smile786

I remember when i first started treatment i looked for information on invisalign for a long time. luckily i found this website and a few youtubers. i can't believe that today after living with crowded and crooked teeth for 22 years and invisalign for 9 months, i too have my own story.
PROS:
if someone asked me today if i would recommend invisalign or not, i would in a heartbeat. i smile all the time, without a thought. i was always complimented on my smile because of dimples but hated my smile because i was so conscious about my teeth. now, i love my natural smile and i dont feel the need to smirk in pictures and feel weird.
CON:
BUT, as a 23 year old without a job (as of now), invisalign/orthodontist treatment is a HUGE expense. i had to wait until i was working and had insurance to get invisalign because of how much it costs. i paid close to $4400 out of my own pocket for this, with insurance it was almost $5900. (i am in the northeast, and from what i have seen and heard, i feel like i paid too much lol)
PRO:
i am very happy that I started treatment when i had enough savings, knowing me i would have vacationed all my money away or paid college loans and put off my quest to a better smile to the future had i not finalized everything back in february.
CONS:
9 months after treatment...i have learned to live with invisalign. i never understood why people said that they stopped wearing trays toward the end of their treatment because its so exciting to be close to done. but when you are almost finished, it seems like SUCH a hassle.

mid-treatment you look forward to the end, but when the end is near you and see your teeth look really good, so much better from when you started, you lose motivation. i lost motivation after tray 16.

i have been SOOO bad about keeping my aligners in 20 hours this holiday season. in the beginning of my treatment it was sooo easy to keep the aligners in for 22 hours but now--after going out with friends, dinners, etc it seems so difficult to brush teeth and then wait to put the trays, hoping they arent disgusting and foggy. i now realize how icky looking old trays get, i've been wearing my current trays for 4 weeks and cleaning them seems so annoying. some nights i've kept my trays out for a good 4 hours. which is really bad and CRAZYYY.

i think i have lost weight with invisalign because i cannot just snack anytime like i used to. if i ever snack with the trays in, they get DISGUSTING and difficult to clean. if i take them out to eat...brushing my teeth and all that is difficult. so i just opt not to eat at all--and pray that i'll eat big meals.

I REALLY just want to be DONE now (have teeth without attachments) and get impressions for new trays.

after i'm done refinements...i'm considering a permanent retainer because a) i hear some retainers don't show; b) it'll be a lot easier than having to carry around/worry about teeth shifting if i dont put the the retainer on.

i'm really hoping that i only have 5 more trays max. i have a feeling my midlines may match, and my teeth might be perfect... lets see...

even if i have a few extra trays and the end result will mean an awesome smile...i will do it.

happy new year everyone!! hope that everyone's treatment is awesome and has a beautifulll smile soon!!!