty in removing the invisalign braces
• Pain in the front teeth, especially when biting
• Problems with the ‘buttons’ (used for problematic teeth) coming off
• They are more expensive than standard braces
• They can affect your speech to start with
However standard braces have plenty of problems themselves, after all at the end of the day you are trying to pull your teeth in directions that they don’t want to go, so you should expect a few problems along the way.
Invisalign Braces Conclusion
Invisalign braces certainly aren’t cheap and may be harder to get hold of than normal braces, but they have a good reputation in the market. The fact that people don’t notice that you are wearing them is a very big plus point, especially for teenage kids and other image conscious people. They offer a good solution to correcting teeth positioning problems, and whilst there are some initial difficulties with using them these are certainly no more problematic than standard braces. They do cost a little bit more, but if you want their advantages then they may be worth it.
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"Do your homework! I had Invisalign at Q Clinic on Harley Street so thought I was in good hands right? Wrong!! I had to pay to have the treatment finished with another dentist in the end. Moral of the story, don't go with the cheapest dentist."
steve
"Just started my Invisalign treatment with Dr Kumar (formerly 86 harley St) Highly recommended from a family member whose teeth look absolutely fantastic. I'm on third set of aligners and already there is a difference. He is a little pricer than other dentists but felt he really knew the Invisalign programme well. I suppose you get what you pay for :)"
Mina Kaler
"As a 35 year old male wanting straight teeth seemd like an embarassing process where huge braces were fitted to my teeth. But thanks to Tracey Bell and her clinic in Liverpool the amazing option of invisalign was discussed with me. Hardly noticeable at all when i had them in for the 15 months. Great pricing and amazing treatment and the clinic was amazing in itself. Very slight pain within the first few weeks but the "
John Kimble
"I\'m on tray 5 off 36. Long way to go yet, 5th tray was put on this morning and i have to admit this is the worse one so far. Most painful by far. Once i take my brace out it feels as if my teeth are going to fall out. Slightly concerned about the retainer. Please explain."
Brown
"Invisalign is a fantastic way to straighten teeth nearly invisibly and without the need for metal braces."
Amy
"I had the treatment carried out last year and i am very happy with the result. Even though there is a slight discomfort when the new aligners are put in. Just a word of warning though, once the treatment is over the teeth will move and if the retainer is not worn at night, everynight, it will be be fairly painful putting them back in. Also the retainers cost about £150 to replace and every year they will need replacing as the build up of bateria can make then rather smelly and unsightly. ps- to remove the aligners pull from the rear teeth, but if you have the brackets on, try and pop off from them first."
Coose
"I am now on set 6 of 53 and although there were a few problem to start with, ie brace ripping in the first week and feeling terrified of removing the tray each time as it felt as though my teeth were going to be pulled out at the same time. I have got the hang of removing the tray with no problem at all, there definitely is a knack to it but initially it was petrifying and i lost 1/2 a stone in weight! I am just left wondering now if the movement is sufficient as my teeth are never sore - something to take up with the Dentist i guess!"
jane
"Thought I would add my comment  I too have had invisalign. Bottom teeth are very overcrowded and have 2 top teeth that overlap the others. Treatment will cost around £3,800. One thing I did not realise was that the attachments would be fixed to my front teeth and not back teeth, so attachments on front top and bottom teeth. The attachments are tooth coloured and are not very noticeable. I also had 2 teeth filed in order to create space. The braces are very difficult to remove and insert to start with, and I found it pretty painful. They are also very uncomfortable to wear. The braces have built in pockets to cover the attachments on your teeth and this is what makes them tricky to remove and insert. It does get easier. They also fill with saliva which I think is the most noticeable thing about the braces and again something I was not prepared for. I also had a lisp to start with. Overall I am still undecided,, perhaps my own fault for unrealistic expectations as I really did think they would be invisible and comfortable to wear and this is certainly not true in my case. "
Lilly
"I'm on my second set of tray's both upper & lower. Only slightly uncomfortable to start but nothing I couldn't cope with. Really easy to get in an out and no-one has noticed I'm wearing them unless I tell them! Speech completely normal and I'm seeing the effects after only 4 weeks!"
Jenny
"I had Invisalign done at Holborn Dental Centre with a Doctor Tinkler. He comes highly recommended and had been doing Invisalign for a long time. I have been nothing but happy with the results!"
simon
"Just started 1st upper tray and found the tray virtually impossible to remove, scary - plus the tray has ripped, something the dentist told me was impossible! Now have to wait for new retainer to come from America. Not a good start."
Jane
"I'm on set 10 0f 18 invisalign braces and yes the review is pretty much correct ...I have never had a problem removing the braces to eat ..on the down side my children moan that my breath smells since wearing the braces!!! but my teeth are MUCH straigter"
J . Neill