Hi, New user Ruth age 50, Essex, England

Hello everyone, My name is Ruth, and I am aged 50. I live in Essex, England. I have plucked up the courage to sort my teeth out, at long last. It is very expensive, but I am happy to forfeit things like new cars, fancy clothes and holidays to pay for Invisalign and cosmetic dentistry. I believe it is better to spend limited funds on long lasting benefits, that boost your confidence.
I had to have four teeth removed....two upper, and two lower to make room from overcrowding. I suffer from badly receding gums too, which make things harder still. I had an unfortunate very long delay getting them fitted. My Orthodontist had to reject my preview moulds on TWO occasions . During this long delay, my other teeth had moved because of the 4 extractions. This meant that the moulds don't fit correctly. The pain of initial fitting, and taking them in and out is pure hell. I am suffering more than most because of my age related problems. It feels like I am pulling all my teeth out when removing them. It feels like all my teeth will break when I insert the aligners. They feel comfortable in general, AFTER the shock of taking them in and out subsides. Can you learn to talk normally again, as they do make me lisp? At least I don't keep spitting, like before one badly offending tooth was removed. I only got my first Invisalign fitted 3 days ago, and am realising it won't be as easy as I imagined. I think we are only told of the wonderful positive side of things. If we were told in advance of the problems and unpleasant effects, we may indeed panic. Will things become easier in time? I have not got the strength in my finger nails to take them out correctly. I have no option but to use a blunt tiny spoon edge, for leverage. Any advice/reassurance is very welcome. Thanks a lot from Ruth

[Janesays]

Welcome ruth. I look forward to sharing our experiences.

[Stephanie]

Hi Ruth. I know you will enjoy your results! Having great teeth goes soo far..

[Ceramica]

Hi Ruth

I'm Gill from Hampshire. I'm 53 and started my invisalign in July. Unfortunately I broke my top tray and had to get a new one from the states which took two weeks to arrive!!! So I have started again and I'm on my 2nd week. I realy want to have nice straight teeth as I've always had very crooked teeth so I hope this works.

I am beginning to get used to them now but find they feel sharp under my tongue when I speak a lot. I also slur a bit so everyone thinks I've been drinking. I find I dribble a bit too when I talk for a while. All very disgusting.

My dentist recommended using a crochet hook to get them out - not that I've needed one. He also said to get some vitamin e capsules so that if you got an ulcer you could break it open over the ulcer and it would heal super quick. Haven't needed that yet. How do you clean yours? I get my buttons put on in 3 weeks time and I'm not looking forward to that nor the shaving of teeth. I can now take them out fairly quickly without a mirror

Hi Ruth & Ceramica, I've been to the U.K. I'm from the San Francisco Bayarea and got relatives in Welwin Garden City England, loved the charming people of the U.K.! Anyway I've been on Invisalign going on 5 months this September 13. I had one tooth at a certain angle that looked like there wasn't a tooth there it so crooked. Now it fills the spot whole, so Invisalign in my opinion was worth every penny, or pound....LOL Can't wait till I get them off. I feel no PAIN with mine and it takes a certain technique with your thumb and trigger finger (for those who shoot guns) to pull it out. The only complaint is I work outside for a living and I always got to find somewhere to brush, heck I've even brushed my teeth in a car a spit on the ground after...LOL

[t2000becky]

Originally Posted by Ceramica

Hi Ruth

I'm Gill from Hampshire. I'm 53 and started my invisalign in July. Unfortunately I broke my top tray and had to get a new one from the states which took two weeks to arrive!!! So I have started again and I'm on my 2nd week. I realy want to have nice straight teeth as I've always had very crooked teeth so I hope this works.

I am beginning to get used to them now but find they feel sharp under my tongue when I speak a lot. I also slur a bit so everyone thinks I've been drinking. I find I dribble a bit too when I talk for a while. All very disgusting.

My dentist recommended using a crochet hook to get them out - not that I've needed one. He also said to get some vitamin e capsules so that if you got an ulcer you could break it open over the ulcer and it would heal super quick. Haven't needed that yet. How do you clean yours? I get my buttons put on in 3 weeks time and I'm not looking forward to that nor the shaving of teeth. I can now take them out fairly quickly without a mirror

Hi, i am from the UK too and am looking into the Invisalign braces, do you mind me asking how much you are paying for the braces? and ruth?

Also you said you get your buttons put on in 3 weeks and something about shaving the teeth?!?!? whats that all about?

Thanks for your help

Becky

[Stephanie]

a friend of mine here in the US, just paid $7,000 for 1.5 years of treatment.. why do prices seem to vary big time from ortho to ortho? anyone know?

[Sunny]

Originally Posted by t2000becky

about shaving the teeth?!?!? whats that all about?

Becky here's a good site to check out about Interproximal Reduction.

I'd had IPR between my lower front teeth and it was quick, easy and painfree.

[Snowy]

I used to live in the UK, and there was told that my best option was 5,000 pounds ($10,000) for metal braces over 18 months. Now I'm in Canada, and am paying $5,000 for Invisalign for 10 months.

I don't believe Invisalign is the answer to everything, but for me it's certainly the better option. I work in IT training, so I'm glad that they're not visible. One of my closest coworkers has metal braces, and when I'm grouching about how much new aligners hurt (and they do!) she tells me about her latest adjustment and it doesn't seem that bad.

I really do believe that if you're an Invisalign candidate, they're the best option. That still doesn't mean they're easy, though.