orangeena wrote:Well, I just started my invisalign treatment this past week.
I was thrilled to see the top only needed 8 aligners! (My tops are pretty good, the bottom had quite a bit of crowding.) The bottom will take 29, tho. I only have one button, too. After reading these boards, I feel a little lucky for that, too. I'm just hoping I won't have to wear the the last top aligner for the remaining 42 weeks until the bottom finishes!
I have to admit, though, I am a little disappointed. I didn't realize they would be as visible as they are. I did lots of research online and asked lots of questions at the dentist before I decided, but no where did I ever really hear anything other than "they're nearly invisible", "they're clear" etc.
After leaving the dentist office last week, I was so upset I was actually considering not wearing them to work at all and wondering how much that would affect treatment. I got over that and I am wearing them to work, but I do take them out for an occasional high-profile meeting....I'd prefer not to sound like a lisping 6-year-old when I'm meeting with an executive. lol.
Was anyone else shocked about how visible they really are?
perhaps it's just me....
Well I started my invisalign treatment on Wednesday and I have to say they felt a little weird in my mouth. But overall I'm not too disapointed. No one really noticed them at work, but after refusing breakfast and lunch for three days, I finally told my coworkers that the reason why I wasn't eating is because I'm wearing new braces and I didn't feel like being bothered to take them out and and then have to brush my teeth afterwards. But my overall experience so far is good. No lisping, they are easy to remove but I do have a lot of saliva and a funny taste in my mouth. But I committed the ultimate sin today. I had to pop a gum in my mouth. I only sucked on it. I'm bad aren't I?
Sweetgirl, you are not bad. I commit the other ultimate sin of Invisalign wear - eating with them in. It seems as though they want to make you think this is illegal but there is no reason you can't if you rinse and brush regularly.
Last week over the course of 2 days alone, I ate: a donut, probably 15 of the big crackers that are used at wineries, several cheeses, some finger food meat, a banana, 2 cookies, pretzels, and drank a Coke (this is a rarity but it was the only choice) and more than a dozen different wines. It is better than starving or leaving them out too long! Amazingly enough, they didn't look any nastier than usual after all of that! Ice cream is the worst! I learned that lesson after the second time of eating ice cream with them in!
I would totally disagree with the "they are so visible" statement. I am 17 and work in a business where I am the youngest employee so I didn't want to not be taken seriously by metal braces. I went with invisalign and have had them for about 2 months. NOBODY has noticed, not even one person. My mom doesn't even know if they are in or not. When I have to take off work early to go to the orthodontist and tell my boss where im going he says "You don't have braces, why do you have to go to the orthodontist?" and I tell him I have invisalign and he said "WOW I didnt even know you were doing the invisalign thing I guess they mean it when they say they are invisible" Sure you know they are there so in your mind your like oh god everyone sees this plastic in my mouth. Seriously though they are better than metal right? And your getting the smile you wanted out of it and your getting faster results. I will have 12 buttons put on in 2 weeks and I know they will be a little more visible but its only going to be 9 more months and Im getting the smile I have always wanted. I cant complain, love the system.
Don't worry - I'm on tray 5 and no one (other than who I have told) knows I'm wearing them! You are more aware than other people of your appearance. Drink a lot of water - this helps with the lisping and the funky feeling you get in your mouth. Advice - do not drink red wine - you will look like a vampire!
I am actually relieved with how INVISIBLE they are. I have had them since last wednesday, and nobody has noticed. I was worried that the plastic would be visible because of the gap between my two front teeth, but this is not the case. Infact, the plastic seems to mask the gap a little bit, making my teeth look much better when the aligners are in. I like wearing them. I have to mention though, I NEVER smile showing my teeth, so this is probably part of the reason noone has noticed. I do my best to hide my teeth, and will continue to do so until they are actually straight. But even when I do smile, they are very invisible. Unless you are standing about a foot away from the person you are talking to, no one is going to notice.
Just wanted to respond to the comment about Invisalign being noticeable. I just got the retainers about a month ago and I think that the technology is brilliant. No foreign object inserted into or on to parts of our body can be truly invisible, and the aligners certainly beat wires and elastic bands. The aligners don't affect my speech at all (which was my main worry), so this is a worthwhile endeavour.
I would just say for anyone who is considering Invisalign to ask your orthodontist if they will have bumps on them. When I received my aligners they had all these bumps on them--a whole different look to the smooth aligner that I was shown in the office when I was enquiring about the product. I then learned, that as part of my treatment I would have to have about 11 bumps molded on to my teeth to help the aligners draw my teeth in even more. I'm fine with it as it's better than having metal in the mouth, but this is information that your orthodontist will not volunteer if you are really nervous about whether or not people will see them.
Ultimately, I view having this treatment as a luxury so I don't really care what people think most of the time as it's a temporary situation in the scale of things.
I agree with jennicakes, I am also closing a gap in my front 2 teeth and am amazed my teeth look better with them in! Not one person has noticed i have them in! Even my best friend said the other night.."when are u going to put those things in?" LOL she could not believe they were already in! I actually think they are less noticable after i have brushed them for a couple of days. i think they look more invisable when they arent quite so shiny. Invisalign is awesome for me!
my teeth are getting to a point where in a few more months i will be able to and not worry about how i look, im already thinking about future treatments and i can see me just pulling the trays out infront of people who still do not know like my work mates just for the factor
It seems as though they want to make you think this is illegal but there is no reason you can't if you rinse and brush regularly. 
factor