Never realized they would be so visible...

[orangeena]

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....

[Coco212]

^^ True story. I've found that the people who notice teeth in general are people who are seeking or going through orthodontic treatment themselves. No one noticed my invisalign unless I pointed it out to them. One time I went to my voice lesson right after I got my first set of trays, and halfway through the lesson my teacher had me do lip trills, and I said I wasn't sure I could do them because I just got invisalign, and she was absolutely shocked she hadn't noticed them and how invisible they are. Seriously, no one notices. Don't worry

[Steve88]

I've had Invisalign for five months and there are people at work I run into every week who weren't even aware of it until I mentioned it. I think a lot of it is in your head...don't be so worried. Just think of how great your teeth will look when you're done!

[diehard]

they are good but the few things that can give it away are:

lisping (I did not suffer this)

teeth extracted, the reason I mention this is because this is how my cuz spotted the trays because we were in the car and he saw the gap from the side of my mouth.

the sun or bright light (seem to refelect or glimmer)

[dezzee]

Be patient! The lisping will eventually lesson when you get used to wearing them. I find now that I'm more comfortable with them in then when they are out. If your not already, drink a lot of water! I find that the drier my mouth is, the worse my speech is.

[PIMPmyTEETH]

the sunlight definitely makes them more visible. the only time someone has noticed that i was wearing the trays was on a bright, sunny day. damn close talkers!

[arch712]

damn close talkers!

Yeah those people that fixate on your mouth while you talk.

[fabfemme]

i agree, i think WE think they are more visible than they really are.

we're self-conscious about the visibility and lisp but i've found that most people don't even notice. i do a lot of public speaking at my job so i was very worried about the visibility and lisp but am pleasantly surprised that hardly anyone ever notices )

[diehard]

remember the golden rule:

try and stay over a foot away when speaking to someone

[jeni]

You shouldn't make removing them for times other than when eating a habit. The more time that they are out, the less time that they are in and able to work. In the end, this could adversely impact your treatment time and/or quality.

I have high-profile meetings all the time and am constantly meeting and talking to new people. No one has said anything. Last week, I had a meeting right after lunch (someone just showed up) before I could get the aligners back in and it lasted over two hours. As a direct result, I will be wearing these aligners extra time. So far, everything is on track and I want things to stay that way so that I finish by October and not by next May as originally planned (includes time for any refinements that may need to be done).

Would you prefer that someone notice that your teeth are extra shiny or metal/ceramic brackets? I opt for allowing the whole world to think that my teeth are just super shiny!

[sandra]

EVERYONE notices mine, but then I have buttons on my front teeth, too. One of my preschool students told me they were "gross".
I am also a performer and I take them out when I perform and sometimes when I teach my adult performance classes. To me, taking them out for 2 hours here or there doesn't make a difference, but everyone is their own case.

[stephb11]

I'm in sales and talk to different people all day long. I'd say maybe 8 people (in nine months...out of hundreds I talk to) have noticed on their own. And most of them only noticed because they were looking into getting them themselves and were fixated on teeth. They are more noticeable in candlelight and similar lighting b/c they really shine.

[sweetgirl7354]

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?

[diehard]

a tip for anyone who is gonna get invisalign is to plan ahead what to do eating and brushing wise

[jeni]

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!