This conversation about Invisalign was made possible through SITS – all opinions are my own.
Braces Then, Invisalign Now
I never had braces as a child. It’s not that I didn’t need them, I did. But with 5 kids in the family, my parents could only afford them for the child that needed them most. I watched with some jealousy as my friends hit puberty and they were outfitted with braces – it seemed a rite of passage I would never participate in. Even when their mouths were full of colored bands, their lips bleeding from the bands, and headgear worn round the clock, I still wished I could be a part of it.
When I started working and got dental insurance of my own, I briefly thought about getting braces. But by then I was in my early 20’s and dating and the thought of those silver brackets on my teeth weren’t as enticing. It wasn’t long before I was married and having children and my own teeth were no longer a priority.
It’s My Turn To Have a Great Smile
But now that I’m in my 50’s and my gap has grown, I’m thinking it’s time to do something about them for me. But seeing a good friend’s experiences with traditional braces has turned me away from them. Sure, I could go without a few meals, but I really don’t know if I’m ready to accept the pain she appears to be having as part of my daily routine.
And that’s why when I was invited to an Invisalign Straight Talk event (#INVStraightTalk) I jumped at the chance to go. I know a little bit about them, but not enough, and I had some questions I wanted to ask the Invisalign professionals.
First, I learned Invisalign and Invisalign Teen, can be used on pre-teens, teens, adults, and even senior citizens like me. Secondly, I learned that providers are rated based on their experience, so choosing the right provider is important. The provider information is available on the Invisalign website and for personal reasons, I’m going with one of the top three tiers of professionals (I’ve had some horrible experiences with dentists in the past – I’m not repeating that mistake and I’m going with an expert). Thirdly, I found out that they can be used on people like me who have a bridge (or in my case two bridges) and other abnormalities – you don’t have to have perfect teeth to get a great experience from them.
How is Invisalign Different from Traditional Braces?
So what is Invisalign and how is it different from traditional braces? They’re clear aligners which are made from a really lightweight plastic which fits over your teeth. Every two weeks or so, your aligner is replaced with a new one that’s slightly different, and it’s this slight difference that moves your teeth in the manner your orthodontist recommends. There is nothing attached to your teeth – no brackets, wires, etc – so that means no painful cuts and sores in your mouth and no change to your eating. Simply remove the aligner to eat and care for your teeth and then replace it. It’s that simple!
The time to straighten the teeth is about the same between the old and new technology, but the Invisalign wins for me in aesthetics, ease, and wearablity. Plus, I’m told the cost is about the same, there are less office visits, and insurance covers at about the same rate.
Invisalign Costs and Payment Calculator
So I’ll be making an appointment to see an Invisalign specialist soon to talk about the costs involved, to verify I’m a good candidate, and to find out how long it will be before I have less of a gap in my teeth.
Have you used Invisalign? I’d love to find out how it worked for others and questions to ask my provider.
Connect With Invisalign
This conversation about Invisalign was made possible through SITS – all opinions are my own.
The REALLY big plus with Invisalign vs. “regular” ortho is that the teeth, and all the soft tissue are much healthier throughout (and after) the treatment period. When I had patients with standard ortho, there was always a plaque and calculus accumulation way above normal. It’s just really hard to effectively clean around all the brackets, wires, etc., despite oral irrigation devices, special powered brushes, and other home care adjuncts. I’ve never seen a patient with ortho that didn’t have gingivitis to one degree or another. In addition, there was usually an area of chalky decalcification (if not outright caries!) around the area where the brackets were removed, generally right in the middle of the 2 front teeth. Because Invisalign is not bonded and fixed to the teeth, they can be brushed and flossed normally.
So good to know – you’ve just cemented my choice (pun intended! :))
I had the old fashioned kind at 40 years old! I loved the results and only had to wear them for about a year. My hubby works with a woman who wears them. She likes them okay, but her insurance didn’t cover them for some reason. Best of luck!
Invisalign Works! I highly recommend them! My daughter had braces all through high school. Her teeth were beautiful when they came off! However, they started shifting
at some point! We went back to our orthodontist to find out what went wrong. He
gave us an explanation that I don’t recall now and recommended Invisalign and of course gave us a discount. We only purchased the top and her teeth are beautiful again and have stayed that way!
Don’t even think twice about getting them, they are well worth it!
After reading about my friends braces, these definitely seem the only way to go for me. She can barely eat (granted I could lose weight), but the pain of regular braces seems barbaric.
I’m planning on making an appointment soon. The dentist’s we met with said their oldest patient just turned 86. I love it.
I have a similar gap and have been thinking about the invisalign also. I’m close to the same age as you and I’ve noticed recently that it’s getting a bit wider. Time to look into how much they would cost. 🙂
That’s a great pic of you! I don’t think that gap detracts from your beauty one little bit. 🙂
Ah, you’re so sweet. It’s a little tweak I want to do for myself. My hubby is on board now that I’ve shown him the cost calculator. It’s doable. I do wish insurance paid more though.
I am looking at getting them too. My DDS is a provider and says I ama good candidate. Emily Iis in braces now so I have to wait till she is done gor ne to do this.