Need some advice! (with pictures)

[xbitten]

I just had my consultation with my ortho. My major problem is the single tooth cross bite on the right side. (See pictures below) She says that I qualify for Invisalign and that it would take 10-12 months. She says that with traditional braces, metal or ceramic, it would take 18 months. Here are my questions:

1) Is it normal for Invisalign to take less time than traditional braces?

2) Does anyone have any experience with Invisalign fixing a single tooth cross bite?

3) I'm a constant eater - 5 small meals a day. Would my diet have to drastically change if I get Invisalign?

Any advice would be really greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[jeni]

1.) In my experience, yes. I was quoted 18 months with regular braces by two orthos or 15 months for Invisalign by one (including some extra for refinements). So, I was expecting about 30 aligners but only have 17 upper and 19 lower. That is about 9 months.

2.) not me

3.) Your diet will only change if you want it to. I think that most people find it inconvenient to take out aligners then brush just to eat a small meal or find it annoying to have to do the extra deep cleans on the aligners to keep them looking and smelling okay since they couldn't brush right after the meal. You can still eat as many times as you want to so long as you still get the 20-22 hours in each day by eating those meals very quickly. But you will likely find that it is not worth the trouble and condense the mealtimes. There are also certain foods that require extra work to clean from the aligners (like ice cream and chocolate) and that makes me think twice about whether or not it is worth it to eat in the first place. Even if I brush before putting the aligners back in, it is as though ice cream leaves some residue in my mouth that ends up clouding the aligners and then will smell like souring milk. ewww!!!

[scorpetteFL]

I think it is normal to take less time, though mine is going to take at least as long - my tops are supposed to be done in 2 1/2 weeks, and there is NO WAY they are going to be done

As far as eating - you really need to wear the aligners for 21-22 hours a day. If not they just won't work - I had been wearing mine for maybe 18 and had to go back several to try and correct that. So I only eat 3 times a day and really never snack anymore - I lost 10 pounds!